maskedavenger

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...take-jewellery


For people who study crime, a crime like this is extremely brutal and unusual....and shows you what can happen....even to residents. I saw a post recently on FT where a guy was asking about visiting the south with his two young children and I thought of this crime. I did not post anything in that thread, so as to not cause stress to anyone....so I have posted here....buried in the news thread. Please be aware that Thailand can be a very dangerous place...and we all must remain aware of what is happening around us.....at least then, you go in with the facts and take the result. At least then, you were aware of the dangers.......and took the chance knowingly. (But should you bring innocents into this?)

paul2

Heres an interesting link to an upcoming event in Loei province :
http://xpress.nationmultimedia.com/2...ravel_6168.php

Sounds a little like halloween !

maskedavenger

I don't know if anyone has noticed the penis amulets that are available in Thailand....even at Wats and sold by the monks. When I first got to Thailand I saw a lot of wooden and metal penis' sold in the markets and at holiday gatherings at the local Wat. Whenever I would ask what this was all about (I asked a lot of people from Monks to the actual vendors in talad)....and I always got the answer "Lucky for Thai lady". This is the wrong answer actually. Here is some interesting information as to why you might see someone walking about with wood (and or metal) in their pants;

http://www.luckymojo.com/penisamulets.html

Kalboz

Free tourist visas plan between June 25, 2009 and March 2010 mentioned here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...-4-2009-a.html backfires on Thai honorary consulates

http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=7514

Kalboz

The Embassy of Italy and the Italian Trade Commission are presenting 'Italian Festival 2009 in Bangkok'.

Between May and July 2009, the Festival is promoting a wide range of activities, offering a special glimpse of Italian culture and lifestyle.

http://www.italianfestivalthailand.com/index.html

maskedavenger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16RJ_...eature=channel

This is an interesting documentary on Thailand and the problem with "the crazy drug". Be aware that if you are in a nightclub, the police in Thailand have the right to enter, confront you and demand an on site urine test from you. If you test positive, you will be arrested. Also be aware that some sinus meds. can cause a positive result.......and this will be your defense after many days in a hellhole and many baht spent on softening up the authorities.

Kalboz

A British couple who were falsely accused of shoplifting in Bangkok airport and were forced to pay Ł8,000 in bribes to secure their release are to take legal action for compensation.

Officials at the Danish embassy confirmed that a Danish woman fell into Rathnayaka’s hands about two weeks ago and was allowed to leave Thailand only after handing over more than Ł4,500.

When a Sunday Times journalist posing as a businessman in trouble contacted Rathnayaka last week, the first thing he said was: “If it’s a case, for example, of shoplifting at the airport duty-free then I can help. Bail is 100,000 baht (Ł1,800).” He later declined an interview, saying the Sri Lanka embassy — which employs him as an interpreter — had told him not to speak.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6590584.ece

maskedavenger

A very interesting story....a scam I was not aware of!!

It seems that in taking these farang volunteers for the Tourist Police, even they become entrenched in the corruption system...it is like some type of orgy of corruption and anyone with any type of title can apply.

How do you really compensate someone for the days these people spent in the custody of these thieves and the fear they must have felt? Is the return of their tea money a proper recompense? I don't think so.

It is important that tourists understand what can happen to them when they fall prey to this system of government and justice in general. This is not some obscure issue that only affects a farang petroleum engineer from Rayong.....anyone can be affected by scams perpetrated in this manner. (...and this is not something that happens to anyone anywhere in the world....the common excuse for the corrupt lawlessness in Thailand.....this kind of thing would even be unusual for Nigeria)

If anything is done at all, it will be a big show.....the "little big man" always wins in Thailand because there is no rule of law....and this is the key.

maskedavenger

http://thaicrisis.wordpress.com/2009...ly-corruption/

Here is some interesting info about Thai Airways and how the airline is intertwined in other "Thai issues".

behuman

Sorry for all Thailand lovers, but this should be a separate thread as it is of imminent interest and travel related.

My condolences to those who are still stuck in Thailand and my warnings to those who plan to go there .

Kalboz

Hey behuman good to have you back on-board ...

I will be in Thailand next month and then again in August ... eat your heart out

Kalboz

A recent article from USA Today stating the obvious: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/desti...s_N.htm?csp=34

Another from The Informed Traveler: http://traveler.fivestaralliance.com...the-peninsula/

maskedavenger

From USA Today;
"To offset the drop-off in visitors from abroad, Thailand is promoting domestic tourism — and hotels are offering rock-bottom discounts to Thai residents".

Have you ever tried to check into a local hotel in some small town and been faced with the Thai Price and the Farang price? This usually annoys me, as I am a Thailand resident, have two driver's licenses (car and motorsai) and have a valid work permit. Usually it is a few hundred baht, so I let it go....and keep the tension boiled up inside....Thai style.

One time I was checking into a hotel in BKK and the difference between the Thai price and the Farang price was just over 1,000 baht. Usually showing the work permit and speaking fluent Thai gets the Thai price.....but this time it was a no go. "Foreigner pay full price...Thai have no money" (this in a hotel that was around 3,000 b for Thai......). As can be expected, a discussion ensued. (and yes, I know that local discounts are sometimes offered around amusement areas, etc.....but I have never seen this applied on a national level.....which on the face of it, appears wrong to me). I left the hotel without arguing.....they were extremely surprised....especially since I had a lot of equipment with me which required hauling now.

As I was departing, 2 persons came after me saying..."OK,OK,OK....3,000 baht OK". No, not OK.

Discounts are great, but in Thailand there is sometimes a strange angle to how they are applied....and sometimes it is a fight just to get what is published. I am amazed that the Thai tourist industry is doing as well as it is. My friend has a theory that a few nice beaches, an active street scene, Thai food, cheap prostitutes and many places to drink will always keep the tourist industry making some money....I'm not sure.

Kalboz

Good summation of the state of affairs in LOS in regards to discounts and such ...

I don't like the double pricing policy either, how would they like it if the LA Hilton was charging the Thai nationals a higher rate?

Here is a discussion on the subject: http://www.bangkokpost.com/forum/vie...d1b05696bcc555

Sarah DDS

Looks like they weren't falsely accused.
Kingpower's response