richard_smith237

What equipment are they missing.... ????? ... I don't consider 'effort' and taking responsibility for the job you are tasked with to be 'equipment'.... ... in this case the Japanese Tourist was frustrated because the police didn't even bother to attempt to investigate - What equipment is necessary for the Police to go and secure copies of CCTV Footage ??? they didn't even need transport as the 'crime' occurred close to the police station...

IMO - that could be a very simple, un-costly solution... Place cones at the crosswalks, at the position of the 'lane divider'... effectively causing a 'psychological' narrowing of the road encouraging drivers to slow and preventing motorcyclists from 'blowing through the crossing' while lane splitting...

Is Japanese Food in Bangkok Just a Hustle to Squeeze More Money Out of People? No, of course it isn't... Just like any other cuisine, there is an extensive range in quality and prices to suit all 'types' of customers from those seeking budget options to those wanting the highest quality. Bangkok is an incredibly 'foody' destination and a full range of cuisines, tastes, quality (and thus price) is available will all gaps in the market filled....

The truck was stopped at traffic lights - would you suggest they were not working either >? My first thoughts - drunk driver.... perhaps on his phone too... or even drifted off into a booze fuelled slumber. Luckily he didn't plow into motorcyclists waiting for the lights. But... I bet alcohol was involved.. I reckon alcohol is nearly always involved whenever an accident that occurs at night time in Thailand (and no, whichever clown is going to ask for proof of that - its my guess / statement, rather than substantiated fact).

Valid point... ... Nearly... there is quite a void between remarkable and reckless, and there are area's where I'd consider it quite reckless to travel as a 'roving tourist'... Those areas would of course include the Swat Valley Area of Pakistan, Iran (all of it), area's of Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Haiti.... and also Myanmar right now,..

I can't tell if this is 'gone native good thing' thinking or if you are highlighting the ridiculousness of a school being complicit in ensuring a whole class of 15 year olds will be riding motorcycles...

Yeah... I recall that... Exceptional stupidity on a Grade A1 level !!!... Its a shame there are no 'follow-ups' to these stories - it would be interesting to know what happened. But... I also suppose that if there were an 'under the table agreement' then any publicity and information of a followup would have to be quashed for the obvious reasons. It would just be interesting to know if it cost him 20,000 baht or 100,000 baht etc... or if he was simply deported and charged in the UK, or held here.

Explain ? an 'Earth-Killer' would be 'easier' to track.... In fact, didn't they track one once? they trained up some ex-con's as astronauts and flew them to the asteroid... They even had Aerosmith write a song about it.

Racist much ?

Truly Gottfrid, I don't mind your replies at all... its good to know that unhinged people are out there, your posts are a healthy reminder. I can see it in the bars and restaurants when some one gets angry and wound up of the simplest of issues - it could be their brain chemistry or other underlying frustrations in life that surface, nevertherless, its a healthy reminder to keep strangers at arms length. But I do agree.... If every response to posts you make are going to be judgemental and sanctimonious and 'sometimes' inhumane - we will not be on the same page.

No nothing like oyu thought. You entered it in the virtual world. Then the quality hit rock bottom. Raise your quality above rock bottom, there can then be better dialogue....

There area speed bumps on so many 'small soi's'... most motorcyclists know they are there and slow for them... ... some may 'come a cropper' but I lack sympathy for those fools racing down the sub-sois at such speeds.

you think so??? I think the motorcycle will make a bump and loose control Of course, with certainty raised crossings such as this would make a difference. The issue is they need to be well painted / easily identifiable otherwise motorcycles (and cars) will blow through (over) them at speed causing more hazard. IMO the issue is at a subconscious level - drivers of vehicles do not beleive they need to stop for lowly pedestrians.... its one of culture and ingrained attitudes. Improvement on road safety requires a cultural shift in attitudes... AND the idiots and stupid drivers to be penalised firmly and with consistency throughout the year and throughout the nation.

What lung conditions ? Anything specific ? - I've lived in Bangkok over two decades... and carry out a full medical each year, which includes the stress-test (EKG on a tread-mill), spirometry, x-rays etc... While I'd certainly agree that living in Bangkok is less healthy for the respiratory system than living in somewhere such as Davos.... I'd also suggest your 'information' on reddit is somewhat paranoid and akin to spreading negative rumours....

You reckon that would work and place us on the same page ?... psychologically so to speak... .... So what was it, a lengthy solitary confinement that cost you your compassion and sanity ?

I agree 100% and I often go for weeks or months without having even a drink... It improves clarity of thought... .... but there is another facet.. with 100's of thoughts at any one time the head can be a very noisy place and I can understand those seeking oblivion, or at least the drunken stupor to dull the senses. I've never taken cocaine, but I find that the times I've taken Marijuana it helps calm those noises within ones head and aids sleep. I like exercise for my clarity... but only certain types.... skiing down a mountainside the 'head is silent' not an alternative thought at all - not a lot can do that other than competitive sports and while I still play, I'm getting too old and the body just doesn't want to keep up. I can understand those seeking alternative highs so, so long as they can handle the 'lows' afterwards and even though its not for me, I think certain drugs such as Marijuana and Cocaine should be legalised.

I question it because its odd.... 'agitated state'... I think most people who arrive after a 12 hour flight are in some form of an agitated state... some more so after unbuckling their seatbelt and trying to deplane as quickly as possible (related to another thread)... ... Really thought, I dont think the police are that observant to 'profile every passenger' and then decided...hmm... "looks agitated we should check their baggage for drugs"..... Thats why I questioned it... the BiB are just 'not that good' or they were very lucky and 'checked randomly and scored'.... ... Or a 'sniffer dog' signalled... which IMO is more likely.... But... as you point out - the story could be just as it was written - the guy was acting extremely weird and drew attention... possibly even high while flying etc... I'm sceptical of the story thats all.... And why am I sceptical of the story ?.... Becuase I've been here a long time and read so many such story's and there is often a lot of information and detail missed out which raises an eyebrow as to what really happened.... ... as this is a forum designed for discussion - thats my input... I'm a little suspicious about the 'agitated state' part of the story, thats all...

It could be that he just was simply complacent and forgot that it was in his bag.... rather that 'trying to smuggle'.... Last year I flew from Geneva to Doha with Paracetamol+Codeine mix... I'd been under the weather and I'd picked up the Paracetamol from Heathrow Airport on my way out to Geneva a week earlier... It was only upon my arrival in Doha at my hotel that I realised... silly fool, that mistake could have been costly. I wonder how many people inadvertently fly from the UK and Europe with over the counter meds which contain 'additional medication' classified as Cat A and Cat B narcotics at the destination end. i.e. flying from the the UK to Thailand, the Codeine in Paracetamol+Codeine medication is also illegal.

Lazy beggars.... Mr. Matsuura is unlikely to be granted access to CCTV in the area without police assistance... It is actions such as this which give the RTP a terrible reputation..... He [Mr. Matsuura] should have lied and stated 100,000 baht was stolen, then the eyes if the BiB would light up with $$$ triggering them into action....

Thats ridiculous... Surely they could alight the passengers and allow those who want to depart the airport from DMK to do so... and those who need to get to SVB to be bussed there instead of waiting that time. Seems like terrible decision making, perhaps locked into some ill thought out SOP.

I think I'll go for the latter. Covid shut the world down with less odds than that !!!

The same 'local Thai mafia guys' who pimped out the underage girls, you mean ?

Agreed.... anyone who is old enough to travel, is old enough to know better...... My point is that this is not a trend, not an increasing trend anyway... Thailand actively 'covets' these characters with their full moon parties on the islands and booze tubing in Pai etc... When the BiB catch someone and publicise it, its only about one thing... the BiB throwing a positive spin to detract from their habitual daily graft....

This is kind of similar to worrying that there is no one at the check-in counters for your flight, or there is no one manning all the immigration counters so you can't exit... ... Its somewhat of a 'non-issue' and concerning yourself with such matters is really over thinking things.... there is always someone there (or very nearby).

The airport is never an empty place. IF the 'Re-entry Permit booth' is unmanned... speak to an Immigration officer, they'll get someone to man it (at suvarnabumi airport, there is an office very close by, the officer assigned for that roll maybe in that office).