For all of you who think it's always nice and sunny in Thailand, I can assure you it's not.
The heavy rains at this time of year can cause rapid flash flooding. Water 8 inches deep literally occurred within 10 minute on this street in Pattaya.
There is poor water drainage throughout urban areas in Thailand, and if you are at the bottom of a hill in a built up area when heavy rain hits, best to start heading upwards, and quickly.
The road behind us in the photo began to resemble a river rather than a street, rain water was pouring off the roofs and out of the drains that are supposed to transport it away.
During the rainy season (July-Oct) there is always lots of rain, but this year it is coming down heavy. There are currently floods occurring around the country, with the worst hit areas situated in the North around Chaing Mai and surrounding provinces. We are not being spared in Suphan either, where we have had heavy rain for 2 days now, day and night, with talk that it will continue for another FIVE days.
On top of this, and I don't quite understand the exact mechanics yet, but I am told, when the rain water gets too heavy and the rivers risk bursting their banks, much of this extra water is deliberately directed into the areas that surround Bangkok (which includes Suphan) in order to spare the capital!
Everyone who attended my wedding in 2006 has first hand experience of just how that turns out.
Hi, as an Englishman you really should enjoy all this rain! By the way here in Prachuap its still sunny!
Do I detect a Midlands tone in your writing?
Posted by: Mike | September 12, 2008 at 06:41 AM
Hi Mike, cool, hopefully some better weather is heading this way, it really has been terrible. Midlands! LOL, no, what gave you that impression? I'm an Essex boy! Cheers TTP
Posted by: The Thai Pirate | September 12, 2008 at 07:24 AM
Hi Ben, it was just the way you write sometimes. I,m from Nottingham myself. By the way I enjoy your blog.
Posted by: Mike | September 12, 2008 at 08:40 AM
Thanks Mike. As a newbie I've not yet spent much time in Prachuap, love Hua Hin though! Ben
Posted by: The Thai Pirate | September 13, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Nice and interesting blogg.
Regards from Sweden!
Posted by: Syster Eva | September 13, 2008 at 10:02 PM