Tears Of Indra

ACTIVITY OF 3 NOVEMBER 2011 

Today we went helping out Wat Rangsit were 60 adults and children are sheltered. It was our day.

Pia went off with Prakai and “Captain Anucha” in the zodiac to by supplies in the Big C following the list “Priau” had forwarded us. I waited Prung’s boat at the apartment with the 50 Kg of rice we had to transfer to a small boat the day before as we where overloaded, the items bought in the Makro the day prior and 35 packs of water from our Rayong stock. 

Prung was expected at 0920 Hr, but arrived according the Thai time about half an hour later. As insiders know, there are always two times here, the normal time and the Thai time. After a while, frustration fades away and you get used to it. No hurry, no worry.

We loaded quickly the goods, steered out of the apartment hall under the seamanship of the old man and we were on the way to our RV at the Big C, where the zodiac was waiting. The first team had done the necessary shopping and Prung’s boat was quickly loaded by the many hands at Big C’s harbor. Lessons learned, maximum 400 Kg. 

We headed off this time carefully checking we did not boated on the iron pole again. We arrived at Khlong 1, turned on Khlong Rangsit and when nearly speedily diving under the highway … a noise sounding as a Thai curse echoed under the bridge.

The old man looked at me with big eyes. Seeing his eyes rolling and hearing his yell, I understood slowly something had to be wrong. The old man stood stiff, tried to find his balance on the heavy loaded boat; then I realized he had the 5.5 HP motor in both of his hands. Troubles in Floodland revisited. 

The system which fixed the motor to the boat broke down. It was a strange situation. It could have even been funny; the metal boat still gliding over the water, its captain waving the long tail motor in the air, looking as it was an extension of his arm and making all the gestures necessary to remain on board; Terminator II, the war of the machines. A ballet of Bejart couldn’t do better. I didn’t dare to move. This time I made the prayers.

But Thais are tough; the old man threw the hot motor down, blew on his hand and sought immediately something to refit the motor. I have to say; in times of trouble they are handy. With a rope and a few knots, the motor was fixed again and up we were back on the road … in this case, canal.

We turned into Viphavadi Rd, gently avoiding to crash into the submerged sand bags, direction Muang Ek. Then we boated into the street leading to Lak Hok. Suddenly the zodiac stayed behind and went aside. I asked the old man to turn back. 

You won’t believe it. Exactly the same thing occurred to the zodiac. This time it was not readily repaired as the fixation wood was gone. There was a building in construction just opposite and some workers were present. We gave two packs of salty fish to the old man and asked him to look at the construction site if they could make a new fixation wood. The old man took the fish, walked in the chest high water and suddenly we saw two foam packs with fish floating.

The old man disappeared under water. Few seconds later he emerged, he turned towards us, smiled his teeth and coughed: “Luk Mak”, very deep. He jumped into the site and was gone. Few minutes later we heard the noise of a sawing machine and again a bit later the old man showed us his trophy above his head. A quick swim, a few handy tricks and the zodiac could take the waters again.

Now it went straight to the railway and Wat Rangsit. The area was sealed off with sandbags to protect the railway and the metal boat was not able to cross over. People had gathered under the lead of “Priau” with two self-made rafts and we moved the supplies from the boat to the two rafts. It was not all that easy as the water was deep. The zodiac was taken over the railway and Pia, Prakai and Anucha continued over the water with the zodiac to the temple. 

I went with the local people and the two rafts in procession on foot to the temple. I wished I was Jesus, but unfortunately I was not. Would have been nice if I could turn the water into wine and even better, I could walk the water. The water was chin deep and soon my procession faded away. Nearly swimming, we arrived with the two rafts at the stairs of the vihara, where the families were sheltered.

As I had showed them how to work in a single line at the railway, the supplies were quickly moved upwards. On the terrace of the vihara the supplies and water packs were unpacked and under the lead of “Priau” the supplies were constituted in personal packages. There were really a lot of people sheltered at the temple: babies, small children, elderly and disabled. Many needed special care. 

We had not enough supplies, but we knew this and planned to return the next day. We are restricted to the capacity of Prung’s boat. We told the people we would return with new supplies and noted the medicines, baby food and number of pampers needed. We took our leave and left the temple premises with the zodiac. We met up with Prung’s boat at the railway and returned “home”. 

A the water regulator nearby a wild looking man, living high on top of the water gate with a huge number of dogs, waved at us. We never had noticed him. We gave him our remaining two lunches – some rice topped with a piece of carrot and a piece of chicken on a foam plate - including the last two water bottles. Now we were light as a feather. We stopped at the Makro, bought already some supplies and baby gear for the next day and send it off, in a small boat we hired, with “Priau” to Lak Hok.

We were back at the apartment close to 1500 Hr and had to go look for some medicines. Anucha and Taan left off again with the zodiac to visit a pharmacy shop near the Red Bridge. They could buy inhalers for two asthmatic elderly residing at the temple including some other medicines. This was our last act of the day. Time for administration; just another day in Floodland.

Supplies bought: 

Administrative & Logistic costs: 

Total cost for this activity: 13,062 Baht