Thai troops charged at protesters on Monday, a day after the state of emergency was announced in Bangkok. The current and raging anti-government demonstrations are posing a tough challenge to the Thai government at the moment. At least 94 people were injured and two people were killed because of the civil unrest.

Throughout the day, soldiers fired their weapons repeatedly to dissolve the groups of demonstrators that kept reappearing in several areas of the capital.

The government announced it had taken measures to ensure its control over the ports and airports, to prevent recurrence of the incidents like those that occurred late last year when thousands of protesters seized the two airport terminals in Bangkok for a week.

“The Emergency Operations Command will use all available means to quickly restore order and reopen the traffic so that people can resume their lives,” said the head of the Armed Forces, Songkitti Jaggabatara, after an urgent meeting with senior military leaders and police. “The troops and police have managed to clear protesters from many parts of the city,” said government spokesman Panithan Wattayanakorn.

In a clash in the Din Daeng junction, the ‘Red Shirts,’ named for the color of the clothes they wear, threw molotov cocktails at the military forces and burned buses when the latter fired tear gas to stun the protesting crowds. Soldiers also fired directly into the crowds.

A state of emergency was declared in Bangkok and its five surrounding provinces on Sunday, a day after the Asean summit was canceled  because the venue was raided by the ‘Red Shirts’ who demanded the resignation of the Executive and the dissolution of Parliament.

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Via BBC

Laos will finally be connected to the world next week. A new rail link to Thailand across Mekong River is complete.  The bridge over the river connecting the two picturesque lands will be called ‘The Friendship Bridge’.

The railway line will be inaugurated on Thursday and first train will roll out on Friday morning. The distance between two connecting stations Nong Khai in Thailand to Tha na Lang in Laos is mere 3.5 Km. Tha na Lang is just a new station now, there is nothing there. But visitors can take local transport to reach Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

This is indeed good news for travelers and tourists who like to travel by train to soak in the countryside view of a place. From Bangkok to Nong Khai itself is a interesting journey. The 630 km rail route goes through Thailand’s largest region, Isaan, with breathtaking view of antiquities, forests and paddy fields. The entry point into unexplored part of Laos from Nong Khai will only add to the adventure.

Thailand is not just about beach resorts. The vast inland is interesting too. The train journey is expected to increase tourists and back packers who wish explore vast inner land apart from the vast beach stretches.

Via Guardian

New Year celebrations and related parties lost their charm in Bangkok when one of the nightclubs caught fire and about 60 people died in the inferno. The flames spread quickly through the dance floor and charred the occupants beyond recognition. It is not clear what started the fire. The club was filled with both Thais and foreigners.

One witness felt he heard an electric explosion and the club had only one exit which made escaping the inferno an almost impossible task. Most of the dead died due to burns, smoke inhalation and injuries due to the resulting stampede. The city of Bangkok is known for its wild nightlife but most discos and clubs lack even the basic safety measures.

Many of the bodies were found in the basement of the nightclub and such events could do damage to the burgeoning Thai tourism industry which has already been affected due to the recession. The injured are being treated at the various hospitals and clinics across Bangkok. The event reminds us of the nightclub accidents in Buenos Aires a few years ago where many dozens died.

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Via: BBC

Thailand has always been one among the favorites in a traveler’s guide. Its fascinating architecture and culture is admired by the visitors throughout the world. One such must see shrine is the Buddhist temple in the city of Khun Han, situated 400 miles to the north east of Bangkok. Thai monks used more than a million recycled beer bottles (Heineken-green colored and Chang Beer-brown) to built this temple.

This creative structure would always remind its visitors about the magnitude of contamination these bottles would otherwise cause and also the fact that one doesn’t need to be a professional to make something so beautiful and eco-friendly. Even the toilets, the water tower, tourist bathrooms and crematorium of this temple are made of bottles. The monks and the locals who have helped them build this stunning temple should be appreciated for their concern for nature.

So, the next time you throw a party at your place; don’t ever throw away the beer bottles. Try recycling them asyou never know what could be made out of them. You’ll also be reducing trash that way.

Source: Greenupgrader