Today’s Sydney Morning Herald contained a map showing the Thai Red-Shirt area of Bangkok. The northern border followed Ratchaprasong Road, along which are the big shopping malls of Siam Square… and our hotel.
It turns out that our hotel, the Novotel Bangkok Siam Square, had been closed from the 27 of April and would be closed until at least May 24. We didn’t know. There was no notification, no message on their website. But they were kind enough to accept our cancellation and refund our money.
I felt sad for the employees of the hotel, and of the other hotels and shops in the area. Many have been laid off, the businesses closed, not through any fault of their own. I fear for the people of Thailand.
Siam Square in happier times
Update: Google map displaying the protest area and violence.