Just two months ago, I was in Bangkok, zipping around on the Skytrain - often passing through the Siam area or headed for the Siam Paragon mall ("The Pride of Bangkok," its website proclaims) to shop, see a movie or graze at the street food court. The area is modern Thailand at its most vibrant, packed with hip young people, loads of restaurants and shopping, shopping, shopping.

Or I should say, WAS.


It's almost impossible for me to imagine, but the entire area is being destroyed in the political struggle that has been going on since before I left in March. The protest started out peacefully, and on several occasions it looked like a resolution had been reached - but things have turned chaotic and ugly.

My friend, Dao, who lives in Bangkok sent me this heartbreaking email today. So far, news about Bangkok's strife has been a mere footnote in the media. Here's how the situation is affecting one of my favorite Thai people:

I am ok and stay in the curfew night now while Central World building is collapsing as well as burning Siam Square and Siam Paragon; also the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

It is the most bitter moment in my life. It is different than when you have a broken heart from a break up or losing love ones. This is losing of the country and integrity.

The country is in pause. I pray to see all this mess stop and I hope I can be a part to help my country recover back to where we used to be.

I know Bangkok will come back from this, because of people like Dao - citizens who believe in their country and seek peace. Dao once gave me a beautiful book called The Happiness of Kati, which is about a young girl who perseveres through great loss. She said it explained a lot about the essence of being Thai. That gives me faith, too, that Bangkok will soon be vibrant once again.

Want to know when a new post is up? Subscribe to my RSS feed and follow me on Twitter!