Tears Of Indra

ACTIVITY OF 26 OCTOBER 2011 

Today, we went delivering the 45 prepared emergency packages and small bags of eggs in our area. We floated the blue metal boat into the house and loaded the supplies. We never believed, we would have a boat floating in the living room.

We requested Boy’s people to help us with the delivery. We went down Soi “Lotus” towards the temple Wat Thamma Suk Jai, and everywhere where people were in need, we donated supplies. We dropped some food bags at the temple and returned via the Soi “Blue Bridge”. In the latter street the people were already flooded since two months and they stated it was the first time somebody passed with food supplies. 

During our trip we saw only people evacuating the area. Except the overflying helicopters, we saw no trace of government help on the south bank of Khlong Rangsit.

Supplies bought:

Administrative & Logistic costs: 

Total cost for this activity: 9,879 Baht 

Then we started the second objective of the day; finding vegetables and some chicken meat for the refugee shelter in Khlong 2. Initially we planned to go to the Big C, but the day prior there was not much choice of vegetables and the prices were rather steep. We wanted to buy the shelter vegetables for a couple of days, so we decided to reach Talat Thai. Some said it was possible, other said it was not. We found a light truck driver, named “Jamlad”, which we hired in. He was a very special guy. For Jamlad there was no mountain too high or river too deep.

After some unsuccessful trials through deep flood, we finally found ourselves on the highway and road leading to Ayutthaya. There was only one lane in use and the traffic was chaotic. Cars drove direction Bangkok and at the same time we drove in opposite direction. The water gutted over the road from west to east. Cars passing “criss-cross” in both directions without keeping a lane, water spat to all sides; fountains of foaming brownish water. Here and there a car broken down, creating more chaotic traffic.

But Jamlad was the man! Changing from road to side-road and opposite, sometimes using a track where no car has ever been before, we arrived at Talat Thai. We could not believe it. Talat Thai, a huge market, was completely dry. It felt like being drilling for oil, and suddenly the black gold shooting towards the sky. We went to the vegetable hall, an immense hall full of the stuff we wanted so dearly.

We loaded the truck full of vegetables of all kinds and bought also chicken (10 Kg), fish balls (10 Kg) and fish (5 Kg). This had to be our day! On driving out of Talat Thai, we saw the flood water slowly creeping in. Will the black gold soon become unavailable?

We turned south towards Khlong Rangsit. The water became more and more violent. The road was much more flooded than at the start. Suddenly traffic stocked. Troubles in floodland.

A group of people was blocking the traffic, probably because they disagreed with one or another water defense barrier. This issue turns often in to violence. The water current was very strong. An ocean of water descended on the road, with everywhere cars blocked, overwhelmed by the flood. This was a critical situation and potentially dangerous. Nobody could go back, nobody could go forward and tons of water poured over the road; Large trucks, small trucks and small cars intertwined. This was a giant block and could take hours to be dissolved.

Jamlad would not be Jamlad, if he could not find a solution. He overviewed the battlefield, shoved in rear gear, busted out of the car mix and drove into the side road. Tens of people waving, trying to signal it was impossible to take that road. Jamlad chuckled and said “flood is flood, wet is wet” and steered his car in the wall of water. The whole highway gazed upon us.

Jamlad’s Isuzu stuttered, and groaned. First our feet became wet, than the water climbed up to our seats. I looked down and saw the water twinkling between my knees. Jamlad’s remaining peanuts started to swim around the gear poke. It was very silent in the cabin. Only Jamlad had the smile, the smile of victory, the victory over the water, a bodhisattva taming the ocean. 

We held our breath, the car plowed through the water wall. Every meter seemed to take minutes. I looked down the open window. The water played with the door grip. We felt the water climbing at our spine. Another hundred meter. Slowly the hood rose out of the water; the car seemed to get more grip on the surface. We touched land, ahoi! All drivers on the highway were looking upon us with unbelief, some of them started even to clap hands. It must have been an awful view from above: a nearly completely submerged car rising out of the flood. Should have been looked like the trailer of “Seaview, voyage to the bottom of the Sea”. Everywhere was laughter. We made it, no hours in waiting for us. We opened the doors of the car to vacate the water. Jamlad, turned to us with a smile up to his ears; no mountain high, no river deep.

Soon we arrived at the Red Bridge. We handed over all the supplies to the people of the refugee center who were awaiting with self-made rafts our return. Last night the electricity was cut in their location as more floods were arriving. At least they have now fresh food for the coming days. Mission partly accomplished. We still need to find milk powder for the children and we try put this on the agenda of today; a day we try also to recuperate a bit to recharge batteries and keep up administration.

Supplies bought: 

Administrative & Logistic costs:  

Total cost for this activity: 5,808 Baht