Mom and daughter remember happy protesters.
RECENT reports of political violence in Thailand rekindled memories for an East London mother and daughter trapped in the country following similar protests five years ago.
In December 2008 the Dispatch reported on Karen Rathbone and her then 19-year-old daughter Amber, who were in Thailand for a business trip. They were scheduled to fly home when anti-government activists took control of the Don Muang airport, stopping all flights.
Earlier this week the Guardian newspaper reported that anti-government protesters threw stones at key government buildings in the Thai capital Bangkok, forcing police to fight them off with tear gas. The protesters, supporters of the opposition Democrat Party, want Thailand’s prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.
Five years ago the Rathbones secured seats from the Thai naval base, at a cost of R40 000 each, to leave on a chartered flight out of the country.
Speaking yesterday Amber – who is a former junior national horseriding champion – said on going to Thailand they were aware that there were protests but they never thought it would lead to the shutdown of the airport.
“We got to the check-in counter and all of a sudden the airport staff started leaving their stations,” said Amber. She said the situation at the airport was not as violent as people were led to believe.
“We kind of enjoyed the stir up. The protesters brought us food and water and there were many people that came to apologise and ensure that we were all safe. The only frustration was being unable to go home,” she said.
Amber, now involved in horse breeding, said she was not emotionally scarred by the experience and has since returned to Thailand.
“I liked to think of it as an adventure. About a year ago I went back with my boyfriend, and it was nothing but pleasant,” she said.
Amber’s mother, Karen, shared her daughter’s sentiments, saying that protests in Thailand are nothing like protests in South Africa.
“There was no violence, or noise. The people were protesting, but they took the time to assist the foreigners that were stuck at the airport, by providing us bare necessities as well as entertainment,” said Karen.
She said that although the situation was frustrating she would definitely go back. “It was not an entirely unpleasant experience, it’s just that I wanted go home. We were treated well and Thailand is a beautiful place, so I will visit again,” she said. —
Thai uprising was ‘quite entertaining’
RECENT reports of political violence in Thailand rekindled memories for an East London mother and daughter trapped in the country following similar protests five years ago.
In December 2008 the Dispatch reported on Karen Rathbone and her then 19-year-old daughter Amber, who were in Thailand for a business trip. They were scheduled to fly home when anti-government activists took control of the Don Muang airport, stopping all flights.
Earlier this week the Guardian newspaper reported that anti-government protesters threw stones at key government buildings in the Thai capital Bangkok, forcing police to fight them off with tear gas. The protesters, supporters of the opposition Democrat Party, want Thailand’s prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.
Five years ago the Rathbones secured seats from the Thai naval base, at a cost of R40 000 each, to leave on a chartered flight out of the country.
Speaking yesterday Amber – who is a former junior national horseriding champion – said on going to Thailand they were aware that there were protests but they never thought it would lead to the shutdown of the airport.
“We got to the check-in counter and all of a sudden the airport staff started leaving their stations,” said Amber. She said the situation at the airport was not as violent as people were led to believe.
“We kind of enjoyed the stir up. The protesters brought us food and water and there were many people that came to apologise and ensure that we were all safe. The only frustration was being unable to go home,” she said.
Amber, now involved in horse breeding, said she was not emotionally scarred by the experience and has since returned to Thailand.
“I liked to think of it as an adventure. About a year ago I went back with my boyfriend, and it was nothing but pleasant,” she said.
Amber’s mother, Karen, shared her daughter’s sentiments, saying that protests in Thailand are nothing like protests in South Africa.
“There was no violence, or noise. The people were protesting, but they took the time to assist the foreigners that were stuck at the airport, by providing us bare necessities as well as entertainment,” said Karen.
She said that although the situation was frustrating she would definitely go back. “It was not an entirely unpleasant experience, it’s just that I wanted go home. We were treated well and Thailand is a beautiful place, so I will visit again,” she said. —
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