Bangkok is a large city with a fascinating history, which retains much of its beautiful architecture, making it one of the most important destinations on any keen traveler’s lifetime itinerary. The name Bangkok was used from the eighteenth century and is still the official English name for the capital city of Thailand, but it is known locally, in Thai, as Krung Thep Nakhon.

Bangkok has one of Asia’s most important airports so getting there from almost any major city in the world is easy. As a tourist destination Bangkok offers a lot to see and do and also has a low violent crime rate, compared to other large cities, although theft and scams are quite common and the city does have a reputation for its sex industry. Thailand is politically quite stable and generally considered to be a safe place to visit.

My experiences of Bangkok, in May 1992, were rather mixed. I was on one of the last flights into the city, before all flights were cancelled because of violence erupting in the centre of the city. I knew nothing of the ensuing riot as I enjoyed the delights of bars and restaurants in the notorious Patpong district. We set off back to our hotel in a little tuc-tuc taxi, came round a corner and found ourselves in the middle of the action with unarmed student protestors on one side, on motor bikes or standing with banners and the army on the other side with guns. I didn’t know what was happening, nor what had preceded it, but water cannons appeared to have been deployed and the guns were being fired actually into the crowd and not just above their heads.

A bullet whistled past us and hit a protestor who was standing nearby in the neck. I still have vivid memories of the young man in a white T-shirt which turned instantly crimson, slumping onto and being supported by the people either side. Our driver didn’t hang around to see how it would all turn out and he expertly negotiated his way through the panicking crowds into a smaller street and dropped us at an Irish Karaoke bar to wait until things calmed down. I gave him the equivalent of an extra few dollars and he seemed extremely pleased with the tip, despite the fact that he may have saved our lives.

Several hours later we emerged from the bar and found our way back to the hotel, where we were advised to stay inside for a few days. After just one day of being confined to the hotel we ventured out, but the ominous sight of soldiers with guns lining the streets convinced us to make it a short excursion. Locals came up to us and tried to describe what had happened to them the previous day and how many people had been killed.

A coach arrived at the hotel the following day and most of the backpackers staying there were bundled on to it and we found ourselves on our way to Chang Mai, in the north of Thailand, where the violence was rather more contained. We chartered an elephant and driver and headed into the jungle for a week or so of trekking, by which time the whole affair had blown over.

There was a similar flare-up in 2006 and this does highlight the importance of being cautious when in foreign countries, to check the political situation before you go and avoid large protests. I would like to visit Bangkok again and this time, experience the wonderful architectural and cultural wealth of the city in a calmer political climate and hopefully be able to write a review of the city itself, rather than my unfortunate experience in Bangkok.

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