Flooding Continues In Thailand

A Thai Dhammakaya monk takes a rest from working to fortify the flood gate he stands on, as he looks out over the rising flood waters at Khlong Rapi Pat on October 25, 2011 in Khlong Luang on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand. The flood gate, approximately 8km long at Klong Rapi Pat, is one of the most critical of the last fortifications preventing flood waters from the North to flow into Bangkok. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)

Thai residents scoop water out of their homes on a flooded street in China Town near to to the overflowing Chao Phraya river on October 26, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. Flood waters are now threatening to disrupt Thailand's tourism industry, as the country experiences it's worst flooding in 50 years. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

American students from the Thammasat University, Margit McLaughlin (R) and Camille Guenard, walk down newly flooded streets near the Chao Phraya river on October 26, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

A flood victim carries water damaged belongings out from inside the kitchen in his flooded condo complex near the Chao Phyra river October 26, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. Hundreds of factories closed in the central Thai province of Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi as the flood waters began to reach Bangkok. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

A man looks down at rising flood waters encroaching on a Chinese temple in China Town near to the overflowing Chao Phraya river on October 26, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)

Floodwaters flow at a gate of the closed Don Muang Airport on October 26, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. The country is experiencing the worst flooding in 50 years with the floodwaters threatening to disrupt Thailand's tourism industry. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images)

Women walk through a flooded street on October 26, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images)

Thai monks unload sandbags to help fortify a temple from rising flood waters from the overflowing Chao Phraya river on October 27, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. Around 350 people have died in flood-related incidents since late July according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Thailand is experiencing the worst flooding in 50 years with damages running as high as $6 billion. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

Patarawan fixes her boots as her parrot, Sim sits on her head as she goes shopping for dinner at a busy flooded market near the Chao Phraya river October 27, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. Hundreds of factories closed in the central Thai province of Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi as the flood waters began to reach Bangkok. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Thai women eat and drink whiskey to pass the time on a flooded street near the Chao Phraya river October 27, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

A Thai man pumps water out from his flooded home holding the hose between his legs in a neighborhood along Chao Phraya river October 27, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Urban Elephants Roam The Streets of Bangkok

A baby elephant tries to grab some food off a cart along the city streets September 25, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. While the elephant is a symbol of Thailand, it is a fairly common site to see the unemployed and homeless animals roaming the city streets begging for food. The tame elephants dodge the traffic as their mahouts (elephant drivers) sell sugar cane by the bag to tourists who then feed them. Mahouts say that they have little choice but to bring their elephants to cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Thai officials frown upon the practice and have passed laws banning elephants from roadways but the mahouts still come risking fines in order to survive. Elephants have been big business for the country for centuries but now they are reduced to a major tourist attraction. Elephants are trained to paint, play musical instruments, and even kick soccer balls. In addition there are elephant camps dotted all over Thailand catering to tourists employing up to 650 pachyderms, according to government figures. The Tourism Authority of Thailand says that about 65 percent of tourists will visit an elephant during their stay. Until Thailand banned logging in 1989, many Asian elephants were laborers working in the jungles. (Photo Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Sangworn, a mahout (elephant driver), sits with his elephant, Bussaba, 13 years old, at his temporary camp September 26, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Flooding Threatens Downtown Bangkok

Flood waters surround houses October 20, 2011 in the neighboring provinces of Bangkok, Thailand. Hundreds of factories closed in the central Thai province of Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi with flood waters coming closer to threatening Bangkok. Around 320 people have died in flood-related incidents since late July according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, with Thailand is experiencing the worst flooding in 50 years with damages running as high as $6 billion. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)