The Reds at Ratchadamnoen Avenue

[manarak]

oh, found it - "newsboy cap"

absolutely hideous!

[Eazy_Sleazy]

(EyeMahk @ Apr. 15 2010,12:25) 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.  

Thanks EyeMahk, great pics. Just got back from BKK, it's calm around Nana--didn't see any crazy shit. But it can change at any minute. ES

[kahuna]

SONGKRAN UPDATE.....

THE NATION

BREAKINGNEWS

Songkran road toll reaches 212

Fatalities during the first four days of the "seven dangerous days" of the Songkran festival reached 212 - eight lower than in the same period last year.

However, more road accidents caused more injuries than in the same period last year.

There were 2,515 road accidents, 47 more cases than last year, resulting in 2,734 injuries, 76 more than last year, the Road Safety Centre announced Friday.

[laputanegra]

(ezflip @ Apr. 15 2010,21:30)  No worries Tan. I think that quite a few fellow BM's will gladly jump at the chance to be your personal "bodyguard".  

hehe ok

[guydesavoy]

Thanks for the on-the-ground update Eyemahk..must be almost as dangerous as the Snick Songkran Files

Be careful out there !

[Ninewives]

(kahuna @ Apr. 16 2010,19:09) SONGKRAN UPDATE.....

THE NATION

BREAKINGNEWS

Songkran road toll reaches 212

Fatalities during the first four days of the "seven dangerous days" of the Songkran festival reached 212 - eight lower than in the same period last year.

However, more road accidents caused more injuries than in the same period last year.

There were 2,515 road accidents, 47 more cases than last year, resulting in 2,734 injuries, 76 more than last year, the Road Safety Centre announced Friday.

Is the road toll treated as a big issue in Thailand? It certainly is in my country.

I have never heard it mentioned when I have been in Thailand - although I don't watch the news very often

[kahuna]

No...Not big news...They seem to view the Songkran deaths and accidents nonchalantly...Kind of an annual cleansing...Just something that comes along with the holiday...

BTW the death toll is up to 257 tonight...Another 45 deaths reported today (Friday)...

[PigDogg]

There are reports that hotels in the protest area are being asked to close.

[Snick]

Had a LB friend involved in a bike accident Saturday night, 4 LB on a bike hit another bike.
From what I can tell, one bike was swerving around a car, while the other bike was running a red light. Both sides were drunk.

Hotels in the 'Red' Zone are closing by themselves, at 5% occupancy whats the point of staying open

ps. I thought this would all be over soon, now I think I am wrong and their will be a clash soon.

[spare wheel]

Yep, i can see yellows coming out to defend what they think they achieved last time.

still the baht is strong against all others and tourist still coming so things as normal as normal can be ?

TIT

SW „¢

[Snick]

Tourists ?, what Tourists ?
Everyone is canceling trips to Bangkok, hotels are at 20%. Phuket is also being affected. Hong Kong has a 'do not go to Thailand' warning out. And now that Abhisit is calling some of the Reds terrorists, insurance companies will stop issuing travel insurance for Thailand.
That and European flights have been canceled for the last 5 days (a moment of silence for Gizmo) and you have a disaster.

As for the Baht, I have no idea why it is still strong. It can't last.

[deepthroat]

I was looking at booking my hotel for my January trip (I know - I'm a planner!) and realized that the baht is still near it's high against the dollar. That makes no sense. Decided to wait it out and see what happens. Baht could be down 20 - 30% against the dollar within 6 months, you just never know for sure until it happens.

[pacman]

A wise move. Who knows what deals the hotels may be offering if LOS doesn't resolve this problem?

[Steff]

DT!!!

Jesus, yes you are a "planner"!!!

What is your thinking, that all of the hotel rooms in Pattaya will be taken soon by a dam-breaking onslaught of BMs making travel plans to attend out February shindig?!!? So far there are 4 of us. :-)

There are nine months before departure. Personally I believe the prudent thing to do is wait. The Thai political, financial and tourist situation is presently in flux and I believe things will be more favorable down the line. Someone, something, somewhere is holding up the baht for their own speculative reasons. They're betting this is going to all blow over. But something tells me things will never be the same again. There will be a change and a "change" usually leaves the financial sector nervous for a period of time. On the other hand if I knew what I was talking about I would already be retired, living in LOS and whistling dixie.

If for some bizarre reason you do not manage to find a room during that period I trust either Elastic Bear or Rocky will be more than happy to share theirs.

Steff

[PigDogg]

The fact that the baht is staying strong despite all the turbulence signals extreme stregnth for the baht going forward.