Is it a good idea to visit Thailand?

In the wake of the seizure of Bangkok's airport by a mob in late November -- an illegal act which left hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists stranded (see these posts)-- Thai hotels now face low occupancy. Discounts may now abound in the Land of Smiles.

Recently on Bangkok Pundit blog, someone asked whether it made any sense to "reward" Thailand with a visit so soon after Thailand ruined so many peoples vacations. A deeper question is whether Thailand has not just been subjected to a "judicial coup" by which an urban elite has undemocratically deposed a government elected mainly by the rural poor. To go or not?

If you are interested in the discussion and some assessments concerning the state of Thai tourism, read Bangkok Pundit's post.

Do tourists destroy artists?

I am thinking about conversations I have had with a number of artists based in different regions of Southeast Asia. It seems to me the big problem, anywhere you go -- from Bangkok to Bali -- is that most Westerners do not buy art thoughtfully. They all seem to want paintings of flowers or Buddha heads or people surfing. Of course, it's worse than that: relatively few Westerners seem to know -- or care -- about the difference between a mass produced object and an original piece of artwork. I once assumed it was only Americans and Australians who bought art like this. These days, many Europeans are equally thoughtless.

Maybe the tourists like the art, you say. If they like how it looks, so what? What difference does it make if everybody does not appreciate the distinction between fake art and the real thing?

It matters to the local people and the local culture. As a result of the thoughtless consumption habits of Western tourists, in shop after shop, many talented local artists have little choice but to spend their days making knock-offs. I have watched real, talented local artists put in such a position. And I find it rather sad.

Because these artists are not living up to their full potential. They have so much more to give than what is asked of them by the Western consumer.

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The above is an extract from my most recent post at JOTMAN.COM.
Photo by Jotman of a painting bought from a Bangkok street artist.

Joining this free service before you travel could save your life

A journalist in Afghanistan -- one of a handful not embedded in the military -- has advice that could prove useful to any traveler. Tech Radar reports:

"Get yourself set up with a Twitter account. It's a nice, low-cost way of letting people know if you get into trouble or are kidnapped. You can agree on a keyword with friends to use if they need to start mobilising help for you and then you can just text that word when you are in such a situation."

That's the advice of Alex Strick van Linschoten. Sounds overly paranoid for everyday blogging, but then again, he's no everyday blogger.

Based in Afghanistan, van Linschoten is the only journalist in Kandahar who isn't embedded with the military. He feels his 'free-roaming' blog, From the Frontline, plays an important role in bringing the reality of the conflict to the outside world.

Not long after he gave the interview for this report, the Alex used twitter to report that he had survived a bomb blast in a nearby neighborhood.

Most recently, during the recent terror attacks on hotels in India, twitter proved itself a useful tool to those on the scene in downtown Mumbai (see this post).

Is it safe to visit Somalia?

Veteran journalist Rob Crilly has put together a "decision model" for anyone thinking of making a trip to Somalia. It is designed for journalists, but anyone contemplating a trip to Somalia would be well advised to consult it.

Thailand ought to have some travel bargains

The Straights Times reports on tourism to Thailand after the closure of the airports:

occupancy across Thailand has plunged to an average of around 20 to 30 per cent after protests closed Bangkok's two airports, the head of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) said on Thursday.

Occupancy is normally at least 65 per cent in December, one of the key months in Thailand's tourist high season.

'We expect the December average occupancy will be only between 20 to 30 per cent. As of now, some five-star hotels in Bangkok have reported an occupancy rate of less than 10 per cent,' THA chief Prakit Chinamourphong told AFP.

London to Singapore by rail

It's almost doable. The BBC discusses the few remaining gaps in the line.

Indonesian truck art

Photo by Jotman.

Outlook for Thai tourism industry bleak

The Thai economy is said to be losing about $80 million a day in lost tourism revenue on account of the seizure of the country's two main airports by demonstrators prone to violence.

Reuters reports that it will take the country a week to reopen Bangkok's main airport terminal once the protesters either agree to leave or are forced to go. Some airport equipment may have been smashed reports Bangkok Pundit, who is a great source of up to date information about the situation in Bangkok generally.

Also, Bangkok-based journalist Newley Purnell has spoken with travelers at Bangkok's besieged airports and been posting updates at his blog. Newley recently reported from U-Tapao, a former US airbase converted into a make-shift international airport facility:

Some travel agents bussed passengers down to U-Tapao, which is near the tourist resort of Pattaya, but with information proving difficult to come by in Bangkok, others came on their own more in hope than expectation.

Huge traffic jams built up outside the sprawling compound. Thai soldiers with M16 rifles guarded the entrance to the airport to prevent anti-government protesters from gaining access, as travellers lugged their bags under the sun.

Once inside the terminal, it was standing room only. Travelers were unsure where they should check in. Long queues wound around the lone luggage scanner, where soldiers tried to hold back the surging crowd.

"It's complete chaos and pandemonium," said Bonnie Chan, 29, from San Diego, California.

"We've been given incorrect information from the airlines. The US embassy says they can't help us. We're high and dry. The airlines keep giving us the run-around."

Meanwhile, France has hired a jumbo jet to fly French citizens home to safety. Why other countries are not responding like this is something of a mystery to me. There are supposedly 300,000 people stranded in Thailand!

Updates about the situation in Thailand also continue to be posted at Jotman.com

Thailand travel advisory

New Mandala reports:

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has just raised its travel advisory for Bangkok to the second highest level: “reconsider your need to travel”. The advice for the rest of Thailand remains unchanged. This is the list of other places for which the Department provides the same level of warning: D.R. Congo, Angola, Haiti, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Pakistan…

If you are leery about vacationing in Thailand, consider another Southeast Asian destination: Indonesia.