As flights from Thailand’s international airports in Bangkok were expected to return to normal today after anti-government |protesters caused major disruption, Matthew McCreary talks to two women from Northern Ireland caught up in the chaos

County Londonderry woman Lisa Collins is safely back at home after escaping the havoc in Thailand’s airports, which has left her friends stranded.

The 31 year-old from Portstewart was among thousands of tourists stranded in Thailand after anti-government protesters shut down two of the country’s main airports.

Lisa’s plans to fly home at the end of last week were thrown into disarray as flights in and out of the country were cancelled.

International flights are due to resume today, after an end to the protests was announced on Tuesday, although it could be several days or weeks before normal service is resumed.

Lisa had been on holiday with friends in the south-east Asian country, but had been travelling alone when the drama unfolded.

“I left the girls in Ko Phi Phi to see a few other islands and was due to meet up with them on Thursday, but I couldn’t because all the flights were cancelled. I was left by myself,” she said.

“The only airport I knew of doing international flights that was open was Phuket. I had to get a taxi there for over two hours but the airport was full — there were loads of people there and no flights anywhere. The standby queue alone for the Frankfurt flight had 100 people in it.

“There was a tension in the airport at Phuket because you felt at any time that protesters could come in. I kept looking for yellow shirts in case they came.”

After shelling out hundreds of pounds, Lisa managed to get a flight home via Singapore and arrived back in Northern Ireland on Saturday night.

Her friends were not so lucky, however, and are still stuck in Bangkok waiting for a flight to become available.

“I wasn’t delayed for that long and got out more or less at the time I was meant to, but my friends are still there,” she said.

“It feels good to be back. I didn’t know when I would make it home. I was lucky to get out when I did, even though it cost me a bit.”

Still stranded in Thailand, and patience has run out

Belfast woman Suzanne Waddell (27) is still stuck in Bangkok and hoping to take a flight home from a nearby military airport today

“Myself and three friends were happily sipping on Mai-Tai cocktails on the island of Ko Phi Phi on a Wednesday night, when we first heard of trouble in Bangkok airport.

We were due to take an internal flight from Phuket to Bangkok the next morning after a two week holiday, but the news sent us scrambling to get in touch with our tour operators, airlines or anyone who could give us any information at all.

“The advice was to get to Bangkok any way we could, so the next morning we arrived at Phuket and boarded a 14 hour bus journey to Bangkok. At this early stage, with the foresight and a lot of money, maybe we could have flown from Phuket to Singapore and then to the UK, but we followed the airline's advice regardless and experienced the painfully slow speeds and life-threatening lane veering of Thai driving.

“In Bangkok, we went straight to our airlines as their phones were permanently busy. Our flights were transferred to several days later in hope that the situation would change, and we were directed to the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) to claim free accommodation. Tired but optimistic, despite soaring phone bills, we hotfooted it to the hotel as rooms were first come, first served.

“That first day as Bang-kok's political situation worsened, we were blissfully unaware of the effects it would have on us. Indeed, four days later, we have become increasingly frustrated with a situation that has drained our resources, our energy and our patience.

“We are very grateful for the hospitality of the Thai Tourist Authority for putting us up in a 5 star hotel with all the amenities you could need. Granted we can’t afford to eat or drink beyond free meals, but this is hospitality I'm not confident we would provide if the same happened to Thais in our country.

“However, the past four days have been far from a luxurious Bangkok retreat. Daily visits to airlines are essential as the phones are busy or dead. Three solid days of being told my flight has been extended to days later and leaving from the main airport, which I knew was packed with protesters. Being appeased with these ‘dummy' tickets and experiencing the high of having something in your hand that proves you are on their records; to the drop the next morning as you realise it is worth nothing and it’s time to queue again.

“One hope was the British Embassy. But here lay the biggest disappointment. Although pleasant, they were completely unhelpful. We visited them to seek advice and were informed that they had no plans to intervene or take action. Indeed, they said quite bluntly that until we were in danger, they wouldn't do a thing. We were incredulous that their attitude was so relaxed. Security isn't merely about life and death situations. We were in a city with little money, no idea of how to get home and worst of all, no-one interested in supporting us or getting in touch. It made us sympathise with those travelling alone.

“Then the news broke that the protesters would be leaving the airport. Good news for us, although there is uncertainty when flights will begin. To my shock, I received a phonecall hours later to say I was booked on a flight with Thai Air (today), from the military airport.

“Having been made cynical by the various reports fired at us over the last days, I'll wait to see what happens.”