Homburg

My past experience of being pulled aside at customs whenever my luggage contains something likely to raise suspicions (but nothing illegal or over limits) means that I am quite sure that they already do this on all bags arriving at Swampy, but maybe they need an upgrade because the existing equipment is too slow. The last time I arrived from PNH (August) it took 55 minutes from exiting the aircraft to when the FIRST bag from the flight arrived on the carousel. On the other hand, maybe luggage delays are just Thai competence & the upgrade is happening because of the money involved.

RIP & condolences to his family & loved ones. I'm not going to speculate in time-honoured TV style on the BIB conclusion as I'm sure we all really know how much genuine police work will go into that. 

The Mother has a "new" boyfriend.  Based on your experience of her lies it could equally be her husband (someone she married before she even met you), or indeed totally fictitious.  

It's highly doubtful that any boyfriend/husband/whatever wants the Child.

Far more likely the Mother & co want money and the Mother wants the Child so she can use him as a lever to get money out of you.  This is a game that could be a life-long source of income for her and you will never see your Son again - it would even be dangerous for you to visit him in Thailand or Laos in case she (or her "friend") should decide to cash in your Son's inheritance.  (Whether or not your Son would inherit anything is irrelevant, it is what she or her "friend" believes that is important).

In your place I would leave Thailand.  Immediately.  I would also cut all ties with the Mother.  

The oft-maligned BIB seem to be spot-on for once with their description of the case as "confusing".

Returning happiness to the people.

A good friend of mine was booked on TG. He was stuck on a train which was delayed for 2 hours. Whilst sitting on the train he checked-in online. He finally arrived at the airport around 10 minutes after check-in had closed, but because he'd checked-in online, TG allowed him to drop his bags after the deadline & not miss his flight. It certainly helped him. Not saying that would work with AA though.

The advantages of renting over buying.

1. When you rent you can always pick the latest model.

2. No expensive repair bills.

3. When you are tired of your rental, it's easy to stop renting.

4. The rental is usually prepared nicely before delivery.

5. You only pay for what you use.

6. It's easy to rent something different each month, week, day, hour....

7. No hassles from the marque "club".

8. No disposal/recycling costs (these can be very high).

9. If it breaks down - rent another

10. You can rent more than one at the same time (my favourite!).

11. No long-term ownership issues

12. There are many more, this list is almost endless..

Oops! Just realized this topic is not about cars!

So, getting back on topic, I recall Mr Punch's advice for those about to marry: Dont!

The chances of them receiving any truthful information from me is ZIPPO

Why?

A wild guess would be that bluebluewater sees a future TV story exposing the wholesale systematic plundering of residents' bank accounts and other assets which has been undertaken by "persons unknown" apparently using information gleaned from these forms. It's just a wild guess tho'... ...probably never happen....

Reading an article in a Cambodian magazine, a minister in Thailand wants all visitors to be issued wristbands by their hotels, with passport information etc., in case they become lost and do not remember where they are staying. Next it will be ankle bracelets.

Why not opt for tattoos? These would not get lost like a wristband or ankle bracelet. All visitors could be tattooed with their immigration number on each limb plus torso and face so that they could be readily identified from any body part that might be found after an accident or "heart attack".

What kind of parents would let a 17 year old go to Bangkok unsupervised?

The kind who have to abide by UK laws and, beyond asking nicely, have no power to stop him, and are liable to be arrested & imprisoned if they try to stop him. Go figure.

From the report "Police then broke down the door and found Ms Tanakorn holding 402 Singapore Dollars in cash in her hand" which is the same sum that was alleged to be missing.

So no money evaporated between the theft & the arrest. Now that is unusual!

"Walking oddly" Maybe he had a limp!

Limp? In walking street? Clearly not the place it used to be.

Heartwarming news that he was found alive & safe. I doubt that a soft western kid would have survived for even 1 night. On the other hand, I'm sure that a Thai kid would have done better - probably would have sold the army camp & be living it up on the proceeds.

Good luck with that.

Worst example of scapegoating? Like the handler decides how an elephant behaves.

The handler is Burmese therefore he is at fault. The elephant is Thai therefore it is not.

Apparently Uranus is still in that perilous phase...

Is this connected with the story about Ladyboys clashing with tourists on Pattaya Beach Road?

They sew their lips together as a protest at having to live in France? Can't say I blame them.

I also have a 14 yo son. He needs his phone, his phone charger & wifi.

Choose your hotel, restaurants etc on how good the wifi is - for your son, everything else is irrelevant.

He will be pretty much unaware of his surroundings & will spend most of his time effectively "in" his home time zone playing online with his friends.

What we parents remember as entertaining outings when we were 14 (go-karts etc.) he will regard as a chore. In truth, he'd probably be happier if you left him at home where the wifi is likely to be better.

The world is poorer today. RIP.

Road death hub.