State of Emergency in Bangkok

[MAN Flyer]

Another attack on a protest site yesterday, this time in daylight (5pm) which resulted in three deaths, including two kids. Another police officer injured during last weeks attempt to clear a site has also died today, after being shot in the head.

While the bastards firing grenades into public places are clearly the ones who need to be hunted down, I think parents should not be taking kids to these places as this situation is only gheading one way at the moment.

[GLAM82]

Forgot to add... Given that GLAM82 is staying at The Pen, he really should avail himself of the helipad... Traffic and protests? What traffic and protests...

To be fair and under a "normal" situation in BKK, taking a hotel car or AOT vs a taxi is somewhat OTT (IMHO), but this current malarkey definitely warrants a driver who knows his/her way to your hotel.

I know FS has lowered it's transfer rate from 5000 nett a year ago to 2900 nett and are now offering a "fast track" service from Swampy.


• Fast Track Service: Fast track service can be arranged as follows:
• Personal “Meet & Greet” service at arrival gate
• Escort guest through a special Immigration counter (Fast Track) Immigration area
• Luggage and Customs check assistance
• Limousine transfer via Mercedes Benz S-Class from airport to hotel
• Introduction to Hotel Airport Representative
• THB 5,200 net for first person for Fast Track Service
• THB 1,500 net for additional person with maximum 3 persons per car

Haha helipad will be an overkill, I do get the fast track buggy and special immigration though via HSBC and APEC

[Gunnar Smithsen]

Forgot to add... Given that GLAM82 is staying at The Pen, he really should avail himself of the helipad... Traffic and protests? What traffic and protests...

To be fair and under a "normal" situation in BKK, taking a hotel car or AOT vs a taxi is somewhat OTT (IMHO), but this current malarkey definitely warrants a driver who knows his/her way to your hotel.

I know FS has lowered it's transfer rate from 5000 nett a year ago to 2900 nett and are now offering a "fast track" service from Swampy.


• Fast Track Service: Fast track service can be arranged as follows:
• Personal “Meet & Greet” service at arrival gate
• Escort guest through a special Immigration counter (Fast Track) Immigration area
• Luggage and Customs check assistance
• Limousine transfer via Mercedes Benz S-Class from airport to hotel
• Introduction to Hotel Airport Representative
• THB 5,200 net for first person for Fast Track Service
• THB 1,500 net for additional person with maximum 3 persons per car

[MAN Flyer]

Interesting tips - I'm not a fan of Ladphrao personally and I try my darndest to avoid paying more on the meter going that way.

As for hotel pickups, I think my stance on that one's been overwhelmingly clear - that's for pansies.

What bank breaking amount are we talking now that you don't want to pay while travelling in your backpacker cars?.

Talking of transport, AOT have now reinstated returns from/to BKK, or at least they had last weekend. How long that lasts if it kicks off again is anyone's guess, but it's the first time since September they have allowed people to book returns.

[CarbonMan]

Thank goodness the farmers thought twice about joining the party ... at least for the moment. Let's see what happens next week.

(Reuters) - Thai farmers, angry about not being paid under a rice subsidy scheme, called off a tractor drive to Bangkok's main airport on Friday after an assurance they would get their money, a bit of welcome news for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The subsidy program was among the populist policies pioneered by Yingluck's billionaire brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister central to a conflict that has divided Thais for years and triggered protests, violent at times, that have paralyzed parts of the capital for weeks.

The farmers had said they wanted to make a symbolic protest, with no plans to block air traffic as in 2008, when protesters forced Bangkok's two main airports to close for more than a week.

Former member of parliament Chada Thaiseth, speaking for the farmers gathered in Ayutthaya province, said they had been assured of payment.

"The government will make payment next week. The farmers will head back now and will see whether the government will pay as promised," he told Reuters. "If it isn't delivered, we will return."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...A1K05620140221

[Kyo]

I've mostly had great luck in PEK (generally taking it from the Wangfujing area), although there was once when for 15 mins me and three doormen at the Hilton Wangfujing couldn't find any taxi at approximately 10:30pm, despite covering all corners...

I freaked out and took the hotel's car instead. Cheaper, iirc, than some of the options in BKK!

[CarbonMan]

As for hotel pickups, I think my stance on that one's been overwhelmingly clear - that's for pansies.

LOL! I think some would have similar opinion on those of us who fly on any seat but Y.

That aside, I would agree with you on the hotel pickups apart from PEK, where the taxi queue can at times be as long as their famous wall.

[Kyo]

Probably at the end of the day, get the hotel to pick you up from the airport, probably worth the reduce stress

Interesting tips - I'm not a fan of Ladphrao personally and I try my darndest to avoid paying more on the meter going that way.

As for hotel pickups, I think my stance on that one's been overwhelmingly clear - that's for pansies.

[Gunnar Smithsen]

Which ways are quicker? I'd have imagined the ring road expressway via Rama 9 and getting off near Silom would be the quickest... as opposed to Ladphrao, assuming both had no traffic jams?

I can't imagine Rama 3 + bridge being that much faster, especially when contending with city traffic. Going via Chinatown has hardly proved faster for me either...

Take the back way through Samut Prakhan via the expressway that takes you towards Mega Bangna / Ikea. Will take you on a seemingly round-about way, expressway is relatively light traffic wise. Get off at Suksawat and follow it all the way or get onto Rat Burana and follow that all the way.

Alternatively come via Rama 9 and over the Rama 9 bridge, exiting at Dao Khanong and onto Suksuwat. Actually no wait, that's a trap, currently doing road works on the bridge and it's a traffic snarl if coming via Rama 9, unless you're arriving outside of peak hour?

Depending what time of day as you suggest coming down off the Sirat Expressway at Silom would probably be quicker if the traffic heading towards Rama 9 bridge isn't banked up. A good taxi driver would know how to navigate the "extra" lane if required

Rama 3 would be a nightmare anytime of the day - made that mistake once!

Took me an hour to get off the exit at Dao Kanong.

Probably at the end of the day, get the hotel to pick you up from the airport, probably worth the reduce stress

[Kyo]

Which ways are quicker? I'd have imagined the ring road expressway via Rama 9 and getting off near Silom would be the quickest... as opposed to Ladphrao, assuming both had no traffic jams?

I can't imagine Rama 3 + bridge being that much faster, especially when contending with city traffic. Going via Chinatown has hardly proved faster for me either...

[Gunnar Smithsen]

Perhaps not.

Well theoretically, you're not wrong, the Government (caretaker or otherwise) does have the means to clear the protestors at will and very quickly. This was evidenced Monday and moreso yesterday: The riot squad walks up, waits, then rushes the crowd - a very simplistic description but it's the general gist of the situation.

I think what the Police didn't count on was the protesters dispersing and then returning after they (the Police) had left. Add in, that one of the protest leaders was arrested yesterday, but within less than an hour - he'd been sprung by the protesters.

Also if you see who's in charge of the show at the moment, it's all a bit too comical.

Prayuth's waiting for something and nobody knows what it is. Possibly he's willing to wait for the NACC to proceed with a criminal case (we'll find out on the 27th of Feb) against Yingluck, which then would mean she then has to step down. Potentially creating the power vacuum everyone's been looking for.

This is what I don't get. The Bangkok courts/legal authorities etc are so blatantly anti-Thaksin/Reds etc I don't know why they haven't just let them remove Yingluck, I am sure they could find a way of making her illegal for having the wrong colour hair or something.

The Courts still need to maintain a "veil" of impartiality, perceived or otherwise, the decisions that have gone against the Government would have, in the past, led to their disbandment. But the Courts have seemingly let the Government hang themselves - give someone enough rope and they'll do it themselves et al - but the Government cocked things up and have more than likely seen their last days as sitting MP's.

The fat lady hasn't sung yet, but Yingluck's sister has been warming...

Agree with this. On the river you wouldn't know anything about the protests, especially on the Pen/Hilton side. The Hyatt was very quiet on Sunday.

Strangely enough though, Police were advising to stay clear of Saphan Taksin bridge yesterday - which has seen some action early on in the protest but hadn't heard much recently - that being said, there's at least 3 alternative routes (that I can think of) that would give you quicker access coming from Swampy.

[MAN Flyer]

If the authorities really wanted to clear those sites they could do it in minutes as it stands.

Perhaps not.

Today saw the Civil Court ruling the invocation of the SoE was illegal and rules to lift it (no date given).

Anti Corruption Commission says it will charge the caretaker PM with corruption in relation to the rice pledging scheme.

This is what I don't get. The Bangkok courts/legal authorities etc are so blatantly anti-Thaksin/Reds etc I don't know why they haven't just let them remove Yingluck, I am sure they could find a way of making her illegal for having the wrong colour hair or something.

GLAM82 being on the other side of the river will help, most of the carry on is further up the river (in terms of violent action) and the hotels around the Pen, Hilton, Oriental and Shangri La are relatively unscathed compared to their counterparts like the Grand Hyatt and the Four Seasons which are seeing awful occupancies.

Agree with this. On the river you wouldn't know anything about the protests, especially on the Pen/Hilton side. The Hyatt was very quiet on Sunday.

[GLAM82]

Today saw the Civil Court ruling the invocation of the SoE was illegal and rules to lift it (no date given).

Anti Corruption Commission says it will charge the caretaker PM with corruption in relation to the rice pledging scheme.

3 Thai citizens lost their lives - 1 policeman and 2 protesters in clashes at a protest site.

GLAM82 being on the other side of the river will help, most of the carry on is further up the river (in terms of violent action) and the hotels around the Pen, Hilton, Oriental and Shangri La are relatively unscathed compared to their counterparts like the Grand Hyatt and the Four Seasons which are seeing awful occupancies.

Thanks so much. That's very good to know.

[Gunnar Smithsen]

Today saw the Civil Court ruling the invocation of the SoE was illegal and rules to lift it (no date given).

Anti Corruption Commission says it will charge the caretaker PM with corruption in relation to the rice pledging scheme.

3 Thai citizens lost their lives - 1 policeman and 2 protesters in clashes at a protest site.

GLAM82 being on the other side of the river will help, most of the carry on is further up the river (in terms of violent action) and the hotels around the Pen, Hilton, Oriental and Shangri La are relatively unscathed compared to their counterparts like the Grand Hyatt and the Four Seasons which are seeing awful occupancies.

[HUGE AL]

...they were all PNGs earlier, averaging around... 18-22mb each

Who does that?!? On a forum website?!?