Standing united for Thailand

However, Thais remain undeterred and have launched #ThailandStandUpChallenge and #StrongerTogether hash-tags to remind people that this country still has a lot to offer. 

The challenge requires a social-media user to share the photograph of an interesting destination, or even an item that is unique to this country every day for three days, with the privacy setting of the post set at “public” and challenge others to do the same. There is no limit to how many people users can challenge, which explains why this game has gone viral. 

Marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat posted a photograph on Facebook along with the message: “I’d do this even if no one challenges me. I’ve laid my eyes on 360 million square kilometres of oceans and there’s only one place I call ‘home’.” 

Yaowaluk Boranmoon posted: “Nobody challenged me but I love to do this! I would like to invite people to come to Thailand, it’s so cool!” This was followed by a photograph of a Karen rice terrace in Ban Pa Bong Piang in Chiang Mai’s Mae Chan district taken late last month, with the message: “In rainy season, the weather there is as good as in winter at 15-20 Celsius. In the morning, after the rain, you can see the mountains enveloped in fog and sometimes you can feel the mist. It’s extremely fresh! In the next few months you will see the rice terrace change into yellow, ready for harvest. Home-stay services are available there. #YouCanEnjoyTravelInThailandEveryMonth.”

Bancha Moolsuwan posted a picture of Koh Rang, near Koh Chang, with the message: “For all my friends, this is a ‘Thai Stand up Challenge' about what happened weeks ago at Ratchaprasong. We do this to tell all of you that Thailand [is] still and ALWAYS [will be] the best place to visit. My friends and I will post three places that we have been to show the world and support this challenge. If you want to join you can do too! Love ... Bxx”

By August 21, just four days after the bombing, the campaign had already started. Somi Manipalviratn posted a picture of the Erawan Shrine with hashtags #StrongerTogether and #thisisourhome. 

On Instagram, Tonydiacetylene posted a picture of Wat Phra That Pha Son Kaew in Phetchabun with the caption: “This is inside a [Buddhist] temple. Believe me this temple is so beautiful and exotic.” 

Yuiiindy came up with a picture of Ho Chi Minh Museum in Nakhon Phanom, while @cakeio captured dried squid in Samut Sakhon’s Mahachai district. @Thailandluxe posted a picture of Bangkok at night, @Chatchar shared a snap of the Songkhla Central mosque, while some people like Tan_chiraya opted for pictures of Thai delicacies – “Thai food: chilli shrimp paste with fresh Thai veggies, omelette and fried fish.” 

The challenge was also picked up on Twitter, with @pimoooo posting a view of the Chao Phraya River and the Temple of Dawn.

There are far too many amazing photographs shared than can be published here, but if you are a social media user, just search for the hashtags and enjoy. Who knows? You might even find somewhere new and cool to visit.