agudbuk

I thought this was one on the list of Urban Myths

Experts are not needed, any student of physical geography knows the answer, equally any student of Thai culture knows they would never implement it.

The middle and lower reaches of the river are a series of meanders, this is typical of flat land. So in normal flow the water slowly meanders down to the sea. But when in full spate it is like a car that tries to take a bend too fast and goes off the road, the water does the same it can't follow the meander and overflows. In a natural environment the water will carve out a new more direct channel, the original meander is cut off and forms an "oxbow lake".

What Thailand has to do is work with nature, not wait hundreds of years for the river to straighten itself out, rather it needs to dig a straight channel through every meander.

However, this cannot happen because looking at the map you can see that every meander has been extensively developed with housing estates, high rise condos, hotels, department stores and factories, even an airport, many would have to go to clear a channel. But most of this development was by the elite, the rich, they would fight any such clearance tooth and nail.

So Bangkok is doomed because the cure is too draconian for those in power to stomach. I don't care which party is in power, none would have the guts to do what needs doing.

What other way forward as many people have suggested a host of solutions, and as I posted earlier, if it was possible, and I personally think it is with time is to raise the level of the land. carve out some of the hills (then took away a mountain near Pattaya to build foundations for a giant motorway) your suggestion re straightening out the river is a proven thing-quicken nature and do it where you can. USE the land again that you dig out to raise the land on both sides of the river.raise any land that is low lying==including NEW industrial estate sites.

As I said in another topic dig gigantic craters use the soil to raise land again-then use the holes to get rid of rubbish, but recycle first. shout me down if you think the idea is a lost cause.

Eventually that is what needs to be done. Unfortunately to raise the level of the land you have to demolish what's sitting on top of it first; then build it up, consolidate it and then rebuild at the higher level. Essentially you are talking about the total re-building of Bangkok and surrounding towns.. It's a very long term plan .

Nearly every low lying village, town, people are landfilling and raising THEIR houses even.(issan) now Bangkok has certain areas that should not have to be raised, as the land is on high enough ground, the other areas are a long term. But some places their floor level could be filled in and keep your existing building. ????therefore using the second floor as their first floor. (no demolition required)---please get these disgusting klongs sorted out now--it's exactly the time to do it, maybe the only opportunity .

If it was so simple. : Road levels, services ; are still a problem and you've just halved the floor area of all the 2 storey houses in the area. . Many older traditional style homes with accommodation all at a raised level to allow water to pass under the structure have in recent years had the ground level areas enclosed for extra rooms. Just human nature to make a much use of the ground area as possible.

Serious rebuilding and ground restructuring will be a very long term project and a very expensive one.

Experts are not needed, any student of physical geography knows the answer, equally any student of Thai culture knows they would never implement it.

The middle and lower reaches of the river are a series of meanders, this is typical of flat land. So in normal flow the water slowly meanders down to the sea. But when in full spate it is like a car that tries to take a bend too fast and goes off the road, the water does the same it can't follow the meander and overflows. In a natural environment the water will carve out a new more direct channel, the original meander is cut off and forms an "oxbow lake".

What Thailand has to do is work with nature, not wait hundreds of years for the river to straighten itself out, rather it needs to dig a straight channel through every meander.

However, this cannot happen because looking at the map you can see that every meander has been extensively developed with housing estates, high rise condos, hotels, department stores and factories, even an airport, many would have to go to clear a channel. But most of this development was by the elite, the rich, they would fight any such clearance tooth and nail.

So Bangkok is doomed because the cure is too draconian for those in power to stomach. I don't care which party is in power, none would have the guts to do what needs doing.

What other way forward as many people have suggested a host of solutions, and as I posted earlier, if it was possible, and I personally think it is with time is to raise the level of the land. carve out some of the hills (then took away a mountain near Pattaya to build foundations for a giant motorway) your suggestion re straightening out the river is a proven thing-quicken nature and do it where you can. USE the land again that you dig out to raise the land on both sides of the river.raise any land that is low lying==including NEW industrial estate sites.

As I said in another topic dig gigantic craters use the soil to raise land again-then use the holes to get rid of rubbish, but recycle first. shout me down if you think the idea is a lost cause.

Eventually that is what needs to be done. Unfortunately to raise the level of the land you have to demolish what's sitting on top of it first; then build it up, consolidate it and then rebuild at the higher level. Essentially you are talking about the total re-building of Bangkok and surrounding towns.. It's a very long term plan .

So what can be done to reduce future flooding along the Chao Praya?

Maybe

Higher dykes and wall defences

Re-forestation to central and northern Thailand to slow the water run off

Deeper dredging of the Chao Praya to increase flow

Cleaning and dredging existing relief klongs

Extra relief klongs and underground large scale drainage systems

Building regulations introduced to prevent the obstruction of drainage and perhaps stipulating a minimum floor height above a notional high water level.

I'd have not to hoard water in the big reservoirs when unusually high monsoonal activity is upon us at the top of your list.

With the resevoirs it's got to be a balance.. They need to be low enough to accept some of the water surges but at the same time they can't be allowed to fall too low before the wet season to ensure water flow when the rains are delayed or reduced below the average.

The present government can not be blamed for the flooding .

What the government needs to do now though is look to the future and do some forward planning

So what can be done to reduce future flooding along the Chao Praya?

Maybe

Higher dykes and wall defences

Re-forestation to central and northern Thailand to slow the water run off

Deeper dredging of the Chao Praya to increase flow

Cleaning and dredging existing relief klongs

Extra relief klongs and underground large scale drainage systems

Building regulations introduced to prevent the obstruction of drainage and perhaps stipulating a minimum floor height above a notional high water level.

Long term ventures but the only way to reduce future risk

only 10 years?

Yeah that was my thought - "Ten WHOLE YEARS?" Except that is even shortened by the over one year he already served...

Even with a reduction for an early confession I believe it should have been a longer sentence. I would have thought 20 which would still be better for him than execution.

300 baht a day.

Could someone tell me how many hours that is based on

With the enormous air taxes from UK airports Eurostar to Brussells and a flight from there could well be a money saver

At 6 hours it's not a long enough journey for an overnight train (arrival time is too early ) and too long for a bus or day train journey.

So what's the real difference between a dog and a cow - apart from the endearing expression? and that's a real question...

I don't know .

I like to have my dogs sleeping at the side of my bed.

I'm not so sure I will enjoy a cow so much

I was married for many years and yes the dog is better

What's all the fuss ?

I must be lucky, not had a problem at either the old or new Bangkok airports.

I've not had problems with delays going in or out at immigration, the shopping experience and the food on offer are OK at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

On arrival probably no more than 10 minutes in total waiting for bags and in the immigration queue

Going out from London Heathrow I pay to use a business lounge because the main part is so bad. I don't bother at Suvarnabhumi because the general areas are so good.

Transport from the airport is well organised with either bus or regulated taxi services.

Not knocking Thailand but this post is unbelieveable--55555555555555555 10 mins bags and immigration, that isn,t luck--thats something in itsself-----you Must be on TAT payroll....If this is real-you are 1 in 40 million ???? busses -good--if not full-(airport Jomptien) taxis NO see picture here--normal chaos

The walk from the plane to immigration has taken me longer than the immigration queues. Taxis, well I get the voucher walk to the road side and there it is.

If I use the scheduled bus service maybe I wait 15 minutes until it leaves but not been on a full one yet.

Sometimes I use the Bell bus company to Pattaya, that may be a longer wait depending on the flight arrival but cost effective.

Takes longer walking from place to place than any of the queues.

Having said all that Murphys law states I'll have a massive delay when I arrive on Friday

4th March: Well timed it as 28 minutes from leaving the aircraft to opening the taxi door. (this included the 10 minute wait in theoassport control queue.

What's all the fuss ?

I must be lucky, not had a problem at either the old or new Bangkok airports.

I've not had problems with delays going in or out at immigration, the shopping experience and the food on offer are OK at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

On arrival probably no more than 10 minutes in total waiting for bags and in the immigration queue

Going out from London Heathrow I pay to use a business lounge because the main part is so bad. I don't bother at Suvarnabhumi because the general areas are so good.

Transport from the airport is well organised with either bus or regulated taxi services.

Not knocking Thailand but this post is unbelieveable--55555555555555555 10 mins bags and immigration, that isn,t luck--thats something in itsself-----you Must be on TAT payroll....If this is real-you are 1 in 40 million ???? busses -good--if not full-(airport Jomptien) taxis NO see picture here--normal chaos

The walk from the plane to immigration has taken me longer than the immigration queues. Taxis, well I get the voucher walk to the road side and there it is.

If I use the scheduled bus service maybe I wait 15 minutes until it leaves but not been on a full one yet.

Sometimes I use the Bell bus company to Pattaya, that may be a longer wait depending on the flight arrival but cost effective.

Takes longer walking from place to place than any of the queues.

Having said all that Murphys law states I'll have a massive delay when I arrive on Friday

What's all the fuss ?

I must be lucky, not had a problem at either the old or new Bangkok airports.

I've not had problems with delays going in or out at immigration, the shopping experience and the food on offer are OK at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

On arrival probably no more than 10 minutes in total waiting for bags and in the immigration queue

Going out from London Heathrow I pay to use a business lounge because the main part is so bad. I don't bother at Suvarnabhumi because the general areas are so good.

Transport from the airport is well organised with either bus or regulated taxi services.

"Tested On mice"

So far the only expected side effects are a strong desire for cheese and ailurophobia

Vending machines at two public parks Suan Rommaneenart and Suan Saranrom where male and female streetwalkers regularly do their businesses, sell an average 597 and 349 condoms respectively,

Useless figures.

average per day, week, month, year??

There's lies dam lies and statistics as the saying goes

I would have thought the main problem in promoting Thailand for budget travel is that visits to the country are no longer cheap.

The strong baht, rising hotel costs (I know they show discounts but from horribly inflated standard prices) and increasing flight prices are making Thailand a less attractive destination for those with more limited budgets.

Why don't the authorities just throw loads of sponges into the river to soak up the water?

In 5 years, 10 years or 50 years it would seem destined that Bangkok will once more become a city of klongs; perhaps a true Venice of the East. Long tail boats instead of buses and moorings at what are now the second floor windows of offices and condos.

There will have to be a lot of long term planning and heavy investment to avoid the scenario. Reforestation to alleviate flooding, higher dykes to prevent sea incursion all take a lot of long term effort and finance.

The flooding can be delayed but if sea levels and flood levels rise then eventually the capital will have to be abandoned.

Bangkok is not alone with this possible future problem; many of the worlds major cities are built on low lying land at tidal river mouths where nautical trade built up. London, New Orleans, Bangkok, different parts of the world but potentially same long term problem.

Perhaps the smart money should head for the hills now.

How about introducing legislation making it compulsory for all buildings to be built on large heavy duty jacks.

That way when there are floods houses, offices etc. cam be jacked up out of the reach of the flood waters and then lowered to their original levels when the waters have passed.

Nevertheless, I don't feel sorry for him, but death penalty is not correct. Nobody has the right to kill, even not goverments...

Fatfather

And it is a mystery to me that a Buddhist state uses the death penalty.

Well an alternative may be compulsory breast implants and teeth extractions followed by return to prison.

"How about;

The King and I, or is it still banned over here? "

by Jaiyenyen

Last I heard both versions are still banned as being disrespectful to the royal family.

Is there any connection with the number of katoys found in Thailand?

Like every other good size town or city I've been too. You can find entertainment if you look/ask around or do your research on the internet before your visit to Roi-Et. That applies to the cultural side and the night life.

I heard that there are a number of Thai workers in the forests of Sweden at this time of year who earn money from the collection of wild forest berries. That would put Thai people in the right place at the right time picking their own "wrong" snack

They consulted a book and still didn't learn anything.

The Darwinian process in action

And really didn't deserve the red a kind gentleman gave me.

I'll let you have a green to compensate.

Some people just don't understand black humour or irony