http://www.democraticunderground.org/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5443970Oh my.
Things are pretty hot over there in Siam, what with all the shooting and ostensibly a violent revolution emerging.
Atman (1000+ posts) Sun Apr-12-09 10:19 PM
Original message
I'm supposed to fly to Bangkok Wednesday...yikes.
We're on Samui now, returning to the states on Thursday. Maybe. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous. But for today...Happy Songkran!
Happy Easter to you too, Pedro.
Schema Thing (1000+ posts) Sun Apr-12-09 10:20 PM
Response to Original message
1. be safe!
what takes you to such far flung places?
Atman (1000+ posts) Sun Apr-12-09 10:32 PM
Response to Reply #1
5. My birthday...first vacation in years
My sister lives here so at least we have a base if we get delayed a bit. My wife set it all up for my b-day.
Of course, besides setting it up, one suspects the wife paid for it, too.
ddeclue (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-13-09 12:23 AM
Response to Original message
10. Skip it... head home...it's not worth it.
Atman (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-13-09 12:51 AM
Response to Reply #10
11. I don't have a choice. Our flight home leaves from Bangkok.
We already changed our flight once to stay an extra day on the islands. Everyone here told us the same thing...Bangkok is just a big city, and while nice, hardly worth leaving the beach for. But everything else is booked. We have to spend one night there just to make our plane on Thursday.
paulk (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-13-09 01:28 AM
Response to Original message
12. I think the government will make sure the protesters
stay away from the airport - though, overall the situation is a lot scarier than the last time. Thaksin has openly called for an overthrow of the government - it's not the best place in the world to be right now! It's hard to equate Thailand with the sort of rioting that's going on - especially when you're on the beach...
muriel_volestrangler (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-13-09 04:12 AM
Response to Original message
13. Keep your head down, literally: live rounds being fired in the streets
British Foreign Office advise against travel to Thailand:
Advice on the FCO website read: "In view of the deteriorating security situation anyone considering going to Bangkok should urgently review their plans.
"British residents in, and visitors to, Bangkok are advised to avoid any areas where demonstrations are taking place and to stay indoors as far as possible."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7996135.stm
The Thai army has fought running battles with protesters in the capital Bangkok in a bid to end days of mass demonstrations and political chaos.
A BBC correspondent saw soldiers fire hundreds of live rounds, some into the crowds of protesters, in a bid to clear them from a major road junction.
The protesters responded by hurling petrol bombs and driving buses they had commandeered at the lines of troops.
Dozens are reported to have been wounded in the clashes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7996241.s...
Now, if I was richboy playboy Pedro--which thank God I'm not--I would be reluctant to leave, just when things are getting interesting. I'd prefer to hang around, just to see what happens.
Of course, I have no wife or dependents to worry about, and that of course influences decisions one makes and risks one takes. And so richboy playboy Pedro is correct in wishing to leave, so as to spare his wife.