Guest fountainhall Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 Since this is a major new development, I am starting a new thread. I just heard from the manager of a top hotel that all hotels in the area occupied by the red shirt protest have today been ordered closed with immediate effect. The order is valid from today until April 25. My reading of this is that something is soon going to happen in that area and civilians will not be welcome. Quote
Guest Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 Sounds to me like something is going to happen. Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 What hotels would be in that area??? Quote
Guest Hedda Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 This was published by the internet Nation this morning: "The managements of hotels located around Ratchaprasong intersection and nearby areas this morning announced that for safety reason they will close from noon on Tuesday to April 25, reports said.The hotels include Grand Hyatt Erawan, Holiday Inn and Intercontinental. It was earlier reported that the Centara Grand hotel was also closed, but the hotel confirmed later that it is still providing service as usual. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 What hotels would be in that area??? Definitely the Grand Hyatt, Four Seasons, Intercontinental, Holiday Inn, Centara Grand, Felix Arnoma, Renaissance, Courtyard by Marriott and perhaps also the Novotel in Siam Square. Although not actually in the area, the Dusit Thani, Pan Pacific and Montien hotels are very close by. Quote
pong Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 thats indeed breaking-just read BKKpost and thaivisa 3-4 mins. ago to get uptodate and did not yet read this. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 thats indeed breaking-just read BKKpost and thaivisa 3-4 mins. ago to get uptodate and did not yet read this. Gaythailand.com is on the ball and you read it all here first! The hotels are putting a spin on the closures, but my very reliable source, a hotel manager himself, has reconfirmed that this is an order from either the government or the military. Quote
Guest Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 Gaythailand.com is on the ball and you read it all here first! The hotels are putting a spin on the closures, but my very reliable source, a hotel manager himself, has reconfirmed that this is an order from either the government or the military. Love it!! Read all the latest news on GayThailand.com Quote
Guest Hedda Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 Gaythailand.com is on the ball and you read it all here first! Not quite. If we're going to play cub reporter and who-gets-the- scoop game, better make sure we get it right. Bahtstop had the Nation's bulletin about hotel closings posted this morning,over an hour before it got posted here. As Joe Friday used to say: Just the facts, mam. Just the facts. Quote
Guest Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 Gaythailand.com is on the ball and you read it all here first! Not quite. If we're going to play cub reporter and who-gets-the- scoop game, better make sure we get it right. Bahtstop had the Nation's bulletin about hotel closings posted this morning,over an hour before it got posted here. As Joe Friday used to say: Just the facts, mam. Just the facts. LOL What is bahtstop? I have a faint memory of the name but I can't seem to recall. jk Yes, they are good at quoting newspaper articles. But, we have it here first hand. Confirmed and all. That is a scoop. IMHO Quote
Gaybutton Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 I know this is a silly question, but would someone please explain to me what difference it makes as to which board posted a news item first or which poster made the "scoop"? What's that all about? Are we having some sort of an "I found out first" rivalry contest or something? Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted April 21, 2010 Posted April 21, 2010 It sounds like "My dad can beat up your dad." Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted April 21, 2010 Posted April 21, 2010 If we're going to play cub reporter and who-gets-the- scoop game, better make sure we get it right. Bahtstop had the Nation's bulletin about hotel closings posted this morning,over an hour before it got posted here. Oh dear! Did you not see the laughing icon after my statement. It was a JOKE! Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted April 22, 2010 Posted April 22, 2010 The BBC and other agencies are reporting violence at the top of Silom near the junction with Rama 4. It seems a series of explosions occurred of which some were grenades. So far they say there has been one death and 75 injured. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted April 23, 2010 Posted April 23, 2010 As Britain, the US and Australia today issued new travel advisories against visiting Thailand other than on essential business, I wandered down to the Rama 4/Silom/Rajadamri junction at midday. Isaarn songs are still blaring from the heavily fortified protest area. It may look rather flimsy, but there are concrete blocks at the base and back. Traffic on Silom and Rajadamri is operating normally, although there are far fewer cars than usual. Riot police are in force on both sides of Silom and there are many reserves waiting in the side-roads. Poor guys, they really are having a hard time in the heat (but they still look gorgeous – and today they were smiling a lot more than on my last outing on Monday. I wish the guy in one of my photos had not moved so fast!!). Ambulances and media trucks are also in evidence, though out of direct sight. Both Silom MRT and Saladaeng BTS stations are closed. In fact, I did not notice any Skytrains and so I assume that line is also closed. Perhaps surprisingly, many of the shops are still open, including Au Bon Pain at the top of Silom where workmen were replacing a large broken window. It does seem as though something is about to happen. This morning I spoke to a friend who is in a senior position in one of the international banks nearby. Last night, the staff were ordered to keep the bank closed today. About 10% of the staff were working in the back offices this morning, but my friend said they had been ordered to leave today at 1:00 pm. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted April 23, 2010 Posted April 23, 2010 Just a further brief update. This afternoon I took a taxi from Rama 4 up Wittayu (Electric Road) alongside Lumphini Park as far as Nai Lert Park Hotel (the old Hilton) at the top. Contrary to some reports, the Park is open and I saw a few joggers. There are signs on the gates which I expect refer to early closing. Further up, there seems to be absolutely no additional security at the US and British Embassies. I did notice that a new mini barricade has been erected at the junction of Sukhumvit and Ploenchit. Since it only covers the middle of the road, it really looked rather pointless! Quote
