Towards the latter end of 2011 huge floods affected large parts of Thailand. The northern region of the country experienced unprecedented rainfall with some 2 metres of rain falling in less than two weeks. The flooded area was bigger than Belgium and this immense 'lake' then started moving south towards the Gulf Of Thailand and the nation's capital, Bangkok. Huge areas of the country were affected by floods, some of which were 5 metres deep. The ancient capital Ayutthaya was inundated and its people were forced to sleep on roofs of buildings and motorway flyovers for days upon days. The conditions were miserable but for the most part they just got on with.
Bangkok's local population mobilised themselves and food parcels, clothing and baby powder were soon being collected daily. Whilst there was some anger shown, that Bangkok remained unaffected and in order to keep it dry, Ayutthaya would have to remain flooded for longer, the majority accepted that Bangkok had to be saved otherwise the long term effects would be catastrophic.
Eight hundred people lost their lives in Thailand in this disaster and it is estimated that 13 million were directly affected. There were no reports of looting and people helped each other where they could. This was in stark contrast to the scenes in post Katrina New Orleans.
This kind of stoicism is nothing new to Asia, we have witnessed it many times before. On Boxing Day 2004 the dreadful tsunami visited itself up these shores, and the shores of many other countries. Indonesia, India, Thailand, and Sri Lanka all took a terrible battering as the water surged away from the earthquake's epicentre just off the west coast of Sumatra. In total it cost lives in 14 different countries and approximately a quarter of a million souls were lost.
The island of Phi Phi in Southern Thailand was totally devastated, though a visit today shows little or no evidence. The rebuilding work began almost immediately and although whole communities were in shock and mourning, they all pulled together for the common good. Visit any bar in Southern Thailand's many islands and ask if they were affected by the tsunami and they will show off their photo albums which catalogue their experiences on the day that hell came to visit.
More recently it was Japan's turn to face up to nature fury. The earthquake and tsunami were immense and it is nothing short of a miracle that the death toll remained at 15,000. Although a huge number of lives lost, the tsunami was up to 45 metres high and it is a miracle that many many more were not killed. The nuclear reactors at Fukushima went into meltdown but the people did not. It was impossible to watch the way that the population acted following the tragedy, and not be moved. This proud people showed themselves in the best light possible when the eyes of the world were turned towards them.
Time and time again the Asian people have shown a pride and dignity that is humbling to witness. The Western world could do well to watch and learn.
Keith Hancock is a musician and freelance writer from Manchester England, currently living in Bangkok. He has travelled extensively through North America, Europe, Australasia and Asia.
He has written commissioned work for the BBC, writes on a broad range of subjects and currently travels throughout Asia constantly.
His daily blog, Land Of Smiles can be found at
http://wordsfromthelandofsmiles.wordpress.com/
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