BKK floods OCT...2011

[Alanslegal]

Will be in Bangkok in a bit over a few weeks time, I hope the flooding issues settles down.

 

[Danger]

Have to ask my brother...he has rescheduled his trip from Bkk to Hkt, and arrives tomorrow!

That would be swell, thank you. I'll be there over new years and have been told to expect higher prices due to reduced supply and/or supply issues.

 

[drron]

Will be in Bangkok in a bit over a few weeks time, I hope the flooding issues settles down.

Central Bangkok is fine and getting more likely to stay that way as every day passes.
As to coughet prices are likely to be higher than usual as many are diverting from BKK.Some of the staff here at the SGS are going down to LM Khao Lak as it is full and SGS running at 30%.

 

[Danger]

Central Bangkok is fine and getting more likely to stay that way as every day passes.
As to coughet prices are likely to be higher than usual as many are diverting from BKK.Some of the staff here at the SGS are going down to LM Khao Lak as it is full and SGS running at 30%.

We've locked in accommodation but it's the prices while we're there ('cheap' clothing, food, drink, activities) that we're concerned about.

 

[drron]

We've locked in accommodation but it's the prices while we're there ('cheap' clothing, food, drink, activities) that we're concerned about.

Look at the FT thread-a report there that bottled water had gone up to 3 baht a bottle.However most foodstuff is coming via Malaysia so no real problems.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Makes me glad I got a decent deal on a studio apartment in coughet for jan.

I don't usually travel to Thailand so early, and was shocked at the pricing for coughet before the end of Feb, but I fear if I did some price checking now I might have decided to change my plans.

Krabi or Kao Lak are 2 options close enough to coughe to be viable.

 

[amaroo]

Just read a post on FT from someone currently staying at the Peninsula - which is located on the river. He seems to be enjoying the view from the pool & the river is not causing the hotel any dramas other than occupancy which has dropped down to about 30%. Sounds like they're getting extra special treatment.

Hopefully the locals of the city can get back to normal life ASAP.

 

[KitKat]

We rerouted our trip to HKT and CNX to avoid the flood. Miss Bangkok but oh well another time. Naka island was not bad. Quiet and just chilled out. Chiangmai is a little cooler and dry
Can't comment on prices in coughet as we just stayed on Naka island. Rates for Chiangmai still seem reasonable.
Stay safe everyone in BKK

 

[Budley]

Look at the FT thread-a report there that bottled water had gone up to 3 baht a bottle.However most foodstuff is coming via Malaysia so no real problems.

I'm sure you don't mean 3 baht. That's less than my bus fare on the number 71.

 

[drron]

I'm sure you don't mean 3 baht. That's less than my bus fare on the number 71.

As they are normally 1 to 1.5 baht it is expensive:shock:.
Will be catching BTS to Saphin Taksin tomorrow and will post some pics of the Chao Praya.

 

[Alanslegal]

[SUP]Thanks for the updates drron[/SUP]

 

[ajca]

We rerouted our trip to HKT and CNX to avoid the flood. Miss Bangkok but oh well another time. Naka island was not bad. Quiet and just chilled out. Chiangmai is a little cooler and dry
Can't comment on prices in coughet as we just stayed on Naka island. Rates for Chiangmai still seem reasonable.
Stay safe everyone in BKK

Good to hear that the situation is improving. Far out Thailand has had a tough run over the past 10 years...

 

[drron]

No troubles for us today.Went to Saphan Taksin and caught a shuttle to River City.River running very fast.Chao Praya express not running,no barges,you walk up to your boat not down now and very little water hyacinth.Some pics.There is a lot of rubbish in the klongs-

Sandbagging and walkways around Saphin Taksin-

Chao Praya and the Taksin bridge-

Back after happy hour and our Anniversary dinner.

 

[drron]

So some pics of the riverside hotels.These were taken~ 1 hour before high tide.As you can see most are well above the water line.The Peninsula-

The Hilton-

The Royal Orchid Sheraton-

Though there were places without as much leeway-

Particularly the Police base-

 

[drron]

So the riverside hotels are probably safe from tidal flooding.On Sunday Nov 13 the high tide will be 3.76M compared to 4M on October 30th.
However there are reports today of water seeping through the CBD defences and some are expecting the CBD to flood within the next week.Best guess at Asoke is 10-20cm.Others are saying it will remain dry.
So if you are a first timer to Bangkok,on a honeymoon etc it is probably better to divert to somewhere else in Thailand.If though you are a regular without kids in tow you probably will be able to do much as you normally would.
Here at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit the generators are on the third floor,the Skytrain power supplies are protected to 2M.So should be able to get around.
At the SGS they have given 2 floors over to staff and family who have been affected by the floods.Ample supplies of water and food have been brought in so should continue to function.Paradoxically given that the riverside hotels are above predicted high tides they may be the best bet in the next couple of weeks.
A report from BKK airport is that the water level there is 76cm down on the peak of last month so they are not expecting problems.
So just a few more pics of the river-

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q3QqhNLOzaA/TrZesdQr2FI/AAAAAAAAl10/coughNAPPdmvU/s400/074.JPG

 

[Alanslegal]

However there are reports today of water seeping through the CBD defences and some are expecting the CBD to flood within the next week.Best guess at Asoke is 10-20cm.Others are saying it will remain dry.
So if you are a first timer to Bangkok,on a honeymoon etc it is probably better to divert to somewhere else in Thailand.If though you are a regular without kids in tow you probably will be able to do much as you normally would.

drron, did Bangkok feel like it was business as usual?

I will be there 23-27 November so, again, hope the situation eases.

 

[amaroo]

Thanks drron,

Apart from the sand bags, a little more rubbish than usual & the boarding planks heading up not down, it all looks the same.

On the news last night they were showing tension rising along with the water levels from the locals that are located on the wrong side of the flood gates - they are starting to damage them to let the water escape & spread out into the city area.

Police & army are now increasing protection guards.......lets hope that things don't get out of hand.

 

[drron]

Alanslegal it felt like business as usual except for less traffic and uncrowded BTS during the week.The weekend though everything really was as usual.The BTS had us packed in like whitebait-ie a little worse than as sardines.
The residents damaging the flood works was a week ago.There is water coming in but if it stays the same it will be no problem.This morning the water level at the airport was 76cm lower than the peak last month.The optimists think this means the worst is over,the pessimists that the Government plan to divert floodwaters to the east of Bangkok isn't working making the flooding of the CBD inevitable.The truth is probably in between as usual.
In the Tops supermarket(basement of the Westin)the only bottled water available is Evian at 38B or Vittel at 30B.
Again no problems on our run to the airport today.None of the klongs we have seen in the last2-3 days are near to overflowing.In fact the drain behind the malls near Siam appeared lower than a picture I saw from last month.
At checkout I asked what would happen if the cities water supply was contaminated and they said they had a plan that would give them a week or 2 supplies.
If you are going to stay in Central Bangkok email or call the hotel.Some of the cheaper ones have apparently closed.

 

[Alanslegal]

Alanslegal it felt like business as usual except for less traffic and uncrowded BTS during the week.The weekend though everything really was as usual.The BTS had us packed in like whitebait-ie a little worse than as sardines.
The residents damaging the flood works was a week ago.There is water coming in but if it stays the same it will be no problem.This morning the water level at the airport was 76cm lower than the peak last month.The optimists think this means the worst is over,the pessimists that the Government plan to divert floodwaters to the east of Bangkok isn't working making the flooding of the CBD inevitable.The truth is probably in between as usual.
...
If you are going to stay in Central Bangkok email or call the hotel.Some of the cheaper ones have apparently closed.

Always reliable information from you, thanks again.

I'm on a SPG MR to requal. for Platinum, so all of the SPG hotels I'm staying at our open AFAIK except the aLoft which the opening has been pushed back a week but hopefully they will move me to the Westin (so its easier to hop to the SGS and back, without getting my feet wet)

 

[Justchecking]

As they are normally 1 to 1.5 baht it is expensive:shock:.
Will be catching BTS to Saphin Taksin tomorrow and will post some pics of the Chao Praya.

I want to know where you're getting your water from. Everytime I've bought a bottle from a 7-11 or supermarket there, it's been between 7 and 13 baht a bottle. :shock: