Saturday's bloody clashes between the red shirt protesters and government forces near Khao San Road have left tourists feeling "terrified and anxious", and hoping there is no further violence.
Tourists enjoy the Songkran festival on Khao San Road yesterday, a day after the street was the scene of clashes between security officers and anti-government demonstrators. Many travellers are hoping there will not be a recurrence of the events that took place on Saturday. JETJARAS NA RANONG
The clash left its mark on Tanao Road, which connects Khao San, the popular backpacker area, with the Khok Wua intersection on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
Windows were broken and there were holes in the walls of buildings and shop houses in the area yesterday. A small group of tourists gathered to look at United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship protesters who had gathered to look into the causes of Saturday's clash.
All shop houses on Tanao Road were closed. The street was strewn with broken glass, damaged cars and public phone booths that had been pulled down.
"It terrified me," said Lucia Hadley, an 18-year-old tourist from Wales, of Saturday night's events.
"We had to run away and hide."
The fighting was unexpected, she said, adding that she and a friend had to stay in their hotel next to the scene until troops withdrew.
"After it was over, we came out and had a look, seeing a pool of blood and there were bullet shells on the ground. We didn't expect this to happen."
Ms Hadley said she was planning to leave Bangkok for Chiang Mai today because of safety concerns.
Local traders said tourists had fled the scene on Saturday evening but things had since returned to normal.
For New Zealander Ryan Jordan, 25, the confrontation was enough to force him to change his plans to stay in the city.
"We're a little bit anxious about staying here," he said. "Things are getting more and more tense. You don't know what to expect."
Taiwanese tourists Natalie Hsieh, 28, and her friends were saddened by the incident. With six more days to stay in the city, they said they hoped things would recover soon.
"We have to change our shopping plans in Siam Square. We will find [other] safer places to go," Ms Hsieh said.
She said the incident was similar to past political protests in Taiwan.
Like other tourists, she believed the fighting would not continue.
The tourist hot spot was quieter than normal yesterday largely because many tourists had left to spend the Songkran holiday in the provinces, like every year, according to local traders. They said Songkran festivities would still take place in the area.
Small groups of local residents were already playing with water guns but shops in certain areas were closed.
Canadians Etienne Houde, 27, and Noemie Botbol, 24, were among tourists browsing clothing stalls on Khao San yesterday. Both said they were alarmed by Saturday's events.
"To see the army on the street, it scared me," Ms Botbol said.
The clash was unexpected, she said, because they had heard about the red shirt protest since arriving in November but the rallies had not been violent.
Mr Houde said they planned to stay three more days in Bangkok but would remain cautious.
"We're a little bit worried about our safety. We won't go out of our neighbourhood at night," he said.
The tourists interviewed by the Bangkok Post said Saturday's events would not deter them from returning to Thailand.
They said that even though the clash had resulted in deaths and injuries, it should not keep tourists from visiting Thailand. Mr Houde said he would not suggest that tourists planning to visit Bangkok change their plans.
About the author
- Writer: Surasak Glahan
- Position: Reporter
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