fleeing

According to the statement, at around 23.00 last night the officers were gathering intelligence near Lumpini Park

Anyone who has had dealings, or know Thais who have had dealings, with the Lumphini police, will surely see this as poetic justice.

This has to be one of the most corrupt and mafia-like police offices in Bangkok and maybe Thailand.

Remember the 2 Italian tourists who were kidnapped last year? Lumphini police.

(Non-smoking) tourists getting 'fines' for dropping cigarettes on lower Sukhumvit? Lumphini police.

Shaking down the working-girls in Nana? Lumphini police.

One big som nam na.

"He looked and was acting suspicious..."

? ? ?

= He probably bought the pot from another cop in plain-clothes.

Stupid lad. While the laws against marijuana may be archaic, better to respect them when abroad on holiday.

And tomorrow will see Prompong (or maybe 'ear medicine Chalerm') asking the CSD to take action against everyone in Thailand except for the few remaining party faithful, for laughing at him.

Only in Thailand

But, but but.......the demonstrators are all amaat, Bangkok elitists

Everyone talking up the disastrous consequences of AeroThai being blockaded you are really not helping Yingluck and her pals by ratcheting up the panic.

If you really think that Suvarnabumh's arrivals and departures are all controlled from an office building in downtown Bangkok, you are either hopelessly naive or just plain stupid.

Aerothai's office does have a back-up system for directing flights through Thai airspace and Aerothai's management operate from their office.

What a bunch of hysterical old women you all are.

Suthep seems to have miscalculated in two respects.

First off, he wants to close down government, largely by blockading government buildings. But he always announces what he is going to do a week or even two weeks in advance. This gives a largely static enemy enough time to react and make arrangements for skeleton service to continue. To be most effective, he needs to strike with speed and without warning. He could use his own storm troopers for the initial blockade and then supplement them with a rallying call to normal Thais.

Secondly, he needs the support of normal Thais so that he has some weight of numbers and give credence to his claim to be acting for and on behalf of the people. But calls for violent criminal acts may alienate the very Thais from whom he needs support.

As a possible wider issue, inciting violence against the government in general and against the Shinawatra family specifically, make it easier for Thaksins claims of his criminal conviction being politically motivated, to be given credence by western media. Not an immediate issue, but one that maybe useful to Mr T in the longer term.

If Suthep wishes to preside over a revolutionary spring consisting of a peaceful uprising by the people, he should stick to that theme and avoid violence or calls for violence. He also needs a few more million people out on the streets.

And please don't respond with facts, rumors and suppositions of what red shirts have done in the past. I am talking about the current situation, not past history.

Your analysis is largely correct, but I think that Sootie's tactic of announcing all his moves in advance, is grounded in the Thai political tradition, constantly, slowly applying increasing pressure to force a reaction.

Without a doubt he has to avoid openly calling for violence to hold on to his supporters, both in Bangkok and in the provinces, but keeping the ball rolling demands that he continues to announce new goals, however ludicrous they may sound when translated to English. This latest piece of rhetoric, because that is all it is, is obviously both a warning to his opponents, and a means of jollying up his supporters, while planting the idea of citizens arrest(people power) in people's minds. If the police are so absolutely ineffective then of course it is up to the citizens to take action.

The next week will perhaps be crucial to what happens next in this rolling tragedy. Will the money to pay the rice farmers magically materialise or not? If it does, then I can imagine the Democrat party accepting some kind of compromise, if not, then I can imagine a few senior members of PTP taking extended holidays.

Because the 3.8 billion baht, that elections that won't change anything anyway, would cost could better be used to at least pay some of the rice farmers their money?

Perhaps the most unsettling thing about Amsterdam's 'contribution' at this time, is that, considering that lawyers rarely break wind let alone put pen to paper without payment, Mr T clearly still hasn't grasped that he is not returning to Thailand, unless it is to sit out his sentence, and possibly face further charges.

Looking at how sides are squaring up against each other right now, such a move from the (un)wanted one will only encourage even more fence-sitters to side with the demonstrators in Bangkok.

Could it be that Mr T/PTP/his clone really only see their salvation in the military getting more involved?

What's with this fascination Thaksin's supporters have with fire?

Are they Thaksin supporters?

From Pro-govt UDD to counter ‘Bangkok shutdown’

Mr Vorachai called on students, businessmen and people who disagreed with the PDRC’s Bangkok shutdown on Monday to gather and rally at eight major spots in the capital including Victory Monument, Asoke, Silom-Saladaeng, Ratchprasong, Pathumwan, The Mall Bangkapi, The Mall Tha Phra, and Imperial Lat Prao tomorrow from 4 pm to 6 pm.

“Let me emphasise that we will rally tomorrow. We will not demonstrate in the PDRC’s demonstration sites on Monday,” he said.

So apparently yes.

Looks like a BBQ to me

Really? I can just about make out the shape of an elephant in the one on the left.

I assume you are referring to either the German or British language course?

The German language course can not be demanded of your registered partner if he/she(?) is joining you in Germany. The German language demands are part of German national law which is outweighed by European law. As a EU national resident and working in another EU country than your home country, you can demand that European law is applied.

With regard to the UK, if you are first resident (and working) together in another EU country from which you apply for a EU family permit to enter the UK, there are no language provisions or demands. If you then decide to stay in the UK, your partner can apply for a residence card as the (non-EU)partner of a EU citizen. Although normally national law applies to citizens of their own country, if they have been resident and employed in another EU country, they are treated as any other non-national EU citizens.

Basically, no language courses, cash deposits or other demands can be made as long as you fulfill the requirements to be treated as a EU citizen making use of the right to reside and work in another EU country than your own.

More information from the UK Border Agency. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/eea-family-permit/ and http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/documents-family/ . The rules outlined in the linked pages are based on European law and should be applied uniformly throughout the EU. As I mentioned before, my own experience is in Denmark, where after a little discussion we had no problems at all. The UK does pass out Family Permits without too much stress but a lot of paperwork. We just visited the UK with no problems apart from a flustered 'Border Agent' who got caught out by my partner's very feminine appearance

Good news Rusty!

Once you have registered your partnership with the British authorities, your partner will be eligible for a Schengen Visa at no cost. As a EU citizen using your right to work in another EU country than your own, the German (or other country's) authorities, are forced to respect your right to 'family' life. Once your partner has joined you in Germany (or other Schengen country where you are resident, as a 'worker') you can apply for a residence permit on the basis of your relationship. The duration of the initial residence permit varies from country to country, but even in Denmark which has an otherwise hostile attitude to non-European immigrants, my partner got a 5 year permit straight away. If your partner does not wish to stay in Europe but only visit, then you can continue to apply for a Schengen visa for each visit. But I can imagine that questions may be asked about the context of the relationship, if you continued to do this for a longer period of time.

The UK is not part of the Schengen agreement, so other rules apply. But if resident in Germany, your partner can quite easily apply for a Family Permit to enter the UK. This is usually a 6 month 'visa' that ensures right of entry to the UK to non EU citizens, when accompanied by their EU citizen partners. This is again free! It is important to be able to prove that you, the EU citizen partner, are resident in another EU country than your own, as a 'worker'.

Although the EU quite often gets slated, it does offer some advantages for those of us who have upped and moved to other EU countries. In my case (and hopefully in yours), it has given a significant advantage simply by being able to overrule prohibitive national immigration laws, with EU rules, designed to protect my right to a family life.

If you have specific questions, please feel free to PM me.

In my own limited experience, Bank Gold on Soi Rungland off Pattaya Tai, has comparable rates for cash exchanges to Super Rich 1965 on Ratjdamri in Bangkok.

There often seems to be a certain amount of confusion between Super Rich Thailand (best rates) and Super Rich 1965 (not as good but better than the banks). Super Rich 1965 is the one with numerous sub-offices, while Super Rich Thailand has only one office on Rajdamri Road, Soi 1. Both possibilities do consistently offer better cash exchange rates than all of the banks.

Paid 600 baht for translation and went to MFA myself.

They had a package service for 2000 baht including translation and verified by MFA.

Had I known that it would take four hours then I had taken the package.

Had no witnesses with me, no problem at the Koh Samui Amphur.

Two lovely clerks signed as witnesses.

Who was offering a package service for 2000 baht?

Someone at the MFA? A translation service?

I need a cerificate translating and verifying next week, so would be grateful for any information on how to do it quickly and easily.

Just a little information update. Some of the original info is a little unclear or changed.

The translation of the Thai Certificate of No Impediment does not have to be certified by the British Embassy. Certification by the Thai Foreign Ministry is sufficient.

According to Sunbelt Asia this process can take between 3 and 5 days!

For those unable or unwilling to hang around Bangkok for so long waiting for this certification, Sunbelt Asia are able to provide translation and certification for a fee (Baht3210 plus Baht400 Govt.fee). Please avoid discussion of this fee here (TV Rules!!!) but suggestions of alternatives are welcome.

Entry stamps to Vietnam are accepted as proof of length of stay by the Consulate in Saigon, which must be 7 full days not including day of arrival or day of application.

Registration (of Civil Partnership) is first possible after 14 full days (previously reported as 3 weeks) not including day of application.

Witnesses (2) provided by the Consulate cost VND734,000 or US$36 per witness. It is of course possible to supply your own witnesses, provided they are 18 years or older and 'of full capacity to act as a witness'.

If you need more than one copy of the registration certificate, it will cost VND2,203,000 or US$107 per copy.

This information comes from the very helpful U.K. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and Sunbelt Asia, Bangkok.

My thai partner and I will hopefully register in April this year and I will be reporting back on any new insights gained.

I was absolutely amazed when I yesterday made a withdrawl at a Krung Sri ATM on Soi VC. For the nitpickers, the ATM at the Family Mart at the eastern end.

No charge at all!

I checked my bank account and I've only been debited the amount paid out, at the same exchange rate as Krung Sri's parent bank Ayudayah! Amazing Thailand!

I'll try again at a normal Ayudayah machine tomorrow, to try to ascertain if this only applies to Krung Sri or also Ayudayah, and of course try a different Krung Sri ATM to get an idea if this is a policy change or just the one machine.

The card I used was a normal VISA debit card.

I never said he was stupid for getting robbed!

I said it was stupid to have your money in your bags.

Thanks for the few positive comments. I only took the time to post so that others could learn from my experience.

For the 'usual suspects' that have obviously never been searched by police anywhere in the world...duuuuh!

Like you I keep my money in a small bag known as a wallet!

Faced with the challenge of keeping my eyes on two pairs of untrustworthy hands and drugs already having been mentioned as a reason for the 'search', I concentrated on limiting the chance of them placing narcotics in my baggage. Yes, police on a drugs 'search' generally will check every pocket, bag and container in your possession. If I had to choose between losing Bht.3000 and spending (a long) time in a thai jail for drugs offences, I would obviously choose again to be fleeced by the cops.

Perhaps more interesting, does anyone have similar experiences at Morchit or Pinklao bus stations, or is it really only Ekamai that is a problem? I have previously travelled through both, and Ekamai as well, without problems. Have things changed there too?

I arrived at Ekamai bus station at 15:30 yesterday with the bus from Pattaya. Being a spineless nicotine addict, my first thought was to smoke a cigarette before finding a taxi, and chatted with an Irish/Italian couple who needed some assistance finding a hotel in the Sathorn area.

We were approached by a youngish (early 30s) cop who seemed interested in who was travelling alone. I was singled out and directed to the police bench where he 'asked' to search my bags, explaining that he had caught a 45 year old Italian travelling from Pattaya with 1/2 kg of heroin that very morning. The couple were directed to go their way. I was relaxed about the search, I am not stupid or greedy enough to have anything to do with drugs in Thailand, but was wary of anything being planted in my bags: I have the benefit of growing up in the UK where such things were not entirely unknown in the 70s and 80s.

Cop A was joined by cop B so I was occupied watching both of them, but concentrating on the one with his hands in my bag.

I'm on a 3 month trip, so I have a mix of cash, travellers cheques and credit cards with me.

Yes you've guessed it! After being dismissed by the cops and finding my taxi, the first thing I did was to check my cash and TC's. What a surprise! A 500 Danish Kroner note (approx. Bht.3000) has done a houdini and disappeared.

Mai pen rai. It's rarely a good idea to accuse a cop of anything unless you have hard evidence, and I'm pretty sure that any confrontation with these two would only have added to my problems. So I'll just assimilate the loss and think myself lucky that they didn't try to plant any drugs in my bags. You can bet I did a thorough search of them when I got to my room.

So this is a warning to to lone travellers passing through Ekamai and perhaps the other bus stations around Bangkok. Do not hang around too long after you get off the bus. Just move off towards the street/skytrain/taxi rank and out of their direct jurisdiction. If you do get searched by these guys try to keep your cash in your hands at all times and let them 'search' it that way.

I would be very interested to hear from anyone else with similar experiences, so please post if this story sounds familiar. The best way to stop any scam is to publicise it, but ideally several 'victims' are needed to give it any weight.

Finally, to all the usual flamers here. I'm an occasional visitor to Thailand who has used this forum to learn more about Thai culture, politics, scams etc. I consider myself reasonably street smart but I never saw this one coming. Hopefully this warning will help prevent others being unwitting victims.

totally unprovoked..... of course!

Come on. Give us the full story. Especially what led to this attack.

Would 4000 baht be acceptable for an 8 hour day on a 2 engine boat, with a max running time of 2,5 hours (because of gas)?

Oh Manarak. You are here too?

Sorry to say that I think for a (dual-engined)speedboat you are probably going to have to pay more like 10-12000 baht (or even more?) for 2,5 hours of cruising. Gas prices etc.

I'm sure some of your other local contacts could be encouraged to walk on by and check out the prices for you.

PS. Be sure to check the hull for any damage before you set off, to avoid jet-ski style rip offs

Pattaya Bay Resort is also the number 1 stay for ladyboy connoiseurs.

They(we) rave about the place and the service and are generally quite discriminating in their choice of hotel.

You can take that as a + or a -.

Try ruvo.com

Doesn't look like much of a competitor to the eee or Wind with specs like that.

VIA processors are generally criticized for not having enough power, and the curreent development is towards larger screens.

I think I'll wait for a Wind thanks.

Nice to hear that tha Acer Aspire One is on sale, but has anyone seen the recently introduced MSI Wind?

The specs. are similar to the Acer, but overall it looks to be a better buy.

Any news on avalability and price in Bangkok or Pattaya?

Apparently there's one waterfall on the Yai side of the road, not too far up from the village. The other that gets drained by Panviman et al, can be accessed from the waterfall 'viewpoint' (turn right at the top of the hill out of TNP) or by trespassing on 'my' hillside, but it's a dodgy climb and my neighbour isn't that wild about uninvited guests :-)

Alot easier to pay for truck delivery.