inmemorylsx

I will never understand these people with urges for children. Very sad. They should seek help as the kids are defenseless and hopefully they could be helped before hurting more people or going to extreme lengths to pretend to be a cop?

Good job done by the Thai Police! Glad to see this.

Thailand is beautiful, great people and food. I love traveling there for those reasons.

Upsetting when people take advantage of youth in this way.

I suppose that no one read or noticed this quote :

"From April 26 last year, the club says it saved 1,064 foreigners and 285 Thais from drowning on the 13 beaches it patrols.

It was unable to prevent 13 deaths: two in Surin, one in Kata, one in Nai Thon and nine in Karon, Phuket's most dangerous beach."

Karon beach can be so rough. I will only swim with people around me and close to the beach. I love Phuket and the beaches but as a bad swimmer I realize that only I can be responsible for my safety and therefore will never take chances in such beautiful waters with undertow as well as unexpected large waves.

People never swim alone, don't drink and swim and use the buddy system and stay close to shore.

Ugly & useless things. Can't they be banned?

I agree. They should be banned.

Very dangerous for swimmers around them as well as users who are not experienced.

They make the beach area noisy and from this incident it seems clear that they do more damage than good.

Yes, understand the violent criminal mind. That's the ticket. And I thought I was a bleeding heart liberal.

I am curious what the wanke_rs at the Cad embASSy in BKK said as well as the bored gossipers at the embASSy in Tokyo will say.

They love this kind of drama as it is a break from pencil twirling and clock watching.

This is shamefull, the person serving time should be the person who posted not the forum people...

Lets see, if I buy paper and a pen, then use those to write a book that breaks Thai law, is it me or the pen and paper manufactures that go to jail????

Also why stop at the forum owner? What about the owner of the ISP that allowed him to upload the images, the computer manufactor that built the computer he used, the camera company of the camera he used, and so on?

Cyberspace "crime" is still such a gray zone. This does sound quite harsh. I think it will be many years from now until fair laws regarding the internet are established.

As long as no one has money stolen (online banking etc), it seems quite difficult to determine charges in cases like this.

Ask him to take it down and learn a lesson... Interesting to see in the years to come what is legal and what is not.

I am confused right now to what you can and can not do/say on the net.

Thank you Aanon and Yoot.

I truly appreciate it.

If you ever need Eng-Jap or Jap-Eng, let me know.

Thank you!

3 years ago we had a very sad tragedy but I want to thank the following for their professionalism and kindness;

3 ปีที่แล้วเราได้ประสบเหตุอันน่าเศร้าสะเทือนใจ ข้าพเจ้าขอขอบพระคุณมา ณ ที่นี้สำหรับความเมตตาและการปฏิบัติหน้าที่อย่างเป็นมืออาชีพยิ่งขององค์กรและบุคคลดังต่อไปนี้

1. Phuket Police Station

สถานีตำรวจภูธรจังหวัดภูเก็ต

2. Vachira Phuket Hospital

โรงพยาบาลวชิระภูเก็ต

3. Connect Tour Staff

เจ้าหน้าที่บริษัท คอนเน็คต์ ทัวร์ (you should check actual thai spelling of this company name if possible)

4. 20 guests on this tour that day

ลูกทัวร์ 20 ท่านในวันเกิดเหตุ

5. Professionals related to Koh Khai, in Phang Nga Bay

ผู้ประกอบวิชาชีพที่เกี่ยวข้องกับเกาะไข่ แห่งอ่าวพังงา

The caring and professional assistance is truly appreciated and reminds me of what really makes Phuket a wonderful place, the people.

ข้าพเจ้ารุู้สึกซาบซึ้งใจเป็นอย่างยิ่งสำหรับการเอาใจไส่และความช่วยเหลือของแต่ละท่าน ซึ่งทำให้ข้าพเจ้าตระหนักว่า สิ่งที่ทำให้ภูเก็ตเป็นสถานที่น่าอัศจรรย์และน่าอยู่มากที่สุด ก็คือคนภูเก็ตนี่แหละ

May Phuket have years of happiness, beauty and continued growth.

ภูเก็ตจงคงไว้ซึ่งความสุข ความงดงาม และการเจริญรุ่งเรืองตลอดไป

This is a Westerner's translation. I'm confident that the meaning will be conveyed; nonetheless, a native speaker is bound to approach the translation differently.

All the best.

Thank you very much.

That was very sweet of you and I truly appreciate it.

Hello.

I would like to post a message on my blog and I don't speak Thai.

Can someone translate this for me into Thai?

I appreciate it.

3 years ago we had a very sad tragedy but I want to thank the following for their professionalism and kindness;

1. Phuket Police Station

2. Vachira Phuket Hospital

3. Connect Tour Staff

4. 20 guests on this tour that day

5. Professionals related to Koh Khai, in Phang Nga Bay

The caring and professional assistance is truly appreciated and reminds me of what really makes Phuket a wonderful place, the people.

May Phuket have years of happiness, beauty and continued growth.

Thank you!

No EPIRB? Didn't read weather forcast? I hate to say it... but if this happened anywhere else in the world the operator would be up on criminal charges.

Happens time and time again though, lack of regulation/enforcement casues loss of life, and slowly the tourist numbers drop.

I lost someone dear to me 3 years ago on a snorkeling trip with 20 other people around.

3 years later I can only say that the ocean or conditions change so quickly and when you realize something has gone wrong but not quite sure what it was, it is too late.

Again, I say. Lifejackets -- always! No alcohol while in the water and don't go off on your own.

I love Phuket and will always return but have a much stronger caution instinct as well as respect for the water as I am not a good swimmer.

Hope they find more survivors!

Hello all,

New to the forum but actually an old timer in Thailand, as my name suggests. Married to a beautiful Thai lady and have been in and out of Thailand for the past 15 years, mostly in, so to speak. I want to share a little unpleasant experience which I had recently.

A few weeks ago, I went to the Canadian embassy to apply for a visa. I was well disappointed and shocked with the negative attitude of the employees there. From the rude security guard to the obnoxious window clerk, the treatment I got there was not pleasant at all. I also observed that the local staffs appear to be more respectful and polite towards westerners than to Asians including the Thais. Why can they not show same mutual respect to their own kind??? Correct me if I am wrong, this is just my personal opinion. Anyway, from the first world embassy, the service I got was definitely third world.

Believe me, I know what third world is, I come from one. My own embassy in Bangkok is a red tape infested sh***t hole. I can take hardships and bureaucracy, it's second nature to us.

I have no grudge against the Canadian embassy, but really expected more professionalism from a supposedly the first world country.

If you have similar experiences, why not vent them out to us here.

Write to the Privacy Commission and get what papers they wrote up on YOU, from there file a complaint to DFAIT in Ottawa (they cover their asses with a team of lawyers)

At least you will shake the tree that these embassy monkies live in.

They are there to serve YOU and not the other way around.

BTW, you would be suprised by just entering the grounds and your request makes for immediate right up on your personal issues.

Again, download " Privacy commission request form" and ask to see what they have written about you and take it from there.

Canadian gunned down on his birthday

When contacted by the Gazette today, an official at the Canadian Embassy cited legal reasons in declining to give any information about the case.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-02-20

As someone who had the unfortunate experience of a dear one pass on in Phuket,

I know from experience that the Thai police and hospital staff were professional, caring and extremely kind.

Their expertise learned since the Tsunami and professionalism was extremely comforting and I will always be thankful to many people in Phuket.

The stupidity and unprofessionalism came from the Canadian Embassy and the DFAIT.

I advise the Canadian family to trust the Thai officials, Thai hospital and tell the Canadian Embassy losers to go back to their boring daily lives watching the second hand on the clock tick away...

I will always return to Phuket and have many times since as the kindness and smiles of the Thais in Phuket are something that I will always respect and be thankful for.

80 per cent of tourists from Japan disappear because of protests: Govt spokesman

BANGKOK: -- Government Spokesman Wichianchot Sukchotrat Saturday blamed the protests led by the People's Alliance for Democracy for the disappearance by some 80 per cent of tourists from Japan.

Wichianchot said the protests on the Rajdamnone Avenue by the PAD scared away foreign investors and tourists.

He said the disappearance by tourists also affected the aviation industry.

The spokesman said the government was trying to negotiate with the protesters to move to another site because the protests had severely affected the country and affected many other people's rights.

-- The Nation 2008-06-07

Living in Japan and a true love of Thailand as well as yearly 2-3x frequent tourist over the past 3 decades, I would say the feeling in Japan is travel to is based on a weak yen and strong baht.

Thailand is a great country with a wonderful culture, food, people etc. Japanese are taking shorter flights to Korea for 2-3 days or Shanghai for shopping.

When the yen strengthens you will see more Japanese return!

And some tasked with covert ops, right?...

No Frotting, the Canadian government does not engage in covert operations in Thailand. There is one (1) permanent RCMP liason officer to facilitate investigations. The RCMP does not have a mandate for foreign spying or "covert ops" such as rendition of terror suspects or targeted assassination. CSIS, the Canadian intelligence service is precluded from overseas activity as well. The Canadian Supreme Court decision this week affirmed that.

Misterman21, if you are a UK citizen, then your statement on Canadian embassy staff

as " selfish, ignorant . . . . lazy parasites" is misplaced. If you have somehow paid for services not rendered, I suggest you should go to another forum section board and post your observations there rather than spitting up derogatory juvenile statements here about people that you obviously know nothing about.

You have to be kidding. Embassy workers are lazy and play the exemption game many times to cover this fat lazy butts.

Get rid of the EmbASSy and replace it with an email address -- you will get better service.

And this my civi comi 'geriatrickid'???

http://www.canada.com/cityguides/winnipeg/...86d&k=44505

As I have said many times before, what do you expect from DFAIT, Canadian Embassy or Consulate assistance abroad. Untalented civil servants that should not be involved as they cause more problems than any good.What a waste of tax dollars! Get rid of DFAIT (Canadian Embassy staff) and replace it with an email address...you may get better service!

What a grossly offensive and ignorant post. It would appear that you have a grudge of some sort. My own experience with the embassy staff has been that they do the best that they can do within the limitations that they are foreigners with limited powers in another sovereign nation. They can no more go out and order and demand things of the local authorities than the Thai embassy staff can do in Canada. What they can do and have done to the victim's satisfaction is to provide assistance and support.

The foreign service staff are paid in accordance with Treasury Board pay agreements, which means that the staff are paid significantly less than people in the private sector doing work requiring the same level of education. Combined with severe budget limitations ,the staff complement reflects this. The result is that you get are alot of young people who's eagerness and willingness to assist is often rewarded by abuse and ingratitude by people who expect to receive beck and call service. If you have a complaint, take it up with the Liberal government that slashed the budget. If you are angry because there is no foreign service security or police representation as the other delegations have (e.g. French, UK, Russia, USA etc.) then go complain to the NDP that are vehemently opposed to such a presence. The embassy staffing is a reflection of the Canadian public sentiment which does not support foreign service activities. It's unfair to piss on the people that are doing the best they can do under austere working conditions.

aaa yeah...sure...do a google search on abuse by DFAIT and all the lawsuits against the civil servants that work there. Lazy and short on brain celled folk that are constantly getting sued for "illegal actions"...you sound like a civi butt kisser or are just one of the big butts that sits around all day at the Canadian EmbASSy doing nada...

Another unhappy person. Look, what is that you expect any foreign embassy staff to do? You do realize that they are constrained by the fact that they are guests in a sovereign nation, right? In this case, they responded to an injured tax paying citizen and provided assistance to her satisfaction. When someone travels, they need to understand that they have to function as if they are on their own and are subject to local laws and customs. If you can't handle the risk, then don't leave the country. If you make the decisions that involve exposure to danger, then accept the responsibility for your decisions.

Again, you do realize there are different types of staff at an embassy, right? Some are tasked to foreign trade, others to foreign development (which serves to sell Canadian goods and services) others are tasked to immigration and others deal with foreign affairs. Each group of workers has to work within the applicable rules and regulations that apply. If people are unhappy with immigration laws because a visa for a special "friend" was refused or the conduct of foreign affairs, take it up with the local MP since it is Parliament that makes the rules and regulations that the embassy staff follow. If people want deluxe service, then consider the costs and if the majority of taxpayers who will never go to Thailand, let alone leave the continent are willing to pay for it.

You sound like a typical civil service worker at a Canadian Embassy.

Let's get this straight. I can tell you first hand that any staff from Cdn EmbASSy are overpaid, uneducated gossipers that will only get involved to further their climb up the EmbASSy ho ladder.

They do get involved in all the wrong ways when the Cdn is "special" or when self-serving to their own needs which erases all lines that were created for what they can and can not do.

Like a drunk ambASSador's wife once told me, " we are only here to get "foreign" business into Canada and not to help Canadians overseas"--she continued to drink champagne at the Cdn tax payers' expense.

Get rid of Cdn EmbASSies and replace with email addresses -- you will get better service.

As I have said many times before, what do you expect from DFAIT, Canadian Embassy or Consulate assistance abroad.

Untalented civil servants that should not be involved as they cause more problems than any good.

What a waste of tax dollars! Get rid of DFAIT (Canadian Embassy staff) and replace it with an email address...you may get better service!

misterman21

Just a silly mistake - oh well! (not thai by anychance are you)

Best tell the guys family that he has been the victim of a silly mistake - just a bit of bloody bad luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unbelievable comments - i think many will agree!

Try to read what was written instead of jumping over my comemnts please.

I said

If the reports so far are correct

as the inital report stated that they thought he was the unfortunate victim of a random bullet so yes, silly mistake of someone firing a bullet without the intent of actually hitting this man. i.e. he wasn't the intended target & I read the report to mean that someone may have just been firing a gun for a joke or to hit a can/bird etc, not to actually kill or injure a person.

Bloody bad luck if that is the case

Well du'h, from reading the initial report it seemed to me that this poor man was at the wrong place at the wrong time as a few seconds earlier or later & the bullet may not have hit anyone but gone straight to the ground & no one would have been any wiser, so yeah, I stand by the comment, Bloody bad luck, for the viticm.

I would tell the wife right now to tell the Canadian Embassy in BKK to back off and also the Consulate in Chang Mai...they will probably blame her for the incident.

Canadian Embassy staff are not qualified to take care of situations like this.

God speed to the husband and wife.

Heard a few moments ago that a Canadian was shot while riding on a bus in Chiang Mai. It was stated by CBC that this was an accident. No further details at the moment.

Thailand does not need any more bad news.......

I do hope the families get involved and do not rely on the USELESS Canadian Embassy staff in Bangkok!

I think the nadian was "accidentially shot to death" not murdered. Murder carries intent. POM's call this "misadventure" Great word.

I would tell both families involved to bypass the bs and lies they will get from the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok. Canadian Embassy employees in Asia are lazy and useless and liars.

If you ever run into any problems, call upon friends, family or locals as you will not get proper assistance or any help that you deserve.

Staff at the Embassy in Bangkok are useless and you will notice that with this case and also with the past pedophile from Quebec that they have learned to shut their big mouths and not be so public.

I love this forum and I truly love Thailand.

On May 6, 2006 my special friend accidentally drowned in Koh Kai when we were enjoying a tour on one of the 5 magical days we were in Phuket.

The local Thais, tour group and members as well as the authorities were so extremely kind and with loving Thai hope and smiles helped me during my deep state of shock.

One year on, despite the cold response from his famXXy and certain others I remain strong and loyal to respect his memories.

I plan to go to the area that he accidentally drowned and would like to follow local Thai buddist practice to make a proper 1 year after his death memorial a blessing and closure.

He was creamated but I don't have his ashes as I have read in this forum but I would like to know what should I bring to Thailand (his shirt he wore a year ago, special pictures of us, etc.) to Phuket to make an offering to the sea and the memory of my special friend.

Your suggestions are truly welcome.

Thank you and again, I love Thailand and this forum.

A very shocking and sad day 10 months ago. We enjoyed the beauty and kindness of Phuket and surrounding areas/locals and then this tragic accident happened.

In memory of Lorne Saxberg;

http://lornesaxberg.blogspot.com/

The officer added that police believe Mr Saxberg died of either heart failure, as he had had a heart operation seven years ago, or drowned after suffering cramp while snorkeling.

odd - prob drowned or heart attack.

Nothing gets past our Britmaveric.