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In Bangkok, violent conflict and joyful celebration

18.04.10

So fighting grogginess and heavy luggage, some fellow travelers and I decided to walk instead. Then we discovered why taxi fares were so high. Several of the roads and bridges into the area were blocked off by makeshift barricades of the smoldering remains of cars, thrashed military vehicles and Red Shirt protesters.

Some of the protesters were equipped with riot gear apparently acquired from battling police forces and winning. As I walked across a blockaded bridge and the sun rose over the bullet-ridden aftermath of a violent episode, for the first time on my trip I questioned my own safety.

I had traveled 8,000 miles to climb the fabled limestone cliffs of southern Thailand. Before coming to Bangkok to fly home, I had spent three weeks on an isolated peninsula, accessible only by boat or jungle trek. I climbed, swam, slept on the beach, ate and drank with little knowledge of what was occurring in the greater country.

I had seen the start of the anti-government Red Shirt protest when I flew into Bangkok a month earlier, but at the time it was a strictly nonviolent affair. I didn't know what to expect when I returned.

Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Observation Exercise--Youth Hostel/Orphanage

We left Payap around 8 in the morning. Although there were several cute little dogs running around, just like most places we have visited, I think the first main difference I noticed when we arrived at the building was that instead of pictures of the King, which are prominently displayed all over the city, or pictures of Buddha, which we have seen very regularly at temples, there was a large picture of Jesus above our heads. This was a bit of a shock to me, but what was more of a shock was when we then were lead to sing a song about how Jesus loves us. I don't have a problem with people praising who they worship, but since I am Jewish, it would have been nice to know that religion would be strongly involved in our activities before I arrived. I thought the difference in religion also seemed obvious by the fact that the man who ran the hostel had both a "Christian" name and a Thai name. First, we sat in circles of about 8. On the count of one, everyone touched his or her own ear. On two, everyone touched the ear of the person to the right of him or herself. On three, everyone threw his or her hand into the middle of the circle. The person whose hand ended up on top lost. He or she had to move to a different circle. Every time people moved, we all introduced ourselves to each other. We also played duck duck goose. Although it seemed rather dangerous to be playing on a concrete floor in a gigantic circle with several geese rather than just one, it was a fun experience. I couldn't help but wonder, though, if the Thai students were bothered at all when some of the geese would tap their heads rather than their shoulders. Back in the states, I would never question messing someone's hair or tapping a friend on the head, but on one of the first days here, we were warned that touching the head was considered disrespectful, so I couldn't help but wonder if it was upsetting people during the game. Before we ate lunch, we each gave one kid a gift (somewhat in the spirit of Valentines)....

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Lub-d Hostel in Bangkok, Thailand Video Tour

A video tour of Lub-d Hostel in Bangkok, Thailand. For more videos and travel information go to: www.flashpackerbackpacking.com & http

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