This is the 'Escape from Bangkok' my own version which happened just 2 days ago. I was on a business trip from 24th to 26th November visiting our customer Ford Mazda in Chonburi (South East of Bangkok). On the 25th Wednesday, while we were returning to Bangkok, I noticed scores of cars, buses.MPVs and Carry Pickups with hundreds if not thousands of yellow clad PAD (People's Alliance for Democracy) supporters heading to Suvhanabhum on the opposite direction of the highway to 'welcome' the Prime Minister Somchai back from the APEC meeting held in Peru.They had had their hazard lights on and had received word to assemble and ultimately take over the main International airport at Suvhanabhum. Their objective was to raise worldwide awareness about the 'puppet' Government of Mr. Somchai which was a front for the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra.
Tawatchai,my Sales Manager for Thailand had confirmed that this action was the final act for the PAD people who want to bring down the Thai Government by demonstrations and using force if necessary to achieve their aims. By now, the world's news agencies and press corp had taken notice and street fights and gun battles plus home made bombs were being thrown in the vicinity of the Main International Airport at Suvhanabhum. According to reports there were gun battles with DAAD or the pro-Government groups who were wearing red T-shirts and by 8.20pm the PAD had occupied the airport departure terminal and terrified tourists and working airport staff were all caught in the crossfire literally.
We returned to downtown Bangkok where it seeemed to be a different world, everything was peaceful and my Malaysian Project Manager Kannan and I met with Ricky, my friend with AEI and we went out for dinner in downtown Rachadaphisek Road. Soon we heard news that the airport was overrun wth PAD protestors and all incoming flights after 9pm were
diverted to other airports such as Chiangmai and Phuket. Not long after,Tawatchai informed me that International airport
was closed. Our initial reaction was 'so what' and we were quite nonplussed and it did not sink in that there would be many thousands of people,business people,tourists, students who would be stuck in Bangkok. We continued having drinks near our hotel and went to bed thinking of the day ahead.
On Wednesday morning 26th, we saw on the news the worst had happened and that the entire airport had been shut and that there were rumours that the 2nd airport, Don Muang would also be shut due to protestors 'disrupting the operations'. During breakfast, we sat down and considered our options
a) wait and see
b) drive down to Had Yai and cross the border and head for Penang. Drive time : 15 - 20 hours at least.
c) drive to Chiang Mai which was 780 km away where there was a SilkAir flight out of Chiang Mai every day.
After some checking, I decided for option c) and smsed my travel agent Joanne, to check seat status. Amazingly there were still seats availabe ! So I got her to reserve a total of 4 seats in a metter of 15 minutes out from Chiang Mai on Thursday 27th morning - my birthday.
We left at 11.00am on Wednesday morning in 2 cars, Tawatchai's car and Ricky rented a driver (for Baht 9,000 or S$ 380) and stopped for lunch at a shopping center mid-way and drove non-stop all the way to Chiang Mai. Along the way, I had concerned friends (THANKS ! Looi,Betty and James) smsing me about the situation and even updates about some fighting and someone had been killed near Chiang Mai. The total distance travelled was almost 800 km in 1 day and time of travel was 9 hours approximately.
On the way to Chiang Mai
Finally at 8pm, we arrived at Chiang Mai and we headed for the airport. Security was tight, there was an army post at the entrance and several soldiers around. We spoke to the airport manager who assured us that things were "OK" and flights were going in and out BUT all flights to and from Bangkok and Don Muang were cancelled. I wanted to check-in our luggage and get a boarding pass but the check-in counters were all closed. Tawatchai, who was familiar with Chiang Mai booked us all in at the new Dome Serviced Apartments for 700 Baht (S$ 30 only!). This is a very good quality service apartment, brand new, with a clean bed, TV and aircon.
Dinner at Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
We headed out for dinner at the ChiangMai night bazaar and did a bit of last minute shopping.Amazingly Chiang Mai seems like a different country and everything there seemed so peaceful and plenty of tourists and locals appeared unaffected by all that had happened in the capital. I was reminded that the North part of Thailand was 'Thaksin country' so the protestors would be very foolish to attempt to close the last airport open. There was news that one protestor was shot dead near Chiang Mai and I sensed that there was heightened tension as I saw police even coming to our Apartments. By 11p, we all were exhausted and headed back to the Apartment.
27th November morning, I had a short 30 minute run along the main canal of Chiang Mai to take in the sights. I normally bring my running shoes so I put them to good use this time. We headed for the airport and thankfully, our last minute premium tickets were accepted and boarding passes issued. There was the first signs of other travellers (maybe 20) who had also made the trip up north but I think quite a number were turned away because they could not confirm new flight bookings out of Thailand because the airport in Chiang Mai could not be contacted. I guess I did the right thing by confirming the flight via my travel agent and that she was a trusted friend of mine. THANKS Joanne of Comet Travel.
At the Departure Lounge in Chiang Mai
The final 2 hours passed quickly, and I was greeted by birthday smses and calls from my family and friends.The SilkAir flight left at 11.30 am and I had a quick look at our passengers beside us, almost all, were holiday makers except for us 4 and perhaps 10 more passengers who looked like they had come to Chiang Mai from Bangkok.
Freedom Flight MI 701 Silk Air at 11.25 am
We arrived back in Singapore at 3.30pm and celebrated our 'Escape'. My thoughts are with the many thousands of stranded tourists and businesspeople still stuck in Thailand.
5 comments:
Wow, you had a close shave of action. Glad to hear that you came back before the bombing.
Our KSK friend, Ricky Ng was also with me. We tarvelled together.
I don't think what is happening in Bangkok is democracy. Democracy is not about whenever the populace is not happy they can take to the streets to overthrow the government, when they may not even represent the majority. I fail to understand why the authorities does not take the necessary action to break up the demonstration. These protestors have broken the law by taking over the airport and such should be dealt with severely. I hope that if such a thing happen in Singapore the authorities will take the necessary action swiftly.
There is a need in every society to have "law and order" in this case both law and order are clearly missing!
I totally agreed with Roland's view. I think the Thai Govt is too soft in handling this issue, therefore, it could develop to such an uncontrollable state. It is really very disgraceful to Thailand in the eyes of the world.
Please allow me to put in my view on this. What is happening is 'proxy play', the current Government which is supposed to be a front for a Mr. Thaksin and the PAD who are a loose alliance of opposition parties BUT with the quiet backing of the Royal Family.So the Government DOES NOT WANT to take the hard position against the protestors,so it is handicapped. Now, it is officially declared illegal by a Thai court so there will be another round of elections and my guess, the same old story,Thaksin backed party will win. Back to Square 1 !!
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