My daughter & fiancee in Thailand

[bob10]

Daughter & Fiancee are currently travelling in Thailand, been there almost 3 weeks, been keeping in touch via e-mails. naturally Mum & I are concerned with the unrest there. Latest E-mail
"
Just another email to say we are alive. The place we stayed Last night and tonight is quite close to protests but we are moving to khao San rd tomorrow for the last 2 nights. The protests seems relatively calm from what I can see/hear out the window but we are going to go in the opposite direction today. The worst part is they are blocking the 7 stores shopping centre from me!! Only 4 more sleeps until we are home. Don't worry we are safe. Love you xx="
Women! Bob

[Disco Muppet]

Interesting.
I just got back from a week in thailand and another week in vietnam with family.
Admittedly we spent most of our time in that island place that the swear filter won't let my type, but even during our time in bangkok we didn't notice a great deal of disturbance.
Hope your daughter and her fiance get home safely :)

[bob10]

This may help, Bob
BBC News - Thailand crisis: Protesters launch Bangkok 'shutdown' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25708092)


edit- and you noticed nothing....

[Disco Muppet]

I was aware of what was going on, but didn't notice anything during our short layover in bangkok, airport seemed fairly relaxed, and there wasn't any mention of it elsewhere, but I guess you're not going to be at the centre of a protest in a tourist resort.

[bob10]

Another E-mail from the daughter, things can change quickly , luckily she & her Fiancee are sensible . Interesting times. Bob


Hello parents!!

Just thought I'd fill you in on the situation here in Bangkok. Overnight about 50,000 protesters somehow set up a campsite with a stage and lighting, shelter and food! These people must be like busy ants! We went to bed last night at about 10pm and there was not a single sign of anything. When we woke up this morning the place was swarming with people. Our hotel is about a block away from the action but we are moving to a different hotel tomorrow. We had no choice but to walk through today because we were surrounded. There were security and police making sure tourists were safe. It all seemed very peaceful today and we even had some good chats to some of the people. From what we can tell they don't want to hurt anyone and are letting ambulances and tourist buses through and are not going to disrupt public transport or airports. One of them described it more of a gathering than a protest. It would seem they want results, lets hope this happens. But they also said it only takes one person to turn things sour. We had an early dinner and are in our hotel now because we didn't want to be wandering around outside at night. We can still hear then going though. It sounds more like a music concert with all the performers they've got! Tomorrow we are going to check out Khaosan Rd and some of the temples and things as it is out of the way of protestors. On Wednesday we are going to the river Kwai and railway and museum from world war 2. Then on Thursday we are going to catch the train to the airport. We are leaving at 9 in the morning even though or flight isn't until 3 just to make sure with all the fuss going on. Anyway, I assure you it isn't as bad as the media makes out. I read some news articles online and thought they must be talking about a different place!!

[85 county]

There is no problems for westerners in Thailand.
The issues are not really as they are reported.
it is basically a race conflict, a former prime minister is ISSARN the first ISSARN PM Thailand has ever had, power is traditionally been held by a small elite group of Thai's, but they are in the majority. With modernization and the influx of factories into Thailand a lot of labor was needed, most of this came from the NE or ISSARN, traditionally the rice farmers a fodder for the army. 20 years latter and better educated the Issarn want there say.

[bob10]

There is no problems for westerners in Thailand.
The issues are not really as they are reported.
it is basically a race conflict, a former prime minister is ISSARN the first ISSARN PM Thailand has ever had, power is traditionally been held by a small elite group of Thai's, but they are in the majority. With modernization and the influx of factories into Thailand a lot of labor was needed, most of this came from the NE or ISSARN, traditionally the rice farmers a fodder for the army. 20 years latter and better educated the Issarn want there say.


The issue is whether the military decide to force another of the many coups, as has happened in the past. I remember legendary war combat cameraman, Neil Davis meeting his end in 1985, covering that coup. Wrong place, at the wrong time , westerners may not be the target, but be in that wrong place at that wrong time, I'm glad they are leaving the area. Bob

[85 county]

The issue is whether the military decide to force another of the many coups, as has happened in the past. I remember legendary war combat cameraman, Neil Davis meeting his end in 1985, covering that coup. Wrong place, at the wrong time , westerners may not be the target, but be in that wrong place at that wrong time, I'm glad they are leaving the area. Bob

1 the military are in control now, the last coup was in 2006? and i was incoutry at the time, you would not even have known it was going on apart from the yellow flowers in the barrels of the soldiers guns.

2 Neil Davis was in the wrong place at the wrong time, he stood in front of a tank, the tank fired. he was not killed but that but by the shrapnel.

Just relax; the Thais have been doing this off and on for years. Your daughter is safe.

[Chucaro]

I hope that all works of for them Bob, my granddaughter will arrive tomorrow from Africa after 6 weeks in Uganda and I can telling you that my wife and I were very nervous about it.
I guess that we are very protective of our love ones and we like to keep them in a cotton cocoon forgetting that when we were young we done our own risky adventures :D
I was 23 and my wife 21 when we come to Australia with twins boys 8 weeks old, beautiful madness :)

[DiscoMick]

Hope they will be fine as long as the main airport stays open. If it doesn't they may have to go to the former main airport, which is usually used as a backup. Sometimes airlines divert to there.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

[85 county]

in thailand history, a difrent as it is to ours. an airport has never been closed