State of Emergency in Bangkok

[CarbonMan]

Thank goodness the farmers thought twice about joining the party ... at least for the moment. Let's see what happens next week.

(Reuters) - Thai farmers, angry about not being paid under a rice subsidy scheme, called off a tractor drive to Bangkok's main airport on Friday after an assurance they would get their money, a bit of welcome news for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The subsidy program was among the populist policies pioneered by Yingluck's billionaire brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister central to a conflict that has divided Thais for years and triggered protests, violent at times, that have paralyzed parts of the capital for weeks.

The farmers had said they wanted to make a symbolic protest, with no plans to block air traffic as in 2008, when protesters forced Bangkok's two main airports to close for more than a week.

Former member of parliament Chada Thaiseth, speaking for the farmers gathered in Ayutthaya province, said they had been assured of payment.

"The government will make payment next week. The farmers will head back now and will see whether the government will pay as promised," he told Reuters. "If it isn't delivered, we will return."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...A1K05620140221

[MAN Flyer]

Interesting tips - I'm not a fan of Ladphrao personally and I try my darndest to avoid paying more on the meter going that way.

As for hotel pickups, I think my stance on that one's been overwhelmingly clear - that's for pansies.

What bank breaking amount are we talking now that you don't want to pay while travelling in your backpacker cars?.

Talking of transport, AOT have now reinstated returns from/to BKK, or at least they had last weekend. How long that lasts if it kicks off again is anyone's guess, but it's the first time since September they have allowed people to book returns.

[Gunnar Smithsen]

Forgot to add... Given that GLAM82 is staying at The Pen, he really should avail himself of the helipad... Traffic and protests? What traffic and protests...

To be fair and under a "normal" situation in BKK, taking a hotel car or AOT vs a taxi is somewhat OTT (IMHO), but this current malarkey definitely warrants a driver who knows his/her way to your hotel.

I know FS has lowered it's transfer rate from 5000 nett a year ago to 2900 nett and are now offering a "fast track" service from Swampy.


• Fast Track Service: Fast track service can be arranged as follows:
• Personal “Meet & Greet” service at arrival gate
• Escort guest through a special Immigration counter (Fast Track) Immigration area
• Luggage and Customs check assistance
• Limousine transfer via Mercedes Benz S-Class from airport to hotel
• Introduction to Hotel Airport Representative
• THB 5,200 net for first person for Fast Track Service
• THB 1,500 net for additional person with maximum 3 persons per car

[GLAM82]

Forgot to add... Given that GLAM82 is staying at The Pen, he really should avail himself of the helipad... Traffic and protests? What traffic and protests...

To be fair and under a "normal" situation in BKK, taking a hotel car or AOT vs a taxi is somewhat OTT (IMHO), but this current malarkey definitely warrants a driver who knows his/her way to your hotel.

I know FS has lowered it's transfer rate from 5000 nett a year ago to 2900 nett and are now offering a "fast track" service from Swampy.


• Fast Track Service: Fast track service can be arranged as follows:
• Personal “Meet & Greet” service at arrival gate
• Escort guest through a special Immigration counter (Fast Track) Immigration area
• Luggage and Customs check assistance
• Limousine transfer via Mercedes Benz S-Class from airport to hotel
• Introduction to Hotel Airport Representative
• THB 5,200 net for first person for Fast Track Service
• THB 1,500 net for additional person with maximum 3 persons per car

Haha helipad will be an overkill, I do get the fast track buggy and special immigration though via HSBC and APEC

[MAN Flyer]

Another attack on a protest site yesterday, this time in daylight (5pm) which resulted in three deaths, including two kids. Another police officer injured during last weeks attempt to clear a site has also died today, after being shot in the head.

While the bastards firing grenades into public places are clearly the ones who need to be hunted down, I think parents should not be taking kids to these places as this situation is only gheading one way at the moment.

[Lobster]

Suthep has called off the shutdown. All the protest sites apart from lumpini will be reopened as from Monday.

So what next?

[kapitan]

What next? Time to prepare for Songkran........... So its time for protesters to go home and start preparing for the coming holidays.... Btw, school holidays starting Monday until after Songkran in April......

[MAN Flyer]

Suthep has called off the shutdown. All the protest sites apart from lumpini will be reopened as from Monday.

So what next?

Well they don't need to try and 'force' them out now, do they?. The courts will now get rid of Yingluck, just like they got rid of a previous PM from the same side for being a chef and all the other ludicrous decisions they come up with that are blatantly politically driven.

As I said up thread, I don't know why they didn't just do that from the start. I suppose it shows what a moron Suthep actually is, as if evidence were needed.

[HUGE AL]

What bank breaking amount are we talking now that you don't want to pay while travelling in your backpacker cars?

+1

Well they don't need to try and 'force' them out now, do they?. The courts will now get rid of Yingluck, just like they got rid of a previous PM from the same side for being a chef and all the other ludicrous decisions they come up with that are blatantly politically driven.

As I said up thread, I don't know why they didn't just do that from the start. I suppose it shows what a moron Suthep actually is, as if evidence were needed.

What a mess. It's just so sad that innocent children have been harmed in this latest fight for power. Ahhh...Asia...

[MAN Flyer]

Two articles show just how much damage these moronic politicians in Thailand do the country in their bids to boos their ego's.

Bangkok Hotels report lowest occupancy in 10 years:

According to data compiled by STR Global, hotels in the Asia Pacific region experienced negative performance results during March 2014 when reported in U.S. dollars.

The region’s occupancy for March fell 0.7% to 69.2%; ADR dropped 3.3% to US$120.63; and RevPAR decreased 3.9% to US$83.44.

“The region reported decreases in all performance metrics during March,” said Elizabeth Winkle, managing director of STR Global. “In February and March, Bangkok reported the lowest occupancies in 10 years. The prolonged political crisis is impacting the hospitality industry and wider economy. Concerns remain as there is no resolution in sight and a stalemate between the opposing parties. After several difficult years due to oversupply and weak demand in many markets, India is finally showing signs of occupancy growth, which is positive and a trend we hope will continue.”

Changi reports Bangkok down 29%:

Singapore Changi Airport managed 4.49 million passenger movements in March 2014, 2.5% lower than a year before.

There were 29,100 landings and take-offs at Changi last month, a 2.5% increase compared to March 2013.

Socio-political factors continued to weigh down on travel demand on some routes while a reduction in long-haul capacity, especially to the United States, has also impacted passenger movements. Thailand traffic decreased for the fifth consecutive month, with traffic to and from Bangkok declining by 29% on-year in March.

[MAN Flyer]

The courts will now get rid of Yingluck, just like they got rid of a previous PM from the same side for being a chef and all the other ludicrous decisions they come up with that are blatantly politically driven.

Quelle surprise, the 'court' (you have to use that term very loosely in Thailand) has ordered Yingluck to step down. How sadly predictable.....and here we go again :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27292633

[JWNY]

...here we go again

[MAN Flyer]

It's not a coup, honest.....

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27480845

[sqdazz]

It's not a coup, honest.....

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27480845

Heheh, it never gets dull in the life of Thai politics.

Am flying to BKK on 26th , and out on the 27th. Hoping for smooth sailing but let's see

[scooby5]

A few more weeks left until my next TG flight but at least they came out early and said 'No, we're not going on strike'.........this time.