BangkokistheVeniceoftheEast.Thecityhasanextensivenetworkofcanalsorklongsconnectingthesuburbswiththedowntowndistrict.FormanyBangkokresidents,thebusinessdaybeginswitharideonawaterbus.Theboatsarepoweredby350horsepowerenginesandchargedownthenarrowwaterwaysspeedingcommuterstotheirdestination.
Theboatsaresleekandfast.Thissometimeslookslikeanuntroubledwaytotravel.Butinrealitytheboatsareroaringroundamassiveobstaclecourse.Thecanalsarepollutedwithallkindsoftrashandwastefromconstructionsites.Andalthoughaclean-up’sunderway,thewaterbusestakeabatteringfromthedebrisinthewater.AvesselplyingthebusyKlongSansarlastsjustfiveyears.NotverylongforawaterbusthatcostsUS$30,000.
Thereisahighdepreciationrate.ChavalitMetprapartrunsawaterbusserviceonklongSansarandbuildshisownboatsinthisfactory.Chavalitsaysheispouringmoneyintoboats,reinforcingthem,repairingthem,adaptingthemforthedifficultconditionstheyhavetoendure.
Atcertaintimesoftheyear,theklongsgetfloodedandaswaterlevelsrise,itbecomesverydifficultfortheboatstopitunderthebridges.Fortunately,Chavalithasfoundawaytocollapsethecanopyonhisboats.Unfortunately,someexpertsstillseethecrowdedklongsaspotentiallyhazardous.
Thestoriesofthosedocksgivingwayandpeoplefallrightintotheklong.
ExpertssayChavalitshouldplayuphissafetyrecordwhichisgoodbothontheboatsandinthepiers.Theysayheshouldwelcomemorecompetitionbecausethatleadstobetterserviceandbuildboatsthatsithigherinthewatersincetheyarelessbombardedbydebris.
Bytheway,gettingonandoffawaterbus,watchyourfooting,youdon'twanttofallintoaklong.Ifyoudo,expectcompany.
AndrewBrown,CNN,Bangkok.