The day began peacefully enough as most Thais are either at a Wat making offerings to their ancestors or sleeping off the previous nights debauchery but by midday the fighting was in earnest. Three p.m. was the time I had arranged to meet my troops. Fresh faced and nervous they waited. All of them lost in their own thoughts, a look of fear contorting their faces as I set out to see where our van was. It was at this point I realised that the best laid plans can and do go straight to hell as the van was unable to make it to the hotel.
So, at 3.15 we slid out stealthily via the back entrance and as inconspicuously as possible we sneaked along the footpath, behind stalls, under awnings and managed to stay reasonably dry. Through the temple at the end of the road, out the other side, down the lane way, around the corner and we made it virtually unscathed.
Stage one complete. Now the hard part.
Twelve of us, including the driver crammed ourselves and our bags into a minivan. At this time of year Bangkok is about 35 degrees celsius and inside the van it was stifling. The really bad news
was we had to drive with the windows closed and the air conditioning was busted. Hot? Something akin to being inside a furnace, but worse.
We hit the road at snail pace forcing our way through the crowd. The van constantly assaulted by everything imaginable. After the first hour the heat inside became too much and windows were cracked open. This proved to be a big big mistake. Within seconds buckets of water were tossed in and now the van was more like a humidifier, the stench within appalling! From inside we watched the proceedings in a semi detached way but the two Alaskans were finding the going really tough.
No one was enjoying the drive but all tried valiantly to keep up appearances. Finally we made it the four kilometres to the station after two and a half hours of unadulterated insanity with madness just around the next bend.
But we made it!
There were times I thought we weren't going to. That thought was too much to bear. If we missed the train we would have to do the whole thing in reverse and then repeat it again the following day!
The relief we all felt as the train pulled out was but fleeting. It was at this point that I informed my troops that the war wasn't over, this was just intermission. Next stop Chiang Mai where Sonqkran continues to rage for at least the next 2 days!
The whole Songkran thing is one of celebration yet it does cause some horrific problems. The police were out in force to try and curb the road toll, which at this time of year goes ballistic.
Last year 567 people died in three days in Songkran related incidents and by the time we left Bangkok the toll was already up to about 480 country wide and there were parts of Thailand that would celebrate for another few days yet.
Amazing Thailand!
This has been Adam Martin reporting from the Bangkok, Thailand embedded with the coalition
So, at 3.15 we slid out stealthily via the back entrance and as inconspicuously as possible we sneaked along the footpath, behind stalls, under awnings and managed to stay reasonably dry. Through the temple at the end of the road, out the other side, down the lane way, around the corner and we made it virtually unscathed.
Stage one complete. Now the hard part.
Twelve of us, including the driver crammed ourselves and our bags into a minivan. At this time of year Bangkok is about 35 degrees celsius and inside the van it was stifling. The really bad news
was we had to drive with the windows closed and the air conditioning was busted. Hot? Something akin to being inside a furnace, but worse.
We hit the road at snail pace forcing our way through the crowd. The van constantly assaulted by everything imaginable. After the first hour the heat inside became too much and windows were cracked open. This proved to be a big big mistake. Within seconds buckets of water were tossed in and now the van was more like a humidifier, the stench within appalling! From inside we watched the proceedings in a semi detached way but the two Alaskans were finding the going really tough.
No one was enjoying the drive but all tried valiantly to keep up appearances. Finally we made it the four kilometres to the station after two and a half hours of unadulterated insanity with madness just around the next bend.
But we made it!
There were times I thought we weren't going to. That thought was too much to bear. If we missed the train we would have to do the whole thing in reverse and then repeat it again the following day!
The relief we all felt as the train pulled out was but fleeting. It was at this point that I informed my troops that the war wasn't over, this was just intermission. Next stop Chiang Mai where Sonqkran continues to rage for at least the next 2 days!
The whole Songkran thing is one of celebration yet it does cause some horrific problems. The police were out in force to try and curb the road toll, which at this time of year goes ballistic.
Last year 567 people died in three days in Songkran related incidents and by the time we left Bangkok the toll was already up to about 480 country wide and there were parts of Thailand that would celebrate for another few days yet.
Amazing Thailand!
This has been Adam Martin reporting from the Bangkok, Thailand embedded with the coalition
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