Return of Ratchaprasong

Today is the one month anniversary of the 19 May 2010 crackdown which saw the Thai military successfully recapturing Ratchaprasong, Bangkok’s commercial heart, from anti-government Red Shirt protesters.

I was in Bangkok recently to photograph the devastation that the Red Shirts have left behind in Ratchaprasong. Gone are Siam Theatre (an institution in Bangkok) and CentralWorld, South East Asia’s second largest shopping mall. Coincidentally, CentralWorld used to be called World Trade Centre before its billion-baht renovation in 2006. Like the World Trade Centre in New York, CentralWorld was also destroyed by “terrorists”.

All seemed calm and normal as I walked along the streets in Ratchaprasong, but I could sense that many Bangkokians remain guarded. My friends in Bangkok confirmed this when they told me that nobody dares talk about politics in public anymore. The taxi drivers (most of whom are Red) would used to curse and swear at Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his government during the turmoil, but now they just quietly drive their taxis.

According to CRES (Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation), there are about 90 dead and 1500 injured in the recent clashes. The Red Shirts are pointing their fingers at the government for causing the deaths, but the government blames it on the “men in black” militia. So who’s right and who’s wrong? One thing’s for sure – this is not a straightforward poor vs. elite class war as misleadingly reported by CNN and BBC, it’s much more complicated and one has to dig deep into Thailand’s culture and history to understand what’s really going on. From what I’ve read and heard, one man is unquestionably fomenting the Red Shirt movement and he doesn’t seem to be letting up…

With Thailand’s worst political crisis in modern history over (or is it?), is it safe to travel to the Land of Smiles? The answer is a resounding yes!

Mai Pen Rai

Bangkok is in a state of chaos with the shutdown of Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving tens of thousands of tourists stranded. Many of whom will be missing Thanksgiving back home because of the unrest. Well, as the Thais would say when face with a setback, mai pen rai which means never mind. That’s life, so just grin and bear it like this photo which I shot with my Canon G7 in June this year.

The farang looks troubled as he waits in a yellow cab stuck in Bangkok’s notorious traffic. The smiley decal is an interesting contrast to the lad’s glum face. I can imagine there are many more glum faces in Bangkok as I write. Hopefully, the crisis will end amicably soon... but I won’t hold my breath.

Style Council

Here is another picture from my collection Melbourne Seen. This was taken at Melbourne’s GPO, an upmarket shopping mall on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Bourke Street in the heart of Melbourne CBD.

Melbourne has my vote for the most livable (and stylish) city in Australia. It has a very happening arts scene, chic designer shops, world-class eateries and century old architecture – art deco, renaissance, gothic, modern et al., architecture lovers will have a field day. I did.

Walk the Talk

Lest readers mistakenly think that I only shoot photos in Asia, I thought I’d better showcase photos taken outside of Asia for a change. This one is from my collection Melbourne Seen, taken at Spring Street, Melbourne, Australia, in August 2007.

The statues seem almost real. Juxtaposed with two passers-by, one lady walking and talking on her mobile (that explains the title of this shot), it makes an interesting photo. The picture can be interpreted in many ways. One is life passing us by. Often times we are so busy, we forget to take the time to smell the flowers or stop in the streets to chat with an old friend (like the two gentlemen). Guess it’s easier in the old days when life was less hectic.