The Travel Blog by TravelPod

The world’s eyes are fixed on Bangkok once again today, as protesters descend upon the international airport. Incoming flights are currently still arriving, but all departures have been delayed.

All is not as terrible as it seems on the news, however, if you are on your way to Thailand, life continues to go on just as normal as usual. So say some of TravelPod’s bloggers.

Tsimko took a look at the protests himself, and he left just before a deadly clash.

Bangkok protests

After a week lasting political protests we went to see a demonstration so we see ourselves what was going on. In a nutshell, members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy party were demostrating to demand government resignation. I might depict Thai political situation in more details some other time. The thing is that the demostration looked very peaceful, people more resembling someone enjoying a picknick, some of them even sleeping on the street. There was basically nothing to see, so after a 10min walk we just left. However 5 hours later happened something what U2 would probably call a Monday, bloody Monday, worst violence in Bangkok for 16 years. Government supporters clashed with the protesters, leaving one person dead and 43 injured. As a reaction to the incident a state of emergency was imposed. Anyway, it does not effect city’s everyday life.

-from “Bangkok – Part 3” Bangkok, Thailand

Leahandsteven managed to have a typical backpacker vacation, complete with a “BK” burger and lots of beer on Khao San Road. Albeit, with a few less crowds around.

Steven and Burger King burger

We got chatting to the local bartenders there about Bangkok and what its like. One of the guys was telling us all about the political protests that had been going on here not long before we arrived, and how the tourist industry was starting to slack off a bit because of it. All the bars and restaurants were feeling the effect a little.

-from “First stop – BANGKOK“, Bangkok, Thailand

Richs had to take a bus from Ko Samui instead of a night train because of the protests, but other than that, he still had a great time.

Richs feeding bananas to an elephant

After a bus and another bus we had lunch in preparation for our night bus. We were supposed to be catching a night train but due to the protests the railway line had been closed which was a little disapointing. When the bus pulled up, from the outside, it looked like something out of pimp my ride. The front was covered in flashing lights. Inside it was okay but I was expecting something a little better. I thought a night bus was a bus designed for people to sleep on but the reality was that it was just a bus that travelled through the night. The only added extra was a little more leg room and seats that reclined further.

-from “Ko Samui“, Ko Samui, Thailand