Stuck in Bangkok

In my last post, I wrote that I was taking a break until November 30th.  Not only am I a sole practitioner, but I always write my own blogs.  Taking a vacation from my law practice also meant taking a break from blogging.  I spent 19 days in Thailand and Cambodia.  By the end of my trip, I was more than ready to return to work.  This trip was one of those rare occasions where I did not take any reading material or work.  I felt like I needed a complete break from the law.

Life has a way of interfering with our best plans.  I was in Chiang Mai, getting ready to fly back to Bangkok for a few more days, then on to Los Angeles.  Unfortunately, a group of protesters took over the international airport, which serves as a major hub for Asian travel.  They also grabbed the domestic airport in Bangkok and brought air traffic to a standstill.  My departure flight was canceled and I was stuck in Bangkok for another ten days.  I did manage to make it to the coast a few times and I can't say that the entire stay was a complete negative, but it certainly was an unusual experience.

The stress was considerable.  Our group was transferred to one of several large hotels set up to receive stranded travelers.  Needless to say, most of those tourists were not happy with the situation and we constantly discussed how we might leave Bangkok and whether we were in danger by staying.  Some people spent thousands in hiring vehicles and planes to take them out.  Most every avenue of escape required many hours of travel.  At times, we were told to stay off the streets because of potential danger, but in retrospect, the protesters did not appear to be violent.  The concern was that there might be a coup by the military, which could then lead to potential danger.

I arrived home about ten days later than planned.  I am glad that I pushed myself to file documents, etc., before leaving.  Had I not done so, I might have been in trouble.  When I tell attorneys not to file anything on the very last day because something unforeseen could happen,  I can use this experience as an example.  Although auto accidents or traffic delays are more likely than a coup, one should have a comfortable cushion in filing documents to allow for a second filing, if necessary.

Upon my return, I was very glad to be home.  It was a terrible feeling to be so far from friends and family, and still not know what was going to happen.  Unlike some, I won't say that I will never visit Thailand again.  If anything, the global economic crisis has made these situations more likely as people become increasingly dissatisfied with their governments.  I will pay more attention to those issues and hope for more prosperous times.  What is truly sad is that the protests and takeover of the airports will certainly hurt Thai's thriving tourist business.  I find it hard to believe that the protesters really wanted to harm their friends and fellow citizens.  For now, I will focus on future ski trips . . . in North America!