We were preparing to leave Sydney, but it was difficult getting any reliable information about flight arrangements as flights to Thailand were being cancelled or diverted. The Thai Airways website was useless (completely out of date) and the phone lines were overloaded so we couldn't call in to confirm any bookings!
Around 10am on the day of our scheduled flight, Frances & I decided to go to the airport to see what was happening. We found that our 4pm flight had been cancelled but we managed to book on the earlier flight departing at 2pm.
We rushed back home, hastily gathered our bags and were taken to the airport (courtesy of Tamar & John) with very little time to spare. As we were booking in, they told me that I couldn't board the plane - my passport only had 3 months left and 6 months was the new minimum!
Consequently Frances & the girls rushed to the departure gate to catch the plane while I waved them goodbye through the barriers.
The next morning, Monday, I rang Peter (Frances' cousin) who we would be staying with in Jomtien (just south of Pattya) who told me that they arrived safe and well at U-Tapao airport (local & Military airport) and that he would take them to the nearby beach that day.
I then went to Immigration and applied for a new passport which, with high priority payment, was to be ready by 4:30pm. I checked the Sydney airport website that showed that the 4:40 flight was rescheduled for 8 pm that night which fortunately meant that I could fly out that evening - if I had a valid passport. At about 3pm I returned to the Immigration office with my baggage, and at 4:55pm, just before the 5pm office hours ended, I got my new passport.
I then took a taxi straight to the airport in the hope that the website was correct - it was! So I booked in and waited for the 8 pm departure.
Finally, at 2am I arrived at U-Tapao airport in south-east Thailand. In fact it was hours closer by road to Jomtien and I was picked up by Peter's driver and driven the 30 minutes to Jomtien.
Mind you, I got a bit of a scare when I arrived as the airport was full of armed military (it was in fact a military airbase) and packed with Muslims sleeping anywhere they could – it looked like a refugee camp.
It made more sense when I found out later that they were all waiting to get flights out of Thailand to visit Mecca for the Hajj.
Of course my favourite newspaper, Pattaya Today had an article about this very issue.
 |
| Thai Protesters Shut Down Bangkok Airport - New York Times |
Around 10am on the day of our scheduled flight, Frances & I decided to go to the airport to see what was happening. We found that our 4pm flight had been cancelled but we managed to book on the earlier flight departing at 2pm.
We rushed back home, hastily gathered our bags and were taken to the airport (courtesy of Tamar & John) with very little time to spare. As we were booking in, they told me that I couldn't board the plane - my passport only had 3 months left and 6 months was the new minimum!
 |
| Simone and Charlotte at Sydney airport check-in |
The next morning, Monday, I rang Peter (Frances' cousin) who we would be staying with in Jomtien (just south of Pattya) who told me that they arrived safe and well at U-Tapao airport (local & Military airport) and that he would take them to the nearby beach that day.
I then went to Immigration and applied for a new passport which, with high priority payment, was to be ready by 4:30pm. I checked the Sydney airport website that showed that the 4:40 flight was rescheduled for 8 pm that night which fortunately meant that I could fly out that evening - if I had a valid passport. At about 3pm I returned to the Immigration office with my baggage, and at 4:55pm, just before the 5pm office hours ended, I got my new passport.
 |
| Pilgrims stranded at U-Tapao military airport wait for a flight to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia - Getty Images |
Finally, at 2am I arrived at U-Tapao airport in south-east Thailand. In fact it was hours closer by road to Jomtien and I was picked up by Peter's driver and driven the 30 minutes to Jomtien.
 |
| Pilgrims stranded at U-Tapao - Getty Images |
It made more sense when I found out later that they were all waiting to get flights out of Thailand to visit Mecca for the Hajj.
Of course my favourite newspaper, Pattaya Today had an article about this very issue.
Pattaya attempts to attract Thai tourists again
Vol. 8 No. 7, 16 - 31 December 2008
Mr. Ronnakit Ekasingh, deputy mayor, revealed to the press that since Tuesday, November 26th, 2008, U-Tapao International Airport had been in use as the main air gateway to Thailand following the blockade of both Bangkok- Suvarnabhumi and Bangkok- Don Mueang (from Thursday 27 November) airports by protesters from the People’s Alliance for Democracy.
There were 300,000 stranded tourists flocked to Utapao aiport. Thus, Pattaya City, theTourism Authority of Thailand and the private sector had joined in hand to help tourists.
They had set up 5 assistance centers for stranded tourists at Pattaya City Hall, Pattaya IT center, Pattaya Kruasurf Information Center, Pattaya Chaiyapruek Information Center, and Tourism Authority of Thailand office on Prathamnak hill.
There were staff stand by to provide support such as food, drinks, and accommodation. So far th e helping centers had been help over 200 stranded tourists, as well as providing food and drinks to tourists at U-tapao airport started since November 29th, 2008.And, the funds had been used over 1.5 million baht. Mr. Ronnakit further stated that right now the situation has been improved, but Pattaya city would keep the help centers to remain open.
