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2 Feb, 2014

Bangkok on Election Day: Exclusive Images You Will NOT See on Either BBC or CNN

One hour after polls closed on Bangkok election day, I hopped on my motorcycle and took off to see what was going on around town. What I saw did not surprise me in the least because I’ve seen it before. But it may surprise many readers because it is so completely contradictory to what they may be seeing on TV about the situation in Bangkok.

The best way of countering one side of the story is to present the other side, and as one picture is equivalent to a thousand words, I thought it best to let my camera do the “talking”. I stopped at all the downtown popular tourist spots where anti-government protest rallies are under way (Asoke, Rajdamri and Rajdamnoen roads) as well the equally popular Chinatown and Grand Palace areas, where nothing is happening.

See for yourself and make up your own mind.

Swiss tourists Melissa Rendu, 25 and Pascal Collet, 27, who ignored travel advisories and TV network images to go ahead with their long-planned first visit to Thailand. “We’re having a really good time,” Pascal told me. “We’ve never seen anything like this. People are very friendly and hospitable, not like our protests in Europe where there are violence and riots.” He said they were sending regular news back to their families and friends via social media to let them know they were safe and having a good time. Bravo!

The massive stage under the Skytrain at the intersection of Asoke and Sukhumvit roads.

The huge crowd listening to the anti-government protest speeches.

The scene in front the Grande Centre Point on Sukhumvit road, at the intersection with Asoke. Across the road to the right is the Sheraton Grande. I saw many tourists at numerous hotels in the area happily walking down to experience history unfolding on the streets on Bangkok.

Souvenir sales to foreign tourists down? No problem. The enterprising Thai vendors made a quick switch to the far better selling nationalistic and anti-government memorabilia.

T-shirts selling like hot-cakes, at 100-150 baht a pop, along with hundreds of other “Bangkok shutdown” memorabilia

Yaowaraj road, the busiest part of Chinatown, still decked up for Chinese New Year celebrations.

Traffic as usual on Yaowaraj road, the busiest part of Chinatown.

Chinese and Western visitors enjoying a roadside meal in Chinatown.

The scene at Rajdamri Road. The Central World complex is on the right.

The scene in front of Central Department Store on Ploenchit Road where a new anti-government stage was erected earlier in the day.

Under Chidlom Skytrain station, looking down towards Rajdamri road and the Central World Complex area.

At the entrance to the protest site in front of the Dusit Thani hotel. Chulalongkorn University hospital is to the right, and access was open.

A closer look at the protest site in front of the Dusit Thani hotel. Chulalongkorn University hospital is to the right, and access was open.

The protest site under the overpass at the intersection of Rama 4 and Silom road, in front of the Dusit Thani hotel.

Nationalistic memorabilia on sale at the same site.

A lone tourist on the other side of the road from the Grand Palace complex, where it’s all clear.

Sunset at the complex of the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Virtually zero traffic at the complex of the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

The shimmering spires of the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha complex as they reflected the setting sun.

This part of Rajdamnoen Avenue is completely blocked, in front of the UN ESCAP building and the offices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Transport. Not too many protestors there, however.

This part of Rajdamnoen Avenue is completely blocked, in front of the UN ESCAP building and the offices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Transport. Not too many protestors there, however.