State of Emergency in Bangkok

[HUGE AL]

One of the most bizarre things I think I've heard !!!!.

If they think Thailand is corruption free, then they are quite frankly away with the fairies. Minimising corruption is sadly not high on the list (in fact isn't even on the list) of a large number of people in authority there.

I have to agree that this notion is bizarre! These people are suggesting (and supportive of the idea) that a conflict would lead to a wholesale occupation of the country by Thailand?? That this would be permitted by the populace of both countries and the international community?? And on the premise that this would help eradicate corruption???

Wow.

Sorry, perhaps I wasn't clear. What they were saying was that the corruption is so bad in Cambodia, that they are willing to entertain ANYTHING else. With the recent (and past) conflicts with Thailand, many welcome a takeover. Again, their words, not mine.

I do know it's bad in both countries.

[milehighj]

Their feeling is that if Thailand takes over (which wouldn't be too hard), the suffering of the people via the government corruption would at least be minimized to a great degree. Their words, not mine.

One of the most bizarre things I think I've heard !!!!.

If they think Thailand is corruption free, then they are quite frankly away with the fairies. Minimising corruption is sadly not high on the list (in fact isn't even on the list) of a large number of people in authority there.

I have to agree that this notion is bizarre! These people are suggesting (and supportive of the idea) that a conflict would lead to a wholesale occupation of the country by Thailand?? That this would be permitted by the populace of both countries and the international community?? And on the premise that this would help eradicate corruption???

Wow.

[Kyo]

Silom will be fine.

Hope you stay safe in Pattaya..

[kapitan]

Well, I will be in BKK tonight, catching this evening SQ flight at 1800 hrs from SIN. Will be in Silom area, then next morning driver will send me to a location near Pattaya before returning back to BKK in the evening. First flight out of BKK on Sunday.

Hope nothing happen during my short time there...

[MAN Flyer]

Their feeling is that if Thailand takes over (which wouldn't be too hard), the suffering of the people via the government corruption would at least be minimized to a great degree. Their words, not mine.

One of the most bizarre things I think I've heard !!!!.

If they think Thailand is corruption free, then they are quite frankly away with the fairies. Minimising corruption is sadly not high on the list (in fact isn't even on the list) of a large number of people in authority there.

[HUGE AL]

How on earth could a war with their neighbour be the 'best thing' for them ?.

Their feeling is that if Thailand takes over (which wouldn't be too hard), the suffering of the people via the government corruption would at least be minimized to a great degree. Their words, not mine.

[Kyo]

It's because the downtown area is unaffected generally.

The hotspot is near Parliament house - if you want to see those CNN moments, that's where you have to be.

Everything is otherwise biz as usual.

[milehighj]

I'm posting this from BKK airport TG lounge. Arrived at on a redeye early this a.m. and instead of catching the immediate connection back to SIN, I decided grab a later flight and headed into town for a few hours.

I can report that in the "main areas" such as Wireless Road and Sukhumvit, all appears to be normal. Usual crazy traffic, no overt signs of nervousness. Perhaps some feeling of fewer tourists.

[quik!]

I hope and believe Phuket is still safe to travel to, right?

Am flying there this Sunday.

[MAN Flyer]

Many of my Cambodian friends are hoping for this as they strongly believe it would be the best thing for the country and its people.

How on earth could a war with their neighbour be the 'best thing' for them ?.

[HUGE AL]

They could also end up in a dust up with Cambodia any minute just to add to the fun.

Many of my Cambodian friends are hoping for this as they strongly believe it would be the best thing for the country and its people.

I was also in Phuket this week and visitor arrivals there are down 30%. But they've had a triple whammy with the plane crash, PAD demonstrators who closed Phuket airport for a few days and the economic situation. I was the only one in J on the MH flight to KUL the other night with just 25 in Y.

That's CRAZY!

[MAN Flyer]

Man Flyer, how is the security around the city and at the SGS? From your point of view (and others around you), have things calmed down quite a bit and they're on their way to stability?

I can't comment on most of the City as I was only there overnight but certainly around the area of Sukhumvit where the SGS is you wouldn't know there was anything going on. It's no different.

I'd be hesitant to use the word stable for the situation though, as it could go either way knowing that lot. They could also end up in a dust up with Cambodia any minute just to add to the fun.

I was also in Phuket this week and visitor arrivals there are down 30%. But they've had a triple whammy with the plane crash, PAD demonstrators who closed Phuket airport for a few days and the economic situation. I was the only one in J on the MH flight to KUL the other night with just 25 in Y.

Still plenty of bizarrely dressed Russians there though....

[HUGE AL]

The trouble is definitely affecting tourism/visitors. I arrived earlier this week and a quite flight from KUL and about 45 minutes after disembarking I was checking in at the SGS. That's Changi/Singapore-esq.

Having said that the SGS was all but full and the rates don't seem to have come down much for any of the properties I have checked recently.

Man Flyer, how is the security around the city and at the SGS? From your point of view (and others around you), have things calmed down quite a bit and they're on their way to stability?

[MAN Flyer]

The trouble is definitely affecting tourism/visitors. I arrived earlier this week and a quite flight from KUL and about 45 minutes after disembarking I was checking in at the SGS. That's Changi/Singapore-esq.

Having said that the SGS was all but full and the rates don't seem to have come down much for any of the properties I have checked recently.

[rodders]

My wife and I ended up going to bangkok for part of our honeymoon - no problem whatsoever. In fact I was pleasantly surprised to see how much Bangkok had improved from only ten years ago when I last spent significant time there.

This is not a good thing for the Thai people. Whilst there I read the Bangkok Post most days and a lot of stories were on the impact of a dowturn in tourism on their economy. On top of the current financial situation, I really do hope for the Thai people they sort this out quickly and blood free.