following on the main board here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/State-Emerge...Ba-t354024.html

not really wanting to start a new political thread, don't want to argue who's wrong, and which government is illegitimate.

those that were here last year around this time:

were there any significant events outside of bangkok?

anything in chiang mai?

were the embassy warnings timely and realistic?

do you see the situation then and now to be similar?

what was the atmosphere in chiang mai like last year, as compared to this year?

are you making plans for an extended vacation?

It was so bad in Chiang Mai the city almost ran out of beer.

It was so bad in Chiang Mai the city almost ran out of beer. <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif"

now that's an emergency!!

thing is.....i'm taking the bus to bangkok on the 13th, will cycle across bangkok, flight out on the 15th.

plans were made and tickets purchased prior to the unpleasantness.

guess i'll wear my red jersey..............

The govt buildings etc are way out of harms way, out of the main touristy areas (I think.. im not sure what the targets are)... the reds got a bit shirty and drunk and generally terrorised the outspoken yellows here, but not much else (this was the yellow coup im thinking about).

The students, and office workers stayed indoors, (my student orientated shops were very quiet..) and the Thai bars were quiet... I can imagine the youngers Thai's freaking out about the rampaging redshirts! They probably spent the week playing playstation....

Im not concerned, they have seen so many coups in Thailand that I think they aren't too fazed by it.. neither should we..

all the fun of the fair.

If shit hits the fan they wheel out the tanks on the roads.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep is now on all stations declaring a state of emergency.

A State of Emergency for the shopkeepers sure!

Does this mean we get to see some tanks on the streets of CM?!

I must say, I think this has slowed my air mail from the UK, although Bangkok --> CM deliveries from Nim See are still overnight..

It was so bad in Chiang Mai the city almost ran out of beer.

This year you wouldn't know if there was a demonstration as the smoke screen is so thick..they could do and get away with anything!