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A beautiful day on the way to Songkhla Province
Coming soon!
Part 14 was a video scrapbook of my vacation with friends
In Thailand's far southern province of Songkhla,
In present to you the Queen!
It's just north of the Thai-Malaysia border
about 500 miles south of the capital of Bangkok
Songkhla's beautiful seaviews, its surreal landscapes and friendly people
make it an ideal location for a vacation.
But for some, life is in Songkhla and neighboring provinces in far Southern Thailand
is far from a vacation.
According to published reports,
more than 5-thousand people have died in terror attacks
and similar political unrest in far Southern Thailand since 2004.
Sadly, you heard me correctly, more than 5-thousand people have died.
But for me, Songkhla seemed beautiful and peaceful wherever I looked.
Still hard to believe these breathtaking mountain and seaviews
serve as a backdrop for years of violent civil unrest.
in September 2013, the State Department in my home country of the United States
was warning against travel to far southern Thailand, including Songkhla Province.
The Department of State URGES you to DEFER
non-emergency travel to these areas, the website clearly advises.
Because so many of you are from the UK and Canada, thank you so much for watching.
I wanted to check the websites for your foreign ministries as well.
The UK's strong warning was nearly identical to America's.
Advising against all but essential travel.
But Canada's was even stronger,
advising against ALL travel to far Southern Thailand, including Songkhla.
I hear those same warnings from my protective gay big brothers at Cluboneseven,
the hotel I always use in Phuket.
Daniel and Mack have asked me to think carefully before traveling to Songkhla Province.
But ultimately, i go anyway, because I love bonding with my dear friends there.
Dear friends like Waros
And Wissy
My sisters really
Songkhla is their home province.
And visiting there helps me learn magnificent things about their culture and their lives.
Part 14 shows us experiencing the best that picturesque Songkhla Province has to offer.
If you haven't watched Part 14 yet, I encourage you to do so.
The attacks in far Southern Thailand are largely blamed on Islamic groups,
seeking greater autonomy.
The vast majority of Thais are Buddhist,
but in the far south, near Malaysia, Muslims make up a greater share of the population.
During my trips to Songkhla Province in 2011 and 2012
everything seemed safe and yes, peaceful. No evidence of political tensions -- at all
In fact, I was stunned to learn that only a few days after our wonderful trip had ended,
terror struck Songkhla Province and in a big way.
March 21, 2012, Here we are, all smiles as return to Phuket,
leaving on this bus we boarded in Songkhla Province's largest city of Hat Yai.
And then came March 31st, just 10 days after we departed.
three nearly simultaneous vehicle bombs were set off --
A car bomb in a MAJOR hotel in central Hat Yai
Along with two additional vehicle bombs in Yala, a busy city in nearby Yala Province.
More than a dozen people died in those attacks and more than 500 people were injured.
Tourists were among the casualties.
The pictures are truly heartbreaking.
I'm not going to show them in this video,
but they are widely available across YouTube and the internet.
The State Department encourages US citizens to register online
for its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program called STEP.
This program helps State Department officials find you and help you if you have an emergency.
This is true for US citizens traveling worldwide, not just in Thailand.
Canada has a nearly identical version of STEP
and the UK FCO allows you to sign up for email alerts.
The ongoing security situation in far Southern Thailand
of course gives me pause about returning again in the near future
But I can't completely rule it out
The chance to bond with my sisters and to learn a new culture
in a beautiful and seemingly peaceful place, all powerful draws to go back.
So in my heart of hearts, I hope to return to Songkhla soon.
And a closing word tonight for our regular viewers and subscribers,
I've just received the very sad news from May at the Cabaret,
that 2011 cast member Nuck Freedom, has passed away.
We all know that Nuck was both beautiful and caring
and so influential to me on my personal transition journey
So we close tonight with memories of Nuck's very colorful and vibrant energy,
a tribute to one my dearest sisters in phuket.
Music
What's your name?
Nuck
A message from my sisters
My sisters in Phuket 2011, coming soon!
Yay!
Where are you from?
East of Thailand
What's the city?
Chaiyaphum
Same, same town
She my daughter
Hello!
Hello Venus!
Singing
2011, coming soon!
No, no you have a beautiful face, very pretty
You have an amazing face
No, I'm too old!
Very beautiful
Thank you so much
You're welcome!
Wow! That's incredible!
2011, coming soon!
(Music)
You are the love of my life
You are the love of my life
You are the love of my life
All, all, Always, always, always
(Instrumental music)