Fort Govt House & The Waiting For Godot
Well, we wanted to meet Bangkok’s chief protesters Khun Sondhi & Chamlong to have a talk with them about Thailand’s future, about looming violence, campaign financing and Thaksin. But when we paid a visit to beleaguered Govt House, armed with laptop and camera, they were a no-show. “Sleeping,” said one guard. “Eating,” said a lady. “They’re somewhere,” said another lady. “They’ll be back.”
They better be, because without any of the PAD core leaders at Govt House the fortress appears all the more like an amicable luk thung event with speeches. Elderly women and men were dancing to Thai country music, but most of the PAD were indulging in the one same passion: sleeping. It’s not that easy to be an around-the-clock protester and listen to the same tunes again and again.
You must admire the hard core of the PAD for holding out months and months – without having achieved yet much, barring even deeper divisions within society and fears of new turmoil once the royal funeral is over. Mostly elderly women and men hold out at Govt House, in their cozy, impregnable fortress, eagerly clapping those plastic hands again and again.
Cozy though may be a slight palliation, as the PAD’s defense positions are basically mountains of car tires, twisted metal, endless lines of sand bags and empty plastic bottles – and quite some converted busses with no wheels. Even during bright sunny daylight the place got something eerie. At night it must be an ideal spot for halloween and some Bourne ambience.
Meanwhile Govt House compound itself has become a fascinating mixture of hi-tech installations, Thai country fair and an outright slum. As long as there’s no rain there are no foul smells. Haven’t seen any students, suits or plain “middle class,” but nice, jolly people – people Waiting for Godot?
Very nice … particularly the last picture.
“En attendant Godot” … It’s good to see that you have your “lettres” dear AbBKK.
You could have said also: “All Quiet on the Western Front.” Or “Il deserto dei Tartari.”
Me too I did the pilgrimage, last month. The same. I was surprised by the amount of small bottles of water. Like walls.
A very young and thuggish “PAD guard” did search me, at the “check point.” And gave me a wai after.
Just after the gate, I thought about the Khmers Rouges. I don’t know why …
Anyway. We have to repeat the insanity of the whole situation … Since the end of August, the government house is occupied!
Almost 3 months!!!!!
It’s just surreal. Only in Thailand. Only in Thaiwonderland.
Those (empty) water bottles may be an additional defense shield. Add some gasoline and within seconds you got a “fire wall” …
Looks though like police could just walk in one quiet morning, if they wanted to …
Your PAD or mine? Pics look like post tsunami Takua Pah, except the last but not least one. Hey BkkDan, what’s up with the rear view, admirable as it is, is the affront of the frontal view too daunting to achieve?
Gosh I had a feeling you’d all fall for that last shot. We’re talking politics and betterment of society!
Her front, actually, was astonishing. But if I’d taken her from the front you’d see empty water bottles all around her.
Thought I let her pass and take her from the back with the sandbags adding more nicely to the overall hopelessness of the situation.
BangkokDan
Elderly men and women clapping and dancing to country music, in that heat it sounds very tiring for them, hence the empty water bottles. Let us hope none of the elderly get their colostomy bags caught between their plastic clapping hands or we could see crap music replacing rap music.
Case closed folks. They are thinking about … building a NEW Government House, if the PAD stay too long.
Striking and brillant idea, isn’t it?
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30088465
Only in Thailand as we say …
BKKDan: I think we all understand and share your artistic concerns over the problematics of backgrounds: rear, front, bottles of water or not?
That is the question indeed.
BD, m’a dit que les gens dans sa post sont très snobs pour l’amour-derriere… and pardon my French!
Nov. 20th: Recognize the latest bomb blast‘s spot?
BangkokDan