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Even traditional broom makers are affected by inflation

Phuket Inflation Growing, Flights Hard to Find

Monday, August 4, 2008
Monday TRENDS

LATEST figures indicate that inflation surged to 9.2 percent in Thailand in July, the highest rate for 10 years. That's a worry.

Inflation, caused by the rising price of oil, now means you need to book a flight to Bangkok or from Bangkok to Phuket three days in advance.

You will pay more for the privilege of winning a seat on a plane, or be forced to catch an overnight bus.

Shortages of seats on aircraft are already a problem for the Phuket tourists industry each high season, with visitors who suddenly decide to take a break on the holiday island sometimes forced to go to another destination.

In good times, there are simply not enough flights to Phuket.

Now we know, with the closures of budget airlines Nok Air and One-Two-Go, that it can even be a problem in the low season.

Blame oil-fuelled inflation.

On Phuket, prices are clearly rising, too. Judging by the cost of a basket of essential items at Tesco Lotus, the cost of living on the island appears to be zooming up faster than the national average.

There are some scary signs. A three-kilo bag of Purina Alpo dog food, for example, cost 189 baht a few weeks back. In August it now costs 250 baht.

All this is alarming because the island has to import virtually everything.

However, even economists who pontificate about world markets are hesitant to make predictions about the island because of its quirky characteristics.

Exactly how much inflation is there on and around Phuket? We went to the broom makers of Baan Klong Hang for an answer.

The women of this Phang Nga community make many of Phuket's traditional brooms, producing them by hand using natural material and wire binding.

It's a skilled task. Three or four of them can produce as many as 100 brooms a day, each one a thing of beauty when compared to the plastic factory versions.

The price of a broom bought directly from the women of Baan Klong Hang two years ago was 17 baht, and a very good deal that was for a hand-made treasure.

Guess what? These days a broom direct from the makers will cost you 25 baht. That's an increase of 47 percent in just two years.

Should we be alarmed? Probably not. Make a product that people want, and the price will rise according to demand.

And perhaps the price won't rise again for a decade, or until the villagers feel they need more to preserve their simple lifestyle.

The brooms sell for 35 baht at retail outlets in Phuket. If you ever found yourself short of cash to buy one, you could drive to Phang Nga and save yourself 10 baht.

Sorry, our little joke about fuel prices.

Inflation on Phuket? Who knows . . . prices certainly seem to be on a steep incline right now.

Other considerations also have to be taken into account, including support for traditional local handicraft industries.

If you are using an expensive plastic factory version, you may be sweeping with the enemy.

Village Life is Good in Phang Nga

LOOKING FOR something to do on Phuket on a rainy day? Why not drive up to Phang Nga.

It will probably also be wet, yet because rain falls so regularly there during the green season, locals simply go about their normal business.

The countryside inland between Takuapa and Thai Muang is superb, with sweeping vistas over valleys and hills.

There are seven villages in the region, each with a one-village-one-product specialty.

Nearby is Baan Chang Nawn (Sleeping Elephant Village). We thought the honey from the local wild bees was especially tasty.

As for the broom makers, their work, along with rubber and bamboo plantations, helps support a thriving community of more than 70 adults and children.

Wages have more than kept pace with rising prices. So there's still hope we can all live with inflation

Inflation? That's Real Inflation

WHILE on inflation and travel, Africa figures highly on most people's wanna-go list.

But Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe may not be the place they'd prefer.

Here's what a resident wrote recently on an online site, crikey.com.au, about life there: ''We are allowed to draw only 100 billion dollars per day from our bank accounts.

''This is currently worth less than 20 UK pence or 40 US cents . . .

''This daily maximum withdrawal is not enough to buy even a single bread roll which this week cost 140 billion dollars.

''On Saturday one kilo of potatoes was 110 billion, one kilo of oranges 500 billion, so one cannot buy anything for the daily drawn-sum and then by the next day everything has again increased beyond one's purse.

''Supermarkets are empty. Vegetables available only from street vendors. Our telephone calls are 2.2 billion dollars per unit.

''We are desperate for relief. On Friday 25th exchange rate was 850 billion dollars to the US. Inflation was 150 quintillion percent (that is 150 plus 18 0's ).

''We try to keep each other going but it is extremely difficult.

''The sun still shines and birds are chirping in the garden and spring is coming. The warmer weather helps our mood.''

Zimbabwe? Let's not go there.

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TRENDS
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To tell us your news, email bigislandmedia@gmail.com or telephone 081 6513489.


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