Curfew was annoying but saved lives

Posted by admin on May 20th, 2010 filed in Bangkok, Living here, Transportation

Having not been under curfew since I was 12-years-old, this weekend in Thailand has proved to be a puzzling experience. Luckily we had a 07:00 start for a Mae Sae visa run on Saturday, so in effect the early-to-bed regime could not have come at a better time. And despite the undoubted detrimental effect on the city’s bars and restaurants, there’s little doubt in my mind that the measures saved lives and property.

Feelings have been very tense of late. That infamous laidback Thai attitude and smile has oft-threatened to erupt into that strange brand of bedlam that makes this country such a bemusing place to live. A lot of destruction did occur late week with fire engines and buildings torched in a mirror of Bangkok’s troubles further south.

Hopefully with the clearing out of Silom and the legion of buses winding their way back up to Isaan we can put these troubles to bed for a while at least. Of course, the red shirt leadership we have to stand trial for their part in the carnage, and quite rightly so. And it would be astonishing if this did not arouse yet more sporadic violence, with the dilemma of elections still not solved. But I hope we can just enjoy the relative calm for a while.