The Thai people’s kindness and generosity, even during this time of crisis, shone through and impressed a native Chinese man as he struggled his way to safety in the biggest flood Thailand has experienced in more than 50 years.
Wan Shunxiang and his family live in northern Thailand’s Nonthaburi region, about one hour’s drive from Bangkok. They just managed to escape the flood, and Mr. Wan agreed to share his experience with The Epoch Times.
On Oct. 13, the floodwater reached his feet. By the next day it was one foot high. He went to the market to stock up on food supplies, expecting a big rise in grocery prices. To his surprise he found that prices had remained the same. He bought 20 eggs, but noticed that the locals didn’t buy much. So he asked some vendors in his broken English. They told him that people should help each other out in times of disaster. If those who come early buy a lot, there won’t be anything left for people who come later, they said.
On Oct. 15, the water reached to his knees, and Wan sent his wife and children to Bangkok. He stayed and helped his neighbors, a woman and her daughter from China. The husband was still working out of town.
The water was above his knees by the evening of Oct. 18. Wan heard from upstairs some Thais calling out: “Is anyone leaving? We can give you a ride.”
Neighbors explained that they took their boats and rafts through every alley to check if anyone needed a ride. Wan thought these people were soliciting customers for pay. It turned out they were just common folks acting out of kindness, and it was free of charge.
The water in the street was waist-high on the morning of Oct. 20. Wan felt that he had to leave. The bus to Bangkok no longer came here, and locals had to go to Bangyai, 12 kilometers (7.46 mile) away, to take the bus. Only big military trucks with high exhaust pipes could take people to Bangyai.
Wan stood in the water for more than two hours, waiting for a truck. A few people came over. One very friendly woman kept talking to him, until she found that he didn’t speak any Thai.
