Monday, January 2, 2012

"Canal Homes" Photograph


In bygone times the canals in Bangkok and many other parts of central Thailand were the streets. Their importance for travel and commerce has declined but they are still vital for drainage as was highlighted during the severe flooding at the end of 2011. Poor maintenance, irregular dredging and indecisive management made for inefficient drainage which was compounded by the communities of canalside homes such as these that had spilled over into the canals themselves.

These dwellers are the amongst the poorest of the city’s residents and have little other choice for a place to stay but there are signs that they will be encouraged or forced to move. On the other hand, the roads, industrial estates, housing estates and other structures that formed more solid barriers to the water will stay.

Photograph taken in Don Muang, Bangkok, Thailand

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