Lies All Lies
I read an article once that delved into the idea that super powers, governments etc. keep the general public under control through creating a general sense of fear for everything. Don't do that, it's bad for your health, don't eat that you'll get fat, don't go to Hat Yai you'll get shot, etc. Okay, so it might have been in Bizarre magazine or something equivalent, and I haven't relayed it very well, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office must play a big part in this. Hat Yai seems fine. I'm fine too. Well, a four hour wait in Hat Yai, then another train up to Bangkok. By the time I get there, 8am tomorrow my time) I will have spent a grand total of 49 hours on trains or in and around train stations. Beats the shit out of the Adelaide Perth trek. It sounded so easy too, when Phil said, 'Fly to Singapore and then get the train up.' Haha, it's not been too taxing though.
Memory's a Strange Old Thing
Gave my self the shock of my life today. I can still remember a bit of Thai. Class. Albeit a very bit, bit (if you will) but still, I haven't spoken the words i found popping out of my mouth just a few moments, ago for four years!
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Whoops
Hmm,I've made it to Kuala Lumpur alright. Bloody long train journey but it was okay. Fairly uneventful. However, when I was in the cab to the train station this morning, an idle chat with the cab driver culminated in him telling me to avoid the south of Thailand if possible. As I'm sat in the train station in KL with bugger all to do I figured I'd check it out. Here's what the foreign and commonwealth office haad to say:
There is a threat to British and other Western targets from terrorism in Thailand. On 28 April, there were attacks on security forces in 10 locations in the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla. More than 100 militants and 5 members of the security forces are reported to have been killed. We recommend against all non-essential travel to these four provinces.
Hmm, my next stop is Hat Yai, in none other than the Songkhla Province. I should really have checked this out beforehand but forgot that my Thailand Lonely Planet is a bit out of date. Apparently the Islamics and the Buddhists in the area aren't getting along too well either. So... my options are to get off at Butterworth instead and then get a train straight through to Bangkok, or, to just go to Hat Yai and hope for the best. I'll only be there for four hours, waiting for my next train so i might do that. Dunno, I'll find some Westerners on the train too (if possible) and discuss it with them whilst trying my best not to appear a neurotic freak. Obviously I'll let y'all know when i get Bangkok too. Bear in mind that when I was last planning to go to Thailand the warning was the same but for the whole country. The FCWO tend to over state things. Anyways, wish me luck.
Hmm,I've made it to Kuala Lumpur alright. Bloody long train journey but it was okay. Fairly uneventful. However, when I was in the cab to the train station this morning, an idle chat with the cab driver culminated in him telling me to avoid the south of Thailand if possible. As I'm sat in the train station in KL with bugger all to do I figured I'd check it out. Here's what the foreign and commonwealth office haad to say:
There is a threat to British and other Western targets from terrorism in Thailand. On 28 April, there were attacks on security forces in 10 locations in the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla. More than 100 militants and 5 members of the security forces are reported to have been killed. We recommend against all non-essential travel to these four provinces.
Hmm, my next stop is Hat Yai, in none other than the Songkhla Province. I should really have checked this out beforehand but forgot that my Thailand Lonely Planet is a bit out of date. Apparently the Islamics and the Buddhists in the area aren't getting along too well either. So... my options are to get off at Butterworth instead and then get a train straight through to Bangkok, or, to just go to Hat Yai and hope for the best. I'll only be there for four hours, waiting for my next train so i might do that. Dunno, I'll find some Westerners on the train too (if possible) and discuss it with them whilst trying my best not to appear a neurotic freak. Obviously I'll let y'all know when i get Bangkok too. Bear in mind that when I was last planning to go to Thailand the warning was the same but for the whole country. The FCWO tend to over state things. Anyways, wish me luck.
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