Bring me home, pleads Thai tourist

The woman (whose names were withheld) said she intended returning to Thailand before the antigovernment protesters seized both Bangkok airports, but was unable to find the ticket and then her US visa expired on November 30. She asked the Thai Consulate in LA for help to gain an extension of her visa but was turned down.

She said she heard from Thailand that THAI planes might collect stranded passengers abroad and return them to Rayong's Utapao airport. She tried to call THAI, but reached only the answering machine.

"I want to go home now because  my pocket money is running out waiting for a flight and for the Bangkok airport to open," she said, urging that THAI help her and others facing a similar fate.