when we were in Vienna in 2002 just after the great floods lashed many European cities, we were debating a quick side trip to Prague - which had been significantly flooded the previous weeks. A few calls there revealed that during this prime tourist season the industry was hurting badly and that they needed tourist money and more than welcomed tourists - assuring us we wouldnt tax the infrastructure to take away from rebuilding efforts.

while different orders of magnitude, the point is that asking any people you can in Bangkok, at embassies, hotels, or email lists, will give a better idea as to the desirability of visiting - from both the point of view of the visitor's well being and the point of view of the city's well being.

harold ...