Day 12 - Stranded in Bangkok

So this is early morning of Day 12 in Bangkok. In about 24 hours' time, we're supposed to leave our hotel in Bangkok for a long ride to U-tapao, Pattaya. U-what you say? Yeah, we've never even heard of it up until now. Some refer to it as a Military Air Base, some call it a naval base, some say it's an International Airport. I don't care. All I know is the airline had better be able to SEE OUR RESERVATION in their system when we arrive at the airport tomorrow and their plane had better be able to get off that single runway. Our departure booking had been confirmed by the airline over the phone but when I tried to check it just now online, I could not access it.

From the bits and pieces of news we've been able to gather, things were chaotic for the first few flights from there. A group of Singaporeans we met at our previous hotel (hey, Jonathan, Bobby and Graydon, hope you and your families are well!), left the hotel this afternoon for U-Tapao. We pray for their safety and smooth arrival back to Singapore. I can just imagine them kissing the ground once they arrive back home.

Bumped into a young Singaporean couple (whom we had made friends with yesterday) just now at the hotel lobby and they tried but could not get on the same flight as us (2 Dec, early morning). They will be leaving on the same day but at night. We got talking and realised, (they were not the only ones) that relatives are very anxious for them/us to get back. We're so grateful for the all calls, smses, emails and facebook notifications we have been receiving! Please do not worry too much. So far, it's been life as usual in the city. Trouble? You can't tell from here. We walked about and it was apparent that the streets were more void of foreigners than usual. Most of the people were locals.

I did get pretty annoyed by a taxi driver today who was blaring a very passionately spoken (or should I say, shouted) speech throughout our ride. I whispered to Mike that it sounded like a speech (it was in Thai) made by a PAD supported. When Mike asked if the speech was a "Yellow" or "Red" shirter, the driver said yellow. He then said vehemently that he hated the ousted PM Thaksin and the current PM Somchai. I was fuming as I listened quietly. I wanted to whack him on the head with my knapsack not because I care two hoots about Thai politics but because the darn Yellow colour (anti govt) has caused MUCH MUCH inconvenience by shutting down the Suvarnabhumi (pronounced Soo-wana-poom) Airport, to the very people who are spending MANY MANY Baht in their country! Many foreigners are not returning to Bangkok ever and this will have a severe impact on the daily livelihood of the man in the street.
The local grapevine says many wearing the Yellow shirts are paid daily and fed daily to sit and do their poo at the protest sites. Some locals say if you are jobless, that would be a good option to get $$$ and free food. They say it pays better than their jobs. Middle and Upper class? Bah! I don't buy that crap! I've seen the sea of faces. The majority are working class or not working at all. You think the middle and upper class who are busy running their businesses have the time to sit it out patiently in their yellow T-shirts waving plastic hands? Let me say again that I wish not to play any part in Thai politics but I'm stuck here in their country while they pussyfoot with the airport closure. Do something, somebody, pleeeeze!
The Thai PM has left Bangkok and has moved up North. Eh, does he know we're still here?

I did eventually call the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok. I told them my husband was running out of his medication and my kids were sick. They told me sorry but there was nothing they could do. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. Some Singaporeans say you have to 'BANG TABLE' then they will do something.
I read in the Bangkok Post that royalty, dignatories and important company executives have already been safely flown out of the country. What are we, then? The scum of the earth?

Some Thais have asked if I will ever return to Bangkok. Of course. Nothing is going to stop me. I love it here. I love the vibrancy, the simplicity, the food, the culture, more importantly, the humility of the people - I guess the political chaos is part of the bargain. The PAD do not do justice to their country's well-being. There was an election and the majority have spoken. What do you call taking over a country's airport? Whatever they want to call it, it sounds like terrorism to me.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has provided stranded tourists with free hotel accomodation and meal coupons. It is a good peace offering and no one can complain about the lack of luxury at this hotel we are in. The problem is if you've not heard of this offer, you would likely still be living at your own expense or in the streets. The lack of information provided sucks big time! It's frustrating that my airline hasn't even contacted me about rescheduling a new flight. I had to hear from others that we had to call them to get our new flights or they would just forget about us!

Going back to the hotel, every service personnel seems to have been advised to treat us like any other paying customer. That's fantastic. We've even received apologies by the Thai people for our situation. That is really sweet.

Oh shucks....watching Thai news concurrently and Haatyai seems to be flooded right now. There goes our road option if our U-Tapao adventure flops. Sigh, I just hope I still have a job to go back to when I can finally get back home! (Boss, are you reading this???) BTW, I'm disappointed that with the no. of foreign tourists stranded in Bangkok, the Thai news broadcasting stations have not made any effort to provide English subtitles. What is worse? To not hear any news or to hear news but in a language you do not understand? Sigh.

I'm rattling on and on..... many thoughts in my head but not very coherent in the flow. I checked my previous post and it was full of spelling mistakes. Guess I'm tired and not in a good frame of mind. Both our kids have taken turns to fall sick. One has just recovered from a fever and now the other is having it. Hopefully, their Mummy and Daddy will have the health and mental strength to keep it going!

Let me end today's post on a lighter note. We made such good friends with a couple of masseurs near our previous hotel that when we went back to visit them today, one of them gifted us with Thai souvenirs which she had bought & kept in her locker, in the hope that we would drop in on her again. Considering her commission (she gets NO salary) and the value of the gifts, her action moved me to tears. They will be the most valuable souvenirs I am bringing back with me to Singapore.