Bankok Emergency Update

Happy Easter! Christ is risen indeed! I am in the process of updating the blog, but in case any of you had seen the news reports about the demonstrations and security concerns in Bangkok, I wanted to reassure you the we are safe and leaving Thailand at this very moment. Yes, there were violent demonstrations while we there, and some of our group did stumble into some of the “red shirts,” as the protestors are called. However, today we went to quite a few locations in the downtown area on both the sky train and the river taxi and saw nothing. We even took a walk last night a few blocks from our hotel, but again everything seemed quiet other than a fairly strong police presence and one policeman ahead of us who waved us to turn back.

We never felt unsafe, and sometimes I wonder if the media don’t blow things out of proportion and help the protestors cause because of the exposure they give them. I don’t doubt that there were some violent confrontations, but it did not seem to affect the city in general. Indeed, most of the people continued with their happy observance of the Thai New Year, celebrating in the streets and throwing water on each other and any one who walked by. We seemed to be able to avoid getting doused, although one little boy squirted us with his squirt canon. Actually, getting wet is supposed to be a blessing and actually provides some relief to the 100 degree heat. If we thought Darwin was hot, it could not hold a candle to Bangkok. More later, but in the meantime, Easter blessings.