Rain, rain, rain and an overflowing river!

We returned from Mae Hong Son to flooding in the Chang Klan, Night Market area even though Sony told us, it was hard to believe this was happening specifically in one neighborhood!

At the airport the taxis were not driving to thus area until I asked if they could at least get us as near as possible. Finally with some convincing they got us a driver. Once in the hood, we got out to check out the commotion and sure enough the last two blocks looked like what Leo coined a "war zone."



Huge dump trucks were taking passengers down the road to their destinations or to drop off points at major hotels.








Some folks had boats filled with bottled water a most water sources were now contaminated. Organized chaos with volunteers, officials, military, locals and "faring" like me, in the dark.





After an hour or so, several of us climbed into a truck while another brought passengers for drop off.









Some SUVs were getting by and I suppose I could have offered some money to get me safely down the street but didn't think about it at the time.





In this photo, Som - in the bright top below - was someone we met at the Fern Resort in MHS. Her friend owns the resort so she helps out though she is helping out these folks too. Som set us up in bungalow #39 where Brad Pitt and Angelina Joile stayed last year.









Views from the truck as we slowly drove down the street.





This is Chang Klan road, the condo was past the building on the left and down the alley.



Looking back at the night market area.



Once at the Shangri La hotel, we off loaded into their barricaded property, where I waited for the truck to pull way then climbed over the wall, gingerly stepping down on the water side until on solid ground and in thigh high (and further) murky disgusting water. After a few steps, a young man from the hotel's engineering department escorted me down the street, clearing the way of floating debris and alerting me to curbs, planters, steps or anything dangerous.


Finally, I made my way down the alley where the water was ankle high and eventually dry at the condo.

At the door, I quickly stripped off all my clothes, scrubbed my shoes and washed my clothes and took a very hot shower. ICK.

Now...figure out how to get out of here tomorrow. Sony has her Thai massage exam tomorrow so she was spending the night at a friend's p,ace and Leo didn't want to cross the waters so he's staying somewhere on the dry side.

Posted from Chiang Mai, Thailand