Courtesy of the Spitler familyDanny and Pam Spitler in Cambodia in 2006
by Rebekah L. Sanders
Nov. 27, 2008
The Arizona Republic
The Spitlers expected to carve their turkey this Thanksgiving in the Valley.
Instead they gave thanks in two southeast Asian hotels.
After a recent trip to the region, the family was scheduled to leave Wednesday through Thailand's main international airport, arriving back in Phoenix with enough time to put the holiday dinner on.
Instead authorities cancelled all flights in or out of Bangkok, after local protesters demonstrating against the Thai government swarmed airports and streets and held a sit-in.
With the airports closed, thousands of foreign tourists have been stranded for days in the country, waiting for tensions to calm and flights to resume.
Danny Spitler, 60, of Phoenix, is among those late in getting home.
But his frequent e-mail updates have assured stateside relatives he's safe, along with his fellow travelers: wife Pam, sister Kay, 80-year-old father Irvin and two others close to the family.
On Thanksgiving morning, Danny's daughter, Lindsey Spitler, reminded the group to look on the bright side.
Be thankful you get to eat the delicious local favorite, fried rice, and enjoy warm weather instead of a blizzard, she e-mailed her dad from her home near Washington, D.C.
The group left Arizona in mid-November to visit an elementary school the Spitlers built for poor farm children in Cambodia four years ago. Family members have made trips to the school several times.
When their recent visit was over, most of the group continued to Thailand for their flight home. Danny and Pam stayed an extra day in Cambodia, planning to follow.
But on Wednesday, the travelers were told at the terminal they would have to wait.
Twelve hours later, the airline announced flights were canceled, a bus was outside and they would have to stay at a hotel in the capital.
"They were lucky," Lindsey said, since some tourists had to stay farther away.
Spitler and his wife found a hotel in Cambodia to hole up in until flights through Thailand resume.
No one knows when the family will return.
Lindsey said although her father and his wife missed their turkey dinner, their holiday hasn't been too bad.
"If I had to pick a place to be stranded, I'd pick Cambodia," Lindsey said. "It's a beautiful place."
Nov. 27, 2008
The Arizona Republic
The Spitlers expected to carve their turkey this Thanksgiving in the Valley.
Instead they gave thanks in two southeast Asian hotels.
After a recent trip to the region, the family was scheduled to leave Wednesday through Thailand's main international airport, arriving back in Phoenix with enough time to put the holiday dinner on.
Instead authorities cancelled all flights in or out of Bangkok, after local protesters demonstrating against the Thai government swarmed airports and streets and held a sit-in.
With the airports closed, thousands of foreign tourists have been stranded for days in the country, waiting for tensions to calm and flights to resume.
Danny Spitler, 60, of Phoenix, is among those late in getting home.
But his frequent e-mail updates have assured stateside relatives he's safe, along with his fellow travelers: wife Pam, sister Kay, 80-year-old father Irvin and two others close to the family.
On Thanksgiving morning, Danny's daughter, Lindsey Spitler, reminded the group to look on the bright side.
Be thankful you get to eat the delicious local favorite, fried rice, and enjoy warm weather instead of a blizzard, she e-mailed her dad from her home near Washington, D.C.
The group left Arizona in mid-November to visit an elementary school the Spitlers built for poor farm children in Cambodia four years ago. Family members have made trips to the school several times.
When their recent visit was over, most of the group continued to Thailand for their flight home. Danny and Pam stayed an extra day in Cambodia, planning to follow.
But on Wednesday, the travelers were told at the terminal they would have to wait.
Twelve hours later, the airline announced flights were canceled, a bus was outside and they would have to stay at a hotel in the capital.
"They were lucky," Lindsey said, since some tourists had to stay farther away.
Spitler and his wife found a hotel in Cambodia to hole up in until flights through Thailand resume.
No one knows when the family will return.
Lindsey said although her father and his wife missed their turkey dinner, their holiday hasn't been too bad.
"If I had to pick a place to be stranded, I'd pick Cambodia," Lindsey said. "It's a beautiful place."
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