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Chiang Mai: Teak Hunters of the Ping River Basin
Teak Hunters of the Ping River Basin http://www.hotsia.com > Chiang Mai > Teak Hunters of the Ping River Basin. Teak hunters along the Ping River. When the water floods, everyone fears it. The stronger the current, the higher the risk of flooding. If the flood is severe, it becomes very difficult. When the water carries logs that hit or get stuck on bridges, the force of the water can destroy the bridge. This has happened before in Mae Tuen subdistrict, Omkoi district, where a bridge was washed away right before people's eyes. The strong Ping River current can even create whirlpools, which are very dangerous and can be fatal.
But today, these people are teak hunters who never think about fear. Their clear goal is to collect teak wood floating down the Ping River to sell. The village that collects and sells teak is near Ban Tawai, Chiang Mai province. During my trip to the north, I followed the Ping River to take photos and came across locals gathered around something, so I took pictures immediately. The teak wood floating in the Ping River comes in both small and large logs. When the water rises like this, it makes it easier to spot and jump into the river.
However, everyone must wear life jackets, or there is a high risk of death due to the strong current. I asked the locals how much one log sells for, and they said prices vary from a few hundred, a thousand, to five thousand baht depending on the wood's quality. This profession likely wouldn't exist if the village wasn't near Ban Tawai because once they collect the wood, they sell it to furniture makers nearby. While the upstream floods create this teak hunting job, the Ping River flows down to the Bhumibol Dam, which has very low water levels this year.
The flooding problem this time did not come from this water source. I recommend checking the excellent data from the Royal Irrigation Department, which provides detailed water information for all dams and rivers with comparative graphs over the years. This helps you see for yourself whether your home might flood. Visit http://www.rid.go.th/. To see how strong the Ping River floodwaters can be, watch closely. Still, teak hunters keep jumping in. This log isn't very big but is already a plank. This one is very large and can't be handled by one person alone.
It takes two people with life jackets to handle it, almost losing grip. Here's another angle of jumping to catch the planks. It's thrilling. The water rises nearly to the bridge. If a log comes with force, the bridge could collapse like it did in Mae Tuen. Those who don't jump use a swing to scoop up smaller logs. Tha Khun Khong - Tha Song Khwae bridge. This person is a professional jumper, very skilled. The Ping River is dark and scary with a strong current. He aims carefully before jumping to catch the right log. Mr.Hotsia wonders if he should jump too. There are both supporters and jumpers mixed together. The teak wood collected is generally used to make products sold in Ban Tawai.
Other trips by Mr.Hotsia: Feeling the cold at Doi Inthanon, reading palm lines in the fog valley, and trying salted eggs from the mineral springs of Muang On.
