I have planned to be there in Songkran but the security is awful.I don't know if I should come there or ccancel my trip?Any advice?

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-- Y'day., (06th.), forenoon I walked to, (10.30hrs.) & from (12.45.hrs.), SILOM COMPLEX SHOPPING PLAZA - it's on Tnn. Si Lom right by BTS. Sala Daeng - and the only ones wearing red shirts whom I saw were a few of the poor but honest sidewalk vendors.
- But I u'stand. that the red-shirts processed up & down Tnn. Si Lom for a couple of hours in the a'noon.
- But by 16.30.hrs. Tnn. Si Lom was clear and traffic was flowing as it does on any tuesday a'noon..
- Of course, with the red shirts occupying R'PRASON. I'SECT. it's likely that there'll be no cruising in BIG C - R'DAMRI., but there are plenty of other places to wch. to go, aren't there?
- Y'day. both the BTS. & the MRT. were running, and most of the 'buses. seemed to be running, too.
-- But, of course, sit'ns. & times can change: 'Tempora mutantur ... .'.
-- But the bottom line is: 'Up to you.' as our Th. boyz are alleged to say.

-- E&OE.. -- Usual disclaimers, no liabilities etc. etc., (See small print at the bottom of p94.),. ;-)

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I wouldn't cancel. I just can't see anything happening which would put the safety of anyone not involved in the protests at risk.

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i am dithering back n forth also .. waiting until tomorrow to get or not get my tickets

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Apart from traffic disruptions, a busyer BTS(skytrain) and some shopping malls closed due to demonstrations in front of them. Life goes on. As Sextile mentioned Big C cruising is out!
I am sure the protesters will head home comes friday as most of them come from the country side and they would not miss the chance of family reunions. Business wise Songkran is always quieter.
Your favorite masseur might not be in town but I am sure plenty of others will remain to pleasure you.

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I wonder how many protestors will actually stay in Bangkok rather than go home for Songkran. The rumour is they are all being paid a considerable daily sum to stay on, a lot more than they could make back home.

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I am working at Gaysorn Place (Chit Lom) opposit of Central World and beside the noise that the Red Shirts do the whole day, nothing happen. I come to work, go for lunch and in the evening go back home, only more security is around, I have to sign into a log book when entering the building (because the shops were closed).
I would suggest to come to Bangkok enjoying Songkran and all the "wet" boys.
Don't bother too much about the Red Shirts, I still would say Bangkok is a safe place.

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I would agree that it is quite safe so long as you stay out of the way but with the declaration of the state of emergency people's travel insurances may no longer be valid. So if you are going to go check the small print. That's why I'm stayin' put for the time being!

Fingers crossed it will all sort itself out soon!!

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-- I u'stand. that CENTRAL - Chit Lom RE-OPENED for business today, (08th.),.
- I changed trains twice at SIAM and from the safety of the SkyTrain I did not consider that times and events looked threatening as we crossed-over Tnn. R'damri..
-- I darewrite that mkts. etc. away from R'PRASONG. I'SECT. will be profiting mightily from these events.

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My Thai contacts in BKK are confident that the demos are running out of steam (and probably money.) The governments "no force" policy may seem to be allowing the demos to drag on, but they are handling the situation subtley and by ignoring the red shirts (except when they aggressively invade parliament etc) they they are making the demos look irrelevant and ineffective. Boredom, heat, Songkran and dwindling money should see the current campaign fade away. Anyway in Pattaya , no one wears shirts on the beach

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Wise words here Biggles. If they manage to pull it off it will be a great achievement for Ab V.

Definitely the best strategy IMHO. I suppose we will know by next week sometime.

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-- Today, (09th.), the red shirts have set-up a small encampment outside LUMPINI PK., by the King's Statue; where I noticed that most of the people are tending towards the maturer side of life.
- My Thai companion & I walked-around inside the Pk. and observed the numbers of police-vehicles: both 'Black Marias.', (Paddy Wagons I believe they're called elsewhere?), and white vans. The PK. itself was comparatively empty.
- The gen'l. atmosphere there seemed to me to be peaceful, despite the numbers of loud-speakers blaring-out their messages. Eating and/or sleeping seemed to be the chief occupations of many.
- The MRT. had CLOSED the ent'ce./exit by the PK. as a safety precaution.

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A friend in Pattaya is annoyed that one of his young staff has gone off to BKK to join the red shirts. The guy knows little about politics. His only reason is that he is getting paid Bt. 1,000 per day plus food. In a few days he'll make as much as he makes in a month!

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If you want some continuous, more comprehensive, and more detailed information can I suggest you go to thaivisa.com/forum/thailandnewsclippings.

You'll easily find a thread which is updated numerous times each day, the thread name is: Bangkok red-shirt rally - live ........ (day/date).

However the reporting is not fully balanced (as with all newspapers/ webboards etc., globally) and you need to make your own final assessment of the realities of the situation.

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I was at Siam Paragon yesterday about 2 pm. Apart from a rousing megaphone speech (which was beyong my Thai comprehension) all was quiet. Then they announced the closure of the BTS and I jumped on the last train to Sala Daeng. We passed overhead the red barracades near Rachadamri station.. I had a very bad feeling...... so sad ....

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