richard_smith237

I don't think its vindictiveness... but I agree that there is an element of pettiness involved. ... i.e. a manner of 'we have to teach these foreigners the Thai way'.... Which I kind of get, especially in situations such as this when there is behavior which may be considered inappropriate (sunbathing in a G-string in the city)... I wonder if the same reaction would have been taking in Lumpini park ?

I don't know about Chiang Mai but Sanam Luang isn't used for recreational activities, I believe. You mean others than Thai's playing football, Sepak Takraw, casual badminton, and having picnics there ? Years ago I played football there were a bunch of Thai lads myself - that said, its been a long time since I've been there and things may have changed... ..... if things have changed to such a degree that using the grassed area for recreational activities mentioned above is no longer culturally acceptable, its not a positive change.

It seems the Ops Wife is Thai, ergo the Child is also Thai and born in Thailand which means there is no 'entry stamp' on their US Passport. They'd need a Thai Passport to exit Thailand. I get your point about returning with an 'emergency travel document' to avoid the theoretical overstay when re-entering Thailand on a US Passport (even though children cannot be charged for overstay)... But, thats more of a faff than just getting a Thai Passport (in one day).

I was surprised to see the BangChak 'deal' (or whatever it is) on there... so I tested it to see what it was about... ... apparently a 500 baht fuel coupon... so I tested it... As expected - a load of hot air... Codes for the national parks work though (which I'll use if going to one). Koh Samet seems not to be on there though... ..... which I'd have used then made myself look like a nob when still 'donating the Thai price' because I'm such a man of principle !!!

No.. you have it wrong (at least from my perspective) - Those of us who strongly disagree with dual charing do so on the principle that dual charing is wrong (IMO). In this case it is still wrong - IMO it is as wrong to give something free to foreigners when a local has to pay as it is to dual charge foreigners. Why does Thailand stuff up such basic concepts in the most childish and juvenile of ways ????? Its simple, just charge foreigners the same rates that Thai's are being charged, no special discounts etc, no dual charging etc.. just normal behavior and let the qualities of Thailand speak for itself without these daft policies which just create confusion.

Particularly in a G-String... But, I wonder if the treatment would have been the same if they were having a picnic in shorts and a tank top, or just sun bathing in shorts and a tank top as the girls were in Chiang Mai...

Does any of this explain why the taxi was 'parked across' the lane blocking the white sedan ? Was this after an initial impact, or the 'trigger' for the initial impact ??

Automatic on most modern cars after an impact.

Both guardians listed in the Birth Certificate need to be present when applying for the First passport for a Thai minor. In the Ops case its safe to assume both 'parents' are. [so you are correct - however, both parents are not required to be present for subsequent Thai Passports - just wanted to add clarification for others who may have a related question].

What emergency document ? and from where ? Is there such a thing ? an emergency travel document for Thai's to allow them to depart the country without a passort ? Thailand also doesn't contain a Thai Embassy. @Colabamumbai - you've fallen foul of failing to comprehend the Op yet offered irrelevant advice anyway. A Thai Passport can be obtained in one day... from a Passport Office. Not relevant if a both parents are travelling - Op has not mentioned anything about travelling alone so I'm not sure why you went down this path of advice.

OK.. this one is a bikini.. so I can see how it is considered insensitve... But dispatching three policemen to deal with it ???... The over-reaction here to such issues is hilarious. Just dispatch one officer and he can remind them...'sitting on the grass an picnicking is fine, but please be dressed properly'... I'm guessing there are no issues with a Tank-Top and Shorts if laying on the grass at Sanam Luang. Not in temple grounds, its the large grassed area between Khoa Sarn Road and the Grand Palace and one of the women was in a G-String Bikini - ok for the beach or a poolside, but I can understand why it may be overstepping the mark of 'cultural sensitivity' in the city... Meanwhile - guys play football and sepak-takraw on the same field, some of them shirtless.... (but they're male and not foreigners so its ok).

Info is at your fingertips... Google search brings up some ideas... such as... https://www.instagram.com/esther.bakery/ Then add their line messenger and contact them, ask them what you want etc.. Or... (as attached) - run a map search and see which bakeries are nearby, check them out and see if any are appropriate. Example: Numnimbakery - which is nearby and appears to do Birthday Cakes (and looks like the best option for you). https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/117554308384513628261/reviews/@20.0388968,99.8913836,13z/data=!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1?entry=ttu Or... Swensens... Ice cream cakes are popular amongst many Thai's... (ordering and delivery is easy - you just need to ensure you have the correct address and time that your GD will be in) https://brandsite.swensens1112.com/our-menu You'll need to register etc and see if they'll deliver that distance...

Agreed.... and the Monks clearly didn't see it necessary to bother with at all...

The monk agreed ???... You know that how ?... nothing indicates the monk agreed with the Thai tourist at all. The Thai tourist told to Channel 3 that the monk mentioned he'd 'relay the message to the tour guide'... thats it. Translation: 'this person [Thai Tourist] is bat$#it crazy... just agree and he/she'll go away'....

What did the Monk do about it ??? What did anyone at the Wat do about it ??? Don't you think if this was something those in the vicinity found inappropriate someone would have spoken up ???? That's are generally very non-confrontational, yet when it comes to offending their culture or Thailand they are extremely vocal and don't shy from confrontation at all. I recall first being here, dropping money and trying to stop it rolling down the drain with my foot - I thought I was going to be lynched !!!.. No Thai nearby was shy to intervene then... yet, these women were permitted their peace for the whole time they were there - why ????? Because no one but this Thai Tourist was bothered at all... Then... Slow news day Chanel 3 thought they could make something of it... It is the 'thinking they can make something of it' which I consider objectionable and even potentially attempting to trigger an element of xenophobia in its audience to tigger interest... The Thaiger obviously taking the opposite approach and triggering the 'not a big deal' defence as you mentioned.

Again, the same exaggeration, returning to grossly. Get over this little straw man. Nobody said it was SO offensive. Nor should the request for the girls to stop sunbathing out there be SO offensive to you and the rest of our peanut gallery. The guide's being paid and maybe not much of a Buddhist anyway. But some serious Thai Buddhists do attend the Wats. We may also assume the monk was serious enough. You don't think its offensive but agree with the 'one' Thai who did and complained... I see... You have it completely backwards. The purpose here is to trigger our Western Karens, such as yourself, with outrage at the idea that Thais might be offended at Western behavior in their own country and Wat and dare find such behavior inappropriate. It worked beautifully. As I noted, the site will probably get ten pages out of this. Hee hee. Valid point - it has triggered discussion...odd that on a forum designed for discussion. Whats your purpose of being here if not to discuss various topics ???\ I'm triggered by the ridiculous over egging and appropriation of cultural sensitivity by some on behalf of the Thai's. You are triggered by those who are trivialising something you see the Thai's as considering culturally insensitive. Interesting...

100% agree.... That said... I do understand how some consider many foreigners here to behave in a culturally inappropriate manner... I just find that using this issue to highlight that stance is flawed... there are better examples to draw upon to highlight this and find the 'faux offence' some are taking on behalf of the Thai's is really over egging it... I don't know many Thai's who'd raise an eyebrow at this specific example.

It depends, are you still going to cry offence on behalf of all Thai's because one found it in appropriate that two women were sat on the grass in the temple grounds in shorts and a tank top ?

One person found it offensive and sent a photo to Channel 3 and then complained to a Monk about it. The monk was clearly so upset by the 'cultural offence' that he dealt with the issue immediately, right ???... he did deal with the issue didn't he ????? Well nope... the monk did nothing except tell the 'Thai tourist' that the message would be relayed to the tour guide. The tourists were behaving in such a culturally offensive manner that other Thai's complained right ??... no, ok, just one then. The tourists were behaving in such a culturally offensive manner that those working at the temple approached them and asked them not to lay on the grass, right ???... no, ok then... they left them alone in peace to carry on..... What did Channel 3 do ?... they went with a ridiculous story anyway, which was then picked up by The Thaiger...

Completely agree.... they also had a Thai guide with then (I assume the guide was Thai)... So, if this was 'so offensive to Thai's' as some are suggesting... surely the guide would have said something... How did the media get hold of this I wonder ?.... A non-story which has triggered a few western karen's into outrage at 'farangs culturally offending Thailands virtuous culture' for showing a bit of shoulder...

Well, if we're deviating from the subject and discussion comments it could be argued that you appear to be a far greater Karen than the person who found two girls in shorts and tank-top laying the grass inappropriate.

Are you suggesting only Thai's are permitted to levy criticism on anything Thai ????

All of them??? there you go 'foisting' your own opinion on to all Thai's !!!!! It seems you are deciding what they decide is appropriate or not... Have you asked a lot of Thai's about this ? - this article is about one person who took objection. I'm sure some Thai's would find this inappropriate, while others will find it no big deal at all... I'm sure most Thai's wouldn't give this a second thought... Its just clothed girls sitting on the grass after all... What is the issue you have with it ?... Are you outraged on behalf of any Thai's who may find this culturally insensitive ? Are you looking to be outraged at the behavior of foreigners here because you live here and feel the need to prove how 'Thai you've become' ??? Out of touch with reality much ???? Have you ever seen Thai's sitting in the sun in a park or on a beach at 3pm ????.... Does that mean foreigners shouldn't ???

I don't know that Thais find it ironic, do you? That idea, as well as "puritanical," appears part of your own unrelenting attempt to foist your own inapplicable ethnocentric viewpoint onto Thais. Not that you're alone, of course, if there's comfort in numbers. It seems that your point is because I'm not Thai I am 'foisting my view point onto Thai's'.... Which implies Thai's would not have the same opinion... Do YOU know, they don't ??? all of them ? ... I know a very many Thai's and it may surprise you that on the vast majority of subjects the viewpoints of both educated Thai's and educated Westerners (foreigners) is incredibly similar. It may also surprise you that on forums such as Panthip similar subjects have come up before and just as this forum there is a wide ranging and varying degree of opinions on such subjects. You have read Panthip and also integrated into society to understand the degree of similar in opinions between Thai's and Westerners haven't you ?????... have you ??? While I haven't asked my Thai friends about this thread, we've discussed enough similar subjects for me to guess that their reaction would be... 'Yes, mildly inappropriate, but big deal' (much as mine is) so yes, they'd find it as ironic as not being able to buy a beer from a 7-11 after midnight while the nation continues to drink drive. So.. are you 'foisting your viewpoint' on to Thai's that each and every one of them would find this issue culturally inappropriate and they'd fail to see the irony of some in society getting upset at such behavior in the shadows of hedonism ?

Mixed reactions indeed... with people thinking a mix of 'wey hey' .. and... 'eiw'...