Bangkok - without the bang

I had expected by this stage in my trip to be in a position to share with you a picture from the coup frontline here in Bangkok.  APC's trundling up Sukhumvit maybe, or troops firing on rioters in Victory Monument square. However, none of that is happening and I have not so far seen any sign of the military. The only tangible effect is due to the 10pm curfew and even that is now being ignored by the bars, which are mostly staying open until midnight.

Anyway, with my work finished for this trip now time to head off to the even more peaceful and quiet Koh Tao, hopefully for a spot of diving.

I had an hour or so to kill before the coach was due to depart Bangkok, so I decided, on Adam's recommendation, to check ot the Khaosan Road - home to the world's backpacker community.  Can't say that I was over impressed.  The adjacent road seem to have much better bars, restaurants and musical entertainment.

Thailand - same same

Predictably, based on my previous trips to Thailand (see earlier blog posts), my arrival here coincided with the Thai army declaring a state of martial law.  That was something of a non-event.  However by Thursday this had morphed into a full blown military coup.  Still no signs of the army on the streets, at least in areas that I frequented.  The main impact has been the imposition of a curfew from 10pm to 5am every day, and the shutting down of all Thai TV channels (see picture).  Many ex-pat commentators have seen this as a positive outcome, since we can now get to sleep before midnight without  the pounding sound of some nearby bar's soundsystem, and we are spared the crap put out by most Thai TV stations.  Let's see how things develop!

Meanwhile, my best advice is that if you see a planned Thailand trip on my calendar then best avoid the country for that period as inevitably it will coincide with a Red/Yellow Shirt sit-in, army take-over, or natural disaster (think flood, earthquake).