The chaos in Bangkok commanded a sizable portion of column inches on the front pages of newspapers around the world yesterday. As the 'final battle' enters its second week some of the stranded tourists are getting out, with no intentions of a quick return.More than one editorial talks about the country being on the brink of a civil war. In some ways that might already be the case but reading it on the website of a newspaper on the other side of the world seems to make it all the more real and, in some ways, frightening.
I joked yesterday on my Facebook update, questioning how long it might be before the UK asks all its citizens living in Bangkok to make arrangements to leave. That's still a long way from happening but you can be sure that someone somewhere at the British Embassy in Bangkok has been dusting off those plans.
Looking back two weeks, if someone had suggested Bangkok's two international airports could be closed and held by the anti Government demonstrators you'd have said 'no way'.
Don't rule anything out when it comes to Thailand.
Hi Andrew
ReplyDeletenot sure if you remember Deidre in the office here? Her daughter is stranded in Bangkok at the moment having been advised to leave Phuket to turn up to her flight which should have left on Monday. She is hoping to leave on Friday but seems to be enjoying her extended stay and making the most of it.
Meant to ask if you would leave if the UK government advised it? I get the feeling Thailand is home now and I am guessing you would stay whatever happens.
ReplyDeleteT
Hi Teresa. I think a lot of people are making the most of their extended stay in Thailand. The media seems to only be reporting those who are describing their escape from the hell that has been Bangkok over the last week.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, there are far worse places in the world to be stranded, especially when the Government is giving you 2,000 baht (about 37 quid) per day towards your hotel and food.
Your question about leaving if the UK Government issued that instruction is a very, very difficult one to answer. It would really depend on the circumstances and how safe I felt I was. In all honest I think I would stay but it's a hard questions to answer.