Bangkok is quickly getting back to normal. Street food is back (thank you!), traffic is back, construction noises and motorbikes

Lumpini Park re-opening May 26

zipping everywhere are back.  Public transit is running, I am struggle through nightly Thai classes once again.

Massive numbers of people are helping with cleanup- the city has mobilized many workers and trucks, there have been loads of volunteers and small shops are all cleaning and washing the areas around their business.

Lumpini Park on 18 May- yes, the same part of Lumpini (see building in background), but behind the red shirt barrier

There have been no fires, sounds of gun battles or conflict this week; the military presence is less and less each day.

This morning was an amazing ceremony to re-open Lumpini Park. The ceremony took place at 6am with a blessing for those that died in the conflict; the ceremony was held on he corner of Lumpini park at Silom, where the red shirts had one of their largest blockades and much of the stand off took place. What a difference a week makes.

Thousands of people came to Lumpini with food and flowers for the Monks

The red shirts left the park a mess- trash and rubbish, graffiti, burned tires, trampled flowers and walkways destroyed as the bricks had been removed to be used as projectiles. All has been fixed and it looks great.

The most amazing park of the morning ceremony- 1,000 monks attending to receive alms and give blessings.

Monks receiving alms in the exact area where the red shirt barricade was just one week ago

As I wrote last week, the Thai people will make the recovery happen with their desire and attitude. The results in Lumpini speak for what has been accomplished and the morning of positive thoughts and blessings bode well for the future.