scorecard

Sadly not surprised, they know it will be a long and winding path with many obstacles thrown in their path but i hope they keep trying.

In fact a lot more than 10 years. About 20 years ago I was the regional director for Asia (based in Bkk) for an international m'ment consultancy. I did 2 to 3 day trips / 2 days flights evry week to S'pore, Jakarta, HK, KL, Manila, Seoul and Tokyo. I/my Thai staff flew Thai for all these trips (because of the company global flying policy - must support the national airline of wherever you are posted). Overal the TG serice was less than satisfactory, sometimes just awful and often plainly rude hosties. My own Thai staff complained regularly re TG attitudes/rudeness/refusal to give service. I was under pressure from my Thai staff and I was becoming quite dissatisfied with TG so I abandoned the company international flight policy and we arranged travel contracts with: S'pore Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

No mention, in this thread, of condolences from Thailand? Anybody noticed any condolences in other Thai media?

One report mentioned: - Charles will be crowned quickly as the next king. - William has officially accepted several serious duties, which he will control, and he willl generally work alongside his father.

Easy to answer, people don't go yo local shop front clinics. Could be many reasons for this, one reason is that there's a long/big history of fake doctors in these clinics. One personal experience, about 30 years ago, I needed a medical report to get my first work permit. My Thai work colleague (speaks English) mentioned there was a small clinic just down the street and he took me there. No other customers, straight into the dosctors' room, no equipment, in Thai he said 'yes I can give the farang a medical report' and he quoted a very cheap fee. The Dr. said in Thai something like '2 arms and 2 legs you pass. Three or 4 minutes laterall done/all paid and we walked out of his office. Back at my work office my colleague then mentioned that there's many fake doctors across Bkk and he was suspicious, he called a govt' agency which proved there was no such registered Dr. Our admin lady said 'never mind, I will take you to the Labour office today'. We did that, the labour guy quickly scanned the various documents (not hi-tech scan), nothing actually checked, WP approved. My Thai wife (sadly now passed on was a Dr. of medicine (all of her medical studies in Australia), she worked out of several respected Thai hospitals. She mentioned many times about fake doctors in small clinics and mentioned that the Thai public is well aware there are many fake 'doctors' at small clinics. She also mentioned that Thai hospitals are much serious/thorough about completely checking credentials and proving that Dr. candidates were properly qualified/experienced. In those days often including hand written letters/telephone calls to other countries/university medical schools etc., abroad.

There's also a quite strong attitude by many motorists / mo-cy drivers that vehicles come first, people walking come second and should wait.

"Most who did what he did ... ." So what did he do?

With perhaps one exception, people who hold Thai lifetime licenses. I'm 77, I asked this same question a couple of years back at the main DLT office in Bkk. They didn't have an answer, eventually the most snr. officer who had joined the discussion asked 'can you walk? YES. Do you need glasses to drive? NO. He continued, 'then keep driving' and walked away.

Then when he has to update/transact some type of government business in Thailand at the amphur, DL etc., records won't match the passport (new) that he presents as his ID.

I've alwyas wondered if there's any published standards/requirements for this work. The blocks are laid on sand which is never consolidated to enure good support for the blocks. In no time the blocks go down in one corner then get rocky and then dislodged aand the problem never fixed. Love to have 1% of the money spent in the last 35+ years that I'm aware of and the issue still not solved. And 1% of all the billions spent on massive drainage works, giant new pipes laid, work 'completed', but big flood issues still abound 10 minutes after a heavy rain starts.

He doesn't need a lecture, it's obvious from his existing posts he regrets what he's done.

He said, many hours ago, the money aspect wasn't an issue.

Scot?

Well the most expensive flights can turn into a nightmare also - TG!

But operationally it can work. I flew AirAsia from Chiang Mai to Kuala Lumphur to Sydney in Nov 2019. I'm in a wheelchair. AirAsia supvr., walking around the departure lines at Chiang Mai spottted me with wheelchair, she quickly asked if I was checking-in for the KL flight, I confirmed and within 2 minutes she had 2 young assistants on the spot with the AirAsia w'chair (mine was packed up to be checkin-in). They got me comfortable quickly and then to a more distant check-in desk and check-in quickly completed. She realized my Thai son and his family (his wife and 3 kids) were with me, she asked if I wanted to wait or go straight onto the aircraft? There wasn't a lot f time to spare so I said 'go the the a'craft now please'. AA lady tasked one of the young attendants to get me onto the a'craft, all done smoothly and politely and with care for my comfort. At KLIA an attendant waiting at a'craft door to take me to the AA lounge, staff at lounge very caring and polite. Back onto a'craft, hosties politely checked several time if I needed a toilet break etc. All meals excellent. Just before arrival at Sydney International a polite hostie asked me to remain seated for a few minutes. Two young attendants slipped into the a'craft as soon as the door was open. They knew where I was seated, they came over and politely explained the procedure and checked what luggage etc., I had. Ten minutes later one girl returned to my seat to explain my chair was being unpacked just outside the a'craft door. All done smoothly and politely. As soon as 90+% of the passsengers had alighted they started to move me slowly to the a'craft door and then carefully into my w'chair. They exlained the procedure well; one girl would stay with me and the other girl would get quickly to the passport arrival desk and get my passport ready to be processed, then she went (with a phto of the luggae stickers on my boarding pass) to retrieve my 2 suitcases. On arrival at passport desks a border force official quickly noticed me (by my p'port photo) and came over to return my p'port and checked if the AA staff were taking care of me OK. I confirmed YES. As soon as we got about 15 meters past the p'port desk the second AA girl was waiting with my 2 cases. During all of this the girl who stayed with me had asked if I had relatives or a car service booked to meet me at the a'port. I gave her the name and tel. no of the car service. She called them and they advised the car was caught in traffic and it would be arrving at Inter airport arrivals in about 20 minutes. AA girls asked if I would like to get a quick coffee and a snack. I said yes and we all had coffee and a snack. Car arrived, AA girls got me into the car made sure I was comfortable. All done. The entire trip was pleasant and well organized; 10+/10. Sure things have changed since because of Covid- 19, however when it's all operating again smoothly I would have no hesitation to use AA for same/any trip.

Just a man wanting a holiday and he saved for his holiday. No need to criticize him, he's done nothing wrong. Critizize the ethics of the airline. They shoudn't take bookings/money then strand people, highly unethical/immoral.

Just flash 1 million Baht cash at the passport arrivals desk, in Bangkok and at any border entry points, you'll be fine. Maybe even get a nice fruit basket.

...tattooed...' Not enough information. Should have mentioned motor cyclist with one head 2 arms (and 10 fingers) and 2 legs (with 10 toes), at least...

Also, the fares they quote to prospective customers is often more than an air-conditioned metered taxi fare for the same journey.

The comments are more about the later situation and inspection/monitoring of what activity is taking place/is it being used as originally licensed/certified etc.

OK, but how much 'subtle' pressure was in the whole situation to push for agreement to take the ride and therefore revenue for the elephant own and the INFLUENCER / the tour guide?

Why not, that's their job and if they discover and don't tell then they are derelict in heir duties/responsibilities and should be punished.

My Thai son's house, plans clearly marked for a 3 phase connection in the kitchen (electric oven and 4 point electric cook top). House completed, development company 'inspector' signs that all items on the plan have been satisfactorily completed, electrics mentioned. Son buys package of kitchen appliances, seller sends 'qualified technician* to install all the appliances. *Turns out he is a Thai gualified elctrician. Technician tells son that the outlet in the kitchen (in fact all outlets in the kitchen) are basic wiring; there is no 3 phase. Son calls development company, office girl tell son 'oh that's not allowed in Thailand'. Son demands a meeting with a senior person from the development company. Now there's a list of excuses/reasons why 3 phase not fitted, but very little concern. Son demands an answer as to when 3 phase will be fiited and a guarantee that there will be no extra charges. Takes weeks and daily push from son to get it completed. Development company now claims that it's illegal to bring other technicians/electricians on site to confirm there is 3 phase and it has been installed correctly and safely. Son refuses to make final payment for the house and land and tells dev. company he has put the whole situation in the hands of his well known lawyer. Suddenly a call from snr. mngr. of the dev. company inviting son to quickly bring a licensed/qualified electrician on site and full cooperation for this person to check all the wiring. Small additional point, It's now discovered there's 2 power outlets fitted in other ooms that are not connected to any wiring. Word spreads, other owners now demanding further checks on the electrics fitted in their houses, and some work done to fix problems exposed.

There should be a process where these things are regularly checked by a variety of governmental agencies. Same as in many other countries. And in many there's automatic continuous matching of computer data held/being continuously built which highlights 'blips'.

Sweet smelling is always nice.