State of Emergency in Bangkok

[MAN Flyer]

So the coup is just a temporary measure for a few weeks or months 'to prevent civil war' and they will make preparations for fresh elections, after a number of 'reforms', which is Thai speak for jailing Thaksin supporterting MP's or banning them from standing under some trumped up charge or other...

So if they are only in temporary charge before fresh elections, why do the army feel the need to get involved in big ticket infrastructure decisions ?. Well, what 'allegedly' happens when large infrastructure contracts are handed out in Thailand ?. That's right, large brown envelopes change hands and/or bank accounts in Switzerland or elsewhere suddenly have large balance increases. As a friend in Thailand commented during the last coup : The other side just want 'their bit', which they don't get when Thaksins lot are in power...

Well I never......

Thailand's ruling junta has approved a $23 billion (£13.6bn) transport project ......

At least Prayuth himself actually turned up to claim the glory, and of course whatever any other benefits happen to come his way...

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...rail-link-23bn

[scooby5]

Hey that was when I was there...just flew back last night. We may have been on the same flight!

I was on SQ979 BKK-SIN, scheduled for 6.30pm departure, although we were a little delayed taking off as flight operations were halted for a few minutes on account of the thunderstorm over the airport.

When we finally took off in the rain, it was the most powerful A330 take-off I had ever experienced. I was sitting in the back and the engines were LOUD (Like 777 loud...). Take-off angle was steeper than usual too. And while climbing out, we passed through a squall which really rocked the plane, literally lifting our bums off the seats into the seatbelts for a brief instant (thankfully all were still belted as this was during initial climb out). All this time the full cabin was deathly silent...

Different flight.... I was on TG401 @ 19:40.

We pushed back around 45min late because the rain got heavier just before 7pm. I knew we were going to be late as soon as the crew arrived 20-min before scheduled departure. Could have had longer in the lounge The problem was I was in TG's D1 Lounge instead of my normal C2 lounge so I didn't have a chance to view boarding (or non-boarding) prior to getting to the gate.

[yflyer]

Just came back last night after two days around central Bangkok, you'll not notice anything.

Hey that was when I was there...just flew back last night. We may have been on the same flight!

I was on SQ979 BKK-SIN, scheduled for 6.30pm departure, although we were a little delayed taking off as flight operations were halted for a few minutes on account of the thunderstorm over the airport.

When we finally took off in the rain, it was the most powerful A330 take-off I had ever experienced. I was sitting in the back and the engines were LOUD (Like 777 loud...). Take-off angle was steeper than usual too. And while climbing out, we passed through a squall which really rocked the plane, literally lifting our bums off the seats into the seatbelts for a brief instant (thankfully all were still belted as this was during initial climb out). All this time the full cabin was deathly silent...

[scooby5]

Just came back last night after two days around central Bangkok, you'll not notice anything.

[yflyer]

Nothing to worry about,.... Thailand is a Happy nation....

Btw, all clubs and bars closes at 2 am as requested by the authorities ....

Thanks, kapitan!

[kapitan]

I am in Bangkok early next month, and I have booked myself into the Grand Hyatt Erawan. I don't head to Bangkok often...anything I should be aware of? Any alternative recommendations?

Nothing to worry about,.... Thailand is a Happy nation....

Btw, all clubs and bars closes at 2 am as requested by the authorities ....

[yflyer]

I am in Bangkok early next month, and I have booked myself into the Grand Hyatt Erawan. I don't head to Bangkok often...anything I should be aware of? Any alternative recommendations?

[Lobster]

The curfew has now been lifted across the country including Bangkok

[MAN Flyer]

Elections now delayed for 'about 15 months'.

[MAN Flyer]

So the coup is just a temporary measure for a few weeks or months 'to prevent civil war' and they will make preparations for fresh elections, after a number of 'reforms', which is Thai speak for jailing Thaksin supporterting MP's or banning them from standing under some trumped up charge or other...

So if they are only in temporary charge before fresh elections, why do the army feel the need to get involved in big ticket infrastructure decisions ?. Well, what 'allegedly' happens when large infrastructure contracts are handed out in Thailand ?. That's right, large brown envelopes change hands and/or bank accounts in Switzerland or elsewhere suddenly have large balance increases. As a friend in Thailand commented during the last coup : The other side just want 'their bit', which they don't get when Thaksins lot are in power...

It would be funny if it wasn't so sad for the vast majority of people in Thailand.

The National Council for Peace and Order will take two weeks to review big-ticket transport infrastructure projects, include the expansion of Suvarnabhumi Airport and the development of 10 Bangkok mass-transit lines and four cross-country high-speed rail routes.

After a meeting of the NCPO with Transport Ministry officials yesterday, Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, the junta's economic chief, said the projects would be tabled for the council's consideration next week.

Project implementation plans, funding and other challenges will be studied in detail before a decision will be made.

The ministry has asked for a Bt380-billion budget for fiscal 2015, nearly triple the Bt130 billion for the current year, as some projects from the scrapped Bt2-trillion infrastructure scheme are now included.

Any changes to the board of directors and executive committees of state enterprises under the ministry will wait until a discussion with them on Saturday.

The NCPO will consider whether the free bus and train measure should continue, Prajin said.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busi...-30234911.html

[kapitan]

it would appear that Facebook is now blocked.... wonder what next...

[kapitan]

If you do make it on Friday and want to meet up for a drink let me know, I'll still be here

Noted, may be postponed, still waiting for news,... tixs issued for Friday though, but not likely I will fly Friday..

[MAN Flyer]

The curfew is being cut back to midnite to 4am from today

That's around the time we normally head out.

[Lobster]

The curfew is being cut back to midnite to 4am from today

[sqdazz]

you were fortunate that you had arrived 1900 hours, if earlier, the Phaya Thai station was closed...

Yes I read that it had reopened when I landed