British tourists attracted to 'carnival-like' Bangkok protests

[webfact]

Bangkok tourists attracted to 'carnival-like' protests
Hundreds of young tourists in Bangkok - some of them British - are ignoring the travel advice of the Foreign Office to “avoid all protests” in the city following the general election last Sunday
By Nick Foster in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- At several major intersections in the city centre, including Siam Square, Asok and Silom, opposition supporters have set up informal “tent cities” as part of their attempts to shut down the capital.

During the day, giant screens broadcast speeches from politicians who are sometimes encouraged to perform impromptu karaoke. In the evening, bands sing covers of western rock songs and Thai ballads. Everywhere, street food sellers are doing a roaring trade. This week, at all three of these protest points I saw young tourists, for the most part under 30 years old.

At Siam Square alone, the location of several shopping centres with hugely popular food courts, I spotted dozens of western tourists in the space of an hour taking pictures and walking around the tents.

But, among all the photo opportunities were notes of caution, ambulances parked discreetly at the fringe of the demonstrations and opposition 'security' staff monitoring entry and exit points in the perimeter fences – some wearing khaki military-style shirts.

"I wouldn't want to miss it," said Jack Watson, a graduate from Birmingham at the gathering in Siam Square. On a gap year trip with two friends, he claimed he was "not overly concerned" about the Foreign Office's warning. "It's really interesting to see what political disagreement looks like in a culture that's so different from ours.

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10618928/Bangkok-tourists-attracted-to-carnival-like-protests.html

-- The Telegraph 2014-02-06

[negreanu]

One word.... Idiots.

Edited February 6, 2014 by negreanu

[BwindiBoy]

Idiots! Stay away fools!

[tonytigerbkk]

One word.... Idiots.

Two words..... bloody idiots.

[chooka]

Yep idiots. They could find themselves being arrested and charged short stint in the Hilton and deported.

[mamypoko]

Potential danger aside (oh yeah, that), it is a unique opportunity for the poly sci inclined.

[focus27]

It's called "war tourism" - in this case it could be better named "conflict tourism" or "danger tourism" or "I'm bored and need adrenalin tourism".

[englishoak]

Just when the spotlight is being shone on people taking part too ahh well Mr Watson welcome to the LOS and all things not as back home... lets hope hes read the warnings about drug use here and tourists if hes a student cos if hes stupid enough to ignore one bit of advice others are entirely possible....what a silly lad

[chainarong]

Unfortunately the carnival can come crashing down around their ears and between their ears could be a lump of lead, best to piss off out of it , the matter is entirely a Thai production , which can turn very nasty ,fuelled with hate at any time , farangs keep away , whether a long term resident or a tourist.

Edited February 6, 2014 by chainarong

[Siripon]

Being downtown lots of tourists naturally pass through the area.Apart from the dancing , friendly folk, stalls and tents providing various services and information, there's also the tasty free food.

No tourist is going to get deported for wandering around, it's when they announce they're going to indulge in arson or looting as the English and Australian red shirt farangs did in 2010 that the authorities take note.

Forward with reform,Lung Suthep!

[focus27]

Yep idiots. They could find themselves being arrested and charged short stint in the Hilton and deported.

Their war tourism agency rep can arrange that for them as part of their genuine experience package.

In an age of simulated experiences, it doesn't surprise me that "extreme tourism" has developed - war correspondents get a similar buzz.

[Somtamnication]

Why don't they holiday in Rwanda or Syria? Idiots!

[hanno]

Saw that last week at Asoke: tourists decked out in Thai colors, whistles, and all. Morons really, in particular as they are probably not at all politically engaged wherever they come from.

[noitom]

Yep idiots. They could find themselves being arrested and charged short stint in the Hilton and deported.

or shot or injured.

[noitom]

"Carnival-like" atmosphere. Thais should be pretty ticked off at this story making a joke and a sham out of what is supposed to be a serious political protest. Instead, the Thai press thrills to finding this foreign written piece highlighting the Thai protest as a circus. Shocking behavior on the part of the Thai press to reprint this nonsense.

[teatree]

What's wrong with wandering around Siam? Its hardly a war zone. More like a street market.

Sounds like there are a few bed wetters who are afraid of their own shadows.

Edited February 6, 2014 by teatree

[PatOngo]

I would liken it more to a circus.........

[beenhere2long]

no more idiotic than riding a moped in Thailand........jalansanitwong reread the article it does say "Hundreds of young tourists in Bangkok - some of them British" not just Brits...so i dare say there is a few of your countrymen there too .

[Siripon]

What's wrong with wandering around Siam? Its hardly a war zone. More like a street market.

Sounๆds like there are a few bed wetters who are afraid of their own shadows.

Yes,some posters do seem to be rather miserable, mustn't have fun must we?, perhaps that's why so many UK residents prefer to live in Thailand, they enjoy the sanuk which may be lacking back home.

Regarding safety, walking around the protest site is considerably safer than outside-no buses or motorbikes to run you over.

[theoldgit]

Nonsensical post and response removed.

[BSJ]

Every man should be responsible for his own existence. If he puts his hand in the fire, how long he leaves it there is up to him!

[jollyman]

Lets see if they are happy with a bullet up their Bum (as above IDIOTS)

[trogers]

Yes, get your photo opportunities and souvenirs as this will become a very rare landmark in Thai history.

[manarak]

What's wrong with wandering around Siam? Its hardly a war zone. More like a street market.

Sounds like there are a few bed wetters who are afraid of their own shadows.

totally agree.

the protest zones are not dangerous for tourists who behave normally.

[geriatrickid]

What's wrong with wandering around Siam? Its hardly a war zone. More like a street market.

Sounๆds like there are a few bed wetters who are afraid of their own shadows.

Yes,some posters do seem to be rather miserable, mustn't have fun must we?, perhaps that's why so many UK residents prefer to live in Thailand, they enjoy the sanuk which may be lacking back home.

Regarding safety, walking around the protest site is considerably safer than outside-no buses or motorbikes to run you over.

It is quite obvious from your other comment Siripon that you support Suthep and his protestors. You want to downplay the risks to people.

Unfortunately, people have been killed at the protest sites. One need not to be a participant, on either side to suffer collateral damage.

These people think its carnival. It is not. Present at these sites are large numbers of people with guns. Wherever untrained and unsupervised weapons are found, there are injuries.

Bullets can miss their intended targets or ricochet. Explosives detonated do not discriminate.

These are foolish people who run the risk of serious injury. When it happens, they will expect the embassy to come running to take care of them. Some do not have health insurance that will pay for their medical care let alone medevac flight home.

[nowork114]

I was there with family last Sunday, very nice weather to stroll from MBK through Rtchaprasong down to Lumphini and Silom. All this area is a market with stalls and plenty of food so it feels more like Chatuchak than a protest site.

[trogers]

I was there with family last Sunday, very nice weather to stroll from MBK through Rtchaprasong down to Lumphini and Silom. All this area is a market with stalls and plenty of food so it feels more like Chatuchak than a protest site.

Enterprising poor farmers from the provinces are able to make a living setting up stalls while they wait for payment for their pledged rice - go see it for yourselves.

[nowork114]

What's wrong with wandering around Siam? Its hardly a war zone. More like a street market.

Sounๆds like there are a few bed wetters who are afraid of their own shadows.

Yes,some posters do seem to be rather miserable, mustn't have fun must we?, perhaps that's why so many UK residents prefer to live in Thailand, they enjoy the sanuk which may be lacking back home.

Regarding safety, walking around the protest site is considerably safer than outside-no buses or motorbikes to run you over.

It is quite obvious from your other comment Siripon that you support Suthep and his protestors. You want to downplay the risks to people.

Unfortunately, people have been killed at the protest sites. One need not to be a participant, on either side to suffer collateral damage.

These people think its carnival. It is not. Present at these sites are large numbers of people with guns. Wherever untrained and unsupervised weapons are found, there are injuries.

Bullets can miss their intended targets or ricochet. Explosives detonated do not discriminate.

These are foolish people who run the risk of serious injury. When it happens, they will expect the embassy to come running to take care of them. Some do not have health insurance that will pay for their medical care let alone medevac flight home.

How long have you been in Thailand? These protests happen every few years ie. 2006 coup, 2008 PAD, 2010 Red shirts, 2013 Suthep ... if you have common sense and not wondering around the sites at night or joining any front line marches you are safe. I have to pass these sites regularly when in downtown on business and fell safer than with traffic and motorcycles on footpath. And regarding guns I'm more afraid of some college kids firing pen-gun or throwing a ping-pong bomb on a bus than from the "security" thugs.

[nowork114]

I was there with family last Sunday, very nice weather to stroll from MBK through Rtchaprasong down to Lumphini and Silom. All this area is a market with stalls and plenty of food so it feels more like Chatuchak than a protest site.

Enterprising poor farmers from the provinces are able to make a living setting up stalls while they wait for payment for their pledged rice - go see it for yourselves.

BTW i believe the people printing and selling "Shut Down BKK" t-shirts are the same who were selling red t-shirts in 2010 .. business is business

[baboon]

What's wrong with wandering around Siam? Its hardly a war zone. More like a street market.

Sounๆds like there are a few bed wetters who are afraid of their own shadows.

Yes,some posters do seem to be rather miserable, mustn't have fun must we?, perhaps that's why so many UK residents prefer to live in Thailand, they enjoy the sanuk which may be lacking back home.

Regarding safety, walking around the protest site is considerably safer than outside-no buses or motorbikes to run you over.

It is quite obvious from your other comment Siripon that you support Suthep and his protestors. You want to downplay the risks to people.

Unfortunately, people have been killed at the protest sites. One need not to be a participant, on either side to suffer collateral damage.

These people think its carnival. It is not. Present at these sites are large numbers of people with guns. Wherever untrained and unsupervised weapons are found, there are injuries.

Bullets can miss their intended targets or ricochet. Explosives detonated do not discriminate.

These are foolish people who run the risk of serious injury. When it happens, they will expect the embassy to come running to take care of them. Some do not have health insurance that will pay for their medical care let alone medevac flight home.

Yes. It doesn't take too much for a friendly crowd to become an enraged mob, which could bode ill for whitey. Alcohol, a bit of anti-western rhetoric - who knows what could happen. Why take the chance?