Not so happy NewYear for the Thai people

As most of you already know New Years Eve was a strange one in Bangkok, due to the bombings. However, Jacco, Han and me didn't notice anything, so after our relaxing afternoon at Jacco's swimmingpool, we went to my place to get properly dressed for the big party. The plan was to go to Central World Plaza where thousands and thousands of people would come together for the big countdown. When we arrived it was strangly quiet... After asking some police men we found out that there were bomb alarms (no one told us that there actually had been bomb attacks!). They told us as well that all the parties in the city were cancelled, so no alternatives. Jacco tried to call his 'coach' because this guy was giving a party for expats, but we couldn't reach him. So we ended up back at the Khao San Road. To get there was another story. We had to pay big time of course and it was a crazy drive in a tuk-tuk. I filmed some parts of it.

Also Khao San Road was really empty, but the bar that we wanted to celebrate was completely packed with Thai people, just Thai people. Although little dissappointed about the fact that the big party was cancelled, we figured that we had to make the best of it anyway. And so we did! By ordering a bottle of wine (no champaign available) and 4 liters of beer (not for me....). We got in contact with Thai people next to us, they shared their drinks (bit like tequila shots) and we ended up in funny stories. For example, first they thought Jacco and I were brother and sister as for them we look a lot like each other (which is absolutely not true ;-), later they even told us that Jacco and I knew each other from former lifes and were lovers in that life. This would be the same in the future, they said? Well, anyway, let's just think that they had already too much to drink :-D

The countdown in the bar was great. Good atmosphere and music, you couldn't notice that something terrible happened in Bangkok, because the Thai people were really cheerfull. But I do feel sorry for them and wishing them a happy NewYear sounds almost like an insult.
The countdown repeated itselves every 3 minutes. This was for me some kind of making up as the last 2 years the countdowns on Fuerteventura went absolutely wrong. By then we just found out (via my brother) that there actually had been bomb attacks. In our bar a police guy entered and warned us in Thai that there had been a bomb alarm in our neighbourhood as well. But nobody left and the Thai people told us not to worry. I didn't feel so good about it, but no one worried or left, we were not evacuated, so we stayed and nothing happened.
Unfortunately the bar closed early and I had to say goodbye to Han and Jacco. Strange moment again, because we shared good times together! Their sense of humeour is great! I simply get too attached to people too quickly I noticed, because the next day I really missed them.
Anyway, although the big party was cancelled, we did had a great time together. Again a New Years eve not to forget! Thanks to Jacco and Han.

Thank you all for your text messages wishing me a happy New Year. I had some problems with my cell phone the last 24 hours, so I received them this morning (2nd of January), every 2 minutes a new one arrived :-)
I hope you had a good celebration as well and enjoyed.

Tomorrow I will leave a message about my time here in Ayutthaya and try to upload some new pics of New Years Eve and this new city. By the way, I changed my plans, will most probably not go to Laos, but tomorrow more about that!

Beso,
Marije