Accident in Chiang Mai
by Cedric Ang on May.08, 2009, under Encounters, Rant
It was this that I realized, electronic gadgets and water do not mix.
It was an outing that turned out to be a tragedy.
When we arrived at Chiang Mai, we wanted something different. People normally go for cruising, or shopping, but instead I planned to explore the wilder side of Thailand. The jungle.
I hired two porters this time. They are both siblings, and very well versed with English. Despite their age, they are very capable and with the locals recommendation, must be a very good guide.
The entrance to the jungle trek is only accessible via the waterways. There were two groups that morning. One just arrived from Bangkok, and another from elsewhere. There were not enough boats, and I was forced to share mine with one of the groups.
Eventually, I would not mind, but throughout the journey, I was starting to get pissed at the passengers.
Noisy, shouting and a bunch of raccoons, thats what I could describe them. While I was enjoying the journey taking pictures of the wild life the first 15 minutes, they were shouting, and throwing stuffs to the water. Acting like a total monkey, with cloths on.
They started talking in Mandarin, thinking that it might be foreign to me. Well guess what, I understand whatever you are talking, and don’t bother to whisper because your whisper is as loud as the motor at the back.
2 fucking hours I had to bear with them monkeys. Upon reaching the jetty, two of the buggers stood up on the boat. With the help of the current, and the position of the boat, the boat overturned, and everyone fell into the river. (the boat was trying to turn to the other side of the bank, going across the river).
You monkeys should have never stood up, thats for one.
You monkeys should have never wear the life jacket, I would rather you drown in the crocodile infested water, than to dirty my hands murdering you later.
I lost my beloved camera, and a bunch of high end lenses.
And mister, my camera cost more than USD500 that you offered me. It is a Nikon D3x, and it is digital. (they called it the old fashion camera, while waving their 5 megapixel point and shoot).
I was pissed, yes.
I guess, there is nothing I could do. Good thing I have got my equipments insured. Now the problem is, should I report it as stolen, or should I report it as lost in the middle of a crocodile infested river?
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May 8th, 2009 on 12:42 pm
im so sorry to hear this, they r just too inconsiderate. hopefully the claim of insurance wont b a hassle for u and all the best for ur coming journey
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
@thehappygolucky1,
Thank you, and welcome to my blog. Do come back often.
You can follow my blog with RSS, the button is right on top there.
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May 8th, 2009 on 4:22 pm
oh dear, am so sorry to hear about that.. yes they could pay for the lost camera.. but they could never pay back the photos and memories that you have taken along the trip!! hmmm, where are those maroons from?? slap slap~~
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
@[SK],
From China.
The damage wasn’t that bad, cause I just swap my memory card, so coincidently I ran out of space on the first card.
Bribing me with 500 dollars is totally uncalled for since the camera itself cost about USD9k. I was having a long lens, and that cost me another USD2k something.
My other lenses in my bag were soaked as well. Thank Goodness I left most of my gadgets in the hotel, else, I would lost more than I would want to imagine.
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May 8th, 2009 on 5:38 pm
hello Cedric, I read your post and I could feel your frustration over what happened. I think it’s normal as I would also feel the same if I were you—maybe more—haha. I guess it’s not just about the lost camera but the fact that you lost the opportunity to take more pictures of the place…..
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
@pusang-kalye,
No choice, actually.
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May 8th, 2009 on 7:13 pm
Urgh! I hate these people! You should have strangled them so there are few of these less in the world!! Haha Some times when these things happen, loosing a camera… the most painful is not the lost of the equipment itself, it’s what’s inside the camera… the photos.
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
@Mr. Ken,
Would not want to dirty my hands now, would I? Unless I can get off with murder in Thailand.
Then again, I heard that you can buy a kill for less than USD100
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May 9th, 2009 on 10:00 am
that pic is so Nat Geo worthy
sorry to hear bout the camera!
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 9th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
@serm,
That is one of my to-do list.
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May 10th, 2009 on 11:44 am
Oh shit! That’s terrible! Really idiotic passengers!
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 10th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
@Paul,
Yes, indeed.
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May 10th, 2009 on 5:33 pm
sighs.. i would be pissed too! >.<
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 10th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
@kenwooi,
Exactly.
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May 10th, 2009 on 10:05 pm
those are horrible fellow passengers on a long journey. i feel so sorry for you that you had to suffer this misfortune for no fault of your own.
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 11th, 2009 at 5:52 am
@Bengbeng,
Unfortunately .. yes ..
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May 11th, 2009 on 10:32 am
poor thing.. thats y i always have not-so-good impression of the ppl from that place…no offense..
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 11th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
@danny,
It’s not about Chiang Mai, really. I love Chiang Mai. It was just the surge or other tourist. Worst, I had to share my boat.
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danny Reply:
May 11th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
@Cedric Ang, ooo dun get me wrong.. i am referring to those Chinese tourist
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 12th, 2009 at 3:48 am
@danny,
No worries there … I know you mean well.
May 11th, 2009 on 5:22 pm
oh dear… so sorry to hear that… dats many very expensive thing u have.
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 11th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
@koala,
Very .. what to do .. what to do ..
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May 11th, 2009 on 5:42 pm
haha..reply to what you wrote in ma blog..
ya…luckily got you loh..
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 11th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
@h@ven,
HEHEH .. thank you.
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May 11th, 2009 on 9:10 pm
WAH NIKON D3X !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! good thing they are insured. Sorry to hear about the incident. Hope you managed to get your replacement camaer soon
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May 12th, 2009 on 12:07 am
What a shame that I had never visited Chiengmai! Take it easy, after misfortunes come good fortunes! i love that photo of the sampan man, so good shot! Great!
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May 12th, 2009 on 8:31 am
is a nice blog ..ha ~nice to meet you ..will come here often …
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Cedric Ang Reply:
May 13th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
@都市[心]鲜人,
thanks. must always come okay?
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May 28th, 2009 on 9:32 pm
I read a story like this and think “the tourists must be Westerners… noisy and brash”. But speaking Mandarin? Obviously not then.
Losing a D3X, no small issue, I’ve a D2X and I think if I’d lost that I would have drowned the pair of them
Shame that your trip to my home of Chiang Mai was spoilt by such stupidity…
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July 1st, 2009 on 11:11 pm
Hello Cedric, My first time leaving something here after reading much about your blog. Thoroughly enjoyed some of your pieces. You’re a great writer, photographer. Truly am sorry to hear of your bad luck but I’m glad you are still very much alive and in one piece. Objects can be replaced, life can’t. Keep your entries coming..cheers!
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