Sunday, 30 November 2008
30-11-08 Extra, Extra - Ingrid is leaving Bangkok
Ingrid has checked in for the bus to Phuket, a drive that will probably take about 12 hours. Tomorrow 01-12-08 7 pm (local time) she will depart from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and from there to Amsterdam and Paris. This trip will replace Ingrid's initial ticket from Bangkok to Paris (no additional charges).
30-11-08 Extra Extra - news bulletin Ingrid
Ingrid just confirmed that she has been booked on an extra KLM flight from Phuket to Paris leaving 01-12-08, more details about the schedule will follow.
30-11-08 Arjan tired, but home at last
Saying goodbye to Ingrid and leaving her at Bangkok was indeed very sad, but I did not have much choice.
The bus ride to Chiang Mai was - though luxury - very boring. Only highways and every few hours a short stop for drinks, toilet and some longer stops for lunch and dinner. Arrival at Chiang Mai Airport at 21:30 local time, where I had to wait for checking in until 23:00. My flight was bound for take off at 02:30. The situation at the airport was not what I expected at all. It was very quiet and relaxed, in the contrary to the rumours of thousands of passengers waiting for flights to get out of Thailand. Only one special counter for passengers on standby, which had a queue of about 50 mtrs.
Checking and then the waiting began. Boarding started at 03:00 and actual take off at 04:30 (still local time). The 2 hours delay were caused by problems of getting the fuel into the plane. Chiang Mai Airport is definitely not used to handle large planes. I was so tired that I already almost slept before the pilot had pulled in the landing gear of the plane.
The bus ride to Chiang Mai was - though luxury - very boring. Only highways and every few hours a short stop for drinks, toilet and some longer stops for lunch and dinner. Arrival at Chiang Mai Airport at 21:30 local time, where I had to wait for checking in until 23:00. My flight was bound for take off at 02:30. The situation at the airport was not what I expected at all. It was very quiet and relaxed, in the contrary to the rumours of thousands of passengers waiting for flights to get out of Thailand. Only one special counter for passengers on standby, which had a queue of about 50 mtrs.
Checking and then the waiting began. Boarding started at 03:00 and actual take off at 04:30 (still local time). The 2 hours delay were caused by problems of getting the fuel into the plane. Chiang Mai Airport is definitely not used to handle large planes. I was so tired that I already almost slept before the pilot had pulled in the landing gear of the plane.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Controversial Rice Aid Hailed a Success
Trijnie found following article on the BBC site regarding the aid offered recently in Cambodia:
By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer - Original report from Phnom Penh - 14 November 2008
The Asian Development Bank and government announced success on Friday for emergency food assistance that was widely criticized by villagers as unfair.
The ADB and government undertook a $40-million emergency food distribution between Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, handing out nearly 120,000 tons to 68,000 poor families in 200 communes around the Tonle Sap lake and in Phnom Penh.
"The assistance is making a very real difference in the lives of Cambodia's most vulnerable, in particular its children," Arjun Goswami, ADB country director, said in a statement.
The aid was in response to rising food and fuel prices that have squeezed Cambodia's poorest, but a number of villagers complained that the distribution was plagued by corruption and favouritism by local leaders.
"Unfortunately, the project's funding simply could not cover all of those families in need of food assistance," Goswami said. "It is understandable that some of those who could not be reached with assistance feel let down."
A statement from the Minister of Economy and Finance called the emergency distribution "highly positive, except in one commune in Kampong Chhnang province, where the distribution was suspended because of villagers' protests."
The ADB and government said they would conduct further investigations into distribution irregularities starting Nov. 17.
"The protests that were mentioned in the media, it's not sure they are true, but we have a mechanism to check," said Vong Sandab, deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of Finance, who was in charge of the distribution.
The ADB has so far received 51 phone complaints of distribution irregularities, said Long Piseth, program officer at the ADB.
By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer - Original report from Phnom Penh - 14 November 2008
The Asian Development Bank and government announced success on Friday for emergency food assistance that was widely criticized by villagers as unfair.
The ADB and government undertook a $40-million emergency food distribution between Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, handing out nearly 120,000 tons to 68,000 poor families in 200 communes around the Tonle Sap lake and in Phnom Penh.
"The assistance is making a very real difference in the lives of Cambodia's most vulnerable, in particular its children," Arjun Goswami, ADB country director, said in a statement.
The aid was in response to rising food and fuel prices that have squeezed Cambodia's poorest, but a number of villagers complained that the distribution was plagued by corruption and favouritism by local leaders.
"Unfortunately, the project's funding simply could not cover all of those families in need of food assistance," Goswami said. "It is understandable that some of those who could not be reached with assistance feel let down."
A statement from the Minister of Economy and Finance called the emergency distribution "highly positive, except in one commune in Kampong Chhnang province, where the distribution was suspended because of villagers' protests."
The ADB and government said they would conduct further investigations into distribution irregularities starting Nov. 17.
"The protests that were mentioned in the media, it's not sure they are true, but we have a mechanism to check," said Vong Sandab, deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of Finance, who was in charge of the distribution.
The ADB has so far received 51 phone complaints of distribution irregularities, said Long Piseth, program officer at the ADB.
29-11-08 Bangkok - day 1
Departure from Arjan and the rest this morning at 8.40 for Chiang Mai. We were both sad that our holidays had to end - at least for one of us ... - this way; it is very weird that I have to stay most probably for another week on my own in Bangkok.
Do no think that I enjoy this 1 week of extra holidays, because as long as the Bangkok airport is closed, I am not sure when to leave and in a certain stage of this adventure I have to take another decision. Anyway, I will try to make the best out of it, since this situation is completely beyond my control.
I had to do some shopping so that was the first thing I did. Fortunately the (car)taxis are very cheap in Bangkok and air-conditioned, so I will make my life easy and exclusively get around by taxi. Tuk-tuks still exist in Thailand, but are at the same price as car-taxis and they always try to drag you around to their uncle, nephew or friend in order to try to sell you some souvenirs.
Then for hours and hours I sat down in a nearby internetcafe to work on this blog, to read my emails and to get some news from Air France.
I read this morning on their Thai site following message: "Due to the closure of the International Bangkok Airport, Air France had to cancel its flights on November 28th and 29th, 2008. An additional flight has been launched on Saturday November 29th from Utapao to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. Air France watches the situation and will keep its customers informed on the evolution of its flight schedule for the next days."
Was that the message the woman of Air France wanted to tell me last night?
I contacted Annette and Nicolas to get a phone no. of Air France in Paris accessible from a foreign country, since in both The Netherlands and in France the Air France office is closed during the weekend, even with the exceptional events in Bumbai and Bangkok, unbelievable!! Anyway, Nicolas knew about a toll free number accessible from wherever in the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week related to the exceptional events in Mumbai and Bangkok and he managed to find that number. Why is Air France not publishing that number on their internet site ??
Anyway, I got Air France on the line and they rebooked my flight once again to .... December 1st, so only a delay of 2 days if .... if the airport is released. If not, it may be possible that they will organise another flight tomorrow evening from the military airport; Air France keeps me informed by phone (what an invention: mobile phone!!). You can be sure, that this time I will pick up the phone whatever the time is !!
(Thanks Annette and Nicolas for your help!!)
Funny to be in an internet cafés these days in Bangkok, since lots of tourists are coming in to discuss the situation and to get some news via Internet. No bother to be interrupted, since Internet is so cheap here. And even business people or right now an American teacher is stepping in. Do they not have an internet connection themselves at home? Well, they could have it, but it is too slow, impossible to get at home a fast connection against a good rate, and since it is so cheap in an internet café, most of the people go to an internet café.
In order to limit my additional charges, I changed for another cheaper hotel - also more convenient situated - booked by the Dutch local guide, who did an excellent job during our stay and especially the stressful last days. He gave me his handy no., so I can contact him any time if necessary. He even invited me to stay at this place with his family at Chiang Mai in order to find a flight from there, but as said yesterday, I prefer to stay in Bangkok.
The hotel is OK and I even ' dare' to walk around; since I arrived after sunset (5.30 p.m.), it is not easy to orientate myself. I bought an updated Lonely Planet from Bangkok; I had only a 1997 version of entire Thailand with me.
Part of the charges of the hotel and food will be paid by the Tourism Authority Thailand, but as long as my stay is only prolonged by 2 days, I will not bother since the charges for hotel and food are pretty low.
Do no think that I enjoy this 1 week of extra holidays, because as long as the Bangkok airport is closed, I am not sure when to leave and in a certain stage of this adventure I have to take another decision. Anyway, I will try to make the best out of it, since this situation is completely beyond my control.
I had to do some shopping so that was the first thing I did. Fortunately the (car)taxis are very cheap in Bangkok and air-conditioned, so I will make my life easy and exclusively get around by taxi. Tuk-tuks still exist in Thailand, but are at the same price as car-taxis and they always try to drag you around to their uncle, nephew or friend in order to try to sell you some souvenirs.
Then for hours and hours I sat down in a nearby internetcafe to work on this blog, to read my emails and to get some news from Air France.
I read this morning on their Thai site following message: "Due to the closure of the International Bangkok Airport, Air France had to cancel its flights on November 28th and 29th, 2008. An additional flight has been launched on Saturday November 29th from Utapao to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. Air France watches the situation and will keep its customers informed on the evolution of its flight schedule for the next days."
Was that the message the woman of Air France wanted to tell me last night?
I contacted Annette and Nicolas to get a phone no. of Air France in Paris accessible from a foreign country, since in both The Netherlands and in France the Air France office is closed during the weekend, even with the exceptional events in Bumbai and Bangkok, unbelievable!! Anyway, Nicolas knew about a toll free number accessible from wherever in the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week related to the exceptional events in Mumbai and Bangkok and he managed to find that number. Why is Air France not publishing that number on their internet site ??
Anyway, I got Air France on the line and they rebooked my flight once again to .... December 1st, so only a delay of 2 days if .... if the airport is released. If not, it may be possible that they will organise another flight tomorrow evening from the military airport; Air France keeps me informed by phone (what an invention: mobile phone!!). You can be sure, that this time I will pick up the phone whatever the time is !!
(Thanks Annette and Nicolas for your help!!)
Funny to be in an internet cafés these days in Bangkok, since lots of tourists are coming in to discuss the situation and to get some news via Internet. No bother to be interrupted, since Internet is so cheap here. And even business people or right now an American teacher is stepping in. Do they not have an internet connection themselves at home? Well, they could have it, but it is too slow, impossible to get at home a fast connection against a good rate, and since it is so cheap in an internet café, most of the people go to an internet café.
In order to limit my additional charges, I changed for another cheaper hotel - also more convenient situated - booked by the Dutch local guide, who did an excellent job during our stay and especially the stressful last days. He gave me his handy no., so I can contact him any time if necessary. He even invited me to stay at this place with his family at Chiang Mai in order to find a flight from there, but as said yesterday, I prefer to stay in Bangkok.
The hotel is OK and I even ' dare' to walk around; since I arrived after sunset (5.30 p.m.), it is not easy to orientate myself. I bought an updated Lonely Planet from Bangkok; I had only a 1997 version of entire Thailand with me.
Part of the charges of the hotel and food will be paid by the Tourism Authority Thailand, but as long as my stay is only prolonged by 2 days, I will not bother since the charges for hotel and food are pretty low.
I booked an early bike tour for tomorrow afternoon with a Dutch guy working in Bangkok http://www.covankessel.com/ - the same one as Arjan did at the day of his arrival in Thailand 3 weeks ago - and if I am still around on Monday, I will make a walk with this organisation as well. Also this organisation is suffering of the airport blockade, so may have to cancel the tours. All the Thai I am talking to today tell me that this situation is very bad for the Thai economy.
By the way, on recommendation of the Dutch embassy in Thailand, I registered myself at their internet site (Lija, I gave them your GSM no.), so they know how to reach me or my sister. More news about the actual situation at http://www.netherlandsembassy.in.th/nieuws_en (in English and in Dutch), but do not believe anything what they say: 'tourist would possibly blocked for weeks' is said ...
Again, I do not feel worried, nothing to be noticed in Bangkok itself and Air France is taking us into charge: I am pretty sure that if things are getting more serious, the French government (or the Dutch embassy; my situation is a little complicated) will accelerate its efforts to get us back.
On this site from the Dutch embassy http://www.mfa.nl/ban you can follow the actual developments.
The last official news I have is that the airport has NOT been released tonight at 6 p.m. as said earlier by the authorities. The rest I hear are only rumours (that the government will soon disperse the protesters) and not verified.
I missed this party tonight "De gestrande Nederlanders in Bangkok worden zaterdagavond door de Nederlandse Vereniging Thailand getrakteerd op een borrel met hutspot, kroketten en bitterballen." what a pity !!!
Arjan confirmed me that he arrived at Chiang Mai airport at about 9.30 p.m. local time (i.e. 3.30 p.m. Dutch time), where the situation is relaxed and that he can check in around 11 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Dutch time), so it seems that he is going to fly back to The Netherlands and will arrive over there tomorrow Sunday November 30th somewhere around noon.
OK, time for me to get back to the hotel and get some sleep. I will keep informed my sister if things unexpectedly develop in such a way (for instance that I will fly back tomorrow), that I can not update this weblog. If not, I will come back to you tomorrow. If you do not want to wait for the daily email warning you, that a new message has been published, you can have a look yourself at www.heyikhier.blogspot.com around 6 p.m. Dutch/French time, before that time I should have published my daily report.
Good weekend to all of you.
28-11-08 travel day from Siem Reap to Bangkok - situation at Bangkok airport
Early wake up to leave at 7 a.m. for a long dusty drive from Siem Reap to Bangkok, dusty at least till the Cambodian-Thai border. However, as said before, the road is improving, so everything went quite well as well as the customs formalities. Incredible how bad the roads are in the border place Poi Pet itself; just over the border, having arrived in Thailand, everything was so clean, the roads so smooth, what a difference!
Arrival around 4 p.m. at Bangkok and passing by the airport nobody would imagine that there are serious problems going on ...
In the meantime I tried to get in contact with Air France and Go Voyages (the agency with which I booked my ticket), but no positive result. I phoned with the Dutch and the French embassy in Bangkok to find out what to do. They all recommended to stay in Bangkok and try to get in contact with Air France.
The French embassy informed me that the opening for civil flights of the military airport U Tapao at approx. 190 km from Bangkok is examined in order to reroute all the flights initially scheduled via Bangkok. That would be good news, but so far nothing is definitive.
Via Air France in Bangkok, I got an answer machine informing that my initial flight would arrive 26 hours later as scheduled. Not understanding such, I finally contacted KLM at Amsterdam, who managed to identify my ticket - reassuring ! - and ... confirmed that this mysterious flight has been cancelled.
KLM proposed me to put on a flight for next week, i.e. Saturday 06-12-08; exactly 1 week later than my initial return date.
Well, I took this option, because I can not decide upon what to do else: going to a nearby airport in Thailand (or even Kuala Lumpur) and buy there myself an entire new ticket (for my own expenses; no idea if this will be covered by my insurance since this is a political event; I did not yet contact my insurance to find out). You can imagine that a lot of people are blocked right now and that the information diffused by air lines and embassies are conservatory and sometimes contradictory. Information from other passengers say this, tour operator say that: what to do? The information about the situation at the airport is minor, after all this is Thailand where 30 coups d'état have been done since the last 50 years; so nothing comprehensive is told in the press!
The army is at the same side as the demonstrators, but rumours say that maybe the police may remove the demonstrators.
I certainly do not want to hang around at Bangkok airport - or any other one - for days and days to be put on a waiting list etc.
Unfortunately I did not succeed to talk to somebody from Air France at Bangkok, the office closed at 5 p.m. and they are not open in the weekend and there is nobody from Air France at the Bangkok airport right now. I will go to see them on Monday morning to see if I can make another arrangement, which allows me to return to France a couple of days earlier.
Air France from Paris phoned me last night around 3 a.m., being asleep I did not answer this call. The woman left a message saying that she had to propose me a solution - without telling which one, how stupid of her - but she saw in my file that I organised already another flight. She did not leave her phone no. and I still do not have a phone no. of Air France in Paris, which I can access from a foreign country, very inconvenient!!
Good unbelievable news however for Arjan and the rest of the group: their flight will be honoured !!!!!! it will leave however from Chiang Mai, a place in northern Thailand, where they will go tomorrow Saturday 29-11 by bus with another group of tourists from the Netherlands (Shoestring). Their airline, Chinese Airlines (the Taiwan part) has connections with Chiang Mai, so their flight has been simply rerouted and will leave at the initial time of 2.30 a.m. 30-11 which should bring them back to the Netherlands at the initial time.
It sounds too good to be true: tens of thousands of travellers are blocked and they will leave like nothing happened??? Let's cross fingers that indeed nothing will intervene this wonderful news.
In the meantime I cross fingers as well, that the Bangkok airport will be released as said on the television on Saturday 29-11 6 p.m. local time and that things will get back to normal.
Arrival around 4 p.m. at Bangkok and passing by the airport nobody would imagine that there are serious problems going on ...
In the meantime I tried to get in contact with Air France and Go Voyages (the agency with which I booked my ticket), but no positive result. I phoned with the Dutch and the French embassy in Bangkok to find out what to do. They all recommended to stay in Bangkok and try to get in contact with Air France.
The French embassy informed me that the opening for civil flights of the military airport U Tapao at approx. 190 km from Bangkok is examined in order to reroute all the flights initially scheduled via Bangkok. That would be good news, but so far nothing is definitive.
Via Air France in Bangkok, I got an answer machine informing that my initial flight would arrive 26 hours later as scheduled. Not understanding such, I finally contacted KLM at Amsterdam, who managed to identify my ticket - reassuring ! - and ... confirmed that this mysterious flight has been cancelled.
KLM proposed me to put on a flight for next week, i.e. Saturday 06-12-08; exactly 1 week later than my initial return date.
Well, I took this option, because I can not decide upon what to do else: going to a nearby airport in Thailand (or even Kuala Lumpur) and buy there myself an entire new ticket (for my own expenses; no idea if this will be covered by my insurance since this is a political event; I did not yet contact my insurance to find out). You can imagine that a lot of people are blocked right now and that the information diffused by air lines and embassies are conservatory and sometimes contradictory. Information from other passengers say this, tour operator say that: what to do? The information about the situation at the airport is minor, after all this is Thailand where 30 coups d'état have been done since the last 50 years; so nothing comprehensive is told in the press!
The army is at the same side as the demonstrators, but rumours say that maybe the police may remove the demonstrators.
I certainly do not want to hang around at Bangkok airport - or any other one - for days and days to be put on a waiting list etc.
Unfortunately I did not succeed to talk to somebody from Air France at Bangkok, the office closed at 5 p.m. and they are not open in the weekend and there is nobody from Air France at the Bangkok airport right now. I will go to see them on Monday morning to see if I can make another arrangement, which allows me to return to France a couple of days earlier.
Air France from Paris phoned me last night around 3 a.m., being asleep I did not answer this call. The woman left a message saying that she had to propose me a solution - without telling which one, how stupid of her - but she saw in my file that I organised already another flight. She did not leave her phone no. and I still do not have a phone no. of Air France in Paris, which I can access from a foreign country, very inconvenient!!
Good unbelievable news however for Arjan and the rest of the group: their flight will be honoured !!!!!! it will leave however from Chiang Mai, a place in northern Thailand, where they will go tomorrow Saturday 29-11 by bus with another group of tourists from the Netherlands (Shoestring). Their airline, Chinese Airlines (the Taiwan part) has connections with Chiang Mai, so their flight has been simply rerouted and will leave at the initial time of 2.30 a.m. 30-11 which should bring them back to the Netherlands at the initial time.
It sounds too good to be true: tens of thousands of travellers are blocked and they will leave like nothing happened??? Let's cross fingers that indeed nothing will intervene this wonderful news.
In the meantime I cross fingers as well, that the Bangkok airport will be released as said on the television on Saturday 29-11 6 p.m. local time and that things will get back to normal.
Thursday, 27 November 2008
27-11-08 Siem Reap
An easy wake-up; our meeting for the helicopter flight was only at 9.30 a.m. and I hope that this flight is not the only flight we are going to make this week, because such would mean that our Saturday flight would be cancelled :-( because of the Bangkok airport problem.
Very easy going flight, even though it was windy and a bit shaky. This time the Angkor site from the sky, wonderful. It took us also across Siem Reap to the floating villages on the shore of the Tonlé Sap Lake. During the wet season (June-October) the lake swells from 2500 sq km to over 12,000 sq km. The Tonlé Sap is one of the most abundant resources for freshwater fish and a major source of food for the local area.
Back in town around 10.45 a.m. we decided to take it easy, but such turns out sometimes to be hard in Cambodia... Personally I was not interested, but the 3 others wanted to see a photo-exhibition, unfortunately it took us a long time to find the correct address.
On the way we both find a nice - the only so far - souvenir: a hand painted simple drawing representing a typical Cambodian farmer with his oxen made by a disabled artist, who directly will receive the fund of this sale, which is a good thing. Major problem is how to get this in good shape to our homes...
I (Ingrid) got fed up with walking around, so Arjan & I separated and I installed myself in a cool - important, if the sun is burning - internet café, where I am working on the blog and reading some - the connection is very slow as usual - of my emails before joining Arjan again.
In the evening we were discussing with the worrying situation at the Bangkok airport. We all decided to leave the next day anyway for Bangkok with our own bus, as initially planned, as recommended as well by all the Dutch travel agencies.
Fortunately we did not decide earlier to take a flight from Siep Reap to Bangkok, to gain some time, because this flight was cancelled anyway.
That does not solve my problem, since I have a own ticket with Air France and have to look after it all myself :-(( I could have decided to return to Phnom Penh and try to organise from there a return flight, but I didn't.
In the evening the 4 of us and our Dutch guide had a good diner in the touristy centre (reminded me of Paris' Quartier Latin, but the food was much better) for our last Cambodian dinner.
Very easy going flight, even though it was windy and a bit shaky. This time the Angkor site from the sky, wonderful. It took us also across Siem Reap to the floating villages on the shore of the Tonlé Sap Lake. During the wet season (June-October) the lake swells from 2500 sq km to over 12,000 sq km. The Tonlé Sap is one of the most abundant resources for freshwater fish and a major source of food for the local area.
Back in town around 10.45 a.m. we decided to take it easy, but such turns out sometimes to be hard in Cambodia... Personally I was not interested, but the 3 others wanted to see a photo-exhibition, unfortunately it took us a long time to find the correct address.
On the way we both find a nice - the only so far - souvenir: a hand painted simple drawing representing a typical Cambodian farmer with his oxen made by a disabled artist, who directly will receive the fund of this sale, which is a good thing. Major problem is how to get this in good shape to our homes...
I (Ingrid) got fed up with walking around, so Arjan & I separated and I installed myself in a cool - important, if the sun is burning - internet café, where I am working on the blog and reading some - the connection is very slow as usual - of my emails before joining Arjan again.
In the evening we were discussing with the worrying situation at the Bangkok airport. We all decided to leave the next day anyway for Bangkok with our own bus, as initially planned, as recommended as well by all the Dutch travel agencies.
Fortunately we did not decide earlier to take a flight from Siep Reap to Bangkok, to gain some time, because this flight was cancelled anyway.
That does not solve my problem, since I have a own ticket with Air France and have to look after it all myself :-(( I could have decided to return to Phnom Penh and try to organise from there a return flight, but I didn't.
In the evening the 4 of us and our Dutch guide had a good diner in the touristy centre (reminded me of Paris' Quartier Latin, but the food was much better) for our last Cambodian dinner.
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