Bangkok Update

April 30th/2010:

We can understand that many of you may have concerns about traveling to Thailand because of the issues you may be hearing in the news, but we can assure you all that anyone traveling with Free & Easy will not experience any increased danger traveling to Thailand right now.

The reasons that we can be so confident are because first off the conflict happening in Bangkok is completely contained to a few key areas in the city where the protesters are trying to interrupt the current Thai government’s operations. The protesters are not terrorizing in order to get their message through, but trying to get attention in hopes that the current government will step down. Thailand is an extremely peaceful country, and both sides involved want to avoid a violent conflict, but obviously both sides do not want to step down. This political issue has been going on for more than 2 years and throughout it all we have felt confident in bringing our groups to Thailand and ensuring their complete safety.

In no way whatsoever are tourists being targeted, so in this way, it is very simple for us to avoid any areas where the protesters are setting up. Bangkok is a massive city of 14 million people, so this makes it very easy for us to avoid areas of potential danger. At this very moment, we have 3 managers in Bangkok, 8 group leaders and myself the owner of the company, so we are able to monitor the situation very closely. We still take taxis around the city, we still have been going out to restaurants and markets and temples and malls and feel safe as we always do while in Thailand. We just know that the areas where protesters are gathering are the ones to avoid.

We have many backup plans that could easily be executed if for any reason there was any increased level of danger. It would be very easy for us to re-route our trips so that our groups did not spend any time in Bangkok at all, but at this moment we do not feel that this level of danger exists. It is true that there have been some deaths in the past month due to the conflict, but they have all been limited to those areas where the protestors have been setting up. The number of deaths is really quite small though, and just to provide a comparison, each week in Bangkok more people die due to traffic accidents. We are not trying to suggest that one should be afraid of the roads in Bangkok, but simply trying to show a contrast of the actual level of danger, when we can so easily avoid the protest areas.

We have had groups in Thailand throughout this month of April, and their travel experience was not impacted in any negative way because of the conflicts. Nobody felt uncomfortable or unsafe, and simply enjoyed everything that is so amazing about Thailand. Plus, the majority of our trip experience takes place in remote island and jungle locations far far from Bangkok. When our groups are at those destinations, it as though the conflicts are happening in another country because we are so removed from the political sphere of Thailand. The Thai people are truly wonderful, and the country has so much to offer that it would be a shame for anyone to miss out on a trip to Thailand because of the growing paranoia that is caused from the stories on the news.

The Canadian Government has not issued any Travel Advisory against travel to Thailand, but instead a warning of the conflicts going on. This is a sensible warning for the solo traveler that would be coming to Thailand for the first time without any knowledge of the city or the country, but for travelers coming with Free & Easy they have an entire network of Free & Easy employees and local Thais that know precisely how to avoid any danger. Because of this, we feel that we are able to provide the same wonderful Thailand trip that we always do.

We are happy to answer any concerns that you or your family may have about travel to Thailand, but we hope that this message will help you feel at ease, and approach your trip to Thailand just as though you would always look forward to the experience. We are here, and enjoying Thailand just as we always have. We sincerely hope for the sake of Thailand that a resolution is reached soon because we know that it is unnecessarily hurting their tourism industry and impacting millions of people’s day to day jobs. But the biggest thing we want to impress on you all is that the current situation in Bangkok is no reason for concern, or reason to change travel plans to Thailand. Free & Easy is watching closely, and any danger is very easy to avoid.

April 20th

Hey Everyone, Free & Easy here reporting from the ground level in Thailand on the political happenings taking place in the nations capital right now. As it seems to happen every year about this time, political demonstrators have taken to the streets of Bangkok once again to try to force a change in the government party that is currently in power.

Last week the protestors stormed parliament and the current PM had to flee in a helicopter. The army responded by telling the protestors to leave which they refused to do. Tear gas and rubber bullets were brought out and things got ugly. In the end 20 people were left dead.

This must sound scary to someone planning on coming to Thailand doesn't it? We should let you know that we actually had 2 groups in Bangkok, on the last day of their 40-day trip, while the clashes were happening. At no time was any of this directed at tourists. This is between a mob of politcal supporters and the military. It was quite easy for us to avoid the troubles.

Tourism is Thailand's number one industry and one thing that both sides of the conflict do not want any violence or to taint the country's image for the tourist industry. We personally, do not feel danger to ourselves even when in Bangkok.

The background story goes as such; Red shirted supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, have flooded Bangkok in a show of support for the previously exiled former Prime Minister. A lot of these supporters are coming in from poorer rural areas, as it is the peak of the dry season right now and many of the farmers don't have any crops to tend to due to drought conditions. In any event, the Red Shirts have set up demonstrations on some key road ways and monuments in Bangkok and have delivered their request that the current parliament be dissolved immediately. The current administration has no plans of complying to this request and says it will continue to operate the government in a democratic manner for the good of the country. The Current PM, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has twice responded to the protesters that the government is open to negotiations so long as the protests remain peaceful. In a recent poll conducted by Suan Dusit University in Bangkok, nearly 60% of Thais polled believe that the current demonstrations will benefit only one person, Thaksin Shinawatra, and will not be beneficial to the people of Thailand over all.

Day to day life for most Thai people in Bangkok is relatively unaffected and it's business as usual, except in those key areas where the demonstrations are obstucting traffic and causing delays in those parts.
For on-going and up to date coverage on the events visit http://www.bangkokpost.com/

Well that's a tasty bit of info you might be saying, but what does this all means for current and future Free & Easy Travelers? Of course we're always concerned with the safety of our groups and continuously monitor the situation to be aware of any potential dangers, and on days where our travel plans may take us close to the "action" we're sure to allow for extra time and alternate plans. The main thing that travelers in Thailand should keep in mind, is that these demonstrations are "Political" and are aimed at affecting change in the government in a peaceful manner. These are NOT random acts of violence targeting foreigners and civilians. Keep some common sense on you and avoid problem areas and there should be no more reason for concern than the questionable street meat you ate for lunch.

Your Correspondent in Paradise,
Kevin Bernardin

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