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Tags: Protests / Political Travel / Riots / → All Tags

Protests Over Iran's Election Hit Paris, Rome, Toronto and New York

The post-election riots in Iran are not limited to Tehran. Several major European cities (in full summer tourism swing) and a few here in North America have seen their own protests recently.

Rallies and protests took place yesterday in Paris, Toronto, New York, London and Berlin over the controversial election, which supporters of candidate Mir-Hossein Moussavi claim has been rigged by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Indeed, the protests outside of Tehran have already made it into a Wikipedia entry.

CNN's iReport captured the protest yesterday in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower. Several hundred thousand protesters gathered in Mel Lastman Square in Toronto yesterday afternoon while in New York Moussavi supporters rallied outside the United Nations. Students also protested in Rome and you can see some Flickr shots here.

Meanwhile in Tehran, a pro-Mousavi rally turned deadly when militia members fired on the crowd, killing one demonstrator. Despite this, another demonstration is planned for Tehran tomorrow.

Related Stories:
· Top Cleric Calls for Inquiry as Protesters Defy Ban in Iran [NY Times]
· iReport: Paris Portests [CNN]

[Photo: kappazeta]

Tags: Protests / Thailand Travel / Political Travel / → All Tags

Bangkok Protests Continue, Thailand Warnings Start Again

Thailand, Thailand. You're so beautiful, so why do we have to keep writing these bad news stories? Unfortunately it looks like the internal political problems, while completely unrelated to travelers and the tourism industry, are going to stop thousands of visitors to Bangkok and Thai islands again.

While last week it sounded like even the ASEAN meeting of regional leaders might still go ahead, it's now been canceled and protests have become violent. Despite the government declaring a state of emergency, protesters have continued to gather in Bangkok and there are now armed soldiers on the streets.

Countries including Britain, Canada and Australia have already issued travel warnings advising its citizens to review their travel plans to Bangkok and to avoid the area if they are already in Thailand. At this stage the airports are still open, but remembering last year's chaos would definitely make us think twice about assuming it'll stay that way. Can we suggest neighbors Vietnam or Cambodia instead, as long as your flights don't connect in Bangkok?

Related Stories:
· Thai Protesters Clash With Police [NY Times]
· Travel Warnings For Thailand After Weekend Mayhem [Reuters]
· Thai Travel Might Be Tied Up Again [Jaunted]
· Thai Airport Standoff Proves World Is Indeed Flat [Jaunted]

[Photo: Y Not ?]

Tags: Protests / Thailand Travel / Political Travel / → All Tags

Thai Travel Might Be Tied Up Again

Just when we were thinking it must be safe to go back to Thailand after last year's airport closures, we're starting to wonder again.

This week there were anti-government protests in Bangkok, with 100,000 gathering near the Prime Minister's office and taxi drivers intentionally blocking traffic in the city. With the ASEAN summit being held over the weekend, some authorities are getting a bit worried about security for all those VIPs.

Whether this is the precursor to another airport lockdown to strand thousands of tourists or just a small political glitch remains to be seen but we'd be checking the latest news carefully before booking our Thai flights.

Related Stories:
· Thai PM Says Peaceful Protest OK [Reuters]
· Thais Trying To Turn Tourism Tide [Jaunted]
· Thailand Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: Yan Pritzker]

Tags: Protests / G20 Summit / Dangerous Travel / London Travel / Barack Obama / → All Tags

Where Not To Go While London's On Lockdown

Thought you’d take advantage of all the sweet hotel deals to score a springtime trip to London? We’re hoping you didn’t pick this week, because now is not the time to see the city at its best, despite the fact that President Barack Obama's in town.

London’s been on lockdown pretty much since Saturday, when the first march against the G20 Summit took place. Police were expecting trouble then, but there wasn’t any, apart from some bonged-out looking types in Trafalgar Square that evening.

We were hoping that the rest of the protests scheduled for this week would turn out the same way, but on Monday came the news that phone boxes were being removed from the streets of Central London in case protestors tore them down, building sites had been ordered by the Mayor to shut up shop and remove any junk that could be commandeered as weapons, and businesses in the Square Mile and even high profile places like the Ritz were boarding up their windows in preparation for a fight.

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Tags: Protests / Tourists / Somchai Wongsawat / → All Tags

New Thai PM Tells Country to Start Smiling

Thailand has a new acting prime minister who's had it with weeks of protests that have dominated the news from Bangkok. Why? Because tourism, which accounts for six percent of the country's GDP, is down!

The brother-in-law of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, acting PM Somchai Wongsawat, says the country has to stop scaring foreigners:

I appeal to all parties to turn to each other to resolve the problem and together heal the damage done to the nation. We should bring back the smile to the country once again, as we are called the Land of Smiles. We have to restore confidence in outsiders, especially tourists, that we are a peaceful country and have no more conflict.

Though the political turmoil is real, tourists in the capital aren't in any sort of danger, as the protests have been largely peaceful. Bangkok blogger Newley Purnell has loads of on-the-ground reports, including photos and audio slideshows.

Related Stories:
· Thailand Lifts State of Emergency Amid Tourism Fears [NYT]
· Thailand Lifts State of Emergency Citing Tourism [AP, via Google]
· Thailand Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of Bangkok protesters: NYT]

Tags: Travel Hell / Protests / Airport Delays / → All Tags

State of Emergency Travel: Tourist Troubles in Thailand

Usually unspoiled romantic trips to Thailand have been messed around this past week as anti-government protests close down airports and roads. Although the Phuket Airport has been reopened and thousands of stranded vacationers are now on their way home, it's far from being over--a State of Emergency has been announced.

People's Alliance for Democracy protesters are now threatening to blockade not just Phuket, but seven airports across Thailand unless the Prime Minister resigns. Tourist hotspots like Krabi, Samui and Phuket are among the seven.

There's a good way and a bad way to experience airport shutdowns like this. The good way is what hundreds of tourists on Phuket just experienced--four extra days on a tropical island at the airline's expense. That's what we're rooting for.

Related Stories:
· PAD Warns of More Airport Closures in the South [The Nation]
· Aussies Tell of Thai Airport Scramble [SMH]
· Thailand Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: adaptorplug]

Tags: Political Travel / Prostitution / Protests / → All Tags

Denver Gearing Up for Sex and Violence at Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention is just eight days away, and the mile-high city of Denver is gearing up for four days of speechifying, glad-handing, and baby-kissing as Barack Obama officially accepts his party's nomination for the presidency. And while organizers are looking forward to a week of virtuous pronouncements, other groups are expecting the seedy side of the DNC to rear its ugly head.

News crews from CBS reportedly discovered a "concentration camp" that was built by local police to house all the protesters they expect to arrest during the convention. A warehouse on the north-east side of town was equipped with metal holding pens, fences topped with barbed wire, and a sign that warns of "electric stun devices used in this facility."

Meanwhile, an organization called Street's Hope is planning on reaching out to the 40,000 prostitutes they estimate will be in town to entertain the philandering delegates. The group aims to offer a way out for sex workers who want to leave their lives of prostitution, offering outreach, counseling, and lots of prayer. One can't help but wonder how many prostitutes they estimate the Republican convention will draw. Would they low-ball the figure to make the GOP look a bit more saintly?

In any case, if you're headed to Denver, be careful of where you protest and who you go to bed with, because plenty of sanctimonious moralists will be watching your every move.

Related Stories:
· News Crew Crashes Denver's DNC Concentration Camp [The Raw Story]
· Who Will Save the Hookers at the DNC? [Demver]
· Political Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Street's Hope]

Tags: Television Travel / TV Travel / Matt Lauer / Turkey Travel / Protests / → All Tags

Matt Lauer Continues His Globe-Trotting

"The Today Show" publicity stunt/geography lesson that is "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" continued today with a stop in Istanbul. We'll give Meredith Vieira a pass on her claim that "New Zealand is on a submerged continent" and instead focus on the cool info that Lauer had on Turkey, where tourism has doubled in the past six years.

The morning host was also joined by Lester Holt who did a quick tour around the country to Bodrum, Pamukkale, Cappadocia and Ephesus. We also got a look inside the famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Oh, and it's a good thing Matt did his introductory stand-up on a boat in the Bosphorus. Helped him avoid those May Day demonstrations that police in Istanbul put down with tear gas and water cannons today.

Related Stories:
· Where in the World Is Matt Lauer? [MSNBC]
· Television Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Protests / Landmarks / Attractions / Tourist Attractions / Hawaii Travel / Oahu Travel / → All Tags

Iolani Palace Not the Best Idea Today

A separatist group occupied the Iolani Palace in Honolulu yesterday, closing the landmark to tourists to protest the "occupation" of Hawaii by the United States. The peaceful demonstration by the Hawaiian Kingdom Government lasted about eight hours, and no arrests were made.

The group says it wants to reestablish the Iolani Palace as the seat of the islands' sovereign government. The HKG plans to reoccupy the grounds today, though the organization doesn't plan to lock people out like they did Wednesday. Still, might not be the best day to visit.

The palace was the residence of the last two Hawaiian monarchs and it's now a National Historic Landmark. When it's not being occupied, you can visit on a docent-led "Grand Tour" for $20 or just take a self-guided tour of some of the galleries for $6.

Related Stories:
· Group Occupies Hawaii Palace [Honolulu Advertiser]
· Hawaiian Sovereignty Seekers Take over Palace Grounds [AP, via Google]
· Iolani Palace [Official Site]
· Hawaii Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: PeterWebb]

Tags: Hawaii Superferry / Protests / Ferry Travel / Transportation / → All Tags

Adventures of Link: Return of the Superferry

The Hawaii Superferry is back, and along with it protests about environmental damage. After a court ordered the big ship to stop its inter-island journeys this summer, a new decision--and some action by Governor Linda Lingle--has the ship cruising again, at least until an environmental assessment is complete.

While protesters greeted the ferry when it pulled into Maui's harbor late last week, the tone has been quite civil. Maybe that's because the Coast Guard and lots of law enforcement have been watching demonstrators while toting automatic weapons?

Related Stories:
· Book Your Own Controversial Tickets [Official Superferry Site]
· "I think this is great for Hawaii," Passenger Says [KHNL]
· Delays were "very damaging to the company," CEO says [KHNL]
· Hawaii Superferry's Arrival Stays Calm [Honolulu Advertiser]
· Environmental Group Preparing More Legal Action [Honolulu Advertiser]

[Photo: eye of einstein]