Tension in Bangkok continues to rise after bullets and tear gas were fired in the early hours of the morning. Over 70 people are reported to have been injured.
There’s a strange atmosphere in the city today. Many people have left Bangkok, not necessarily because of the protests but because it’s Songkran, Thai New Year, and they’ve taken the opportunity to swap the heat and humidity for beaches and cooling sea breezes. Consequently, the city is eerily quiet. The roads, usually one step away from gridlock, are easy to navigate and the city’s public transport system is all but empty.
The reports on the BBC present a picture of a city in chaos and turmoil and yet that’s not really the case in my experience. Certainly there are pockets where protesters and army forces are currently in a tense stand-off and several roads have been blocked by buses hi-jacked by Red Shirt protesters. However, at the other end of town the annual holiday water fights continue and where the guns and ammunition are worrying real at one end of Bangkok, at the other end, groups gather to fire water guns at each other wait to douse passers-by. It’s a curious mix of virtual revolution and party and hard to imagine that this could be considered normal in any other part of the world.
This morning’s battles were in the Din Daeng area near Victory Monument, one of Bangkok’s major transport hubs. By mid-morning the troops had gained control of the area and a friend and I ventured out to investigate.
Sadly, it seems that the situation is far from resolved and I guess we should expect further trouble overnight.
I leave tomorrow for Malaysia for a few days, all being well. I don’t feel that Bangkok is a dangerous place to be at present, despite the pictures of armed troops below. However, it will be a pleasant change to walk around the relative peace and quiet of Kuala Lumpur.
Buses used to block Ratchawithi, near Victory Monument
Every so often, troops would circle Victory Monument in a trio of armoured trucks, no doubt as a warning to any nearby Red Shirt protesters.
Lunch time for the front-line troops: chicken and rice delivered in polystyrene containers.
Troops patrol the pedestrian walkway that circles Victory Monument as smoke from burning tyres rises into the air.
Debris and an abandoned bus litter Din Daeng and the approach to the Expressway.
That is really strange looking at pictures of such a large city with almost no people in it. I am used to seeing pictures of army/police standing off from protesters too. It looks odd to just see them. Nice pictures by the way.
Spooky. I’ve never seen that part of Bangkok so empty. Be careful running around down there.
jack
Stay safe. Maybe it’s just as well to be leaving for a few days.
AWESOME shots
Last photo looks like it’s from a zombie movie.
I was in Bangkok a few years ago… it’s weird to see Victory Monument so desolate. Awesome pictures, by the way.
Not your usual sort of subject matter, but some great shots anyway. It’s almost like you have a Press Pass or summat
I have stayed in Bankok for almost 2yrs and loved every day of it…it is kind of sad to see what is happening there….tfs
Wow. I’ve spent a lot of time in BKK and I’ve never seen The Victory Monument so quiet, ever. Crazy times. Great shots!
Great use of depth of field – makes the images really stand out.
In the shot where the police are standing under the bridge, I love the low perspective, it’s really dramatic. I was left wondering if the partially hidden Canon advert was seen at the time of taking or a chance?
DT
Looks like things might be calmer now in Bangkok. Thank goodness.
Dave, well seen. That Canon ad is very prominent at Victory Monument and I did take a couple of shots that made something of it but it just looked incongruous. I hadn’t seen it in this shot but the camera was right on the road with a 16mm lens for that perspective so, to be honest, it was point and hope!
Hi Gavin…Thanks for this, beats CNN news with great pics to boot!
Namaste!
Thanks Flo. And Namaste to you. Hope you’re having fun in Kathmandu. Don’t take all the good pictures before I get there
Some absolutely cracking shots in there, Gavin.
Wow – fantastic shots, Gavin. “Adventure travel photography” takes on a whole new meaning.
Hi Gavin, I love the photos of the army troops. I wish I was brave enough to get that close! I was sitting at home thinking about some of the great photos opportunities there might be out there. You obviously took advantage of them!