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: