Friday, December 29, 2006
Arrived!
Yes we are here, safe and sound. Not too much to report. The place we are staying is clean and neat. The flight was painful but the plane food was good. We haven't been ripped off yet by a taxi but there is far too little indicating or driving between the lines. It's best that you don't watch. There are people everywhere offering deals but we are yet too be conned. Probably shouldn't speak too soon. We are off to China Town today and we'll take a nice local ferry down the river. Chin Chin
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14 comments:
Glad to see that u hav arrived safely. Enjoy China Town and dont forget to bring us back lots of presents, including a BB gun for ur beloved brother matt and a gameboy game for ur not so beloved brother Josh. Anyway, tata for now.
Mum, Matt and Josh.
Well it's good to hear you made it with little hassle. I kept thinking that when you went through the doors your lovely cling wrapped luggage would be unwrapped as result of the xray machine on the other side.
I suppose I better give an account of what's going on at your place....nothing. I might even get through the 6 weeks with even turning on Brett's computer.
Hi Jackie and Brett. Finally found this site. Sunday here - New Years Eve. Have you touched base with Sally and Dean? How was the boat trip? Any plans for seeing in the New Year? Thanks for the birthday wishes. Talk to you soon.
We will be away for the next 10 days without access to a computer so happy new year from Mum Dad Matt and Josh and will check this site when we get back.
Hi guys, i saw what happened on CNN. Just post to let us know your alright.
Hi Guys,
Wow, turns out there was a reason they checked our bags out last night.
I only recognised one of the sights (victory memorial).
Did you guys recognise any of the others?
Good to hear from you Dean. Good thing J 'n B cling wrapped their bags or it would of been Chapelle Corby all over again. Where you and Sally with Brett and Jacky together at the time? Just needed to how they were.
Luke
I thought people would want to know what the travel advise is from the Australian Government. Here is a summary.
Travel Advice
This Advice is current for Monday, 01 January 2007.
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Terrorism (New Year bombings in Bangkok). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Summary
* We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution because of the high threat of terrorist attack. We continue to receive reports that terrorists may be planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
* A series of bombs exploded in Bangkok on New Year's eve. There is a possibility of further attacks in coming days. Australians are urged to avoid unnecessary travel in Bangkok.
* There is uncertainty over the political situation following a military takeover of the Government on 19 September 2006. Martial law remains in place in parts of the country.
* You should avoid demonstrations, political rallies, and concentrations of military personnel. You should monitor the media, and follow any instructions issued by local authorities.
* We strongly advise you to reconsider your need to travel at this time to the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla or overland to and from the Malaysian border through these provinces, due to high levels of ongoing violence in these regions, including terrorist attacks.
* Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
o organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
o register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
o subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
The fully advisory can be found at:
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand
I left brett an jackie at around 1:00 last night safe and sound. All the bombs went off before that. They are leaving Bangkok tonight I think.
It was interesting to read the travel warnings and the Age today. While I am sure they know their stuff the panic in both of them is entirely unpercievable in Bangkok. Sure, people are talking about it but there is no sense of anything taking place last night.
This calm is quite a contrast to how things would be if such an attack took place in Australia I imagine...
hi J&B worried about you. Hope you are both well. Where are you. Are you safe. Take care and keep out of night clubs won't you.
DEAN! thankyou so much for posting to let us know you're all alright! you're right about the travel warnings - they make good sense, and offer some great suggestions that you should probably try to follow, but tend to hype the danger up quite a bit. obviously the thought of any of you getting hurt is dreadful, but on the other hand i'd hate to see you miss out on what you've set out to do. there is always conflict all over the world, and if we spent all our time tiptoeing around avoiding it we'd miss out on too much.
so while part of me wants you all to come straight home and never be in any situation that's even remotely dangerous ever, another part of me knows that really that would require duct-taping pillows all over you and never letting you go anywhere.
so if you decide to come home, then i won't have to miss you that long- yay! but knowing all of you as i do i doubt that'll happen. so while i will worry my little anxious fusspot head, i know the chances of you actually getting hurt are very low. it would be pretty good if you could avoid the certain 'hotspot' areas the travel warnings list if you can.
just please keep posting AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE just so that all of us who love you can sleep
on a more cheerful note, my new years eve was FANTASTIC! how was yours?
Hi everyone,
Just so you don't all stress any more than is neccesary, we definately wont hear from Jacks and Huddy till tomorrow morning Thai time.
There is a very good chance they don't even know that there was an attack, as you wouldn't know if you did have worried family SMSing you and you don't read the awesome Nation newspaper.
So, the point of my rambling message is that we wont hear from Brett and Jackie till they arrive in Chang Mai tomorrow morning as they would be on a train by now. I would hate to think you guys would be glued to the screen waiting for a post and thinking that silence was bad.
Katherine, I wouldn't travel to the South at the moment, the travel warnings sure have that one right. I guess what really struck me was how the Thais and the backpackers just got on with it as nothing happened.
On a different note; I'm staying in the coolest coolest place ever. From the austerity of Bed and Breakfast Jim's guesthouse is paradise. We have a big woodern bed that is cool, a balcony our own shower. And it actually looks good! Nothing in Bangkok looked good. Even the Tuk Tuk drivers are better here, charging less and driving more safely.
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