Despite the clash between the Thai army and protestors on Apr 10, which left 23 dead and hundreds injured, STOMPer Vassili still managed to experience the joyous celebration of the Songkran Festival and feel the warmth from the local people there.
In an email, the STOMPer wrote:
"It was 2pm (Singapore time) on Apr 13, and I was in a taxi to Khaosan Road -- the backpackers' strip -- in Bangkok.
"Two cabbies had turned me down earlier. They must have thought I was just another crazy foreigner for wanting to go there.
"Just three days ago on Apr 10, a bloody street fight near Khaosan Road between the Red Shirts and the Thai army left 23 people dead and hundreds injured. The Red Shirts, supporters of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, had been occupying two major sites in central Bangkok in their bid to topple the present government.
"I was anxious and I didn’t know if I could get out of the area even if I managed to get in. But the foolhardy tourist in me beckoned me to take the plunge, and there was no chickening out.
"When I reached Khaosan Road, I saw hordes of people armed with rifles and shooting at one another. But instead of bullets, the rifles were filled with water – they were toy water guns.
"The people were celebrating the Songkran Festival (Thai New Year), and it was customary to spray water on absolute strangers and smear their faces with a brownish paint made from talcum powder.
"I alighted the taxi and joined the party and before long, I was drenched, my face painted and I was trying hard to shield my camera and iPhone to keep them from getting wet.
"As I walked down Khaosan Road, all I heard was blaring party music and all I saw was one big street party – people laughing, water-fighting and sexy girls dancing in wet T-shirts. Where was the bloody carnage that was on the television just three days ago, I wondered. And then, just around the corner, I saw a sea of Red Shirts.
Read more of STOMPer Vassili's adventure in Bangkok on the next page.
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