p_brownstone

No, not a true reflection and ,yes, you are reading too much into the topics and comments. Then again what do I know, I have only been living here for forty years and don't hangout in bars.

forgive me, but I don't understand the relevance of your comment about hanging out in bars ?.....If I have misunderstood and your a recovering alcoholic, then I have to commend you on your will power to stay out of bars, overcoming an addiction must be very difficult

The comment (I believe) is in reference to the type of person who's view of Thailand is solely based on sitting on a barstool in a (red light, low class, cheap - pick your preferred descriptor) area, surrounded by girls who are low class, poorly educated, motivated only by what they can get for their families benefit.

If that is the only side of Thailand you are exposed to then your views will be vastly different to someone with a better overall viewpoint.

Edit: I should perhaps clarify that sitting on a barstool in the less salubrious areas does not make one a bad person, nor does hanging out in 5* places.

I know plenty of people, myself included, who sometimes enjoy a few beers in the cheaper spots, but unlike the guys who only see that side of life, I and most people I know, also enjoy a very different side of Bangkok, one where you'll never see the typical 'grumpy old man'.

ah now i understand, I don't drink myself except for a very odd occasional glass of sherry after dinner sometimes, cant remember the last time I was in a bar as such, unless of course we count the one in the golf club after a round of 18 ?

I understand your descriptor I think, you talking about ladies of the night ? yes...I have nothing against those who choose to spend time using the services of such ladies, but not really for me...

Pretentious twit.

Patrick

Sorry - double Post.

Patrick

No, not a true reflection and ,yes, you are reading too much into the topics and comments. Then again what do I know, I have only been living here for forty years and don't hangout in bars.

forgive me, but I don't understand the relevance of your comment about hanging out in bars ?.....If I have misunderstood and your a recovering alcoholic, then I have to commend you on your will power to stay out of bars, overcoming an addiction must be very difficult

I was mildly interested in your OP and planned to follow this Thread on occasion.

However your comment on " villagefarangs' " contribution is simply mindless and has absolutely no relevance to what he wrote.

You clearly have an "Agenda" and I have no interest in contributing further.

Patrick

Unless at least 1 parent is Thai - or a Permanent Resident - a child born in Thailand has no claim to Thai citizenship.

Usually the Thai Birth Certificate arranged by the Hospital will have an annotation to that effect.

Patrick

Must be at least 35 years ago but I well remember a group trip I made to Khao Yai National Park, there were about 25 of us and we had rented one of the large Dormitory buildings behind the Park Headquarters. As we got out of the cars we heard a lot of crashing and banging coming from the Dormitory kitchen area; several of us went upstairs to investigate and found a Sun Bear searching for food. On all fours he looked to be about the size of a German Shepherd dog so we all thought it was pretty safe and gently herded him downstairs. Once in the car park area he disappeared behind one of the cars, then reared up on his hind legs, front paws on the car roof, to get a closer look at us.

In that stance he was head and shoulders higher than the car, nowhere near as small as he had looked on all fours, so not quite as safe as we had assumed - although he was probably more scared of us!

It was quite funny to see the mad stampede of those of the group who had stayed downstairs in the car park!

Patrick

A graceful solution to this farce would be for the District Officer to drop all "charges" against the Bridge players and arrest the informant on the grounds of giving false information and wasting the time of dozens of Government Officials (plus whatever other offences he could dream up).

Justice served in both the true and poetic sense.

Won't happen of course.

Patrick

The District Chef seems to be the one who will not let it go...

Is he Elected? Appointed? or did he Inherit the job? does seem to be a sandwich or two short of a full picnic.

Basil, your comment gives belief that you do not live in Thailand, these positions are "bought" or you have friends/family in higher, powerful positions.

Surely this Provincial Official must have several layers of Superiors above him at the National level?

I find it difficult to understand why one of them has not stepped in a called a halt to this nonsense.

Patrick

A number of restaurants were hit by I believe these same district officials here in Pattaya over the holidays. A rather big fine for selling alcohol in their restaurant between the hours of 2pm and 5pm. Easy money maker for them.

I thought it was only takeaways banned between these hours. You can certainly drink in all pubs and restaurants I have been in Thailand.

It depends on the restaurant - or, perhaps, on the type of Licence they hold?

Certainly Fuji and MK for example will not sell alcohol between 2.00 and 5.00 pm

Patrick

...a group of foreigners caught playing a card game with unauthorized playing cards, you like it or not but this is the law....

Again, an incorrect statement. Bridge is not against Thai law. There is an exception. So the police were wrong, and an apology is in order.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Playing-bridge-has-special-exemption-under-Thai-la-30278706.html

nay. i said playing bridge (or any card game) with unauthorized playing cards which is not legal.

Since bridge is almost always played in leagues, and as a group game, you are nearly always going to have more than two decks of cards on hand. I assume that is why the special exception. So, your dogma and absolute principals do not apply here. Sorry to disappoint. It is LEGAL in Thailand to play bridge! Period. As long as there is no gambling taking place. There was nothing to point toward that happening, and even the cops admitted that. So, strike one on the part of the lowly cops. Their mistake.

It's illegal to play ANY card game in Thailand using playing cards which do not have an Excise sticker on the pack - signifying that Excise Duty has been paid.

Just as Bar owners can be arrested if they serve alcohol from bottles which do not have an Excise sticker.

This, plus the "more than 120 Cards" rule, is what the Police are using as a reason for their actions.

Sounds petty on their part certainly but they are correct as far as the letter of the law goes.

Patrick

...I doubt that ANYONE would willingly decide to climb 39 floors on the outside of the building...because 'they forgot their keys'.....

...every day....more and more.....

I don't think anyone willingly climbed 39 floors outside the building. He just climbed from one neighbors apartment balcony to his and slipped?

Very sadly it would seem to be an accident.

Why in the hell did his neighbour let let him do it. I would have said "No way mate" go get a locksmith.

Absolutely agree.

Stupid and uncaring neighbour.

Unbelievable that someone would let this happen.

Patrick

Open the online shop in the name of your THAI wife, girlfriend or gig and let the payment go to her banK account where you have access to. Then it's not YOU who is doing the business. Problem solved!

There are SO many pitfalls in your suggestion, I'm somewhat stunned!

OP - do NOT even consider this "solution" very far from "problem solved" as claimed, you will encounter many more.

Patrick

I'd definitely avoid Lat Prao.

That said, whatever route you choose you will hit pretty bad traffic on Srinakarin from either direction (Bang Na or Lat Prao) so it really makes little difference.

If it were me however I'd use the Expressway.

Patrick

Sorry - Edit!

Just read the OP properly, I thought you were going to Seacon Square.

If you are going to the Novotel Bang Na - definitely use the Expressway, forget about the Lat Prao route.

Patrick

Legally, if your living in Thailand while earning money, your working and legally require a work permit, which you likely wont get. Catch-22.

Not necessarily, the Thai authorities won't know where the painting takes place unless you tell them but the important thing is that trading takes place as a UK enterprise.

Right up until you ship one from an address in Thailand. That's pretty much a dead giveaway...

Exactly - depends on the volume of course but a Farang making regular visits to his local Post Office to send packages overseas could raise a red flag to authorities here; not a certainty but there's always a chance.

Patrick

"Regarding the law, Khunying Chodchoy stated that an amendment to the Gambling Laws in 1960 allowed for such games, where money was not changing hands, to be played without any form of license or authorization from the Police or Government."

That statement is interesting in itself. One would have to ask why this hadn't been cited earlier to the authorities by those arrested considering the length of time the bridge club has been operating and assuming those running the club knew (and you would expect this, knowing the rules, especially with anything to do with gaming here).

Perhaps it was cited, and that would be the reason why they dredged for the 'more than 120 cards' regulation. That said though, if bridge is legal, amended by law, how can the 120 card rule apply to a legalized game?

Possessing more than 120 cards is legal, but only if each card has an Excise Department stamp.

Yep, noted. Forgot to mention the stamp issue........................

Wonder where they got the cards?

There is a Government Monopoly on printing Playing Cards in Thailand :

http://www.wopc.co.uk/thailand/playing-cards-factory

and every Pack produced there must have an Excise Seal on the box - just like alcohold and cigarettes.

Patrick

Soi Zero may not have been around long after you arrived, but it was there long before that, although named 'Buckskin Joe' way back. I know it was there in the early '80s, when I arrived, and believe it was there at the end of the Vietnam War. A bar there, called Sexy Nights became the unofficial R&R home of the US Army Fifth Detachment, who were tasked with find MIAs. That bar became known as Det 5, and is still in business on Soi 8. Great place BTW.

I played a lot of pool on Soi Zero, and met some great guys and girls there.

Again, of no interest to the vast numbers of Bwanas who ride past it in taxis these days.

But it was good.

Soi Zero was definitely not around at the time of the Vietnam War - it was much more recent than that (it was built under the Expressway which was only constructed in, I think, the 80's).

Soi Cowboy and Bars / Massage Parlours on Petchburi Road were the areas popular with US servicemen - by some sort of unwritten agreement very few frequented Patpong which was the main venue for Expat residents and tourists at that time.

Patrick

Patrick, my recollection is that Soi Cowboy was post Vietnam - more like the late 70s. New Petchburi Road was a huge hangout for the GIs though and also a string of bars in Saphan Kwai. I think the soi was called Soi Katoey (but I never saw one there).

I think you are right - my memory for dates is a little hazy but for sure it was not named "Soi Cowboy" at the time - that name came somewhat later (coined, I think, by Bernard Trink - but again I may be wrong) and was derived from the name of the first Bar in that Soi, opened by an African American chap (whos' name I also forget!) who always wore a Cowboy hat.

Patrick

That shitty bar area was a disgrace and he did a public service ripping it down and replacing it with a park

Only building a park to get acquitted. But you keep believing he is one of the good guys.....

Ill intentions can still end up performing a public service. The park is nice.

That "Park" is simply a vanity project and a major waste of space - the opening times are ridiculously restrictive

Patrick

Soi Zero may not have been around long after you arrived, but it was there long before that, although named 'Buckskin Joe' way back. I know it was there in the early '80s, when I arrived, and believe it was there at the end of the Vietnam War. A bar there, called Sexy Nights became the unofficial R&R home of the US Army Fifth Detachment, who were tasked with find MIAs. That bar became known as Det 5, and is still in business on Soi 8. Great place BTW.

I played a lot of pool on Soi Zero, and met some great guys and girls there.

Again, of no interest to the vast numbers of Bwanas who ride past it in taxis these days.

But it was good.

Soi Zero was definitely not around at the time of the Vietnam War - it was much more recent than that (it was built under the Expressway which was only constructed in, I think, the 80's).

Soi Cowboy and Bars / Massage Parlours on Petchburi Road were the areas popular with US servicemen - by some sort of unwritten agreement very few frequented Patpong which was the main venue for Expat residents and tourists at that time.

Patrick

They came to my place a few months ago. They weren't the normal cops though, they were the border cops (ต.ช.ด.). They did the same thing, thumbed through the passport, took a picture. Seemed really friendly. Then left. My landlord told me later that they went to him afterwards and told him we were sex trafficers. The landlord gave them 5k baht, and I guess then they decided we weren't... Bunch of crooks.

I rather think your Landlord is telling porkies.

Why would he pay Baht 5,000.- of his own money just to keep a couple of "sex traffickers" in his residence?

Patrick

Dear Thai Smile Airways,

Would these Dolls be denied Boarding on International Flights if they did not have a Passport and Visa?

Patrick

Whilst I agree that people should at least shower before going out to eat I am equally irritated by people who douse themselves with perfume (or aftershave) so that they stink up the area for meters around their table, this too detracts from the taste of food.

One of my favourite places to eat in Bangkok used to ban the use of cellphones in the restaurant - sadly this is no longer enforced.

Patrick

On several occasions I have tried to add "Reputation" - i.e. "Like" a Post - by clicking on the Link in the Post, however for the last week or so I always get a message :

"An Error occurred : there was a problem storing your reputation vote"

Why is this?

Patrick

Surely the most sensible - and safe - option is to obey the speed limit at all times?

Patrick

if you do that, you risk being rear-ended in some places

Silly and nonsensical comment.

I have driven, and been driven, in Thailand at regulation speeds over 40 years and never, ever, been "rear ended" in traffic.

Just as have many thousands of other Drivers here.

Patrick

Appreciate all the feedback guys, even the patronising comments welcomed to keep momentum!

<snip>

For the record I don't like speeding or flouting the law but also find the idea of hidden cameras and entrapment rather questionable.

You clearly do not understand the meaning of the word "entrapment".

Patrick

Surely the most sensible - and safe - option is to obey the speed limit at all times?

Patrick