I am planning to go to BKK in about 2 weeks. How safe is it at the moment? I was there when the trouble started sept 08 and didnt notice any violence etc. Is the situation similar to what happened then or is it more like last year?

Thanks

Bloody Safe!!

There is nothing to see, unless you specifically go looking for it.

It seems the same as normal to me.

Its pretty much typical Thailand, so having said that you are well aware anything could happen at anytime.

Hmm, all moved in the past few days have we!

Edited March 16, 201016 yr by chiang mai

Like London after football match - don't go near stadium if you don't want to see hooligans ...

It's pretty much unchanged from any other day. I live near the Skytrain Phayathai station and work near Sala Daeng station. The only unusual thing I've seen so far is a few red shirt guys going on motorcycle along Petchaburi Rd. towards Dusit. They were noisy but very few really, it doesn't compare with April of last year.

I guess if you want to see the demonstration, you really have to go out and look for them on purpose.

Saw a few soldiers around Asoke Bts as I was heading home tonight (9pm), apparently the reds are heading towards Sukhumvit and Abisit's house on Soi 31 tomorrow!

It will all be 'nice and clean' by the time he gets back home.

It will all be 'nice and clean' by the time he gets back home.

No rivers of blood on Soi 31 then....

As others have noted, as long as you don't go looking for trouble, you should be OK. Some suggestions:

1) If you encounter locals, especially taxi drivers, who ask your opinion re: Thaksin, Abhisit, red shirts, yellow shirts, etc., I suggest you keep your response along the lines of, "I think Thailand and the Thai people are great, and I hope they are able to work this out peacefully..." You know, positive, but non-committal to either side.

2) Keep informed between now and when you depart to come here. Things can change on a dime here.

Hope this helps.

^just ask Taxi lads who they support - 99.9% prob say Red.

^Ohh dear, do you ever give up?

^no, however I am serious, every time I use a taxi I ask that question. Interesting discussions I can tell you that much. Give it a try when you are in Bangkok.

^Your forgetting, with my new job, I get a driver, actually 2.....so it covers 24/7. Taxis are a thing of the past for me

Hmmm neverdie has a driver? Might have to borrow him...

Thanks all. I never discuss politics with Thais so I think I will be ok.

^can discuss politics, just do not take sides. I normally just listen

Just carefully choose the color of your shirts that you will wear!

You can wear any colour shirt that you want, especially if you are a foreigner. The only place the colour of a shirt means anything is at a rally site. Go watch a Man U or Liverpool match at a popular Thai hangout for football and you'll see lots of red-shirts!

I always wear any colour shirt i want and never had anyone blink an eye or say a thing.

Bkk protests have never been an issue of safety for foreigners.

No problem at the moment, it's business as usual.

Two weeks from now might see a different scenario.

Its as safe as always, they've created some traffic jams, but this is Bangkok, bad traffic is normal.

Speculation about what may happen in two weeks, is just that, speculation.

If the way the government has handled the rally so far is any measure, I would not hesitate to visit.

Edited March 17, 201016 yr by quiksilva

It seems strange that the Hong Kong government have banned / cancelled organised tour trips to Bangkok as reported in only a few news sources.

Quote : "More than 1,100 travellers from 52 Hong Kong tours bound for Bangkok this week had to scrap or rearrange their plans. "

Here : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eas...1044053/1/.html

Its safe.

Unless you run around in a red shirt with bottles of red fluid screaming at the top of your voice "Democracy!". In which case you will be at risk.

Thanks again.

^can discuss politics, just do not take sides. I normally just listen

Not on this Forum you don't!

Patrick

^well someone has to since its literally one sided.

Hhmm. So what will happen thIs Saturday. Sighz. When will it ever end.

I'm also planning to visit the Big Chilli sometime soon. Are the demonstrations confined to the centre of Bangkok, or generally over a wider area? Thanks.