The RED SHIRT Crisis in Bangkok!

[thaibound]

So what's the opinion/feeling of you guys 'on the ground'?

With the obvious tragedies unfolding every day due to the violence and unrest, would a would-be vacationer/lb-lover be insensitive to the situation as well as stupidly at risk, to ignore the travel warnings and schedule a flight into bkk?

After the tsunami, tourism in the face of disaster helped rebuild thailand -- but this is clearly different: ongoing, political, unnatural, with no resolution in sight -- so should we wait until "after"? and when might that be?

Or might a stealthy end-run direct to samui dodge the issue altogether?

[Snick]

Straight to pattaya, then Samui, but remember to PM me your dates first.
BTW lots of hotel deals in Samui AND Bangkok Air is having a 2 for 1 sale on tickets to Samui.

[guydesavoy]

Foggy is stocking his fridge as we speak ....

Nice to see you thaibound  

Tomorrow's front page for The Nation (sorry for the poor res but you get the idea..)

[perth_couple]

We landed today and have a place to stay while in Bkk that is close to Nana but not in the firing line so to speak ... That said, from what we have seen the place is very tense and a lot of venues (from clubs to street vendors) seem to have closed down for the duration...

Needless to say we are heading South in the next day or two..

As for whether partying here during the 'troubles' would seem insensitive or not, it does for us and either way seems hardly worth the effort given the general exodus....

[SamplerDoc]

(Snick @ May 17 2010,22:38) Are those your pics, they're great -- hope you didn't put yourself into danger to take them.

Most of those photos appeared on CNN and other news sites.....
Credit is due to Getty and AP Images according to the original photos.

[titian]

This thread is long on sensationalism and opinion, and short on specifics. While not wishing to disparage the existing content, would it be possible please for someone on the ground to spell out what's open and what's not. I presume that Patpong is a no-go area and that Soi Cowboy is safe, but what about Nana and the other establishments along Soi 4? I am due in BKK next month, and would appreciate some solid intel as it's difficult to work it out from the high-level map on the BBC News website.

I hear on the news that the US embassy is closed. I'm guessing that this is probably because it's on Wireless Road which I believe is being used as a cordon by the army. Is this right or is the embassy caught up in the red encampment? And before you ask why a Brit should have any interest in the US embassy it's next door to All Seasons Place where I currently have a hotel reservation.

Thanks in anticipation.


PS. A weekly update would be especially helpful...

[BAM]

It's Front Page News today here in Toronto, Canada.

[Snick]

titian - you are just going to have to read the thread, events are happening very quickly.

At the moment I would say there is no LB gogo scene in Bangkok, with Nana and Patpong both effectively closed. No idea what the street walkers are upto, I hear lower Sukhemvit is very quiet.
If All Seasons is on wireless road, then its off limits.

Here is a map of the action
http://maps.google.co.th/maps....49&z=14

[f0xxee]

If you are using BKK as an entry point I see no harm or issue: Pattaya and points south can be accessed without going anywhere near the hot zones.

Titian, Um, this a a ladyboy forum. Goggle "The Nation" (and note its The Nation Multimedia) and BKKPost for regular updates Snick and Blue ballz are doing an excellent job as far as I can see telling you what is going on and what is open and what is not. .
Soi Cowboy being in Asoke is most likely open, but the general feeling I got when in BKK a couple of days ago was not exactly Mardhi Gras: people are scared and concerned and sad... and to be honest it strikes me as poor taste to be sitting in a bar watching society fall apart.

[f0xxee]

PS: I am signing a contract to buy a House in HH today. Is this sheer madness? Or am I truly buying in the gloom with the expectation of selling in the boom? Sleepless last night worrying about whether this is a real estate coup or sheer folly.

[f0xxee]

And meanwhile back in Paris,

The ill-gotten gains continue to be disbursed. So much for coming back when the first bullet was fired. Or perhaps he is shopping for Kevlar lined Louis Vuitton?

[deepthroat]

CNN's Dan Rivers video from streets of BKK earlier today. He's having no problems making cell phone calls or locating working drinking fountains in the middle of the Red Shirt encampment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvfgcFW4WMU

[SamplerDoc]

Serious question here.................

Does anyone know why in so many photos most of the troops are wearing color scarves around the neck?

[Snick]

Different units wear different scarves so they can identify each other, also there have been reports of Reds dressing up as army,police.

[BlueBallz]

Woke up this am to a blanket of white smoke around the area. I am inside the "exclusion zone" right near Panthip. I was in the Asoke area on Saturday and things were fairly normal but quiet. But that was a few days ago. My advice-head str8 to pattaya. My informants tell me you can get a BJ, shag, or LB anytime on Soi 6. Pattaya not effected.

The long term-who the fuck knows?? TIT. Remember the seige of Leningrad was over 800 days. The govt looks completely ineffective and looks like they couldnt organise the proverbial piss up in the brewery. Leaving in a few hours to stay tonight near the airport. I must grab a TUK TUK to get me outside the zone.......wish me luck.

Will go out and forage for some food in about an hour.....

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE-now more than ever!!