Colourful Election

I’m so amazed and impressed that democracy is thriving in Thailand. Bangkok will have a governor election in October 2008. The people in this city have the chance to choose who they would like to be the head of the city. From my understanding, Bangkok is the only city in Thailand that has an elected governor by the people.

There are 9 candidates in the running for the new governor of Bangkok. One of them is a female, Ms Leena Junjanya ! One of them is the previous governor hoping to be re-elected.

Bangkok is a colourful city. Everything is so colourful in this city, including the posters of Bangkok governor election 2008. . On the posters, we can see a big picture of the candidate. Pictures of the candidates are not boring portrait. They are actually posing in front of the cameras! The number shown on the posters is his or her candidacy number. There is no sign of the parties they representing on the posters. As you may notice, some of the posters are actually graphically designed. Each candidate’s posters have a colour scheme. For example, posters of the previous mayor, Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, use blue, green and white. Ms Leena Junjanya uses pink on her posters (to match her make-up?? Haha) On the posters, some show pictures of what the candidate will do if he or she is elected.

These posters are not like the boring election posters that I saw in other parts of the world. In Malaysia, the posters or banners only have parties’ logo or slogans. But here, they are more interesting to be looked at. I think only Bangkok has such interesting election posters. Here are some examples that I took pictures of. Enjoy.

Bang Nampheung Floating Market

One weekend, my friend brought me to a so-called ‘floating market’ outside of Bangkok. It’s called Bang Nampheung Floating Market located in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. Although the name is ‘floating’ market, but the market is actually on land. If you decided to come here, don’t expect to be shopping on boat. However, there is a river next to market that visitors can rent a boat for a joy ride, but I don’t see the point of doing so.

This floating market is crowded with local visitors. I also saw a handful of foreign tourists. I am not sure what they think about the market. To me, the market is interesting to me because of the variety of food that is available here. Majority of the stalls here sell food. Only a few that sell souvenirs and other merchandise. There are plenty of noodle stalls along the river. The sellers set up their stalls on a boat parked on the side. I guess that makes the market somewhat ‘floating’?? Anyway, yes, food always attracts me. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try too many because I came here unplanned and I had lunch before I came. Darn it!! Next time I must come with an empty stomach!! However, I still get to try coconut ice cream. It must be famous because I saw many people were eating it. It was placed in an empty coconut shell. I think that is a clever green idea to make use of the unwanted.

Beside the floating market is a coconut plantation. There is an area of art activities for children. Overall, this is a good place for Bangkok people to get away from the city for a few hours in the weekend. For tourists, I recommend Damnuan Saduak Floating Market. Watch out for another posting on Damnuan Saduak Floating Market.

Taking MRT or BTS in Bangkok

Bangkok has 2 Metro/Subway/Underground Train (or however you want to call it) systems: MRT and BTS Skytrain. MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is the underground train or subway system. It is only 4 years old (as of 2008). BTS or also being called SkyTrain, as the name suggests, is running above the streets of Bangkok. Both MRT and BTS are clean, convenient, and COLD! I mean seriously cold and your eye glasses gets blur when you come out from the train to the hot and steamy streets of Bangkok! I take the MRT more often just because it is more convenient for me. Let me share with you some etiquette and my experience of taking the train here in Bangkok.

First of all, passengers actually queue in front of the door, especially during rush hour, while waiting for the train. The first time I took the BTS in the morning rush hour, I didn’t know. As soon as I got to the platform, I went straight to as near as I can to the train track. I was glad that I was near to the track so I could be the first one to board the train. So I just stood and waited for the train to come. I slowly looked around and felt strange that the platform was full of people but nobody was standing around or behind me. Then suddenly I saw that everyone was standing in queue while waiting for the train! I was not sure how many pairs of eyes were watching and cursing this rude guy jumping queue. I felt embarrassed but I try to stay cool. I pretended nothing happened and walked to the back of the queue and waited for my turn as everyone else did.

When the train comes, people don’t push each other to get to the train. Though I can sense the ‘rush’ when train comes, but everyone just take their time to board the train. Since everyone is in queue, you just wait for your turn. If the train is full, you can have the option of standing aside and let the people behind you get on while you wait for the next train. I have never been so relaxed taking a train during rush hour because I don’t have to push or being pushed to get on the train. I think this is the Thai people’s nature of ‘sabai sabai’ (take it easy).

Another important thing I noticed is that they actually allow passengers get out from the train first! I don’t see that happens in too many cities that I have been to especially in Shanghai. So, passengers in the MRT train actually don’t need to rush to the door before arrive at their destinations. There is plenty of time for passengers to get in and out of the train.

While inside the MRT train, passengers like to stand facing towards the front of the train. I am very curious about it and have yet to find out the answer. Of course not 100% of them stands towards the same direction, but I would say about 95% do. And when the passengers stand, they don’t like to hold on to the stainless steel pole or the straps hung from above. So when the train moves forward, the standing passengers slightly tilted their bodies to the back to balance themselves. And tilted forward when the train brakes. I have been taking the train for 2 months, and I have never seen anyone fall down even without holding on to the pole or straps.

Thai people are very polite and courteous. They carry the same manner while on the train. Sitting passengers always offer their seats to those in need, i.e. elderly or small children. The train is quite quiet here in Bangkok as most people don’t speak loudly. And when there are empty seats available, standing passengers would not rush to sit. They normally wait for a moment to see if the other passengers want to sit. When it is crowded, passengers do stand towards in the center of the train and not gather near the doors. This let more passengers get into the train.

So have you learnt something from Bangkok train systems? It amazes me that what we were taught in school like queuing and offering seats to those in need actually do happen in reality. Yes, they happen right here in Bangkok.

Interesting Time to be in Bangkok

By now, the whole world knows about Thailand’s political protest. It is an interesting time to be in Bangkok now. Not that I know much about politics, let alone Thai politics. But I think from the situation, I see another side of Thai people that is very unlike the people I see everyday. The impression I have from Thai people is that they are polite, take things easily, and friendly, especially to foreigners. But when it comes to political ideas, I guess all hell breaks lose. There is a clash between the pro- and anti-government protesters early morning of Tuesday (2^nd September 2008). One person was killed and dozens were injured in that incident. How can human being be so cruel as to killing each other just because of different political views. Are we human beings or animals? Is it worth it to die for your political belief? The person you support don’t even know you personally and you are willing to die for him? Is it stupid or what? Life is very precious, don’t waste it on political battle.

Is the situation in Thailand is what we considered ‘democratic’ or just plain barbaric act? From my understanding, the current government is elected from election. They win the majority of the votes from the election. So, whoever wins, rules the country. Isn’t that the way democracy work? Perhaps I don’t know much about the way politics work. But I think I get the basic idea. So, I don’t know what the protesters are whining or complaining about.

I was also amazed by the unity of Thai people. For the past week, there are a few unions that take action to force the prime minister to step down: the train stopped running, 80% of Bangkok public bus stop running, all schools in Bangkok are closed, water and electric authority stop supplying to police stations in the whole country and even Thai Airways stop their service and closed Phuket and Krabi airport to force the prime minister to step down.

However, I didn’t hear anyone in my office discuss about the protest. The reason is that politics is a sensitive issue. You will never know which side does the person who you are talking to believe in. If you are on the opposite sides, you will end up having a fight. So, my friend gave me a piece of advise: don’t ask, don’t tell.

p/s: Thanks to all of you who are concern about my safety here in bangkok. I'm fine here, business as usual, because the protest is not near the business district where I work. And I live out of downtown, so I'm ok.