As the flood works its way down Thailand and into Bangkok, the towns and cities that it has passed have already started to clean up their neighbourhood. Ayutthaya is now the latest city to announce a Big Clean-Up after much of the floods have receded. Factories, of course, are the priority and it was good to read in the Bangkok Post this morning that 25 factories have recently re-opened in Ayutthaya giving employment back to 33,000 workers. Tourism is also an important source of income for many people in Ayutthaya. The first Big Clean-Up Day has already been organized for Thursday 10th November at various locations around Ayutthaya City.
Tomorrow, on Loy Krathong Day, many local people will go to Wat Yai Chai Mongkol and Wat Phananchoeng to take part in a clean-up campaign called “We Care Ayutthaya”. They will also celebrate Loy Krathong, though in a more muted way than normal. However, it will take more than one clean-up day to get Ayutthaya ready for tourists. The Office of Buddhism have said that 420 out of 505 temples in the province have been affected by the flood. In addition, there are still no trains running between Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Both the East and West sides of the Outer Ring Road are also flooded and impassable to small cars. The only way north is on the Don Muang tollway which is reportedly very congested with traffic.
One of the first tourist attractions to re-open will be the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Elephant Kraal or Wangchang Ayutthaya corral, a major tourist attractionto the north of the city. This will reopen on 15 November according to owner Laithongrien Meepan who was interviewed by MCOT. Mr Laithongrien, who founded the Phra Kochabaan Foundation, said the elephant corral and chemical free agriculture group have together cleaned up the premises, collected garbage and improved water quality in the rehabilitation mission to prepare the Elephant Palace to be ready to welcome tourists back.
I am planning on driving up to Ayutthaya this weekend and will give you some first-hand live reports on Twitter @RichardBarrow.
Did you know you got a mention on CNN just now? The weather lady talked about your map. Congratulations. You deserve recognition for helping the Thai tourism industry and the livelihood of many Thai people.
Thanks so much for the Ayutthaya updates. WHen we’re in Bangkok in Dec we want to hire driver/car and spend a day around the ruins. We’ll need to know if they’re open though before we start the one hour drive….I’ll be following your tweets closely (as usual).
Cheers & thanks again.
@torontoviewer
If I can drive there in my small car. There seems to be mixed opinion. If not this weekend, then next.
Good Job Richard !
Check your site daily. Going back to Bangkok on 22 Dec. Understanding that my concerns are in no comparison with the terrible situation of the locals. I sincerely hope for a quick improvement.
Thanx!
hi sir, can you help us to update about the central bangkok. we want to know if the flood’s are nearer in the central city of bangkok? like in new petchburi site, coz we have plan to visit in bangkok this nov. 29. thank you so much and hope to see your new post or comment about my interest in this country. thank you with you site it helps the readers a lot. God bless you.
No floods in that area at this moment in time.
Thanks so much for the updates! I really appreciate it.
I have booked a flight to bangkok from Phuket on 28th Nov and was planning to train to cambodia via Aranyaprathet, Thailand/Poipet. I was thinking of canceling everything but would the trains have resumed by then? Thanks again.
Yes, I believe the trains are already running there now. You can also go by bus.