Thailand: Floods Blamed for High Prices at Chinese New Year


2017.01.27
170127-TH-CNY1.JPG

Women shop for a Chinese lion mask to decorate their home at a shop in Bangkok’s Chinatown, Jan. 26, 2017. (Nontarat Phaicharoen/BenarNews)

170127-TH-CNY2.jpg

This shop in Muang district, Yala province, has items for the Chinese New Year, Jan. 26, 2017. (Nasueroh/BenarNews)

170127-TH-CNY3.JPG

Mangkon Kamalawat Temple set up a display dedicated to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok’s Chinatown, Jan. 26, 2017. (Nontarat Phaicharoen/BenarNews)

170127-TH-CNY4.JPG

A model dressed in red poses for a photographer at the famous Mangkon Kamalawat temple in Bangkok’s Chinatown, Jan. 26, 2017. (Nontarat Phaicharoen/BenarNews)

170127-TH-CNY5.JPG

Crowds purchase food in a Chinatown market in Bangkok, Jan. 26, 2017. (Nontarat Phaicharoen/BenarNews)

170127-TH-CNY6.jpg

A woman prays in the Chinatown area of Bangkok Jan. 27, 2017. (Nontarat Phaicharoen/BenarNews)

170127-TH-CNY7.jpg

A man prays while offering food to his ancestors in Yala province, Jan. 27, 2017. (Nasueroh/BenarNews)

170127-TH-CNY8.jpg

A man arranges food to honor and worship his ancestors in Yala province, Jan. 27, 2017. (Nasueroh/BenarNews)

170127-TH-CNY10.jpg

People relax at the water exhibit in Betong district of Yala province, Jan. 27, 2017. (Nasueroh/BenarNews)

170127-TH-CNY11.jpg

A woman burns silver and gold papers in a ritual believed to send money to ancestors, Bangkok, Jan. 27, 2017. (Nontarat Phaicharoen/BenarNews)

In Thailand’s Deep South, recent heavy flooding has dampened enthusiasm for the Chinese New Year, which began Thursday and ends Saturday.

Prices for fruit and vegetables – which are central to traditional worship – have increased by 30 percent to 50 percent because of weather-related shortages. Seafood for celebratory meals is scarce.

Sujaree Ruangpawang, 45, a seafood vendor in Yala, said she normally purchases from the fishing pier in Pattani and sells in Yala. This year, fishing boats cannot leave port as many areas remain flooded.

“There is no seafood around here. We have to go get that from the Andaman Sea – through Surat Thani province. Many types of seafood are out of stock and vendors have to increase the price for things such as cockles and shrimp,” she told BenarNews.

Flooding in December and January has proven deadly in regions of the Deep South. Rains that began at the beginning of January affected more than 1 million people and resulted in at least 30 deaths, Thai media reported earlier this month.

In Bangkok, vendors in Chinatown saw decreases as well.

“It is really slow this year. Any shop owner would tell you that this year is not profitable. There are fewer buyers and it is harder to sell. People are saving a lot more,” said Chaiyaphon Jongraksa, 65, the owner of home decorating shop along Yaowarat Road in the Chinatown area of Bangkok

A Thai-Chinese woman in Yala blamed the flooding for keeping her from making a living tapping rubber.

“Things cost more, we have to buy only what we need,” Sermduang Kaewkloy said. “Most of our clothes are what we have in black and white for the late King anyway.”

POST A COMMENT

Add your comment by filling out the form below in plain text. Comments are approved by a moderator and can be edited in accordance with RFAs Terms of Use. Comments will not appear in real time. RFA is not responsible for the content of the postings. Please, be respectful of others' point of view and stick to the facts.