Thai women gold panners are rare winners in COVID-hit economy

By Matthew Tostevin

 

Thai gold miner Sunisa Srisuwanno holds up gold worth 3,000 baht ($100) from the Sai Buri river at Sukhirin, Thailand December 29, 2020. Picture taken December 29, 2020. REUTERS/Matthew Tostevin

 

SUHKHIRIN, Thailand (Reuters) - As the yellowish mud swirls away in the waters of Thailand's Sai Buri river, Sunisa Srisuwanno lifts her wooden pan with a cluster of gleaming specks caught in the centre.

 

"That's 100 baht," she said, pointing to grains worth about $3.30 after little more than 15 minutes work with her gold panning partner, Boonsom Aeamprasert.

 

With global gold prices near an all-time high, the women are a rare bright spot for an economy hard hit by the collapse of tourism amid coronavirus travel restrictions.

 

"The gold panning business is doing well, especially during COVID-19," said Sunisa, a 37-year-old mother of two. "Panning gold is our main staple. We sell gold today, we are able to buy food to feed the family."

 

The area's name - Gold Mountain - indicates that mining has gone on longer than anyone can remember in Sukhirin District, on Thailand's southern border with Malaysia.

 

But it has been made more lucrative by rising gold prices, up nearly a quarter over the past year.

 

The rest of Thailand's economy is suffering, with the central bank forecasting a 6.6% contraction this year.

 

Thailand's deep south, scene of a decades-old Muslim separatist insurgency, lacks the beach resorts, nightlife or temples that draw so many tourists to the country.

 

But visitors who come to Sukhirin for hiking, kayaking and wildlife are still an important income source - at least until the pandemic struck.

 

"As the community was forced to shut down the attractions, we had to switch from welcoming tourists to digging and sifting for gold," said Wari Bantakit, 40, who works for a community tourism group.

 

Some gold sifters use just a shovel, a pan and a plastic squeezy bottle to suck up the grains - and the occasional nugget. Others try to find the best prospects by scrabbling underwater with a snorkel mask.

 

There are men among the gold panners, but miners said the draw of gold is particularly appealing for women. Men traditionally gather wood and forage in the forests.

 

"Housewives who used to sell stuff, vegetables, food to tourists were forced to stop," said Wari. "They had to turn to gold panning. It’s become the main job."

 

(Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by Gareth Jones)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-31

 

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Well done hope she finds the source and motherload, I watch gold rush  ???? 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's deep south, scene of a decades-old Muslim separatist insurgency, lacks the beach resorts, nightlife or temples that draw so many tourists to the country.

With respects who would holiday in a Muslim insurgency area resort ?

Seen people panning for gold in a creek in Kanchanaburi too. Hard work but I guess the high price at present makes it worthwhile.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

"That's 100 baht," she said, pointing to grains worth about $3.30 after little more than 15 minutes work with her gold panning partner, Boonsom Aeamprasert.

That's nothing, girls in some resorts get 3,000 baht after panning for gold per hour.

Don't even work up sweat.

' men traditionally gather wood and forage in the forests '.    What year is coming tomorrow , can't be 2021 BC surely.

The gold panners of Sukhirin seem to be a lot more resilient than the gold diggers of Pattaya!

Gold panner... a considerably different job description from the more commonly found gold digger.

6 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

The gold panners of Sukhirin seem to be a lot more resilient than the gold diggers of Pattaya!

And the katoey gold necless snatchers. 

Getting out there, doing honest work.  I can respect that.

If I could make a decent living out of it I wouldn't mind panning gold, compared to the daily 9-5 hamsterwheel. 

Would it be considered working if I panned her? Start offering tours, finders keepers. 

sammieuk1

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Posted 13 hours ago

Well done hope she finds the source and motherload, I watch gold rush   Need to watch White Water Gold Rush

12 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

With respects who would holiday in a Muslim insurgency area resort ?

I do! It is a wonderful untouched region which I have visited over 10 times and never encountered any problem; full of friendly people and beautiful scenery. Great for a motorbike tour.

4 hours ago, Virt said:

If I could make a decent living out of it I wouldn't mind panning gold, compared to the daily 9-5 hamsterwheel. 

I know it's a little off topic, but this is about panning for gold, and back in the early 70s when I visited Melbourne, Australia, I went with some relatives and followed the Yarra River up into the hills, and came across a caravan and signs of somebody staying there.

 

Looked in the river and there were a couple of guys and girls panning for gold, and when I asked if they had any, they showed me a couple of jam jars half full with little gold pieces, which they said at the time was worth about $3000, and more than paid for their holiday.

 

Always thought that it was something I would like to do.

 

Good luck to the Thai women, shows a bit of initiative.

Apparently gold panning has been going on there in the south for centuries. There's even a traditional Thai dance called the Rabam Ronrae, the 'panning dance'.

 

28 minutes ago, PaoloR said:

I do! It is a wonderful untouched region which I have visited over 10 times and never encountered any problem; full of friendly people and beautiful scenery. Great for a motorbike tour.

I'll wait for the 'Go fund my Ransom' page. ????