Bangkok Shutdown

[Guest SpermAholic]

Last attempt, I'm perfectly happy to agree to disagree! Wikipedia articles are typically quite lengthy, and not surprisingly, your quote ends before it gets really interesting. From the very same article:

 

Riots typically involve "vandalism and the destruction of private and/or public property." The specific property to be targeted varies depending on the riot and the inclinations of those involved. Targets can include shops, cars, restaurants, state-owned institutions, and religious buildings.

 

Yep, I think that's it! What is missing in Bangkok, specifically, is vandalism and destruction. That's ultimately what distinguishes an organized protest or demonstration on the one hand from a riot on the other hand.

 

By and large, it's simply too orderly, well organized and cheerful to qualify as a riot - with professional stages, TV broadcasts, concerts, street hawkers selling trinkets... You cannot necessarily know that, observing the situation from Pattaya, but just look what people who have actually seen it first-hand have to say about it. People always seem to know at which of the many sites they're supposed to show up for certain events. Many use the BTS and MRT - and buy tickets just like anyone else! There aren't all that many chaotic scenes, and more often than not, there simply aren't any LEOs to tell the crowds to disperse, so there's not a lot of opportunity for 'civil disobedience'.

 

Khun Suthep mentioned yesterday that their electricity bill amounts to 6 million baht per day, they even seem to pay for it! I've never before read that 'rioters' anywhere in the world volunteer to pay utilities.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/392133/in-an-exclusive-interview-kamnan-suthep-reveals-how-his-life-has-changed-since-he-abandoned-conventional-politics-and-took-his-fight-to-the-streets

So what would you call shooting pick-up trucks, dismanteling the POLICE signs at headquarters, throwing granades and shooting into crowds, killing a protest leader etc? That is NOT vandalism and destruction?

 

More than 200,000 police officers plus 1,450 rapid-deployment units would be assigned to ensure security at 93,535 polling stations in 77 provinces, said Amnart Unartngarm, assistant national police chief.

 

You think they are deploying that many police and army because Carabao will be playing a concert? NOT!

 

 

 

Agreed 100%.

This afternoon I walked up to Phrom Phong to watch the march.

The inbound side of Sukhumvit was closed to traffic and full of marchers.

 

The atmosphere was that of a real party. Marching, flagwaving people and bystanders cheering whistling and waving to the live bands on trucks.

EVERYBODY SMILING.

I do hate it when they are referred to as a 'MOB'. That conjures up visions of an ugly mob ---- that could not be further from the truth. 

I walked with them (I was going that way anyway) to and through Asoke junction with no problems or hindrance.

 

Please Spermoholic do not comment if you have no personal knowledge of the situation!

 

No personal knowledge? What planet are you from? I speak fluent Thai, been here 13 years strait and you don't think that there are thousands of Bangkokians coming to Pattaya to get away from Bkk right now? People that I talk with? Also do you watch Thai TV News?.......I do.

 

 

[Guest Promsak]

 

 

No personal knowledge? What planet are you from? I speak fluent Thai, been here 13 years strait and you don't think that there are thousands of Bangkokians coming to Pattaya to get away from Bkk right now? People that I talk with? Also do you watch Thai TV News?.......I do.

 

I am from the same planet as you! And, like you, I have lived and worked here for 13 years straight.

The difference is that I live HERE IN BANGKOK.

On what are you basing your opinions? Why do you dare to assume that your opinions are right and others are wrong.

How arrogant.

And no, I do not believe that THOUSANDS of Bangkokians are fleeing to Pattaya. I went to Pattaya last weekend and saw no sign of an exodus.

Your statement is either at best an exaggeration or at worst a downright lie.

Sop fearmongering.

[Alexx]

Even if it were true that 'thousands of Bangkokians are fleeing to Pattaya' - Greater Bangkok has some 10-15 million residents, of course there's a certain (low) percentage that's prone to panic. That's to be expected. At the same time, most Bangkokians go about their daily business as usual. Neither the shutdown nor the government's response to it have led to major disruptions so far. I'm saying that as someone who has been working here during this time, not merely watching people destroy police signage on TV and getting all worked up about it, and of course I've been talking to both Thai and foreign acquaintances here in Bangkok as well.

 

It doesn't help us to discuss the 'what ifs' as if they were fact, or as if there were only one way this story could go. Sure, many things can happen, but they might as well not.

 

SpermAholic, with all due respect, you remind me of Harold Camping, that guy who predicted the Rupture not once, but twice. I'd love to read what you had to write about the 2008 and 2010 situations back then - I'd bet you predicted a civil war back then already. So this time around might be your third time. Let's hope you're wrong (again?).

[Bob]

Nothing much at all has happened so far (probably less than the average number of murders in Bangkok per week) and no tourist or falang in my view needs to concern himself/herself at all with what's happening.  I might have mild concern if I was hanging around the protestors in Bangkok or, perhaps, hanging around with the people in the few areas of the South where they're somewhat blocking voting stations;  other than that, there's zero concern anywhere else in the whole country and tourists and falang ought to respond in the same way the whole country responded to the 2006 coup (that being: a collective yawn).

 

Up here in Chiangmai, the Reds are usually preaching briefly in the evening at a small stage set up at Chang Phuak gate but nothing else is happening.  I'd guess there is about the same level of excitement (meaning "none") in Pattaya too.

 

Why anybody who allegedly is living in Pattaya is sending out "sky is falling" messages is beyond me.  I can't even conjure up a yawn up here in the boonies (Chiangmai).

[Guest Tball73]

On what are you basing this?

Please do tell.

Are you here?

On the fact that there is divisiveness, and that the potential for violence is apparent in the shootings and grenade tossing.

 

I suppose everyone is entitled to an opinion and condescending responses to opinions different to their own.

 

While I might not fear for my life (at no point in my 2 trips in December and my current stay in Pattaya), I would hate for my holiday to be ruined by something like airports closing.

 

Sounds like a small thing compared to a country's fight for "democracy", but hey I'm just a tourist.

[Guest Promsak]

 

Sounds like a small thing compared to a country's fight for "democracy", but hey I'm just a tourist.

Well put. We all have to remember that we are guests in someone else's country.

 

I really wasn't trying to have a go at you --- just trying to point out the media (all branches of it) are biased in one way or another.

An example back in November was CNN running a headline that the demonstrators had brought Thailand to a standstill.

It's bad journalism like that and scaremongering by some on these boards that deters welcome tourists like you from coming here.

I hope that you've enjoyed your stay here and not been inconvenienced too much.

[Bob]

While I might not fear for my life (at no point in my 2 trips in December and my current stay in Pattaya), I would hate for my holiday to be ruined by something like airports closing.

Probably shouldn't worry as the anti-government groups haven't even hinted that they might repeat the 2006 PAD idiocy of occupying the airport.  I'm guessing (and would hope) that you've actually not incurred even a minor inconvenience during your present trip and, presuming you head back to the Suvarnabhumi from Pattaya at the end of your trip, you very likely won't even see anything out of the ordinary.  Have fun on your current trip and, as the old Bobby McFerrin tune goes:  Don't worry, be happy. 

[NIrishGuy]

Bob I'm sure you're right and absolutely believe that 99.9% of tourist won't see a thing unless they go looking for it, however it is difficult when watching TV, reading your own government's official warnings and knowing that things COULD change for the worse fairly quickly ( or not of course) when one is sitting here in my case in the UK and wondering "will i go ahead and book for Songkran or just hold off and go somewhere else".

 

So I do hope ( for purely selfish reasons I openly admit) that they sort their differences out sooner rather than later, but it appears that so far anyway that may not quite be the case just as easily this time around perhaps mores the pity :-( 

[Bob]

I hope for a lot of things but one thing I don't bother hoping for is that any group here (including Suthep's followers and minders, the Democrats, Peua Thai, and half a dozen other groups) will "sort out their differences."  That just ain't gonna happen anytime let alone in the next few months.  A military coup would calm things down for a while (until after the next election, of course) but I simply can't imagine any reconciliation or accommodation by any of them.  You've got a better chance to win the lottery in my view.

 

I've too have received the government warnings (heck, about 5 or 6 in the last three weeks from the US government), read the Bangkok Post here almost every day, and see the Thai tv news on occasions; however, none of that means any practical difference for those here in Chiangmai (or Pattaya or Phuket, etc.).  I'm guessing some tourists in Bangkok are being inconvenienced by traffic screw-ups but, other than that, I actually haven't heard of a single non-Thai being harmed at all.  

 

For those flying into Swampy and then heading on to other locales, I'd worry more about jet lag and off fees than what "could" happen with the Bangkok protests. But, given we all have different comfort levels, up to you (as I'm sure you heard many times over here before).

[vinapu]

 

An example back in November was CNN running a headline that the demonstrators had brought Thailand to a standstill.

It's bad journalism like that and scaremongering ...........

Unfortunately you are right. Simply because scaremongering sells often media exaggerate , particularly when reporting from more known and popular countries.

 

Thank you those present in Bangkok like alexx and Promsak are calming waters on this forum at least.

 

We can't let our boys starve and deprive them latest smartphone models just because we scared by sensation greedy media and have second thought about going to LOS.

 

Tblall73 - can't we hope for some report of your current PTY activities ? 

[Guest Tball73]

/* Start lamest trip report ever */

 

My trip was blissful. Notice I used "was" even though I'm still here in Pattaya.

 

Spent most daytimes in malls, a night at Tiffany's, and today lazing on Dongtan beach, getting a foot/leg massage from the cutest guy I could find (slim pickings unfortunately).

 

Jealous boy was preventing me from visiting any establishment with anything remotely resembling a rainbow flag, and my only night of freedom (right now, as I sit in my hotel typing this) was thwarted by all the bars in Boyztown being closed ... something to do with tomorrow's election? I'd classify this as an inconvenience to say the least!

 

Sigh. I'm not sure if I'm happy or pissed. Lol, blissful - lacking new stimuli.

 

BTW, I was close to canceling the trip. Actually said it a few posts back. But decided I can "brave the mob" for my Thai friend

 

/* end */

[vinapu]

good you did not chicken out and decided to go for your friend- merits earned.

 

We are worrying about unruly mobs of Bangkok while real disaster struck at very heart of Pattaya - Boyztown bars closed for the night, this would be disappointment for somebody who came for the weekend or short trip. What about massage places ?

 

blissful - not a bad mood for a vacations

[williewillie]

/* Start lamest trip report ever */

My trip was blissful. Notice I used "was" even though I'm still here in Pattaya.

Spent most daytimes in malls, a night at Tiffany's, and today lazing on Dongtan beach, getting a foot/leg massage from the cutest guy I could find (slim pickings unfortunately).

Jealous boy was preventing me from visiting any establishment with anything remotely resembling a rainbow flag, and my only night of freedom (right now, as I sit in my hotel typing this) was thwarted by all the bars in Boyztown being closed ... something to do with tomorrow's election? I'd classify this as an inconvenience to say the least!

Sigh. I'm not sure if I'm happy or pissed. Lol, blissful - lacking new stimuli.

BTW, I was close to canceling the trip. Actually said it a few posts back. But decided I can "brave the mob" for my Thai friend

/* end */

SorryT ball. A controlling Thai guy is a nightmare. So many older farang give up their power to the boys and allow the

boy to lead them around as if they had a ring thru their nose. Jealous bfs don't give a shit about your happiness, their

only concern is the money and if you spend elsewhere they can not get it. It's not love, it's control.

So many foolish old men give away their power and become pathetic weak pussies.

I have no idea if this applies to T Ball and it is not personal.

It's fairly common to see wimpy old farangs who live in terror of controlling Thais. Henpecked and castrated foolish men.

[vinapu]

. Jealous bfs don't give a shit about your happiness, their

only concern is the money and if you spend elsewhere they can not get it. It's not love, it's control.

I'm not sure if I agree with the above, Jealousy may be motivated not by greed but desire to have farang and his time exclusively.

I agree it's about control but not necessary control of wallet. And depending on personalities it may suit both parties.

 

The same as above , noting personal in my comment and not even speaking from my personal experience but I'm privy to situation  where's no money entered in jealousy equation, just lust and desire to keep hands on. .

[Guest Tball73]

We are worrying about unruly mobs of Bangkok while real disaster struck at very heart of Pattaya - Boyztown bars closed for the night, this would be disappointment for somebody who came for the weekend or short trip. What about massage places ?

LOL, true that! Fate is a fickle mistress. Don't know about the massage places, I put them off until it was too late.

 

SorryT ball. A controlling Thai guy is a nightmare. So many older farang give up their power to the boys and allow the boy to lead them around as if they had a ring thru their nose. Jealous bfs don't give a shit about your happiness, their

only concern is the money and if you spend elsewhere they can not get it.

Heheh, don't need to feel sorry for me. Can't speak for the older farangs, but I have no lack of massage boys living here in south east Asia.

 

This one is kinda special, and I let him lead me by the balls so far, no buffalo-die stories yet. I think he knows my affection for him will wane once he gives me too much grief.

[Travellerdave]

I've been in Pattaya over two weeks now and the bar closure last night was no problem for me at all. I stocked up with a few beers, small bottle of whiskey and mixer. My telephone has now accumulated a few phone numbers against I have recorded descriptions of the boys involved. I made an early evening visit to the Samsuk Sauna, which was rather busy with farangs and Thai boys, escaping the quiet bar areas. Later a couple of phone calls acquired for me a cute boy for the night.

[williewillie]

Good to hear T ball. Many forget the golden rule. He who has the gold rules.

Some of us try so hard to be loved, we surrender our power to the boy. The boy doesn't see it as love,

just weakness and foolishness. Generalizing here, without scientific proof.

T Ball knows his stuff .

[williewillie]

I'm not sure if I agree with the above, Jealousy may be motivated not by greed but desire to have farang and his time exclusively.

I agree it's about control but not necessary control of wallet. And depending on personalities it may suit both parties.

 

The same as above , noting personal in my comment and not even speaking from my personal experience but I'm privy to situation  where's no money entered in jealousy equation, just lust and desire to keep hands on. .

 

I agree. Sweeping generalizations rarely true for all situations. I also believe many Thais think of their farangs as their

property and don't want poachers. We can be gold mines.

[Guest Tball73]

I've been in Pattaya over two weeks now and the bar closure last night was no problem for me at all.

I didn't even know about the bars closing until I was standing outside cupidol, wondering if there was a power failure.

 

Anyways, in another half hour, I'll be off the ground and heading for home. Turns out no one tried to gun me down or blow me up the taxi when made it to swampy from pattaya in less than an hour.

[Travellerdave]

No sign of an election in Pattaya apart from no alcohol being served till 12 midnight. I think it will do many of the farang inhabitants good to give their livers a welcome rest

[Guest Guideneeded]

I was in Jomtien Plaza yesterday. Most bars were closed. The Venue show was canceled too and is tonight also.

 

Off to B/town in the next hour....it was rocking on the 31st Jan for Chinese New Year, I'll report back tomorrow what's happening there.

 

...with one or two other good stories!

 

Been here nearly a week...2 weeks to go.

[vinapu]

Off to B/town in the next hour....it was rocking on the 31st Jan for Chinese New Year, I'll report back tomorrow what's happening there.

 

...with one or two other good stories!

 

Been here nearly a week...2 weeks to go.

Nearly 1 week and no report so far, what about some community service? 

[Guest anonone]

I didn't even know about the bars closing until I was standing outside cupidol, wondering if there was a power failure.

 

Anyways, in another half hour, I'll be off the ground and heading for home. Turns out no one tried to gun me down or blow me up the taxi when made it to swampy from pattaya in less than an hour.

 

Wow.  That is real fast....

Hard to imagine making the trip THAT quickly.  Well done.

[Guest Promsak]

Wow.  That is real fast....

Hard to imagine making the trip THAT quickly.  Well done.

I had similar experience the Sunday before.

Caught the 18:20 bus from Pattaya and arrived at the start of the Skytrain in Bangkok at about ten to eight (transferred to the skytrain just in case Sukhumvit was busy). Home by 20:15.

Maybe it's a thing about Sundays.

[witty]

Last Sunday, the trip on BTS to Morchit was quick, but it was quite hard to find taxis to get to Don Muang airport due to road closures at some parts of the city. However, once the taxi driver made his detour, the remainder of the trip to the airport was very smooth & fast.

I enjoyed walking about the demonstration sites as I did not have to worry about traffic. And in between political speeches, there were some good performances by Thai musicians & bands for the appreciative crowds. On the plus side, the weather was extremely good for walking.