Sonoma County residents' travel plans put on hold

As travel experiences go, the San Francisco to Bangkok flight last week was among Phyllis Schmitt's most memorable, even if she never made it to her destination.

Her plane stopped in Narita, Japan, before heading on to Bangkok, but then had to change course because anti-government demonstrators had seized Thailand's main airport.

"We were midcourse when the pilot announced there would be a sharp right turn and we were going to land in Hong Kong because the Bangkok airport was closed," said Schmitt, a Santa Rosa resident and retired teacher. "It was a little scary, but it was kind of like, well, I'm glad I'm not going to be down there."

After being taken to Hong Kong, she flew to Narita and back to San Francisco, rounding out 30 hours of travel.

Two Sonoma County travel agencies said Monday that clients from the area remain in Thailand, but they would not provide information on how many local travelers are there or what their plans might be.

An estimated 300,000 international tourists have been stranded in Thailand, and some airplanes have been flown to protest-free airports so tourists and businesspeople can leave the country.

While others try to get out, Schmitt is hoping to get back in.

"I've been to Thailand, and I was really looking forward to spending a little more time there," she said.

This story includes information from the Associated Press. You can reach Staff Writer Laura Norton at 521-5220 or laura.norton@pressdemocrat.com.