Stuff from our Week – Coup, Singapore, and Visas

Coup in Thailand

• Martial law was just declared in Thailand last Monday while we were in Singapore getting our missionary visas. More on that below.

• Thursday, after we got back to Bangkok, it turned into a full-blown coup.

• They shut down TV stations, Radio, set a curfew, dissolved the government, and suspended the constitution. It is still likely that they will ban social media next.

• The news about the coup d’état broke while I was in the barbershop. Lively conversation ensued, but everyone knew it was coming.

• I guess this means I submitted my final visa paperwork to a defunct government. The coup literally happened while I was handing my paperwork in.

• We don’t know if this will turn dangerous or not. Right now, we are in no danger. Just waiting. Our Language school is cancelled and there are a few small anti-coup protests around, is all.

• People here seem to be taking the coup in stride. It is the 12th coup in 80 years, after all. So, kind of just part of the process here.

• The anti-coup protests are starting while the army tries to keep them from assembling. This is where it starts to get interesting.

Visa Trip to Singapore

• This week we also had to make a trip to Singapore to pick up our new “missionary visas.” It is the 2nd to last step of the long process to be here legally and permanently as missionaries.

• Officially, just because of how it works, we are "Church of God of Prophecy" missionaries. Kinda funny. Picture of our paperwork.

• $ingapore, come to find out, it is the most expensive city in the world. I believe it!

• It took 2 days to process the paperwork, so we met up with a missionary there, Chantha Chhim, and had a good time talking with him and hearing about Singapore and the work he is doing.

• Here is my impression of Singapore:
  – Incredibly international
  – Most everyone speaks English
  – As nice, clean, & safe as the nicest U.S. city
  – Super expensive/rich

• It was like Cross-culture overload there. For instance:
  2 Americans,
  living in Thailand,
  visited Singapore,
  went to Chinatown,
  & ordered Italian
  from a Malaysian waiter.

• Want an example of Singapore prices??
  – Toyota Corolla in Singapore – $102,000
  – Toyota Corolla in the States – ~$17k
  Proof

• Misc: This is how they stop at traffic lights on a hot day in Bangkok. –