50 Million Blue Whales

The flooding in Bangkok will probably reach a peak this weekend, due to cresting waters in the Chao Phraya River, and a high tide which will slow drainage to the sea. Western Bangkok is largely flooded, as are several districts of Northern Bangkok. But Central and Eastern Bangkok have largely been spared.

Meanwhile the flood of information, misinformation, and disinformation from various sources, both governmental and private continuous unabated. This certainly has not been the Thai Government's finest hour. (Although one would have to search very hard to an hour which would qualify as the government's finest.) The fighting between the Prime Minister's office and the office of the Governor of Bangkok has been comical at times, or would be if the situation were not so serious.

On a lighter note a local film producer and Thai PBS TV Station have teamed up to create a video to explain the causes and solutions to the current flooding. It calculates that the weight of the water trying to pass through Bangkok is equal to that of 50 million blue whales. It uses great graphics to show the whales' attempts to reach the sea. It is on YouTube, and I recommend it. It is quite amusing, as well as informative. (I think it downplays the role of the current government in creating the flood, but that is a topic for another post, perhaps after the flooding is over.)



I have four days off now and am headed out to Chiang Rai and Chiang Saen for a holiday. I might post some pictures when I get back. I have to be back by Friday for an annual in service training day. Although there is no absolute certainty it will come off, as the trainers are in Bangkok, and may not come.