Information on Protest Sites

[GrantSmith]

Don't know if it's a trend, or just a one-off night... But tonight at Asoke was one of the smallest protest crowds I've seen on any weeknight since the beginning, and markedly smaller than even last night.

I was a bit earlier tonight, but only by about 10 minutes, compared to all my other photo posts, including yesterday's. So that's not going to account for this kind of difference.

Tonight at Asoke intersection about 6:15 pm.

2014-01-29 18.15.43.jpg

Watching Bluesky and there's not much of an improvement on that site, a handful more I'd say, but unsure if Suthep's delivered his speech there yet? He just left the Phatumwan stage so probably on his way to Ratchraprasong...

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Grant, do you or any of the others here know how Suthep is handling his speeches schedule day-to-day?

In other words, does he have a regular routine of giving a speech every day at each of the major protest sites, or it's hit and miss?

[GrantSmith]

Grant, do you or any of the others here know how Suthep is handling his speeches schedule day-to-day?

In other words, does he have a regular routine of giving a speech every day at each of the major protest sites, or it's hit and miss?

I don't have it first hand, but watching Bluesky it appears that he makes an appearance throughout the night at each of the 3 main sites..

But there doesn't appear to be a schedule as such..

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[thomasjojo]

Back in Bangkok for a while. Need to know where there are people, massive protesters at rallysites. daytime.

T

[samtam]

I was planning to go tomorrow, but I saw a tweet that Suthep will lead a march along Sukhumvit from Onnut to Silom, so I guess it will all be closed off again, as it was when I went last Thursday. &&** it!

Well.. If you can leave the car at home and take the BTS then you shouldn't have too much trouble during the day... Then again, if you're driving, it would depend where in Bangkok you're coming from, it's doable i.e coming down Narathiwat..

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Haven't seen any tweets about today's march. Anyone in Sukhumvit who can update?

[GBK]

Nothing on lower Sukhumvit as of this writing.

[GrantSmith]

They were kicking off from On Nut at 10-10:30...

[wmchen]

it's lunar new year eve. any celebration there?

[GrantSmith]

it's lunar new year eve. any celebration there?

They're going to be hanging out in Chinatown on Saturday...

[Prbkk]

Foreigners and Thais ducking for cover near Nana BTS...but just very loud CNY fireworks....

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Here's what Silom Road looked like about 11:30 am today:

Silom Road heading from near Saladaeng BTS toward Lumpini Park. Car traffic being blocked and diverted at Soi Thaniya.

The center section of Silom Road turned into an open-air market, even more than normal when car traffic is present.

The big tent on Silom Road near the MRT Silom Station, and then the Lumphini Park stage area and big video screens behind it.

And finally, the explanation of why they're there...sometimes.

[Scott]

Off-topic post with commentary deleted. Please post only updates on protest sites and questions related to travel, delays and alternate routes.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

As I had indicated in a prior but now disappeared post, the protest site at Silom today was pretty well deserted just before noon-time... comparable to the likewise pretty empty site at the Asoke intersection during the daytime hours.

However, in the evenings, more people turn out at Asoke, and I'd assume it's a similar situation at Silom. These are very much evening-night focused protests -- unlike the 24-hour a day Redshirt protests/occupation of 2010.

[taony]

come on, no commentary in here.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Asoke intersection tonight. About 7:20 p.m. Empty during the day, but still pretty busy at night.

An hour later than most of the comparable pictures I've been posting. And a lot more people tonight than last night.

[thomasjojo]

Ya, found them at Asoke from 14 or so...

http://thomasjohannessen.no/albums/protesters-bangkok-2014/

is there any schedule for the next 3 days?

[MaxLee]

My girlfriend wants to go to Yaowarat China town tomorrow, what's going on there?

[GrantSmith]

My girlfriend wants to go to Yaowarat China town tomorrow, what's going on there?

Chinese NY celebrations..

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[GrantSmith]

Just walked down through Ratchraprasong, real festive market feel..

Nobody at the site listening to the free concert being put on, but plenty of people walking about..

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[mca]

20 minutes ago at the traffic lights near central rama 9. 4 speaker trucks and about 50-70 protestors. Traffic flowing normally

[samtam]

Very light traffic flowing normally through Wireless, Ploenchit, Langsuan. Traffic light on Sathorn today all around 1.30pm. Silom Road "market" very busy...being a market. Shops in Central Chidlom, Siam Paragon very busy with shoppers, many dressed in red (for Chinese New Year). Most appear to be ignoring what is going on. In fact this seems to be the reaction from a number of middle class Thais I have asked about the protests...not quite "what protests?", but just manoeuvering around it physically and figuratively.

Edited January 31, 2014 by samtam

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Protest site very busy outside CentralWorld / Ratchaprasong tonight. Took the photo about 6:45 pm.

Suthep was speaking later on our return home about 8 pm.

Curiously, inside CentralWorld from about 7 - 8 pm tonight, it was about as dead/empty as I've ever seen in an evening time.

The mall staff said they were closing at 8:30 pm. When we first went upstairs about 7 pm, the movie theater there was already closed and dark.

And the movie theater wasn't the only things closing early. My wife went to pay a bill at one of the Thai banks there that's normally open into the evening hours. But when we arrived, the branch was closed and they had a sign pasted into the window saying they were closing early at 5:30 pm because of the protest.

Edited January 31, 2014 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Was out and around CentralWorld early this afternoon, and as I've said before, there's a night and day difference between the protest sites during the day vs. the evenings.

Here's what it looked like early this afternoon:

The main protest area in front of CentralWorld along Ratchadamri Road:

And the bits of tent city around CentralWorld:

And the street market along Rama I Road undernearth the BTS line, and lining up for refreshments:

BTW, I noticed today, the latest showings at the movie theater in CentralWorld at present start just before 7 pm... so the movies have time to finish by the time the mall closes early.

[londonthai]

#Thailand @Joyday_napas: National Railway: Train services are suspended from Lakse-Don Muang for passengers' safeties 17.15 การรถไฟฯ ประกาศปิดเส้นทางเดินรถสถานีหลักสี่-ดอนเมือง หวั่นความปลอดภัยผู้โดยสาร https://www.facebook.com/UDDInternationalNews/posts/738237046186525

[londonthai]

@Tulip_OumL 5:46 Tollway close 2 entrances/exits, ChangeWattana-Paholyothin and Chanwattana-Pakkred. -@js100radio https://www.facebook.com/UDDInternationalNews/posts/738245109519052

[sunsandsurf]

Central mall is doing ok tonight. Plenty of people shopping n eating.

Yea, the last movies all start before 7pm.

[Scott]

Central mall is doing ok tonight. Plenty of people shopping n eating.

Yea, the last movies all start before 7pm.

Which Central are you referring to?

[Familyonthemove]

Asoke moderately busy but Cowboy fully closed tonight.

[Familyonthemove]

Soi Cowboy

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Presumably because of the alcohol sales ban that took effect tonight and will continue Sunday because of the national election.