This was the day Brandon was supposed to go back to America.  Obviously, he’s still here.

I just found out that EVA had canceled more flights through Dec. 4, however neither of our flights showed up in that list. Not yet.  Monday will be another struggle to find us a flight out.  At this point, I don’t care how but we have to get out.  Brandon can’t be gone another week and I sure as hell can’t afford to be gone either.

Almost officially, we are stranded.  And what are a couple of stranded “tourists” to do but stroll the malls.

The country’s mood definitely had changed as we experienced from our afternoon stroll.  The vendors of Thai souvenirs in Amarin Plaza (previously in Narayabhand before they closed down) was hit hard.  I made a meager bargaining attempt and they went for it.

“A little business is better than no business,” the lady said.  Sure, I could drive the price down cheaper but judging by the mood on this floor, usually bustling with tourists, I didn’t have the heart.  She said overnight everyone was gone.

“They said ‘we didn’t close the airport’.  They said ‘we’re doing this to save our country’.  How is this saving the country?” the lady continued.  “How could they do this to us?  Because of them, we are losing our businesses.  And look at those guys in tourism business!”

The sentiment was the same as we visited Health Land, traditional Thai massage therapy center, for a rub down…well, a knead and stretch down.

“Your husband is the only tourist we have in here right now,” one of our torturers therapists said.  “Don’t they know their action affect all of us and not just the government?”

Forget the argument over the Yellow Shirt vs. the Red Shirt.  The only thing on a lot of people’s mind is “How am I going to feed my kids tomorrow?”

Then again, you wouldn’t know our country is in a crisis if you saunter down the Rajadamri walk way.

Giant, and I mean 7 storey high, Christmas tree is fully lit and the entire Central World complex is decorated.  Shining like a beacon, an excessive one, no less, for the rest of the wearied souls.  The stranded travelers.  The tourism industry workers about to lose their jobs.  The general public unsure of the economic impact this will have on them.

For a moment, gazing upon that marvelous sight of the tree, we all can forget about the uncertainy of tomorrow’s possible journey home and about what terrible future lies ahead for this countr.