This is how Bangkok have looked like for the whole week from the window of Aleksandra's place!
The Red Shirts have occupied the business district for the last few weeks and the traffic has been hell all around the city! They have moved here from where they were located next to the Khao San Street. I passed by the protesting area myself dressed in a red dress and carrying a red bag only a few weeks from now. The protesters loved the fact that a Farang chick was wearing red and greeted me cheerfully as I walked by. The place looked like a festival than a demonstration, there were families with kids running around playing, men sitting under colorful tents chatting and women cooking all around. Everyone looked peaceful and happy. However, the tension between the government and protesters has been raising, talks and negotiations ended up nowhere until hell just broke loose today!
Just on the day I'm supposed to be flying to Istanbul the government decided to take harsh action! Military troops have been ordered to marsh into the protesting area! They are using live ammunition and shooting randomly at anyone standing in their way! We have been following the news from every possible online source for the whole day! People are being shot out there as I write these lines and Thai TV channels are showing nothing! All channels are airing the same program; people singing and dancing and celebrating the king as if it was a national occasion! Internet sources say there has been about 100 people injured so far and tens dead including an Italian journalist and civilians just passing by!
There is a curfew in Bangkok; for the first time in 18 years, and I'm here! The streets are not safe; we hear the news of one more shopping mall and another European bank branch bombed! More smoke is raising from different parts of the city! Expatriate networks are warning: stay home!
I've canceled my ticket and decided to wait until things cool up a bit! Me, Aleksandra and Rob are staying in today! We will hit the nearest 7-11 to get some necessities and food before the curfew is on! Alex has a lot to prepare for school next week, I'll make her a TV from card board for her Thai students, or energy suckers as she refers to them, at her English class.
I'm a little scared and broken hearted for what has become of the city of smiles and I can only hope it will recover soon...
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