Bangkok Burns
Bangkok’s Central World shopping mall, May 19, 2010. (REUTERS/Adrees Latif), via boston.com
Boston’s Big Picture has some shocking photos from the street war in Bangkok, Thailand. Personally, I think the Thai government is illegitimate. There was a military coup that overthrew the elected government and constitution. Then there was another election which the Reds (Thaksin’s proxy party) won. Then they disqualified that PM for taking cash to appear on a cooking show. Then the yellow elites protested against the replacement. Then they installed their own. The rural, disenfranchised poor protested and they’re being shot in the streets.
That’s a generalization of course, and a biased one. I’m not a particular supporter of either side, being largely ignorant, but it’s fairly obvious that Thaksin, whatever his sins, was tossed in an urban, elite led coup. That type of street politics has become the norm in Thailand, with street warfare being the end result.
On the plus side, you can get a 5 night stay in Bangkok for Rs. 40,000 now. On the minus side, Thailand can look forward to continuing instability and cheap Sri Lankan tourists for years to come.
Anyways, aside from my jaundiced view, the photos on boston.com are shocking and amazing.
Today on the 
Janith has updated 
This is highly dubious. Miss Travel is a travel/social networking site that connects ‘Generous’ and ‘Attractive’ travelers. To, like, travel together, I guess. It all seems a bit like arranged prostitution and trafficking. This is part of a broader online trend to connect rich men to younger, attractive women. Sites like 
Sri Lankan domestics never say anything, they just stop coming. My maid just stopped coming and when I finally pressed her she said I needed to get a washing machine. I was hoping to ride this one out, but I’ve run out of underwear and I have no choice. I finally caved and bought a washing machine, from 
Thankfully Sri Lanka avoided the elite led coup
Let’s see what you have to say in the future when we’re known as the Zimbabwe of Asia….! LOL…! Guys like you will be begging for an elite led coup!
I’d rather live in a democracy rather than in a military/elite dictatorship.. even if it’s “Zimbabwe of Asia”
I don’t mind a plato’s republic as long as plato is running the show.
Sad to see the state of the country that was never colonized in Asia. Thailand one of the Sri Lanakan tourist destinations for a long while. Hope it recovers, as I have some good friends over there and I want to ride Eastern and Oriental Express train again.