Henrico mom, son recall unrest on Thailand visit

Linda Edwards and Nathan Sydnor were about to leave Bangkok, Thailand, on Nov. 25 when protestors shut down Suvarnabhumi Airport.

After nearly two months in southern Asia, the mother and son from Henrico County didn't know when they might return to their home and family.

The protestors from the People's Alliance for Democracy shut down the airport, demonstrating for change in Thailand's government.

Flights weren't allowed to leave the airport, and some foreign tourists left the country by land for Cambodia or Malaysia. Others, like Edwards and Sydnor, spent their days at a hotel near the airport, and were allowed to move about with relative ease.

Thanksgiving passed, as did Sydnor's 29th birthday two days later.

Days were filled with monotony -- calling the same phone numbers, contacting the U.S. Embassy, following up on rumors, all in an attempt to understand what was happening and when they might be able to leave.

In the U.S., their family was contacting members of Congress to help get their loved ones home.

By the end of each day, Edwards and Sydnor had to "accept the fact that we were stuck at least until the next day," Sydnor said.

Emily Sydnor in Baltimore eventually secured her mother and brother a way out. She worked the phones with United Airlines, finally getting tickets for her family, who were on the first United plane that departed on Dec. 6. About 30 hours later, Edwards and Sydnor landed safely at Richmond International Airport.

Edwards and Sydnor left for Bangkok on Oct. 6 on a trip that was part research for Edwards' dissertation for a doctorate in sustainability education from Prescott College in Arizona and part reward for Sydnor completing his master's degree in religious studies from Naropa University in Colorado. His studies emphasized Tibetan Buddhism.

They spent much of their trip interviewing and talking to artisans in Thailand and Cambodia for Edwards' dissertation on fair trade, she said.

Edwards owns a Richmond-based wholesale nonprofit business called Fair World Designs. She imports jewelry, bags and baskets created by artisans and sells them to stores in Richmond. Edwards, who lived in Thailand briefly as a child, described the trip as a success because she finished her research, and they experienced "a dream-come-true" tourist trip to Bhutan.

Having their return to Richmond delayed by nine days didn't damper their desire to return to Thailand. Sydnor said he's already planning a trip for next December.

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .