Safe travel to Thailand?
 

We are leaving Thursday for Bangkok-in light of this weeks activities with the govt., will be be safe traveling throu Thailand?

Thailand is likely to be very safe. Some might even say that as a Buddhist country you are safer there than in the US. <BR> <BR>Thais are warm and friendly people. I expect you will have a wonderful time.

Marla - <BR> <BR>We were supposed to be leaving next month but we're not sure if we want to go right now. Well, we want to but are unsure. <BR> <BR>Bangkok is great and we love it. I would guess that Kathy is right, you're probably better off there than in the U.S. <BR> <BR>Please let us know how the "feeling" is; they have very cheap internet cafes! <BR> <BR>Lynn <BR> <BR>:-)

I am back in Thailand at the moment. <BR>While the concern is understandable having watched the saturation coverage of US TV, it should also be understood that for much of the world including Thailand everything is absolutely normal. Sure there is some news about what has been happening, but it is basically another news item of something very remote from life here, It is absolutely mind-boggling for most Thais to hear that there are people concerned about coming to Thailand, since they cannot imagine what they could be concerned about. The US Embassy security has been "strengthened" ,with a police car now stationed outside it. That is the extent of the "perceived threat"! <BR> <BR>I had an email recently from one of my well-travelled colleagues in the US who is scheduled to come to Thailand next month. He wanted to know if Americans would be "safe" and if the government would "protect" Americans in the event that something happened here. I showed it to some of my Thai friends who thought he must be joking. They could hardly begin to understand what he was talking about. <BR> <BR>The purpose of terrorism is to terrorize and fear feeds upon itself. While the initial objective was to create physical destruction ,howver tragic that was, the major objective is terror through psychological warfare. The statistical facts are unchanged, namely, that the drive from one's home to the airport is by far the most dangerous part of any journey overseas. <BR> <BR>I told my colleague that he like all Americans had a choice - to give into fear, waiting possibly years to travel anywhere (thus giving victory to the terrorists (whatever "visible" blows may be inflicted upon them in Afghanistan) or live normally. <BR> <BR>For almost all parts of Asia, life is normal, with the biggest risk being the possibility that one is overcharged by a taxi-driver!

Pas has said it all. Perfectly safe.

Avoid Southern Thailand. However, I do not think it's the best time to go to Asia when America is raining bombs there. If you do go, spend money generously to win respect. It alway works.