No Changes in the Situation

The situation with the airport here is so far unchanged. The anti-government people are not backing down and it looks as if they will have to be forcibly removed. And Thai Airways, with whom I have tickets for the trip to and from Vietnam seems to have disappeared. So it looks as if I will be here for a while. So far it has been safe and business as usual in the city of Bangkok...only there are definitely less people on the streets. I hope when force is applied to re-open the airport that violence is kept to minimum, but I fear demonstrations may metastasize into the city. If it does, I feel very safe as my hotel is in a side street with some very plush aparment buildings with excellent private security. We'll know more soon.
The locals, at least those who deal with tourists, are very apologetic about what is happening. I have been constantly reminded of why I enjoy visiting...and it is the people here. They are lovely, polite, smiling and laughing at every encounter. The politicians are clowns.

Last nite we went to the Silom/Patpong area for dinner and then entertainment at a few bars....it was crazy as usual. Today I decided to visit Chinatown as I figured it would be safe because of the typical clout of the Chinese community throughout Asia. We took the Skytrain to the River and then the tourist boat to Chinatown. Walked for about 2 hours thru the narrow, packed streets and visited the Temple where the 5 ton Golden Buddha resides. Got back to the River and returned to the hotel.

Stay tuned.

The streets of Chinatown:
The Golden Buddha..... 5 tones of solid gold! :
School children messing around:

Bombs, Attempt at Government Takeover, Closed Airport, Stranded !!!!!

My original Plan today was to take a 0750hr Thai Air flight to Hanoi to meet my guide and spend 13 days in Vietnam sightseeing in the central and southern areas. However, the simmering political situation here in Thailand came to a boil. The anti-government side had occupied the Prime Minister's offices in August and recently Parliament Buildings to try to provoke the government into resorting to force and violence...but the police and Army have generally responded by avoiding confrontation. The anti-government forces decided escalate the provocations last nite by blocking the roads to the airport and storming the Control Tower. So the airport closed at 9pm and all flights were canceled. Worst of all there was no information about what was happening; the Thai Airways phones on interminable hold; vague info from airport authorities. Only rumors and shoulder shrugs. So I went to the Airport this morning to hope to catch a 0750 flight. The taxi driver charged double but knew back roads thru a maze to get me to the terminal. No one was working: no airlines reps other than Malaysia Air; no immigration; no air traffic control (therefore no air traffic). No announcements. Nothing. It looked like a strike in sympathy with demonstrators. I stayed 4 hours chatting and exchanging rumors with Aussies, Americans. General drift was it would take at least 3 days to get it up and running again. One bomb was rumored to have been heard. Protesters were chanting and marching and sitting blocking the departure level driveway. Most of us decided to return to safety of hotels in Central Bangkok. Again a double fare!
Since tourism is way down because of the troubles so there are lots of hotel rooms are available for those stranded.

Everything else in the city seems to be working as usual but with fewer tourists. Lots of shoppers, lots of traffic. Many pissed off tourists especially Americans who will not be home for Thanksgiving.

I will try to get to Vietnam this weekend if the Airport starts functioning again. But will forfeit some hotel and air fares that can't be refunded. In the meantime, I'll enjoythis crazy city.
The only problem is that the government may have had enough and will declare a state of emergency and will try to move out the anti-govenment folks. It could get a bit edgy then.
Stay tuned.
As Cousin Jean who has been here 10 years says "well, it is Asia so you have to be flexible with plans"

An anti-government protestor trying to be noticed:

Arrival in Southeast Asia

I have arrived in my Bangkok Hotel after over 24 hours of travel from San Diego.
Most of the trip was very nice....except the last 6 hour leg from Tokyo to Bangkok.
The United flight had to be delayed 13 hours because of Flight Crew work rules......but we weren't informed until 9 hours into the Los Angeles-Tokyo leg. United handled it pretty well arranging to have me and my luggage transferred to a Japan Airlines flight that arrived in Bangkok at the same time as I was originally scheduled. However they couldn't arrange a Business Class seat like I was originally supposed to have.... so I was in Economy during that 6 hours next to the galley with restricted recline seat.
I was in my hotel in the center of Bangkok with 90 minutes of our midnite arrival.

I slept for 4+ hours and called my Cousin Jean Walzer, the 81yo who is retired here, to arrange a meeting. I had purchased and brought with me about 10 bottles of he favorite Trader Joe's vitamins and minerals as well as a bottle of her favorite 12 yo single malt scotch. We met at the Four Seasons for lunch at a wonderful Italian restaurant. I transferred the "goods" to her and we talked and ate for a couple of hours. This is the evidence:

This afternoon I will nap a bit and go out this evening. Hope to have my brain in this time zone in a day or two.
Tomorrow I must be at the airport at 6am for a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam to meet my guide, Tran Van Bay.