BonzaLad

Clearly not one of my countrymen with a full load!

Italian tourists deplaning with large amounts of cash is neither unusual nor new, in this destination or any other for the last 50 + years in my experience.

Even without former official Italian restrictions on the money that could be spent on overseas holidays in the past (in the ‘70s no more than US$1K) , their economy (in which up to half is considered ‘black’ or ‘off the books’ by their own authorities) means that undeclared earnings are frequently taken in cash form when traveling, and in the past when restrictions on overseas spending were even more stringent, before the Euro’s introduction, watching them extract ‘the ready’ out of their socks or jocks on the tarmac in the old days as they deplaned was a frequent source of amusement to those of us in the inbound destination sector. Old habits die hard it seems!

It would be a nice, easy, and simple start to easing the crowds of those of us who frequently travel within the region and elsewhere as "returning residents", whether on work or other legitimate residency permits (and where ample local government bureauocracy already vets everything any authority would want to know about us frequently, and too often each time for a further 'fee') if Immigration at airports were to would allow those with valid re-entry permits (another unnecessary process, and fee, when the residency permit should be automative confirmation of same!) to line up at the more frequently empty or less crowded "Thai Passports" counters.

But that I am sure has been thought of , No? Too simple? No 'benefit' seen to those working the system?

Meanwhile we just add unnecessarily to the numbers in line of short term visitors, and help exaggerate the amount of 'stress and work' that those officers dealing with "Foreign Passports" feel they have insufficient resources to cope with already.

It is becoming harder to understand how they will ever allow the system to cope with the advances that ASEAN 2015 is designed to bring. Form over substance continues stronger than ever in Thailand while someone has a 'fee' advantage here, and we hasten the view that things are getting more, not less, corrupt in this beautiful land.

A good reason not to make the investments in education so sorely needed - if the greater population ever learn the skills to force permanent change for their betterment, the tumbrils will roll.

The following might help any debate as to the way in which each side in this 'stuggle' might see the other:

There's an annual contest at Griffiths University, Australia, calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term.

This year's term was 'political correctness'.

The winning student wrote:-

'Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media,

which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end.'

1. The problem is the "Local Boys" will work for less...which is obviously what they are worth anyway.

2 They won't hire anyone from the west who has their act together coupled with both the knowledge and savvy, who knows precisely what to

do to get that overpriced crapy airline out of the doldrums and hole they are in.

3. Besides that, they won't pay the kind of salary for that kind of western management, expertise anyway, so let them rot and go under.

4. Let them take their lumps in the market place like everyone else.

By west what do you mean? The long line of poorly managed pompous pinheads that put US carriers in and out of bankruptcy and who have destroyed the airlines? Or do you mean some of the geniuses that led EU carriers to economic disaster? Not that the South Americans were any better. There really hasn't been any expertise at the western led legacy air carriers in a decade and it shows.

Thai Airways is a legacy carrier and its biggest problems right now are related to equipment and aviation fuel costs. Fuel and equipment costs (both leasing and maintenance) are also two of its largest expenses. What's needed is someone that understands the energy supply market and can oversee the fuel hedging, and someone with experience in the financing of large equipment purchases. The issues of service, catering and labour relations are minor compared to the aforementioned 2 big items.

Emirates and Etihad, 2 of the fastest growing airlines in the world, one led by an Australian and the other led by an Englishman.

A nice start for smoother, faster processing once landed, & already possible, as well as more than mildly encouraging to those of us who have invested time and money in the community, pay taxes and employ ample numbers of Thai citizens both locally and overseas would be to rather just be welcomed at all of those "Thai"...and (maybe?) Residents" marked immigration arrival desks instead of lining up sometimes 3 times a week, for some of us, along with the welcome but thundering slower lines of all those tourists!

I think there will be further surprises in this one, and the obvious advantages will be discarded and hidden from all.

Remember this is the reflection of the same mob who dithered too long over misplaced "notional Pride" (sic!) and

refused the major parts of the immediate US Government offers of crisis assistance following the Tsunami in 2004

.............., and again last year during the crisis of the floods ...............

- and might never have to apologise to those Thais whose suffering might not have lasted quite as long otherwise.

I attended as well and it seemed even the many 'accompanying ' the Royal party members present were unperturbed at the time, or at least cognizant that those in the same party were clearly enjoying the show. And there were uniforms in abundance among them.

The picture at the beginning of the article however, though some of your posts might have thought otherwise, is not indeed of Lady G herself but of the person/ladyboy who was very visible to many of us the whole evening, both outside before, and inside in the front row during the concert, and from whom she "borrowed" the headdress for that one number , and to add to her already 'colorful' wardrobe.

It was a weird and wonderful collection and her costumes,compared to the audiences, were nowhere near the most outlandish on the night, and a great display from those many who came out on the night, and many of them 'out of the closet' in their dress, especially for that occasion.

If the Indonesians don't want her, and she were to come again, it is worth the price of admission for the audience antics alone!

Did anyone notice that it is April First. when the this article was posted?

Is there really a Khun Tawatchai Suksoom at the Ministry of the Interior?

Crackdown on illegal taxis begins at Suvarnabhumi Airport Friday

BANGKOK: -- Illegal taxis at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport will be targeted in a crackdown by the authorities from Friday, according to Deputy Director of the Department of Land Transport Chairat Sanguansue.

Speaking in his capacity of chairman of the sub-committee to regulate public transport at Suvarnabhumi, Mr. Chairat said intensified crackdowns on unauthorised taxis will start Friday July 31.

Notices have been issued and posted at the airport and a public relations campaign has been initiated to warn offenders, he said.

Meanwhile, police officers and security guards patrolling airport premises on Thursday began warning unlicensed tour guides before beginning to arresting those who are unlicensed from August 9.

-- TNA 2009-07-30

I would rather see who's the 'Big Man' or "The Explanation" behind the absolutely useless habit of the police, as well as airport security personnel, restricting any (taxi or others) drop-offs on departure to only the first (no 1) or last (No 8) gates (marking doorways) for the various airlines listed on the outside drop off road at that level, rendering 2/3rds of the drop off road inaccessible, slowing down the process, leaving taxis and passengers sometimes stranded 2 -3 lanes out, among moving vehicles, far from the footpath or where the trolleys are lined up, still waiting at each and every drop-off point though you can't get to most of them.

As some one whose regular airline weekly is right in the middle (drop-off points nos.4-5 are convenient to my flights), this is a continuing and needlessly frustrating R..R.P in the A!

Security is not the reason, as inside when reported (every time!!) the airlines staff just shrug their heads, and seek no rationalisation (so they know the truth perhaps?) though it is their passengers who are getting inconvenienced , and Suv seems just like it is to most of us still - a poorlly administered, unnecessarily chaotic den of pointless priveleged carved up points of power where someone , not the public, or the Thai reputation, is being served. Thank God at least the runways seem to work at last!

As a new user, and one bemused to read past posts on this subject back in April postings, I have waited in vain for an English translation of the Condominium Act (no. 4) B.E. 2551 (2008) o nthe Govt websites.

Is anyone else aware that , in the interpretation of one farang jounalist recently (Neil Simmons, Bangkok Post, 29.7.2008) , the 49% limitaton , imposed in Condo Act (no.3) B.E. 2542 (12/4/1999) for five years may now have expired, and should theroretically in his question revert to the 40% appicable at one point in the past ?

His article asks if indeed no one has noticed , or has no one yet queried this publicly, or in law, for fear of raising a scare, in either direction?

If there is more accurate, or up to date information on that topic you may have that I am unaware of at this point, and any news on what, if any, might be a new % limitation to be introduced , can you share it with me?

thanks,

BonzaLad