Thursday, May 27, 2010

Some of the aftermath


Until the red shirts made their camp there I didn’t even know that the junction in the middle of so many of the malls was called Ratchaprasong. I’m never likely to forget where it is now…

Yesterday’s visit to Bangkok’s shopping district turned into a surprisingly emotional trip.  I was cheered to do a bit of shopping and to find my favourite place to eat in the whole of Bangkok, the gorgeous Sunshine Kitchen inside Siam Paragon was in operation, but the rest of it was horrifying.

I knew CentralWorld had been wrecked by fire but the knowledge and the reality hadn’t quite come together.  I passed by in a taxi so still the impact didn’t quite hit me. Instead it was road level parade along Siam Square – Bangkok’s funky teenage hangout – that shocked me. Facades had gone and I looked straight into burned out cavernous holes. Wires and struts spewed out, bits of wall and ceiling, not claimed by the fire, hung useless from what remained of the structure. Water continued to drip through the fabric and pool over the ground.

I cried quietly several times while I was out yesterday afternoon. I walked back towards home, passing CentralWorld. God knows Bangkok isn’t in short supply when it comes to malls but the waste, the willful devastation… it took my breath away. Bullet holes and attempts at vandalism left their mark on the windows of Gaysorn Mall.

Siam Square frontage. I like seeing the vendors: setting up despite everything.


Other posts mentioning CentralWorld, before, can be found here, here, here, here and here.

13 comments:

Angie said...

Wow, I would have a good cry if I encountered that too! Glad to hear things are calming down, and I hope it continues to get better. They really did some damage, didn't they?
xx

Unknown said...

That whole concept of thinking you understand and accept something and then finding out something else altogether is overwhelming...huge hugs

lx

Queenie said...

That'll take some rebuilding. Hugs from me too.

Jen said...

The before and after makes the 'after' look like another world. How awful that so much destruction has to happen in the world. I can only imagine how affecting it must be for you.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

I'm not surprised you had a cry. To see so much devastation is awful. Such a dreadful shame.

Lane Mathias said...

Just awful:-(

Your photo of the flowers in front of the devastated buildings is so good. What a contrast.

DOT said...

Frightening. Even more frightening is this news report: http://tiny.cc/mwsss

Chris Stovell said...

Very shocking for you to come face to face with what's been going on. Not that you needed a reality check. Thinking of you.

Anonymous said...

I think you were very brave to go - I'm such a coward I can't face it yet. Your photos are, of course, amazing, especially the one of the flowers in front of what was Zen. I have goose bumps just thinking about it. Jane x

Jenny Beattie said...

Angie, it's horrible isn't it?

Liz, thank you for the hugs. I was shocked and sad. It still makes me well up.

Thanks Queenie. We watched it being built originally...

Jen, before and afters are never good huh?

Debs, I know... well I knew but I still didn't expect so much horror.

Thanks Lane.

DOT, oh yes, that type of expat? We're so proud to count ourselves among them...

Chris, I suppose I thought things were getting/feeling better. Thank you.

Jane, H'll want to go tomorrow or the weekend... She's going to be horrified. I didn't think it would be brave I just didn't realise how upsetting I'd find it.

Talli Roland said...

Wow - I'd be crying, too. It's so sad to see part of a city destroyed like that. Still, I'm glad you and your family are alright.

Carol said...

OMG!! I knew that it had been set on fire but seeing those photos really brought it home. Made me cry too!!

*hugs*

C x

CC Devine said...

It has been a total rollercoaster so no wonder your emotions overcame you at times. Truly sad that this has happened.