I am not a mall rat, but I do go to the malls once in a while. One of the hippest malls I’ve been to is Central World Bangkok. It used to be the center of Thailand’s Christmas celebration, festivities and exhibitions. Inside this mall, I had the chance to use a “mega DSLR”. I call it such name because it has a “super duper over bazooka” lens, the biggest I’ve seen. The Food Loft, located at the upper floor, also served as the venue of a lunch date with some UPLB graduates - Avela, Dondon, Lovely, Kim and another guy which I forgot. In March 2009, we sort of celebrated Earth Hour in the vicinities of this mall. I also spent some solitary moments here watching a Japanese dance festival while rethinking what I really wanted to do in life. But on May 19, 2010, Central World was burned by the Red shirt protesters during the military crackdown. Upon the surrender of the Red shirt leaders, militants were in anguish that they burned 36 properties around Bangkok – 17 commercial banks, 8 hotels and department stores, 8 private properties and 3 government offices. The Thai government admitted that the level of violence executed by the Reds was beyond their expectations. After the military crackdown, the leaders surrendered and hundreds of Reds, mostly coming from the North and Northeast went home. The 2-month protest was halted. Several people died – civilians, military, Reds and journalists. The protest left behind looted 7-11 shops, broken telephone booths, and burned buildings. Surely, those buildings can be rebuilt in time, but the healing between opposing forces will take longer. For now, the spirit of the Thai people to move forward lives on. Now, after just a few days, the city is slowly going back to life. Shops already go back to its usual business routine. The government even provided financial assistance for the affected businesses. Hence, the blinking neon lights of the red light district of Patpong, restart to seduce Thai and foreign customers alike, to enjoy a very sinful nightlife. For sure, all the girls and boys of Patpong have never been this ready to go back to work. The violence has reached its climax already, so there is no more threat for the notorious, wild, after dark workers to reaching their own climaxes as well.
Central World management says that that within six months, a new Central will rise from the ashes. Emerging Facebook pages such as “I love and miss Central World” and "Central World Bangkok R.I.P" with thousands of members will eventually be forgotten. Bangkok, tagged as the “City of Life”, a home of 11.9 million people, will surely prove that this statement is more than just a publicity stint. Bangkok willl always be the "gateway of Southeast Asia", as what Leonardo di Caprio said in "The Beach". Nobody but Nicolas Cage foresaw that violence would make "Bangkok Dangerous". With the warm Sawasdee Ka/Kap of the Thais, their great sense of nationalism, and the 14 million tourists who laze around Thailand every year, Bangkok's ashes will swiftly become a Super Phoenix.
Dim Lights. I celebrated Earth Hour 2009 at Central World.
Reunited. Dondon, Avela and I in front of Central, October 5, 2008.
Itchy Bitsy. Dondon calling home from ZEN, the part of the mall with the worst damage.
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