Bangkok on New Year security alert

[Bazle 1,501]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1171298/1/.html

 

Posted: 14 December 2011 1643 hrs

 

BANGKOK: Thailand's premier on Wednesday urged authorities to be vigilant after police said they were boosting security at top tourist spots and retail areas in the capital during New Year celebrations.

 

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she had instructed the army to monitor events during the festivities and she herself would be on standby.

 

"I told the army, police and interior ministry to work closely together, especially over New Year so that people can enjoy the celebration," she told reporters.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Police have said areas such as the upmarket shopping mall Central World, where a countdown event will be held, and the Khao San Road backpacker district were put on high alert after an incomplete bomb was found in the city last week.

 

Some of the sites involved, including Central World, were targeted in a series of coordinated nail bomb blasts in 2006 that killed three people and injured more than 30, forcing the cancellation of New Year's celebrations.

 

[joekicker 53]

True, that five years ago they had a series of bomb attacks, with several killed, and the whole "official" street New Year's celebrations were called off. Since then, it's been "crank up the fear juices" every year - government covering their butts. So essentially, as always, it's up to you. There are two, and only two possibilities:

 

- Lock the doors, cover the windows with masking tape, get into bed and ... no get UNDER the bed on December 30 and stay there until January 2.

- Live like you generally do.

 

There's nothing in the middle. When government says "you should be cautious.... " How? If some idjit put a bomb in that trash can, then he did. How can you be "cautious" about that? You're either totally fearful, or you fuhgeddaboudit.

 

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[jacko 8,822]

Come to Pattaya, they put on a good show.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Come to Pattaya, they put on a good show.

 

At least in BKK, you can actually get from A to B before, during and after the celebrations without too much hassle.

[joekicker 53]

At least in BKK, you can actually get from A to B before, during and after the celebrations without too much hassle.

 

You beat me to that. In Bangkok they allow places to stay open all night. In Pattaya, they have to have them open to treat the bazillions caught in the jams of people and other animals. New Year's Eve is Amateur Night everywhere, but nowhere, and I mean NOWHERE so much as Pattaya. I thought Songkran was bad (which it is) until I got caught one holiday there. As they say: never again.

 

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[jacko 8,822]

Yeah, it was dead easy to get out of the Santika club.

[plakapong 4]

New Year in Patts is fantastic if you can get to a high vantage point to watch the fireworks, I did from the roof of the condo block I was staying in one year, took up a cooler of drinks about an hour before and watched it all over the bay. After that we partied all night.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Yeah, it was dead easy to get out of the Santika club.

 

What has Santika got to do with getting from A to B?

[joekicker 53]

Yeah, it was dead easy to get out of the Santika club.

 

You're not thinking of the Royal Resort, are you? Pretty low blow either way, seeing they both had nothing to do with traffic.

 

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[jacko 8,822]

You're not thinking of the Royal Resort, are you? Pretty low blow either way, seeing they both had nothing to do with traffic.

 

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Nobody mentioned traffic other than you.

Sure Pattaya is a mess on that score, inhibited somewhat by the sea on one side. It will be busy over this weekend too.

Bangkok is hardly easy to traverse..... unless you are a sardine.

 

Pattaya is a good place for a NYE. That is all I said, before, as usual, in you came, nipping and picking. With a similar minded friend.

There have been fewer bombs going off here than in BKK too!

Edited December 16, 2011 by jacko

[bigmick 840]

Nobody mentioned traffic other than you.

Sure Pattaya is a mess on that score, inhibited somewhat by the sea on one side. It will be busy over this weekend too.

Bangkok is hardly easy to traverse..... unless you are a sardine.

 

Pattaya is a good place for a NYE. That is all I said, before, as usual, in you came, nipping and picking. With a similar minded friend.

There have been fewer bombs going off here than in BKK too!

 

Very well said Jacko, its obviously been a very long time since the preacher has been to Pattaya for a NYE, Personally i like the idea of being able to walk up and down WS in and out of different bars getting pissed, enjoy some nice food and listen to some great live music before watching the fireworks at Bali High. Pattaya is better than Bangkok anyday and has a great party atmosphere.

[jacko 8,822]

Very well said Jacko, its obviously been a very long time since the preacher has been to Pattaya for a NYE, Personally i like the idea of being able to walk up and down WS in and out of different bars getting pissed, enjoy some nice food and listen to some great live music before watching the fireworks at Bali High. Pattaya is better than Bangkok anyday and has a great party atmosphere.

Well last year it was certainly a crush getting back from Bali Hai towards Walking St, but my solution was to duck into the first GO-GO.

Hardly an issue for me.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

 

Nobody mentioned traffic other than you.

 

 

So, what has Santika got to do with getting from A to B in Bangkok?