Glad to hear things are getting better (although it didn’t seem that dangerous TBH).

I wonder how many noticed the symbolism in one of ben’s photos?; that tank he is pictured in front of is a Chinese model of the same sort used at Tiananmen square; and here is the Royal Thai Army letting Westerners have their pictures taken standing in front of it.

Not that it was probably going anywhere; I expect its occupants were eating the gifts of takeaway food the grateful locals had bought them (note the carrier bags on the bench to the right of the tank 🙂 )

I don’t think you need to apologise for your “political view” – the “free market” is only a marginally less bloody substitute for the battleground (as the last PM there seemed to have shown!).

TBH human natures is still such that the “democracy” of a nation is really only as strong as its civilian and military security forces – at least those forces in TH showed sufficient restraint and a genuine desire for positive change. (Incidentally is there still national service in TH?)