Missoulians Caught Up In Turmoil in Thailand, India

By Courtney Lowery, 12-02-08

Several Missoulians, one on her way back to Thailand with her family and the other on his way to India, have found themselves living international news this week.

If you frequent Sa Wad Dee as much as we do, you’ve been missing Jum Slover too. Jum, who has become a friend after years of witnessing Missoula’s collective curry habit, has been in Thailand with her husband and 10-month old baby visiting her mother since November 2 and was scheduled to fly home Monday.

Instead Jum and her family joined the tens of thousands of travelers stranded in Bangkok because of a week-long airport shutdown by antigovernment protests. Jum’s cousin, Tao Rohitsathain, said this morning that Jum and her family had stayed the night in Bangkok but that she and her mother, Jum’s aunt, suggested they try to travel back to Jum’s mother’s to wait out the turmoil.

New reports this morning though, say protestors have agreed to end the blockade after a court ordered the disbandment of Thailand’s ruling party. There’s no word yet on when flights will resume, but let’s hope Jum and her family have safe travels home soon.

Meanwhile, local web designer, yogi and NewWest.Net webmaster Evan Lovely will be en route to India on Wednesday to attend the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, a week after a three-day rash of attacks in Mumbai left 172 people dead and more than 300 injured. Evan says his mother and friends are bit worried, but he won’t be anywhere near Mumbai. Yesterday, he was interviewed for an Associated Press story saying, “I don’t think the attacks should warrant staying away from the entire half of the country.” Safe travels to you too Evan.