Bangkok, August 2008
Part IV
After Part III
August 25-31, 2008
From Goodshit!
Here are the secular bits of Charoenkrung Road 42/1.
The Baan Silom shopping complex is just a 15 minute walk from River Garden.
The minders and the press are all atwitter with fret and worry.
August 27, 2008
This warning message is being issued to alert U.S. Citizens traveling to and residing in Thailand of demonstrations by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) throughout Bangkok.
Police representatives indicate that early on Wednesday, August 27, there were approximately 10,000 people protesting in the Government House compound and nearby, including the Makawan Rangsan Bridge used by the PAD as the main rallying point. Thus far, the demonstration remains non-violent. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) have deployed police to the area, while pledging not to use force. As of this morning, only Government House and the Makawan Rangsan Bridge area still had PAD demonstrators. On Tuesday, August 26, protesters blocked transportation in the areas surrounding these facilities, several other ministries and government buildings, as well as into and around Bangkok. Transportations routes, including major highways, may continue to be partially or fully blocked by demonstrators as the demonstrations continue.
We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations.
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers in other areas by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
American citizens traveling or residing in Thailand are encouraged to register with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy. The Embassy is located at 95 Wireless Road in Bangkok. The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at ACSBKK@State.gov. The after hours emergency telephone number is 66-2-205-4000.
The press shrieks.
And, why am I wearing different colored shoes?
This French/Italian restaurant is within walking distance of River Garden.
Wine Education
Regular readers of BK of course know that it's soup season. At Vintage 21 (19 Silom Soi 21, 02-630-2244. Open daily 6pm-midnight), where they've been serving up European dishes in their antique, timber-frame house for a year now, the new menu features more hearty soups to withstand the rainy season as well as new pasta dishes like spaghetti amatriciana (B250), with onions, bacon and tomato sauce. The restaurant also offers wine tasting classes (B6,000/18hrs) led by wine columnist, and Best Sommelier of Thailand in 1996, Pairach Intaput. For more information, contact Pairach himself on 08-981-55873.
PS: My friend Dan, from Shanghai and Taipei sent this. 'OK' sounds OK but 'Fuck' doesn't ring right.
Holy Fuck!
From reading the papers and watching CNN or the BBC one would think that Bangkok is in a tied down state of seizure. Far from it. Aside from Government House and one or two other places the city is quite calm with people going about doing their normal things. Today I jumped in my car and spent 10 hours touring around the major shopping areas, hotel locales, parks and major streets and I saw nothing that made me uncomfortable.
OK, I didn't drive to Government House where about 20 or 30 thousand malcontents are not happy with what the majority of Thai voters voted for. (*)
(*) Full disclosure: I was at Berkeley during the "Free Speech" movement in '64 (remember Mario Savio?) and I was so worried about law school grades that I didn't give it a thought. And, in November '63 when JFK was assasinated I still went to my Equity lecture.
Next: September
