The best of 2Bangkok.com in 2008 What it was like to be there... Our annual collection of the biggest news, most popular stories, and interesting links of 2008 Left: Young Samak Also The best of 2Bangkok in 2009 The best of 2Bangkok in 2008 The best of 2Bangkok in 2007 The best of 2Bangkok in 2006 The best of 2Bangkok in 2005 The best of 2Bangkok in 2004 The best of 2Bangkok in 2003 Cheap Holidays Sombat Khong Phudee Quality of well-mannered people Experience the joyfulness of children who live cultural lives Navin's Sala Thai email forwards Thaksin's foundation - November 18, 2008 Newspaper front pages from the cremation ceremony of Princess Galayani Circa-1939 Pibul-era cartoon describing the new revenue system Last days of the absolute monarchy - June 24, 2008 Siam tries a people's party - from Asia magazine, Vol. XXXII, Number 9, November, 1932 (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Vatana's escape - July 14, 2008 Above is a diagram from Daily News showing the escape route of politician Vatana Asavahame. Cambodia is a place where money talks and there is no repatriation treaty with Thailand, and thus it is the refuge of choice for high profile Thai fugitives. Previously Duangchalerm Yoobamrung and Chon Buri don Kamnan Poh fled to Cambodia to escape court cases. Vatana (often spelled "Watana" or "Wattana") has held top posts in governments of the past and is part of the Asavahame clan prominent in Samut Prakarn politics. Once the leader of the Rassadorn Party, his star has fallen in recent years with election losses and continuous court cases over fraud, election irregularities, land encroachment, etc. although at present he is chief advisor of the Puea Pandin Party. Like Chalerm Yoobamrung, Vatana also has unruly family members--his son Chonsawas was accused of assaulting a police officer at a traffic stop in 2007. An earlier thread on the family is here. 10 things you should know about narcotics - July 5, 2008 Website censorship in Thailand (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Marketing vs reality views of Sanam Luang - September 27, 2008 An "Amazing Thailand" poster in the subway (above). This year's kite flying festival was cancelled because of the construction of the funeral buildings for Princess Galyani Vadhana. Instead of lush green fields of the marketing version above, the reality is a sandy, semi-paved expanse (below) where, from time to time, paid anti-PAD crowds are plied with cans of Leo Beer as speakers exhort them "settle" the PAD. Obama election front pages in the Thai-language press End of government/beginning of government "Day-D" newspaper front pages November 29 - November 27-28 - November 26-27 - November 25-26 "Black October 2008" - PAD's "final war" On the forum: Bangkok Governors of the past Left: PAD men in custody after the unsuccessful pre-dawn raid on NBT studios on Viphavadi-Rangsit Road. Bangkok Governor election posters - 2009 Bangkok Governor elections - 2008 Senate elections - 2008 From Phujatkhan, September 4, 2008 - PM Samak signing the Emergency Degree with the blood of the deceased protester. Monthly archives from the main page January February March April May June July August September October November December Troubles in the South 2008 Thai Media Project Translated articles, editorial cartoons and newspaper front pages from the Thai-language press January February March April May June July August September October November December PAD's "final war" September 10-13 September 4-5 September 2-3 September 1 August 29-31 August 29-30 - at the PAD rally August 28 August 27 August 26 High tension in Thailand More newspaper front pages "D-Day" newspaper front pages Scenes from the DAAD rally More scenes from around Government House Views around occupied Government House Photo collection of the bloody night of DAAD vs PAD - The bloody war of Thais DAAD rally site Pro-Thaksin signs in Chiang Mai Friday night and Saturday morning at the PAD rally PAD at the British Embassy Bye Thaksin Sunday morning at Government House Various sights at the PAD rally Sunday morning at the PAD protest and map of the site Sunday night PAD protest PAD rally and Weekend front pages Scenes from Thaksin's return Also The best of 2Bangkok in 2009 The best of 2Bangkok in 2008 The best of 2Bangkok in 2007 The best of 2Bangkok in 2006 The best of 2Bangkok in 2005 The best of 2Bangkok in 2004 The best of 2Bangkok in 2003