Finlaco

'bifftastic'. When u have lived a little longer in Thailand and open ur eyes a little more, u'll quickly learn that the average Thai pays less than 10% tax ( based on 4 Thai friends earning middle income salaries).

We're all entitled to our own opinion, just not the facts. Thailand is trying to move away from sex tourism and backpacker and into self drive family holidays. If u feel that ฿1,400 for a family of 4 with car is reasonable by Thai standards, that's ur opinion. But taxation can not explain ten times the entrance fee.

So maybe u could give a real example of dual pricing from the UK? Ahh, ok, I thought not.

'bifftastic'. U seem to chose to mis-understand what is dual pricing. Also like many who think dual pricing isn't important, you fail to notice the negative affects on peoples lives. I have travelled extensively in Thailand and the parts of the country where dual pricing isn't practiced, the Thai remain polite and kind. The places where tuk tuk mafia ensure dual pricing, the Thai change and become extremely rude and aggressive. One would think it would be the opposite way around. Dual pricing can destroy a tourist destination, when practiced by Thai.

Ubon  train station V Nong Khai train station. Ubon has few tourists and the songthaews fixed price is enforced.  When I arrived I had one polite tuk tuk driver ask if I wanted his service. I smiled and in Thai said songthaew is fine.  He smiled back and politely directed me to where the songthaew was parked. No dual pricing and polite. 

Nong Khai train station and the samlar engage in dual pricing.  Many of the drivers rude and impolite with the tourists who can't speak Thai. Most drivers not happy that I'm speaking to them in Thai and won't pay three times the price.  The driver and touts are pulling and pushing the farang like they are cattle.  Several farang obviously angry.  Two bangkokian students ask me what the real price should be to the boarder and I help them. 

The driver confirms we're going to the town but heads towards the bridge not the city.  I push the bell until he stops. He beckons rudely for me to go to him, I make him come to me and he says he's going to the visa shop first, then the bridge and then town. All of this in the back of a hot samlar. A 10 minute journey suddenly becomes 45+. My friend and I get out and on the 4th attempt got a tuk tuk to take us to our guesthouse ฿50.  The tuk tuk driver pointed out many places of interest on the way to the guesthouse and was very polite.  Nong Khai is a beautiful city and we meet many nice locals during our stay. 

So u decide. Dual pricing good or bad? Is it as simple as ฿2 or ฿20 or ฿200  

^I agree with you're analogy and as well if you live in Thailand and contribute to the tax base you get same pricing as any Thai with just proof of your residency at the national parks.. A Thai drivers license or work permit is evidence enough..

*edit* That also includes zoo's etc. and even most private attractions as well.

Abrak & Warpspeed. Which country are u from? Could u give some examples of similar practices in ur country. Do u really think taxation justifies 10 times Thai entrance fee? Really? On a generous day I'd say it might cover an extra ฿20 to the Thai entrance. For most

^I agree with you're analogy and as well if you live in Thailand and contribute to the tax base you get same pricing as any Thai with just proof of your residency at the national parks.. A Thai drivers license or work permit is evidence enough..

*edit* That also includes zoo's etc. and even most private attractions as well.

the average Thai pays very little tax. At most, and on a generous day, an additional ฿20 added to a NP admission could be considered tax related. 10 times can't be justified. If taxation is a reasonable argument, why doesn't Singapore, Malaysis or Taiwan engage in such practice. Wait I know why, tourists are treated with respect.

When people suggest u compare the price to ur own country I think it's like me asking them "Is ฿100 a reasonable price to pay for a ฿30 bowl of noodles on the street, because the Shangrila charges ฿350"

kcf

mcdonalds

whiskey

joke

airport

coke

Different word in Thai for airport. Sanam bin

Before I could comment, need some additional info. Is ur wife a well educated Thai , financially independent or .....

I've met Sean briefly and what ever his faults he didn't strike me as the kind of guy to make trouble with Thais, or even be difficult. In fact quite the opposite. He seems more likely to be extra accommodating with them. You only need to read his thread on his motorbike purchase to see that. To me Sean may have been a little ripped off with is bike but he still didn't have a bad word to say about the seller. I could be wrong but I don't see him being anything but courteous in the KFC. Just my opinion.

I think maybe the posters who get personal are just trawling. I read the op and although I didn't agree 100% with his sentiments, I didn't get the feeling he was rude.

Sean which part of Thailand? Is it perhaps a store that regularly deals with farang and their Madame Esan?

Imagine working at KFC earning ฿28 per hour and constantly dealing with ....

My own experience is that we have to over compensate when dealing with Thai staff and we have to be polite. Eg Nong Krap, as oppossed to a Thai that will usually say 'nong nong'. it's not right but it's life. Perhaps they are bored dealing with loso farang acting high so with their loso gf/bf.

But I agree that food on the street is nearly always with a smile especially if u order in Thai and like me are fussy wrt ingredients. I nearly always get a laugh cos I can't eat garlic but like it spicy. The big difference is one is owner managed the other a big chain.

Link does not work.

Link works fine. Maybe need to update flash player. Which browser are u using.

I think very funny. Fundamentalist might disagree.

http://www.jesusandmo.net/

I think very funny. Fundamentalist might disagree.

http://www.jesusandmo.net/

Ur main concerns ought to be ur travel insurance. If ur home country advises not to travel and u do, ur insurance cover maybe void. 

If the airport is blocked it's likely ur insurance will claim civil unrest and ur not covered. I've read that Thailand has taken out insurtance cover usd$10k, but I have no details. 

Safety on the streets -- u'd have to be very unlucky to be injured by a bomb. The mob isn't going to attack foreigners but best avoid if u come accross them cos Thai often resort to home made firearms or bombs in these circumstances.  

wrt Chiang Mai -- air pollution from buring of fields.  Now I'm Maesalong, no problems. But u ought to be aware that CM and CR might have poor air quality necessitating a change in plans.   

I don't understand Why would anyone that has been to Phuket, ever go again? Do enjoy fighting off scammers? Just like being overcharged for anything and everything? Maybe you like the feel of people grabbing you and trying to pull you into a restaurant, massage parlor, shop house, bar, or tuk tuk? Could it be you just like dodging motorbikes doing 30 kmh down the sidewalk? Wouldn't it be easier, and more fun, to maybe,,, try someplace else?

good post. Good idea. Thailand is do much more than Phuket. Live a little, buy the Rough Guide and meet some real Thai people.

Well there have been no bombs on the MRT yet so they must work.

U really believe they have special powers?

Well there have been no bombs on the MRT yet so they must work.

U really think the security guards have 'special' abilities above those of a European security guard?

I understand what u say but my experience with Thai loss of face is that it works only one way. If I or any visitor to Thailand had blocked a Thai car for even 3 minutes, loss of face doesn't apply and the Thai will seek more than his pound of flesh. Personally I'd favour the 12 year old school boy approach, if no apology. Do u think it's nice to block

I'd guess that he probably WAS mortified, though more at the loss of face than for being so inconsiderate. He couldn't look you in the eye, much less say sorry, because that would only acknowledge his loss of face.

I understand what u say but my experience with Thai loss of face is that it works only one way. If I or any visitor to Thailand had blocked a Thai car for even 3 minutes, loss of face doesn't apply and the Thai will seek more than his pound of flesh. Personally I'd favour the 12 year old school boy approach, if no apology. Do u think it's nice to block me? No, it's not. Is it good or bad not to apologise? U don't know? Sure. Yes, that's right, it's bad.

Business Opportunity

I think about this everytime I enter the MRT. The amazing Thai (predominately esan) security guards who are endowed with the ability by touch or quick glance to determine whether ur carrying a bomb or not. 

These guys could earn a fortune in europe, where their counterparts lack such abilities and need to rely on xray machines, sniffer dogs or complete searches of suspect bags. 

A second business opportunity would be the amazing Thai metal detectors at the MRT stations and Siam shopping centres that seem to be able to determine that the metal in my belt, keys, coins, etc are not part of a bomb. 

I see the potential to make a fortune in europe or it's previously colonies (America, etc...)

Thanks. I know it. Much appreciated.

Polite or impolite isn't going to work on it's own, so I'd go with polite and an obstacle.

Take it on the chin. Learn from it. U will either get the refund immediately or won't. If a Thai says come back, smile and say best we do now. Whatever their excuse/lie just politely treat them like a 12 year boy who is lying. U find a solution to each of their lies. But never, never come back the next day.

Last week rented a Honda dream. ฿200 per day and on the way back 30km from Ubon the front tyre explored due to old age. I phoned the owner who suddenly couldn't understand my Thai and then decided to be rude and hang up when I handed the phone to my Thai friend ( he's not a loso Thai).

I had no choice but to buy a new tyre ฿400. But i dropped my friend at the hotel first.  Always best to desk with Thai without ur friend or let yr friend handle it, if they can. Doesn't work if u do it as a duo.  

FIRST got my passport back  20 minutes and several Thai lies later we agreed to split the cost 50/50.  I just kept mentioning the rudeness of the owners wife to my friend. I accepted his lie that the tyre should have been 200.  And I 'forgot' to return the key. 

Yes Thai government regulary block complete access to sites it deems negative to Thai culture. But I would think not just the pics. Either the whole site us blocked or not.

If ur using firefox try Internet Explorer

perhaps ur flash player needs updating or ur net speed is too low

Google flashplayer and the site will help check if needs an update.

Not much to add to the comprehensive comments above

My main issues are Immigration (time taken, impoliteness and the dog calling hand downward motion that in Thai culture represents a Superior beckoning his inferior)

Duty free -- Completely ignore it, simple check on a price or cigarettes let's u know it's not Duty Free when compared to 7-11

When passed immigration ฿150 for a small ฿7 bottle of water. 

Floor tiles look second hand. 

It's obvious that senior management never leave their aircon offices. The aiport looks and feels like no one is really in overall control. 

On a plus side, I arrive 2 hours before my Air Asia flights and my average wait time is 5mins (based on 10 flights per year, domestic and international)

I've never flown to NST. 2 hour pre checkin etc..., and then from

airport to town.

I've taken the sleeper train and really enjoyed the comfort.

Also taken the day train and enjoyed the scenary but time consuming.

If going by bus, VIP32 and book a few days inadvanceat the new (2years old) southern bus station nearly 40 minutes by taxi from downtown bkk. Be careful of rush hour traffic.

I live near Mor Chit so usually chose the train cos can board near my home.

Bus depart around 7 to 9 pm and cos of rush hour one might need to be there circa 5pm

hope it helps