The Travelling Life of Silvan Colani
September 2006 - Bangkok
Following a business trip to Singapore, I decided to stop over in Bangkok for the weekend. It just so happened that the previous Tuesday night the military decided to overthrow the democratically elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra, which it accused of “rampant corruption”. Although the bloodless coup was the 18th in Thailand’s post World War II history, it was the first in 15 years.
Now that’s what makes Asia so exciting – there’s always something new! I was in Hong Kong for the handover in 1997, I was in Taipei when Chen Shiu Bian’s election victory was hailed as “the first democratic election in China” (ironically, he is currently also under significant pressure due to corruption allegations) and now I’ve witnessed my first coup.
There wasn’t much to witness of course. The whole thing happened over night without a single shot fired. Over the weekend we went to seek out the tanks in the street and indeed there were ten of them stationed in a prominent location. The atmosphere was uniquely Thai, however. Well-wishers dressed in yellow (the Royal color, reflecting the color of Monday, the day the King was born) brought food and flowers to the troops and families were taking pictures of their kids with the tanks. It was all very peaceful and friendly – the perfect role model for a military coup, if there was such a thing.
Other, non-coup related activities:
Drinking & dining: Sirocco, at the State Tower, is still the most fantastic place in terms of location, view and atmosphere. The band is also fantastic.
Shopping: Check out the brand-new Siam Paragon shopping center, with a shark aquarium in the basement, IMAX cinema on the top floor and full-sized Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, BMW and Lamborghini showrooms on the 3rd floor. Nuts!
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