A man made, natural disaster.

Yes, that is right! A man made, natural disaster! I heard this western guy this week on his phone telling someone that we are waitng for a man made, natural disaster to hit Bangkok.

This is being said because the water heading through Thailand out to sea at present is not all from monsoonal rain. What has created all this water has been the combination of the rains plus the release of water from two major dams in the north of Thailand at the same time. What is being said is that these dams could have had their water released earlier before the rains. This practice would have prepared the dams to accept more water from expected rains. Instead the rains fell and the already full dams could not cope with all the water. So the excess water was released and you then have all this water going through Thailand at the same time.

Where I am in Bangkok it is still dry. By the satellite shots, Bangkok is now surrounded by water. This, they say, is the critical time for Bangkok. It is just a matter of time when the water. What remains in question is how much will hit where you are.

I decide just to stay put for three reasons.
1) Where would you go and how long would you go for?
2) Staying here, I can keep doing my neeeded work with Caritas.
3) Here I am not alone.

So you just take each day as it comes and deal with what may be in front of you. What remains the worst is the unknowing and the eerie sense that has enveloped a Bangkok waiting for disaster.

I sit with two thoughts.
1) Things are never as bad as you think. The reality is much better to deal with than the unknown.
2) So many people are already suffering and you just feel for them.

In the midst of all, I have a real sense that I am not alone. Man may have helped to create this huge disaster but it is with other men and women that I feel a great and needed sense of solidarity.