Wang Zhengcheng, 41, a financial consultant from Singapore, was
in Bangkok on business and preparing to leave the Thai capital on
Tuesday evening, the night when anti-government protesters swarmed
into the Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Unlike others less fortunate, Mr Wang managed to leave just
before the protesters took over the airport and came back to
Singapore to tell his story, reported Shin Min Daily News.
Enroute to the airport, Mr Wang had to alight from his car
as the road was blocked by protesters. He walked the rest of the
way into the airport.
In Bangkok for three days
Mr Wang went to Bangkok on Sunday and spent three days in the
Thai capital on business. He was to leave Bangkok on Tuesday and
take the 7.30pm flight back to Singapore.
He had three colleagues with him. One of them had to take an
earlier flight. As a result, the group decided to leave for the
airport earlier, at about 3.30pm.
Their car was about 2km from the airport when they hit a
jam.
Mr Wang said: "We were stuck in the jam for about 25 minutes.
Our driver said there were protests ahead and advised us to leave
the car and walk the remaining distance to the airport."
Mr Wang and his colleagues took their luggage from the car and
started to walk towards the airport.
On the way, they saw vehicles full of passengers wearing yellow
shirts. They, too, were alighting from their stationary
vehicles.
Mr Wang said: "Their voices were strong and powerful. I think
there were as many as 500 of them, all blocking the road leading
towards the airport.
"They were also carrying bats and tear gas. When we walked past,
some protesters told us they would not hurt us."
He added: "At that moment, I was not very afraid, just a little
worried they would release their tear gas."
Just as Mr Wang and his colleagues were wondering what to do
next, they met a Thai Airways crew on his way to the airport. He
invited them into his taxi.
His taxi drove into a lane meant for goods and airport
staff.
"That was how we got to the airport safely," said Mr Wang.
According to Mr Wang, a trip from hotel to the airport usually
took only 35 minutes. This time, however, Mr Wang and his
colleagues spent two hours getting to the airport.
Mr Wang left on the 7.30pm flight from Bangkok to return home to
Singapore.
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