OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT

The global news agenda has moved on since the New Year bombings in Bangkok, but daily life here still goes on.
The only noticable thing from last year is the security checks at the entrance to the subway stations and at most of the major shopping centres. It's nothing more than a quick look in your bag - and if you truly had evil intentions then you could pretty easily smuggle anything past these guards. They are friendly and polite; the one close to the subway station near my office even smiled and waved me through without checking on Monday because he recognized me as a regular.
One thing that did happen shortly after the bombings was the Tourism Authority dropping its 'Unforgettable Thailand' brand image, replacing it with the 'Amazing Thailand' logo of the past three years. I am not sure which is more apt right now?