shotover

Surprised that the Klong Toei slum area did not rate a mention, though there are many neighborhoods like these in Bangkok.

Maybe the Thai police don't venture into this area.

In 2007, there was a Bkk newspaper article listing the following high-crime areas:

Robbery:

Lat Phrao 23

Rangsit 64

Soi Suan Pak in Taling Chan District

Drugs:

Soi Pirom in Samphanthawong district

Soi Charan Sanitwong 89

Spo Ruam Baksa in Huai Kwang district

Soi Wat Makok on Ratchawithi

Sexual Assault:

Charan Sanitwong 37

Charoen Nakhon 23Brawls

Soi Wimutayaram in Bang Phlat district

Brawls:

Ramkhamhaeng Soi 8

Soi Wimutayaram in Bang Phlat district

Looks like the Bkk Police have made some progress in shifting the criminals around.

Did this happen at White Sand Beach, or one of the smaller areas?

Were the suspects residents on Koh Chang, or just visiting tourists?

This could be important information for those currently staying on Koh Chang, or planning to visit soon, and should not compromise the identify of the victims.

Some conflicting information now on whether Aeon Bank ATMs are charging the 150 baht fee.

I was at the Jusco on Sukumvit Soi 71 today (October 15), and thought I did not withdraw money, I did note that the ATM screen still says, in both English and Thai, that they DO NOT charge the 150 baht fee.

Time will tell as more board members use these machines in the next few weeks.

Interesting that they forged credit cards issued by Thai Banks, rather than by foreign banks. I would think that they might have raised less suspicion if had used forged credit cards from their home country.

I was not charged the 150 baht fee when I used my foreign bank ATM card to withdraw baht at the Aeon ATM at the Carrefour Onnut store on October 11.

I'll try it again later this week.

I went to Seacon Square Mall on Sri Nakarin Road today not knowing it was surrounded by a lake. The songthaew driver did not want to approach the curb, so the passengers hopped off into knee deep water.

Just part of the charm of living in Bangkok

. . . My only question is where did the Phillipa woman come in? Also most of the guys were Britts so I'm pretty sure one of them knows where he lives and he's probably a Britt himself.

Lee

Filipina women are often used in these schemes because many speak English fluently, they are quite happy to work for 20-30,000 baht monthly, and some older, wealthier men are very receptive to conversing with young Asian females.

There is an Aeon ATM machine just inside the Jusco Supermarket on Sukhumvit 71, between Sois Pridi 12 and 14, in the Bangkok Phrakanong area. Jusco is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. The message on this Aeon ATM said specifically they do not charge the 150 baht surcharge for foreign bank cards, and they accept Visa, MC, Plus, Cirrus, and some other cards.

Did any Thai newspapers or other news reports further specifiy the location of this attack? One should be careful everywhere and at all times, but Bangkok City Centre covers a very large area.

It happened in one of the small roads leading off Sukhumvit Soi 22.

Thanks for the information. Lots of small, narrow sois in this area. Easy for muggers who know these small sois to make a quick escape, and not many witnesses.

Oanda showed the interbank rate conversion rate to be 33.14. The Kasikorn TT rate was 33.19.

Oanda was showing IER of 34.14 on Sep 4, not 33.14. And while I can't find Kasikorn online, Bangkok Bank was showing a buying TT rate of 33.94 -- Kasikorn (and all Thai banks) would be showing in the same ballpark. A 33.19 buying rate at Kasikorn doesn't compute (the selling TT rate was 34.19 -- did you drop a baht here also?).

The conversion rate I received on my withdrawal was 33.70 baht to the USD.

Using the X-rate IER for 4 Sep of 34.07, you lost about 1% on the deal, which is par for many cards that pass on the foreign transaction fee levied by Visa and MC.

It's normal that banks give lower conversion rates on international ATM withdrawals than published Oanda interbank and bank TT rates,

I assume you're talking about the banks who own the ATM machines..... These banks don't establish conversion rates, unless 'dynamic currrency conversion' is involved. Otherwise, it's your issuing bank that determines the exchange rate, to include whether or not it passes on the network's foreign transaction fee.

JG, you are right. Kasikorn TT selling rate was 34.14; typo on my part. And the Kasikorn telex buying rate was 33.94 for September 4.

About a 1% difference on conversion rates is consistent with past exchanges.

I used the Government Savings Bank (GSB) ATM at Suknumvit Soi 48 on September 4 to withdraw Thai baht. No mention of 150 baht fee on ATM.

The conversion rate I received on my withdrawal was 33.70 baht to the USD.

On September 4, Oanda showed the interbank rate conversion rate to be 33.14. The Kasikorn TT rate was 33.19.

It's normal that banks give lower conversion rates on international ATM withdrawals than published Oanda interbank and bank TT rates, but I have no way of knowing if the GSB ATM conversion rate is comparable to other bank ATM conversion rates. I know it might also depend on which USA bank I have my account at.

Did anyone else withdraw USD from a Thai bank on September 4? Might be interesting to compare conversion rates applied.

I used the Government Savings Bank (GSB) ATM at Suknumvit Soi 48 on September 4 to withdraw Thai baht. No mention of 150 baht fee on ATM.

The conversion rate I received on my withdrawal was 33.70 baht to the USD.

On September 4, Oanda showed the interbank rate conversion rate to be 33.14. The Kasikorn TT rate was 33.19.

It's normal that banks give lower conversion rates on international ATM withdrawals than published Oanda interbank and bank TT rates, but I have no way of knowing if the GSB ATM conversion rate is comparable to other bank ATM conversion rates. I know it might also depend on which USA bank I have my account at.

I believe the tourist police have a great potential to serve the Thai tourist industry positively.

But,if they are involved in activities such as going to bars and taking ladies to hotels so that Thai police can the ladies and the barowners, then that seem like questionable participation, at least to me.

My best wishes for her recovery.

Did any Thai newspapers or other news reports further specifiy the location of this attack? One should be careful everywhere and at all times, but Bangkok City Centre covers a very large area.

It's just speculation and spin until the UAE issues an official statement as to Thaksin's status.

No. Not wrong desk. This instance occurred in early 2008, when they had more tourist arrivals and more than one desk set up outside the arrivals area. This particular desk was operated by a man and woman. THey were telling every foreigner I observed coming to the desk that it was a flat 400 baht fee into the business and tourist areas.

You see you have answered your own question. In early 2008 AOT had a desk outside too, and the flat rate for their cars to "downtown" was 400 baht. I have used them on occasion myself when I wanted a little extra comfort after a long flight.

Hmmm. According to the AOT website, AOT operates the public taxi stands where the passengers are assigned to a metered taxi with the 50 baht fee.

If this info is not correct, who does operate these public taxi stands?

I am aware that AOT also operates limo services for fixed fares, in addition to the meter taxi stands.

Did the DUI occur in Thailand or another country?

The official taxi Queue has not always worked out for me. I've experienced the following:

- The guy at the desk writing out the taxi slips tells me I have to pay a fixed fare of 400 baht to go to OnNut, normally a 160 baht meter fare. And I have had drivers from the queue try to pull the fixed fare charge on me also.

There's your problem!! Wrong desk possibly? In over 25 years of using both the old, and now the new airport, the taxi desk has always been operated by at least one female, and often two. Your destination is asked, and the slip is issued. The next driver in line takes your bags to the cab, and off you go. I've never had a problem, but that's just me

No. Not wrong desk. This instance occurred in early 2008, when they had more tourist arrivals and more than one desk set up outside the arrivals area. This particular desk was operated by a man and woman. THey were telling every foreigner I observed coming to the desk that it was a flat 400 baht fee into the business and tourist areas.

. . . Off course a big part of the problem is with the people arriving at the airport whom think they are smart and instead of going to the "legal" taxi queue downstairs and supporting these legal taxis will go to the departures hall and flag their own taxi from there, thus opening themselves up to all kinds of hassles and scams.

If everyone would only go with the legal providers eg:

Pickup by a friend

Limousine service

The official taxi queue

and wouldn't try to outsmart the other people for the sake of 50 baht (what is 50 baht on the plane ride you just did?) then a lot of the problems would go away.

Unfortunately it is a part of human nature that every John or Betsy on this planet think that they are smarter than the rest and can outsmart a system put in place. Thus providing fodder for scam artists to feed on ..... now about that bridge I have for sale

The official taxi Queue has not always worked out for me. I've experienced the following:

- The guy at the desk writing out the taxi slips tells me I have to pay a fixed fare of 400 baht to go to OnNut, normally a 160 baht meter fare. And I have had drivers from the queue try to pull the fixed fare charge on me also.

- Long waits (though not so often during the past year when tourist arrivals have dropped off) in the queues) and rude staff who ask your destination and write out the slips.

Drivers who insist on using the tollway or a longer route, even though I know from experience the direct route to my apartment is the quickest and shortest.

I've used taxis a few times from the departures levels without any problems, and the drivers seem more appreciative of the business. I don't care about the 50 baht surcharge as I will always tip at least this much if the driver is safe and pleasant.

I know there might be more risks taking taxis from departures rather than thru the official stands, but I have yet to encounter a problem. maybe they are reluctant to try much because I normally speak Thai with them.

About 8 years ago when I first visited Cambodia, a friend pointed out some South Asians sitting in a riverside pub, and told me they were Tamil Tigers who were in Phnom Penh procuring weapons.

. . . She also warned other jewelry stores not to trust foreign tourist.

No need to worry about locals pulling a similar heist.

Bottom line for me. I won't put one foot inside a King Power Store anywhere, either inside the airport or any other locations.

It will also be interesting to see if there is a crackdown on taxis picking up passengers on the Departures level.

I often take taxis at the arrivals area because I don't like standing in line at the taxi stand in the arrival level. I always tip the driver at least an additional 50 baht, and feel better about them getting this money rather than others.

On January 15 I withdrew 20,000 baht from my USA credit union account using their Visa bank card at the GSB ATM machine at the Asok BTS Station in Bangkok. No notice of 150 baht being charged for this transaction.

My bank charged my account $593.54, for an exchange rate of 33.70 baht per USD. The Interbank rate per Oanda was 34.23 baht per USD. The Bangkok TT Fx rate was 33.93 per USD.