My Last Night in Bangkok

This trip is flying by, I can't believe it's already my last night in Thailand! Yesterday I got back to Bangkok after spending about 5 days in the south (Hat Yai and Pattani). The students I met in Pattani stated that the local insurgent/separatist groups often use the province's historical status as an independent sultanate in order to justify the current use of violence against the government.

Many of the people I interviewed believed that in order to move the peace process forward, the collective memory/history of the southern provinces needs to be rewritten. It will be interesting to see how this situation compares with some of the post-conflict societies that I'm visiting later in the trip.

Finally, as promised....pictures!!

Me and the two Thai students who helped me with my research. A HUGE thank you to Nu (left) and Joon (right)!!

Portrait of the current King of Thailand (framed portraits of Thai royalty can be found all over the country)

Part of the Grand Palace (where the royal family used to live)

Another shot of the Grand Palace


View of Hat Yai from inside a "tuk-tuk" (really affordable public transportation)




Landscape in Pattani

Next stop: India!