Memorial and coup

I spent a couple of hours at school today in training and then enjoyed a girlie lunch with Dana. On the way to use the internet I was reflecting on how much I am enjoying the changes, learning at school and making new friends.

I get online and see the Channel Nine videos of the memorial service for Steve Irwin and end up in tears. His daughter Bindi, Russell Crowe and our stiff as a post PM John Howard spoke. What a tragedy.

Then I'm watching a news update about the military coup in Bangkok. The country is under martial law. Now I'm worried about my friends in Hat Yai (refer to recent blog about the bombings) and Bangkok. I also received a travel advice warning from the Australian Government advising Australians to reconsider travelling to Thailand.

This is a country I love and it's strange to imagine how this might be impacting on our family and friends living there.

I have been slightly heartened though by an article in the Bangkok Post, as follows:

Coup 'should not hurt tourism'(dpa) - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) said Wednesday the impact of a bloodless military coup on Thailand's tourism sector had been minimal and advised visitors to continue with their plans to visit the country. Thailand attracts about 12 million tourist a year. "As you walk about the downtown areas of Bangkok there is very little to suggest the unusual, except that the traffic is lighter. Visitors here are saying that Thailand is as open and welcoming as usual," said Bob James, chairman of the Pata Thailand chapter. The tourism association said domestic and international airports, airline services and airport transfers were operating normally in Bangkok and throughout the country, despite the military coup that overthrew the government of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Tuesday night. Pata acknowledged road traffic in Bangkok was about 50 per cent of normal -- which might be a good thing. Luzi Matzig, director of Asia Travels - which specialises in European tourists to Thailand - said he had had no cancellations in the wake of the coup. "I have seen 15 coups myself in the past 30 years and this was the easiest one yet," said Matzig, a long time resident in Thailand. "A smooth-as-silk kind of coup."

What a mess. Sometimes Naples seem pretty reasonable. It also reminds me that nothing is to be taken for granted. Our peaceful lives, our good health, our ability to change things.

Trust you are caring and appreciating your loved ones.

J