Takin’ it to the Streets

Perhaps you’ve heard the news. They’re rioting in Bangkok. They’ve taken to the streets, shut down traffic and closed most schools and businesses. And sadly, a few people have been killed. This is all happening, as I write, within blocks of our hotel room (except for the killing part). We thought people would want to know how we were doing, and if everything is okay. Well…

PROTEST SELFIE!!

Okay, let’s be fair – this is a serious situation. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest what they consider a corrupt, illegitimate government. They’ve decided to “shut down” Bangkok for several days to send a message. For more on the story, check this out:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25708092

But on street level (isolated gunplay aside – yes, not to make light of that) it’s really not that bad. It’s been like a big party around here today. I ask you: is this the face of violence?

Fight the power!

In the USA, she’d be one of those “Red Hat” ladies, or the person who sells cork-topped bottles of sand art at the flea market.

Last night, Amy and I went to a rooftop restaurant for a few drinks. It was quiet, but on one corner a block from our hotel, you could see people gathering. You can maybe see that street very lit up in the photo below, in the foreground, crossed by the elevated metro line:

After a few drinks, we decided to get something to eat. On street level, everything was closed. The streets were basically empty, except for protesters settling in for the night.

Most stores had their gates down. We were forced to eat dinner at…The Hard Rock Café. Chicken Fingers, Nachos, Macaroni and Cheese, and a Filipino cover band. In this way alone, we were victims of the protest. The shutdown worked – on my alimentary canal.

This morning we woke to the sounds of constant cheering and whistling. As we did some housekeeping – emails, travel bookings – things got louder, and then impassioned speeches started to echo over loudspeakers. Here’s the view from our hotel window:

Eventually, it was lunchtime. We had to get something to eat, somewhere. So we braved the protesting crowds and did like all good Americans do – we went to the mall for some tacos.

The mall is right across the street from our hotel, and to get there, we had to cross a major thoroughfare filled with protesters. Of course we were nervous about what things would be like. I mean, people had been killed, what should we expect? Here’s what we discovered:

OCCUPY STARBUCKS! First of all, a great majority of these protesters are middle-aged folks and older. They’re dressed up like it’s a parade, or the Republican National Convention. And many of them were in the mall having a nice lunch.

Outside, people were wandering around in groups, blowing whistles. Several hundred sat on the steps of the mall. OCCUPY SEPHORA!

People are selling t-shirts everywhere, and Thai flags, hats, armbands. Here’s some of the better ones we’ve seen…

So of course, I had to get one. Got mine for 100 baht, a little over three bucks. Translations are welcome; hopefully there’s no course language. Sorry if there is, Grandma. But I can’t read it either.

It’s the green one next to the red one. Power to the people!

Amy and I walked up to a more crowded area, at an intersection a few blocks the other way from our hotel. It was jam packed with about five to ten thousand protesters. TV crews were there, and a big stage – this seemed to be a main gathering area.

One woman had just finished speaking, and music was now playing. People were singing and clapping along, and handing out free water to combat the heat. Especially to fair-skinned folks like us. It was crowded, yes, but all very peaceful. Let me tell you something – I’ve seen more crowd violence at a Grateful Dead concert after the beer ran out.

Example: Here’s some very bored EMS folks. Note the one guy playing with the blood pressure thingy…

And all the people smiling and posing for photos. You’d think it was summer vacation at Mount Rushmore. A lot of Facebook profile shots in the making…

But I will tell you this – these folks know how to protest. They’re all out there – every age group, every walk of life. They shut down their capital city, and they’ve made a statement in one single day that’s being heard around the world. And they’re stopping for sushi along the way. It makes the “Occupy Wall Street” movement look like the pep rally at Ridgemont High.

So…don’t worry everyone – we’re okay. What violence there has been has occured in isolated areas away from our hotel. Tourists are being treated nicely. And Amy’s at the pool as I write, likely sipping on some coconut-infused lime martini. We’re fine, Mom.