The Reds at Ratchadamnoen Avenue

[Eazy_Sleazy]

Just got into Pattaya the other day, smooth/fast ride out of BKK airport. Pattaya is very calm except for the Songkran crap. I'm going to BKK tomorrow (near Nana). Been keeping tabs on the Reds and they're moving to Ratchadamnoen Avenue. I'm going to assume the coast is clear (normal traffic, clear streets) in the Nana area since the Ratchadamnoen area is a few miles from there. I would also assume a taxi to BKK instead of bus is probably better as well (in and out, no unexpected hassles).

Any good advice, words from the street are appreciated! THX E/S



http://www.bangkokpost.com/news....-forces

[thaimeup]

You'll be fine, Nana is clear.
Roads are blocked at Chit Lom; Central World, Siam Paragon are closed.
My (useless) prediction is that you will not see a repeat of the violence.

[EyeMahk]

I am in a taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok, we left Pattaya at 11:05am and I am passing the airport as I write this.  Less than 75 minutes - fastest ever.  I usually take the bus but couldn't be bothered to get soaked on the way to the bus station, and then again in BKK walking down Sukhumvit.

Update: Trip from Pattaya to Sukhumvit Soi 4 took exactly 90 minutes. I've never seen traffic so light in Bangkok, driver said that it has been this way for 2 days, and will be mostly light tomorrow (the 16th too). This is a pleasant way to spend a couple of days in BKK - without traffic jams.

In reading that the Reds left Phan Fa Bridge and consolidated at Ratchaprasong, which is outside Central World.  I'm going to take a wander over there in a few minutes and snap some pics.  I have a gun that will provide me adequate protection in case of trouble.  

[Eazy_Sleazy]

Got my bearings mixed up, their moving from Ratchadamnoen to Ratchaprasong (the road blocks you mentioned). Thanks again.

[kahuna]

You're worried about redshirts...

BANGKOK POST

Songkran road toll rises to 166
Published: 15/04/2010 at 12:33 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

There were 567 road accidents on April 14, the third day of the week-long Songkran holiday, killing 52 people and injuring another 613, Uthairat Chaiprasert, an assistant to the justice minister, said on Thursday.

A total of 1,994 road accidents were reported in the first three days of the festival, with 166 confirmed deaths and another 2,149 people injured, Mr Uthairat said.

[deepthroat]

Wow, talk about putting things into perspective.

Thanks Kahuna.

On a related note, my Mom is always very worried any time I tell her I'm traveling, especially if going to asia or mexico. She sees all sorts of bullshit on the evening news and reads things in the paper about cartel killings or muslim terrorists and assumes I'll be their next target. I always try to remind her that compared to the crime and death tolls that accompany the bad neighborhood I live in in Seattle, the trip will actually be a reprieve from the worrying she should be doing about me.

Ultimately, the stuff that grabs the headlines isn't usually gonna kill us - it's the stuff that's so mundane it's not covered by the evening news.... artereisclerosis, car/motorcycle accidents, jealous husbands/boyfriends.

[EyeMahk]

Note: Maybe a MOD should change the title to Ratchaprasong Intersection.

BTS is running, although much less frequently. I have never seen so few people on BTS. And I've never seen such little traffic in Bangkok.  If you want to take a taxi somewhere (where the Reds haven't blocked the road), today is the day.

Soi 4 is one huge water-fight, as of 5:00pm.  I got out of the taxi near guess bar and had buckets of water dumped over my head and down my back (3 times) in the 20 meters I walked. Thankfully, I am completely out of sperm so I have no need to head out again for awhile.

1:00pm, I set out for Ratchaprasong intersection.  I just walked up Sukhumvit (which becomes Ploenchit).  There is a roadblock at Wittayu, and the Reds are only letting motorbikes, taxis and a few cars in.  At Chitlom, the street is closed with another roadblock which only lets in pedestrians and motorbikes that are patted down.  Again, this is not a police-roadblock, it is manned by Reds.  

The intersection where Hyatt Erawan and Central World is - that is ground zero.  Stage set up, speakers.  The difference between today and last week is that they are now setting up more tents, staging areas, etc.  And there are far more people.  This whole area is becoming a makeshift "village". Mats for people to sleep, VIP toilets set up, food stands, t-shirts, etc.  Even a massage tent.  Power cords have been strung up, and people have fans on, as well as cell phone charging areas. The whole atmosphere is relaxed, they these people do NOT look like they are leaving anytime soon.

I walked through the entire area, no one paid any mind to me.

The westerner in me wonders how something like this can ever happen, a group taking over an entire downtown area with no resistance by any security. But the answer is really simple ...

This is Thailand.

[EyeMahk]

Roadblocks on Ploenchit, manned by Reds. The final pic is inside the roadblock, looking back.

[EyeMahk]

Not leaving anytime soon.

FYI, the girl in the Orange shirt in the middle photo was seriously hot, and I would fuck her in a heartbeat!    If every red-shirt protester looked like this, I would have never left.

[EyeMahk]

A monk was hanging out too.

[ezflip]

Maybe the red shirts setting camp in this area will be more effective for them...or their downfall.

With all the 5 star hotels in the area being blocked and the big malls as well, it might create the unwanted tension between the elite/rich and the reds.

Still, I look at eyemahk photos and the thought is that I was walking around the same place only 2 weeks ago but without any sign of the reds anywhere. Funny how 2 weeks can make such a difference. TiT

[reflections]

it looks like I wont be able to get to one of my favorite bars in theworld--Spazos in the Grand Erewan Hyatt

[laputanegra]

omg i hope this will be finish by may in case its not yet finish by then will i be ok in sathorn?

[ezflip]

No worries Tan. I think that quite a few fellow BM's will gladly jump at the chance to be your personal "bodyguard".

[manarak]

(EyeMahk @ Apr. 15 2010,18:29) Not leaving anytime soon.

FYI, the girl in the Orange shirt in the middle photo was seriously hot, and I would fuck her in a heartbeat!    If every red-shirt protester looked like this, I would have never left.

Your pic doesn't show much of the girl,, but I just seize the opportunity to state my profound dislike of such hats/caps like she's wearing.

They are so ugly, yet some girls like to wear them.

What are these caps called anyway?