Inspired Travels

This time in Thailand, its feels different. I was here in February 2007 with my friend Tim. This time I’m travelling with 5-8 guys, which has now been expanded to 15 guys! Epic!!

Aside from that, in the past few months I’ve been reading about the civil turmoil in Thailand, the unrest and the riots. I saw pictures on the news, on the internet, in newspapers of the main streets being barricaded, tires being piled onto the street forming a makeshift barrier. Handmade wooden and metal spikes were forged, creating a threatening prescence to anyone that tried to cross them. A line not to cross. From what I understand, people from the regional provinces were protesting in Bangkok. They had come to try to bring the previous government back to power. It was chaos, creating an unease as the swell of protestors grew and refused to leave. Then the government decided to move in and take over, killing the protestors that stood in the way.

I find it hard to imagine this could happen. Thai people are so hospitable, so well trained in customer service, and exude such a calm demeanour. Always smiling, joking and welcoming. This country seems so chilled out, so peaceful, but I guess a political tension simmers below the surface.

On Saturday, we wanted to visit the shopping districts around Bangkok. There’s area around Siam Square / National Stadium where there are a few huge shopping centres. Underneath Siam station is where the barricades were put. I walked underneath, not knowing this had occured a few months earlier. A scene of devestation and terror.

We were expecting to see Central world as our first stop. However, all we found was a building that had several floors burnt and the word “Peace” grafftit’d on the side. When we tried to enter the building, we were told it was not possible. It had been burnt down. The lobby of the building could be akin to world square in Sydney. A mix of commercial and shopping areas. It was an empty husk of a building when we got closer. We were all shocked to say the least.

We then went to another shopping centre, a kinda upmarket one. Only to find out that it was also burnt to the ground. We then headed to Paragon, cause we were sure this existed since we had visited it the day before!

I had heard that the Royal Stock exchange has also been razed to the ground as well as few other buildings. My only explanation is that these were symbols of capitalism. The shopping centres were more upmarket ones that we visited. They were destroyed for what they represented. I don’t think they would touch MBK, cause that’s a shopping centre the locals would visit.

I’m out like burnt shopping centres,

Matt Ho.