BANGKOK, 2 January 2014 – People who had spent their days off in their home provinces during the New Year period started arriving in Bangkok on Wednesday, some carrying numerous articles of food from home to help with the higher cost of living in the capital city.
Many of the returnees were to start work today (Thursday), while those who need not resume work immediately said they chose to return early to avoid getting caught in traffic jam and other hassles associated with peak travel days. Some also said they returned early to freshen up before the first work day of the year.
Some returnees brought farm produce, rice, dry food and other food items from their home provinces for personal consumption, as doing so would spare them some of Bangkok’s food expenses they would otherwise have to endure. A few people told reporters they would not have to buy rice for another 3-4 months because of what they brought back.
The Transport Company indicated it expected around 300,000 people to return to Bangkok between January 1 and 2 by buses.
Taxis were already in shortage at the Mochit bus terminal on Wednesday as there were not enough cabs to accommodate the number of returnees.
