Irony, Phuket style

On my way to work I've always taken a "back road" through Phuket City that twists and turns through a valley surrounded by steep hills. It's kind of a hidden treasure, no traffic, little development, lush greenery along most of the way.

Until recently, that is.

Any time you see an area with a high concentration of oxygen-sucking, organic matter, you know its days are numbered. Such is the price of living in paradise.

First a big wall went up along one side of the road. Then a house started being built near the end of the road.

Then every single tree, shrub, weed and blade of grass along the whole stretch of road, both sides, was ripped out and hauled off in big trucks.

Now the road cuts a path through a dirt pile.

Many wondered what was going on, including dozens of birds, who could be seen circling over the barren landscape in confusion for weeks afterwards.

We soon got our answer.

A big sign was erected, announcing the imminent arrival of project with houses and an 8-building condominium complex with about 1,500 units.

The name of the project?

The Green Place.


(Full disclosure: my husband's family are property developers, too, though on a small scale. And they like grass and trees.)