Bangkok news and views

December 9, 2004 2:49 AM

Ron Morris' 2bangkok.com (and related sites) is the news from Bangkok covered like nowhere else. It has a beautiful, strange, odd and interesting collection of photographs from Bangkok, his story of Black May, translations of Thai language newspaper stories, news on the latest infrastructure projects (like the Mega Bridge or the world's highest open air restaurant) . Plus photos from the latest events, like the King's birthday, or old time, like the trams from the 1960s.
posted by AnnaRat (11 comments total)

It's interesting when Morris writes that no-one talks about Black May; that was certainly my experience - even my wife, who was protesting and shot at, doesn't discuss it.

The story I was told was that the King, who was so cosseted by the army (whose justification is that they protect him) that he was virtually a prisoner was unaware of what was happening, as there was a domestic news blackout and he had no non-millitary advisers. His daughter, Princess Sirinthorn (whom most Thais wish would succeed the king) was in Switzerland and saw footage on CNN, and phoned her father to inform him. That outraged him so much that he intervened.

It helps explain the reverence that Thai people feel for the King; in an area of such violatility, and against an environment when the corrupt and incompetant generals swap governmental positions so no-one knows who does anything, the King has been there longer than India has been independent.
posted by Pericles at 4:57 AM on December 9, 2004

I thought this was interesting.
posted by Crackerbelly at 5:23 AM on December 9, 2004

At least they're still allowed to read Metafilter, for now.
posted by grateful at 6:04 AM on December 9, 2004

Not if they get wind of my earlier comment, they won't ..
posted by Pericles at 8:43 AM on December 9, 2004

Thanks, AnnaRat. Very interesting!
posted by shoepal at 9:26 AM on December 9, 2004

(this hotel list is great!)
posted by shoepal at 9:27 AM on December 9, 2004

Yes, Thank you, AnnaRat. Bangkok is such an amazing city. I wish I were there right now.

By the way, does anyone happen to know where I can find an mp3 of that song they play in movie theaters when everyone has to stand and pay respect to the King? Is it the national anthem?
posted by apis mellifera at 10:37 AM on December 9, 2004

Truly awesome, AnnaRat. Thanks for sharing! "Almost like being there", indeed. Loads of fun photos to browse through.
posted by degnarra at 2:26 PM on December 9, 2004

A family friend was also in Bangkok for Black May and tells of sheltering in the basement bar of a hotel. When they came out of the bar, the staff were mopping up blood off the marble floor of the lobby where injured people had been dragged in.

The song played in the movie theatres is not the national anthem (which you may hear played in the street at 8am and 6pm), but I think is described as the royal hymn or royal anthem. I haven't downloaded these to check but I think you can get them here. Ooh, I just checked one of the winplayer versions and felt a bit rude sitting down at my desk (I have spent some time living in Bangkok).
posted by AnnaRat at 2:52 PM on December 9, 2004

Hi, I'm Ron of 2Bangkok.com! Thanks for posting my site (i've been dreaming of this). BTW: most people love this part of the site - Songkran photos. When it was first posted earlier this year, the popularity of the page ended up crashing the entire site...
posted by cityrain at 3:25 PM on December 9, 2004

It was interesting for me to read about the subway and SkyTrain. Desperately needed, certainly - I remember the rush-hour cab ride that took us three hours to cross downtown.

Weird that it doesn't go anywhere in the old city, though. No stops at the Grand Palace, Khao San Rd, Wat Pho...? I would have thought they would have wanted to help the tourists get around too. And there are plenty of other major destinations in that area, too - I worked at the 15-story UN building, which is also west of the railway line.
posted by ramakrishna at 8:57 PM on December 10, 2004