Martial Law Day 1

In the wake of a six months of violent protests and a tense political standoff, the Royal Thai Military has declared a 'State of Emergency' and a instituted martial law. The order without government permission in the early hours of this morning. Media outlets were closed and guarded by armed soldiers. The political situation is somewhat tense, however, a different story follows on the streets. Passers by have taken the opportunity to stop and pose for 'selfies' with soldiers while the stand off continues.  More to follow...

Soldiers stand guard outside Thailand's 11 NBT TV station. 

A police officer looks on as Thai soldiers set up position on Ratchadamri Rd. A calendar with HRH Bhumibol Adulyadej sits on the wall of the office. 

Soldiers take position out the front of Royal Thai Police Headquarters, near Siam

Tourists pose for photos in a Royal Thai Army helmet. 

A Royal Thai Army Master Sergeant sleeps in his Humvee 

Visa Run

15 May 2014, Yangon, Myanmar. Restaurants prepare food before the Bogyoke Markets open.

The calm before the storm.

09 May 2014, Government House, Bangkok, Thailand. People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban addresses a gathering of antigovernment protestors as part of his 'Final Battle' against the Thaksin Regime. 

More from Thingyan

Young people dance while being sprayed with water. Town Hall, Yangon. 

Myanmar Disney T

I love the fact the kid is the only one fighting back. 

This. This is what destroyed my baby doll Effy (my camera). 

She was really cute and would walk over to me and dump that bucket of water on to me. Adorable.. until the ice water came out and she found my shrieks hilarious. 

3 year old Burmese Sid Vicious

This young guy was posing for a photo before his brother came and dumped a bucket of water on his head. 

This guy kept slamming me with water.

All aboard the ear as reins express! 

Burmese Hug

"Burma gave you a hug.. it just hugged a little too hard" smiled Lauren as she sat with Andre at a cafe in Yangon. The two had come primarily to use the wifi. The fact the small upstair's coffee shop served food was a bonus.

My last few hours in the colonial era city were punctuated by bouts of coughing and sniffles. I felt although it was a relatively minor chest infection, there was little point in sitting idol in a hotel room blowing my nose and feeling sorry for myself. I decided yesterday to head back to Bangkok to get my camera gear serviced, some film developed, to pick up real meds (something which can be quiet elusive in Myanmar) and to assess how the protests between the UDD and PDRC had developed.

Thingyan is the most important day in the Burmese calendar and what most likely made me ill. If it wasn't ingesting water, it was the temperature changes between cold water, hot air, and then air con in our hotels. The festival celebrates the passing of the sun from Pisces to Airies and is seen as the New Year for Theravada Buddhist countries in SE Asia. Thousands flock to the streets and engage in combat. Water pistols and buckets being the weapon of choice. For those who have a little more foresight (and often money), firehoses trump squirt guns often with devastating effect. At one stage, I had managed to drown both my camera bodies. One was resurrected with a hair dryer, the other is for now one of the many cameras which fell to the festival. On the final day of festivities, thousands flock to pagodas around the country. The oldest and most well known, Schwe Dagon in Yangon is filled with thousands of devout buddhists worshipers from sunrise to evening.

The festival itself was brilliant. Adults, children, and young punks alike danced in the rain. Strangers offered me alcohol which was generally followed in adorably broken English  'Are you happy? ITS THINGYAN!'. My face hurt from smiling for 12 hours a day.

Revellers party out the front of town hall. The ancient Sule pagoda can be seen in the background. More pics to follow in the coming days. 

Ermahgerd

14 Apr 2014, Yangon, Myanmar. A man sleeps out the front of his store at 1 am. I love this place. 

Timor

Going through old pics. Found this one.

08 May 2011, Beto Tasi Timor. Fishermen cast nets at sunset.