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Our return to Bangkok for the fourth time this trip came at a time when the city of angels had some demons. The government had not changed it's colours since the red shirts set up camp the first time we came and the city was waiting. The army, the red shirts and the government were waiting whilst the majority of the city kept ticking. We had left by the time the clock ran out and the blood was shed, turning a peaceful area into a war zone.
The images that hit the worlds television screens showed Bangkok as a place of terror and indeed it must have been for residents of that particular area or political colour but having been there only days before we lived a different story. Despite Foreign Office warnings the city was safe as the protests were contained to one area.
Our first day in town we spent relaxing in Santichai Prakan Park and wondering around the backstreets of Banglamphu. We were still in a semi comatosed state from the non-sleeper bus the night before and so
headed for the cinema as our culture for the evening. Without warning as we strolled towards the Central
World Plaza shopping mall we came to the red shirts stronghold. The barbed wire and wooden barricades looked like a scene from the French revolution and the Thai protesters meant business, shutting down Louis Vuitton, Chanel and any other French Connections. They had managed to close the biggest shopping mall in South East Asia and so the scene was deadly quiet. We diverted to a cinema that was open and saw Iron Man 2.
Apart from war-like barricades there wasn't much we had not seen in Bangkok during our combined times here. However the Golden Mountain proved to be a new and interesting find. It was perched high and took a hundred step slog to get to the top but was well worth it for the view over the city. The golden temple was particularly beautiful set against the blue skies, seen through our sweaty eyes.
Despite the protests Bangkok still knew how to party and so we joined it for our last night together. We had cocktails on a strangely quiet Khao San Road and, on the eve of the UK elections, spoke to a well
informed Thai man about who would win. He thought David Cameron
which we didn't get too hung up on before we went to the ever impressive Bed Supper Club. The all white interior, stylish crowd and Jack Beats DJ's made for an epic night that ended going back to a swanky apartment for an impromptu after party. By 5am it was time for Harriet to get her flight. We got back to our hotel and waved a sad goodbye as she went off in her airport taxi. It was a great way to end our time together in a city that is always fun.
The next day we caught our Air Asia flight to Saigon and said goodbye to a city that would shortly erupt. The red shirt's stronghold on the city may have ended but the problem still remains. It may seem funny
to feel so sorry for one of the wealthiest, most visited city's in the world but it is a city in a country with a population we hold close to our hearts.
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Laura
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Aw.... you guys! Miss you hannah frannac4