I have just come back from Governement house. I went to have a look on my bike, armed with my camera and underpowered flash. There was a lot going on down there from just after 10 until about 12am.You can see some of the photo's here http://www.flickr.com/photos/20535389@N00/ As I said, my camera is not the best so I couldn't get clear photos of much. But basically the army were set up at the 3 main corners around government house with 2 tanks, soldiers, and police at each. On Sri Ayuddhaya Road, around 12pm, truck loads of soldiers poured into the government house area. Shortly after this the ring roads around govt house were also cleared (I was chased away while talking on my phone) so that the Queen and a very very large entouage of about 20 - 30 cars sped away very quickly. During the evening I had police/soldiers chase me away on my bike 3 or 4 times in total. They had guns, it was quite frightening.The only time things looked like they could get really violent though was when a civilian car tried to cross the army lines in a hurry and about 5 soldiers jumped on it shouting angrily. I was afraid shooting might start then, fortunately it didn't.Prior to 12am at Sri Ayuddhaya there was only myself and a handful of others. The Army cleared almost everyone away. The main reason I wouldn't leave was because my bike was parked (foolishly - see photo) in front of a tank and they wouldn't let me get it back. So I hid out in a police box nearby with a few others. They allowed me to move my bike when they moved the tanks. I did so very quickly thinking that a tank could do very bad things to my bikes nice deep blue paintwork.After 12 the crowds got a bit bigger, about 100-200 people at each of the 3 main points. But I understand that were/are checkpoints around preventing people getting through. Only those who live in the area are able to get through I thinnk.Sorry if this journal is a bit messy, I think I am still a bit shocked by what I saw. It all seems to be sinking in now. Standing in front of a tank smiling was probably not what I should have been doing

Jeez. Parking your bike in front of a tank. Shades of Tiannamen Square!

Hahaha I really admire you for still in a mood of posting with the tanks!!!!

Great pics Gi.

Im sure u and everyone there will be just fine.

How old are those tanks??

The newest one I saw was an M60. However I think they all hurt (

careful MAN !!!!!!!!!!!

.... Sure ! The Tanks is very old ...... I think M-48 .... uhmmm this tanks have more then 20 years (incredible)

This is the best from Thai army ? (My god !!)

Anyway I hope the situation return quite without problem for thai people !!

Massimo

Nice work......CNN should use you...Awesome, you're the man!!!

I just got back from there too.

It was not tense at all. It won't be unless pro Thaksin elements of the military decide to make a counter move.

It was just a short time ago that you and I were exchanging pleasantries at Bourbon Street. I don't know where you live, Gi, but it must be close to Koh Rattanakosin to draw you to that area.

I've been through three coups in Thailand, well, this being my third. They aren't after you or me, or anyone in general except the one in power, who happens to be in New York. So if it succeeds, which I suspect it will, it should be a bloodless coups, the 42nd since 1932.

Tomorrow, business as usual. Parties as usual. But the economy and political scene will have been shaken!

BBC just rang me, I'm giving an interview over the phone in 5 minutes. That'll be fun if I can organise my thoughts :-/

go man go !! don't forget to give a price !!

tomorrow every public sevice of Gov will off, but why bank off too

Good work GI

you go punisher, BBC new asian corrospondent becons.

*_* Man.....

glad that you made it back in 1 piece...

Oh what fun it is to be in BKK on a night that changes history and gets written into history books...

OMG, last week i had a meal with a TV star

Lol at The Geek, they haven't rung back yet. If/When they do, I look forward to giving the interview naked.

Hey, nice pics. Why do you guys down south in BKK have all the fun. Looked for you on BBC, but no report. Must be radio, huh? (Oh, other reports coming tho).

Very quiet up here in Chiang Mai.

Cheers!

They are ringing me back at either 5am or 6am Bkk time for the interview. The'll give me a 10 minute warning so I can clear my throat.

i really have mixed feelings seeing those photos ...

These are what you can show your kids LOL (of coz if you decide to have a wife) :Q~

Mannn !! tht r nice pics Love all ur crazyness >.<

discretion being the better part of valor and self preservation the better part of zbh,i stayed home.

even old world war one tanks could put a powerful hurt on ya.

great pix btw. hope you don't mind, i forwarded link to some friends in nyc.

Very nice pictures though you might have gotten into some pretty serious trouble if any violence erupted.