Sateev

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (USA):

By CASEY MCNERTHNEY AND AMY ROLPH

P-I REPORTERS

TACOMA -- The body of a 12-year-old Tacoma girl missing since July 4 has been found, authorities said Thursday night.

A suspect previously detained by local law enforcement tipped investigators off about the location of Zina Linnik's body, Tacoma Police said. The girl's body was discovered Thursday evening in Pierce County, but police and FBI investigators wouldn't say where.

"People at the scene identified her as Zina," Detective Chris Taylor said. "Family was not there."

There was no immediate word on the cause of death or when the girl died.

As of Thursday night, Pierce County prosecutors had not pressed charges against the man who tipped police off.

"The information regarding the whereabouts of Zina was obtained from a suspect who is currently being held at a local federal detention facility on charges relative to his immigration status," Tacoma Police Chief Don Ramsdell said.

On Monday, investigators seized a gray van found at the Parkland home of the 42-year-old convicted sex offender. Authorities also found girl's underwear at the home. In 1990, the man -- a Thai immigrant - pleaded guilty to incest after being charged with rape, according to court documents.

Zina disappeared at 9:45 p.m. July 4 from an alley behind her family's Hilltop neighborhood home in Tacoma. Witnesses said they heard the Ukrainian girl scream, then saw an old van pull away down the alley in the 2500 block of South J Street.

The man being detained denied any involvement in Zina's disappearance and said he was not in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood July 4, according to an affidavit filed in Pierce County Superior Court in support of a search warrant application.

The grim news Thursday brought "great anguish" to the Linnik family as well as Tacoma police and FBI agents who had worked to find the girl, Ramsdell said.

"Our hearts and prayers are with the Linnik family and we will continue to put forth our best efforts to bring the perpetrator of this senseless and horrific crime to justice," Ramsdell said at a news conference outside Tacoma police headquarters.

Late Thursday night Tacoma Police officers were stationed outside the Linnik's home.

Sincere Hankins, who helped searched for Zina for days, on Thursday night stood by her house across from the Linnik home, holding back tears.

"My kids aren't going outside the fence without me anymore," she said of her 13-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter, who remember Zina riding her bike around the neighborhood. "I can't imagine what (Zina's family) are going through."

Investigators searching for Zina on Wednesday called off a search of Tiger Mountain east of Seattle. FBI Special Agent Fred Gutt had said that the Tiger Mountain search was prompted by one of several leads investigators were following.

Meanwhile, a 10-year-old Tacoma boy police spent hours searching for returned home safely Thursday morning. Joseph Felton's mother called police after the boy went missing from their home in the 1700 block of South G Street Wednesday afternoon.

Police now believe the boy ran away after fighting with his mother. He came home after spending the night at a relative's house, a police spokesman said.

This report included material from The Associated Press

Hope this won't make it more difficult for Thais to enter the USA, get jobs, use public assistance, start businesses, and live free of the need to run to Tijuana every 30/90 days, just to stay in the US. Hopefully, Disneyland, Sea World, and the National Park System won't start charging them a 1250% 2nd tier fee for entry to those facilities, using this knucklehead as a pretext.

Sateev

...

If here on a one year extension of stay you will have seven days to depart Thailand after you return the work permit.

...

Just as a point of reference, I was told by the folks at the One-Stop that I have 7 days after I stopped working to leave the country. Since I had just returned my work permit (seven days after leaving the company), I was told I had to leave that day or be on overstay. I already had purchased a ticket to Singapore to apply for my new non-B, but they were having none of it. After a bit of protest, based on what I had read on this site, I was offered an extension (1900 baht, 7 days).

After running around to get new photos, and copies of my passport, the clerk said I would have to go to Suan Plu for the extension, contradicting the first clerk's statement. Finally, a supervisor scrutinized the whole matter, and confirmed that the 7 day clock starts running on the first day after you leave employment. She also noticied that I was soaking wet from going out to get photos for my extension, and "helped" me by approving the extension on the spot.

I don't know if Suan Plu would have enforced the 7 day rule the same way, but it is dangerous to assume that you are good for another 7 days after you turn in your WP.

Sateev

Why if old man Daret hadn't started catering to backpackers in his old noodle shop location on Moon Muang then there might not have been a proliferation of guesthouses. And if there had not been a proliferation of guesthouses then the nicer hotels might not have been built. And then the major tourist attractions might have remained the Asian version of natural beauty such as the long forgotten Erawan resort. And without the tourist attractions and the upscale hotels then all those foreign food restaurants that all you neo-sahibs depend upon for your sustenance might not exist.

And then Chiang Mai might be a nice place to visit once again...

S

anyone know where I can get one? preferably near nana area, cheers

Had excellent experience with Phayathai Mattress on the north side of Petchburi Road, a couple of sois (soi 7?) west of Phayathai Road (exit Ratchathewi BTS).

Asked them to make a twin mattress special, double layer of soft foam over dense foam core. Took a while, because he didn't want to deliver it while it was still outgassing glue solvent. Around 3000 baht a couple of years ago.

They were polite, easy to deal with, spoke English, and had a bunch of pre-made ones in stock.

They make a lot of thin massage mattresses, covered in vinyl for the oily purveyors, too.

Ask for Khun Dist.

Steve

Is สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง (sawatdee dtaawn thiiang) the best way to say "Good afternoon"?

Can you give me some alternative ways of saying "Good afternoon".

Also, I noticed other variations of afternoon, such as ตอนบ่าย (dtaawn baay) and หลังเที่ยง (lang thiiang).

My advice would be to stop translating, and to listen to what Thais say to each other. In 25 years, I have never heard anyone say 'sawatdee dtaawn thiiang'.

Sateev

I'm thinking about going to Singapore sometime next month to get a new tourist visa. What is the latest feeling coming from the embassy there? Is it pretty safe to get a tourist visa?

Here is my history:

American, about 36+ visa exemptions spread out over three years

One tourist visa issued in Penang in November

One tourist visa issued in Vientienne in March

Could I expect to get a tourist visa in Singapore? Any (confirmed) reports of people being denied in Singapore?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

I just returned from Singapore Thursday, 14 June, with a new non-B, 90-day, single entry visa.

The guy at the head of the line had a job offer from a school, but was otherwise horribly ill-prepared (went to the window without an immigration form, didn't have his background check, or Ministry of Education permit, etc., obviously doesn't read this forum). He was offered a tourist visa as a consolation prize, since he just couldn't comprehend what the clerk needed.

I got the impression that there was no problem getting a tourist visa, but no one except the consular clerk could possibly know the reaction to your passport full of stamps.

The clerk was extremely polite and tried to be helpful, and was similarly nice to me, especially since I had all my paperwork intact. I never sensed any negative attitude toward farangs, but I would heed others' advice regarding your appearance: dress businesslike.

The price for the non-b was $85 Singapore dollars, no other currency accepted.

Good luck, and be sure to post your story to the forum to help the next guy/gal.

Just wanted to let everyone know my experience returning my work permit, and my subsequent encounter with the Immigration people at the One Stop Center on Paholyothin Rd.

First, I am 56, was here on an extension of stay linked to my work permit.

I resigned from the Thai company, effective 1 June 2007. Today, 6 June 2007, I went to One Stop to return my work permit, per Thai law.

I can confirm that you indeed have 7 days (not 15, as sometimes misstated; the employer has 15 days to report your termination) after you leave the company to return the work permit. I then asked the clerk at the Employment Department whether or not I had to have my extension to stay canceled. She told me to go the Immigration counter, and ask them.

Having read many times on this forum that Immigration would give me an additional seven days to leave the country, I was stunned when they said I had to leave TODAY, or be in overstay. I appealed but they were adamant. They even miscalculated the date, since I worked THROUGH 31 May, but the stamped me as having to leave 6 June. After complaining, the clerk (#1) said they would be glad to give me an extension, as per the usual TM7 routine, and, of course, 1900 baht.

So, I went a few hundred meters down the road to get a picture taken, and copies of my passport pages, filled out the form and returned with everything in order (I thought).

When I returned, another clerk (#2) at the counter said I would have to go to Suan Plu for the extension! I really couldn't fathom what the problem was, and they finally called a mid-level supervisor. She looked it over, and then took me to see one of the two supervisors in the offices where they sign off on everything that their clerks have done.

The supervisor also concurred that I would need to go to Suan Plu, but agreed to make an exception, since I was all sweaty and hot from going to get pics, etc.

I then took my paperwork to the clerk (#3) who actually stamped my passport with a 7 day extension to stay, my stated reason being to wait for my flight to Singapore to apply for a 90 day non-B.

The key is this: clerk #3 told me I could stay an additional 7 days for free, if I applied to a new work permit today. Due to my new employer's company registration not yet being in order, this was not an option. But she was the only clerk who offered this advice, or assistance.

Finally, I paid my 1900 baht (for 7 days!), and the supervisor signed me off.

Since I have read in many threads on this forum that Immigration should give me an additional 7 days to leave, I am left wondering if it was:

1) due to the interpretation of the staff at the One Stop, or,

2) due to my being on an extension of stay, rather than a non-B visa, or

3) ?

Clearly, had I walked out after returning my work permit, without notifying Immigration, I would have been in violation of the regulations. But, upon leaving, everything would get reset back to square one, since the Employment Department apparently does not notify Immigration when a work permit is surrendered. They would just cancel my extension of stay at the airport, and be none the wiser. I suppose I could potentially be in trouble if I were stopped by the Immigration Police in the next week.

Hope this helps someone who is in a similar situation. Comments as to the discrepancy between what seems to be common knowledge (7 days to return the WP, 7 days to leave the country), and what I just experienced are welcome and appreciated.

Sateev

Stopped by last night and had 3 tacos, one each chicken, carnitas, and carne asada.

The meat was pretty good, except for the carnitas, which bore no resemblance to any carnitas I've ever eaten. I am from San Diego, CA, however, and realize that this might be a tough act to follow.

However, the real surprise was that 'soft' tacos were served on flour tortillas!! Ludicrous! Flour tortillas get soggy quickly, and are brittle, causing the taco to fall apart. I have spent a good bit of time in Mexico, both at the border, and in the interior, and unless otherwise requested specifically, soft tacos are ALWAYS served in smallish CORN tortillas, usually two per taco.

On the positive, the salsas were quite good, and the toppings were varied and fresh.

The manager there said she would gladly make tacos in corn tortillas, however, so more "inspection" trips are in order.

Really, a great effort, and good value. Look forward to trying some other menu items.

S

Just pre-purchase an onward ticket to Singapore, Phnom Penh, HCMC, etc., and then cancel it once you are in BKK.  You may have to pay a couple hundred baht service charge, but...

Sateev