Kathie

Thanks, Borneo Rainforest Lodge was an incredible experience!

I do hope your Thailand trip works out for you.

debnyc

Everyday I've been following "Bangkok Protest Escalation" by Hanuman. (great post!) Besides that, I've been reading the Bangkok post.
It seems like the tides are turning in Bangkok.
Like manna from heaven, here's what this shopping girl found...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/...their-recovery
If all continues on this path, Hellooo Bangkok and see ya' next year to Borneo.

Kathie

You should be able to great buys in Bangkok!

khunwilko

UK - has now reduced its travel warning to Bkk only - so I guess other nations are doing the same - this moves the insurance problems.

however so far the Redshirts have not agreed to the fine details - they want a definite election date. It is difficult to see what they can do now though - apart from pull out slowly.

Now the Yellowshirts are demanding the PM resigns as he didn't take strong enough action against the Redshirts - what will they do now?

Overall though it looks as though the risk is waning.
I have to say I've never been slightly worried or felt threatened in Bkk over the last few weeks, but I see the main problem for visitors is that their holiday plans in the capital may be disrupted - now it may just be more of a case of how soon back to normal is achieved

debnyc

The risk seems to change everyday. And so do my feeling towards going. But as I so very much would like to volunteer at Elephant nature park, I'm still waiting the situation out and hoping for a positive turn of events. In any case here's my thinking this week....I have found no extreme warnings on Chiang mai and the surrounding areas. Nor have I found any warnings for the Bankok airport which will be flying in and out of. My plans today are....
volunteer at ENP, 2 days in Chiang Mai, head over to Luang Prabang for the remainder of the trip and my last night will be in Bangkok. Depending on the situation it will either be in an airport hotel or the Shangri-la. I'll book last minute and it will all depend on the situation. Please let me know if I'm crazy.
Honestly, I feel very sorry for the people of Bangkok and Thailand.
Besides fear and anger, the loss of revenue must be devastating.

Kathie

Deb, I think your plan makes good sense.

Melnq8

I'm currently in Langkawi as a work conference scheduled for Phuket this week was cancelled and moved here due to the troubles in Thailand. We thought it was an unnecessary move, but the company felt it was in the best interests of the participants to make the switch.

Good luck whatever you decide.

rhkkmk

go and enjoy....my best man is there on soi 11 right now and says things are just fine....

i think the next couple of days will tell the story

SiamJai

Suvarnabhumi Airport is oblivious to what is happening in Bangkok. Actually, Bangkok airport isn't even in Bangkok, it is in Samut Prakan province about 30km from downtown capital. The same goes for Chiang Mai. The only troubles currently happening which foreign tourists need to be wary of are in the center of Bangkok. The rest of the country is as safe as ever.

debnyc

Thank you SiamJai. That's what I'm sensing and watching closely as you never know. And hey, I got my fellow Fodorites giving me answers in real time. You guys are great! But, my family and ex-husband (I'm traveling with my son) are totally freakin' out. You would think, living in NYC, passing through Times Square and riding the subway everyday, there would be a little perspective and filter as to what the media is saying and what is actually happening in ALL of Thailand.
I'm scheduled to leave for BKK on June 19th. I'll wait out another 2 weeks (mostly because of Cathay Pacific and the rerouting policy), then decide..Plan A or B. I'm hoping to keep plan A as plan B is going to cost a significant amount more.
Interestingly enough, I was looking on trip advisor's forum on Chiang mai. It seems that a huge concern for many people traveling to Thailand at this point is travel insurance. Apparently insurers do not provide coverage once a travel warning for an area has been issued.

khunwilko

For up-todate info - Keep an eye on the news agencies - e.g - Reuters have an office in Bkk.

The Thai media is at present overwhelmingly anti-Redshirt and so are many of the commentators. A lot of it is just hysterical mud-slinginig of the worst kind.

THe situation is still confined within Bkk city centre - the ramifications of any conclusion however are very unclear.

The Redshirt movement is a national coalition and it's heartland is in the North or North-East, it is not beyond possibility that the trouble could spread.
Furthermore the govt has issues "State of Emergency" declarations for many of these provinces - how they will be enforced remains to be seen.

tinydancer

If you want to still spend time in Bangkok, one of our favorite hotels is there and not in the central part but on the river, and a short private ferry ride to the sky tram. It's the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa. It's a very large, beautiful property with a beautiful pool and gardens. There are several restaurants in the property, but also several right outside the main entrance in a small shopping mall. It's a good alternative to flying somewhere else. We've stayed here 3x and are scheduled to stay again in a few months.

Just offering another option if you decide not to, or can't travel to another location.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...esort-and-spa/

simpsonc510

I've never stayed at the Marriott, but I've been there a number of times. It is a really lovely property, and it is further from the city center problem area(s).

debnyc

Looks like Plan B for me as the situation in Thailand is not the of action adventure I was looking for in a vacation.
I'm starting to pull together my trip to Borneo
Kuching looks great and seems like great jumping off point for Orangutans, culture and a little shopping.
Seems like it's time to move to a different forum for me
Hopefully, Thailand next year.
Thanks everybody for all your advice.

Kathie

deb, if you haven't already, take a look at by Borneo trip report from a few years ago. Just click on my name and look under trip reports.

Hopefully, Thailand next year.

debnyc

Hi kathie,

I did check out your trip report. That's what lead me to Kuching. YAY! I'll definitely make that a stop. BRL looked fab, but as I've lost quite a bit of $$ with this change of plans, I'm looking for less expensive ways to find Orangutans, au natural, in Sabah. There seem to be volunteer and less expensive alternatives in Lower Kinabatangan River. Basically I'm thinking of just staying within Borneo and exploring Sabah, Sarawak (Kuching and longhouses) and KK or KL as connection and time before international flights.
I'll try and figure things out a little further and begin another thread.
Thanks so much. You've been a super help. And yes, I really hope we can make it to Thailand next year.

Tere

I would not travel to Thailand at this time!! Media overwhelming? What about the Central Mall in Bkk? Is it calm there? Not me!!

AlwaysOnTheRoad

We are looking at travels to Chiang Mai. There is supposed to be a dusk to dawn curfew in 24 provinces. Does this include Chiang Mai. I have also heard there are or have been disturbances there. Can anyone give us an update?

Kathie

Always, make a separate post about CM to get a good answer. This thread is about Deb's trip and she's decided to go to Borneo instead.