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Aviador
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Posts posted by Aviador
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Wow, sad but totally believable!
As a practical solution to your phone problems, you might consider switching to a mobile with gprs, subscribe rather than prepaid, shouldn't make much difference in monthly costs, just as 'fast' as your present connection, and without any of the probs you describe.
I have in he past tried several alternates. Last year one satellite provider tried to sell me a system which involved a huge dish antenna. It looked like a tracking station used to contact space aliens. The price was right but then DSL came into town. Recently I found out about another satellite provider for “supposedly” 1200 Baht per month, unlimited service. The only stipulation was that I must purchase the dish antenna as well as the converter for 13,500 Baht. No problem, I just spent twice that much to get air-conditioning back on my truck which is still under warrantee. I sent my trusty Thai representative to Phuket to buy the thing. Done deal. To have it hooked up involved contacting an authorized installer. A very nice English speaking lady answered my query but her first question to me was: “Are you familiar with the monthly charges?” “Sure sweetheart, 1200 Baht a month”. “Oh no” she purred, “It is 12,000 Baht per month”. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat ?? I screamed.
“I don’t want to buy your company, just your service” I said softly trying not to scare the sweet sounding thing on the other end .
Then someone came up with another solution. GSM internet access thru your cell phone. A Swiss fellow who runs a diving company in Tap Lamu has the service and swears by it. Umpteen MB/sec up and download, all for only 800 Baht per month (unlimited). My US Motorola phone does not have the capability, so another trip by my Thai connection to Phuket. Purchased one Motorola GSM phone that plays Beethoven’s 7th, takes pictures, makes coffee, walks the dog and whatnot. I don’t really need all of this crap but he assured me it was the latest and greatest. Came with a USB cable and an installation CD. All for the paltry sum of 12,800 Baht. Free of TOT at last I thought, now I can tell them to stick their telephone line up their respective noses. But,… it doesn’t work (at least not in Khao Lak) NO SERVICE, emergency only. Back to square one. I received a file of 300kb in my e-mail today. It donloaded at 5,3 kb/zec I already smashed one keyboard and was ready to throw the computer off the back balcony when, after typing a fairly long e-mail, the connection was severed causing me to loose everything.
I dumped a gla of Chang over the keyboard and nuttin functiona :>((
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My phone had been dead again again since the 15th of November. It is raining therefore UBC satellite TV is not working either. So, with nothing else to do, let me try to put something down as it is fresh in my memory.
Oh my god !!!!!!!.
This English phrase seems to have worked it’s way into the Thai language judging from its use on UBC Thai movies.
As I was having breakfast this morning the 22nd of November, reading the Bangkok Post, I very nearly gagged whilst reading the following:
“TOT wins deal to become main provider at Suvarnabhumi airport.”
How can a bunch of stupid, incompetent, sloppy nincompoops with a reliability track record of absolute zero be entrusted to provide fixed and wireless networks as well as internal telecommunications services at an airport, when they can not even come close to providing minimal service in a small town like Khao-lak ?
A company called “True” had expressed interest in doing business at the airport, but a source at the Information and Communications Technology Ministry stated that: “The suitability clause” in the new contract was seen as a way to block True from having a major rule. Hmmm.
Personally, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass how and why TOT was awarded the contract, but sitting here without a telephone line and no internet access AGAIN for almost 5 weeks when the answer from their “customer service department” keeps telling me “I will check” and nothing happens, I tend to get antsy. When I call my number I get this recording “The subscriber line you are trying to reach is temporarily out of order”. How long is “temporary” in Thailand ? A week a month, a year ? Is it like “preung nee” which is supposed to mean tomorrow, but never is ? I receive a bill every month and pay it promptly. I even paid the July 2005 charge of 433.35 Baht for “local” calls, when I don’t even have a handset attached to the line don’t know anyone in the “local area” I would or should have called. (I tried arguing with the bitch at Takuapa, but it was like pissing into the wind.)
TOT had almost 11 months to get their act together here in town. The tsunami took the masts which carried the utilities and transported the jumble of their telephone wires mercifully into the Andaman Sea. New poles were erected within 4 days by the electric company. Now TOT had the time and chance to install professional distribution boxes, but as can be seen in the accompanied photo it’s “rats nest city” again. How can anyone find out what belongs to whom amongst this mess ??? (One of the wires on the ground is probably my pair.)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/Avia...ix/9908681a.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/Avia...ix/1ee9dfb9.jpg
The same goes for the telephone line to my home for which I paid 12,000 Baht last year. They mounted my wire pair on top of all the electric wires on the masts with the insulator of the “neutral” which isn’t really neutral because it isn’t grounded like it is supposed to be for almost 1 km and can on some days carry more than 60 VAC. I have appliances including my lap-top and PC that can sometimes not be touched on any metal surface without getting a small shock. At the same time with all it’s knots and loops in the line it makes their ADSL a joke.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/Avia...ix/93ec96c7.jpg
It is suppose to be 512/256. 55555 On a good day I get perhaps 50 kb/sec, most of the time even less.
Their installation has cost me 2 DSL modems, due to lightning strikes, as well as my 65,000 Baht laptop, whose the keyboard was damaged do to a flashover from the telephone line. I had asked TOT numerous times to move the line down below the electric wires where it belongs, but it’s like beating a dead horse.
Since it is asinine to even try to do any up or down loading during the day, I sat here one morning at 6AM attempting to retrieve my e-mail. My reasoning was this: Most businesses in America are closed at this time, the Europeans are sleeping, ditto most of Asia. No business traffic to speak of, I thought. Well it took me 15 Minutes just to get onto Yahoo’s home page. (Can not find server, this page is not available, please adjust your browser’s settings, I did not understand your request et cetera) Finally success !!!! Eureka. I had 4 e-mails, one of which had to be answered immediately. After typing an answer, pressed “send” it reverted back to the “compose” mail page. Then around 7:30 ADSL went from slow to brain dead and disconnected me. Everything I had typed disappeared in cyber space. After 6 tries I just gave up.
On Friday the 9th of December, now going on the 6th week of no service, when everybody else in town had a working phone, a trip to the ghoul in Takuapa was in order. She tells me that since I hadn’t paid my November bill my phone was disconnected. What ? I tried to explain to her, that I had no service during the last 3 weeks of November and had no intentions to pay this bill. “You no pay, you no get telephone” was the reply. I could have spit nickels, but I managed to control my temper, especially since I had not taken my daily blood pressure pill. So I paid the bitch 535 Baht to keep her happy. “OK. Now when do I get my phone back ?” “In a few days” was the reply. Well, this was last Friday afternoon. The weekend is coming up so the soonest I could expect things to return to normal would be Monday.
WRONG.
As is turned out, Monday was another federal holiday, ergo no TOT service.
Buses were running, airplanes were flying, restaurants and shops were open, but nix TOT.
Interesting article in Saturday’s edition of the Phuket Gazette.
The Social Development and Human Security Minister Watana Muangsook wrote:
“Nearly two-thirds of Thai children display below-standard intellectual development levels, largely due to their parents’ failure to provide them with proper care at a young age.”
Figures. Most of them probably now work for TOT, Mitsubishi Thailand, and various repair services. (Ref. Post: “Does anybody in Thailand know how to repair anything ?”)
And the rip off continues:
I still have one account with a bank in the USA where my social security check is automatically deposited on the 3rd of every month. It is a debit account with overdraft protection (at a price) and is treated as though I had written a check, every time I access an ATM machine. When I had plenty of money in my Thai accounts, I really never did check, although it seemed like the money melted away rather fast, until lately. I was at the super market and short about 200 Baht. There was an ATM right outside the building. The balance query displayed that I had a balance of 1,675 Baht. OK, lets have 1000 Baht, which should have left me with 675 Baht, minus the $ 1.50 (60 Baht) my bank will charge for accessing a non Hudson United ATM.
No way José. The ledger balance was now - MINUS 424 Baht. Now my bank has the right to charge me $ 30.oo for the overdraft.
It cost me 1,099 Baht to get 1000 Baht out of this machine.!!!!!!!!!!
Now I got wary.
My social security check is around 50,000 Baht per month. (at the current 41.25 or 30) Assuming that the bank will only pay me 39 Baht per $ 1.oo US the deposit should still amount to 46,215 Baht.
On December 4th I withdrew 10,000 Baht from the account. ($256.41 + $1.50. 257.91) = 10,558.49 Baht. The receipt from the SIAM CITY BANK showed Fee: 0.00 so it should be 35,657 Baht
Lo and behold the balance was now: 32,157 Baht WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 3,500 Baht ????? ($ 85.36)
Another withdrawal on December 12th 10,000 Baht.
OK 32,157 baht minus 10,000 Baht (+ 60 Baht)
32,157
-10,060
22,097 and still “no fee”
But the balance now was 20.940 Baht.
So, where did 1,157 Baht disappear to ????
Of course SIAM CITY BANK denied any wrongdoing and my US bank still insists that it only charges me $ 1.50 for every transaction.
In retrospect: It cost me 4,657 Baht to get 20,000 Baht out of their ATM.
Does anyone know who to complain to ????
I contacted Social Security in the US to change the direct deposit. If I were living in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden Portugal the UK Switzerland and Spain my S.S. check would be direct deposited into an account in those countries. But not Thailand.
May dee, may dee.
But at least it ain't cold here
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Well Sirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. If the shoe fits. You made it sound like I made all of this up. I don't not consider myself a moron, just "gullable" OK ?
You think I'm a moron for being sceptical? Scepticism does not a moron make.
I think my scepticism has served me better in Thailand than your gullibility has you.
They see you as an easy mark because of your gullibility, that is why you have been "hit" so many times. They obviously don't respect you, and yet, after two years you still choose to live amongst them. You still haven't wised up have you?
To sir burr.
Sorry, I suppose I just wasn’t in a jovial mood, when I wrote the above posts.
My apologies.
Years ago, I flew a corporate jet part time for a Jewish fellow. 6 foot 6, nicest guy but crooked as the day was long. He owned a furniture factory in Massachusetts as well as saw mill in Canada. His game was to screw banks out of money, which as far as I am concerned shouldn’t even be considered a crime because banks are and always have been the biggest legal thieves.
Anyway, one day we were driving along in the company limousine. As we were passing a cemetery he said to me “You see all those dead people ? Do you think anybody really cares who or what they were?” “Hmm, well , so?”
“I owe so many people so much money, that when I die they will pass my grave and say: That SOB managed to screw me and gotten away with it.”. To him it was fun cheating people.
Takes all kinds to make a world I suppose.
PS: After he disappeared, the last paycheck bounced and American express, (I had a corporate card in my name) sent me a bill for landing fees at JFK, fuel and repair bills totaling over $ 12,000.oo US.
It cost me a lawyer who explained to AMEX, that I was neither a stockholder nor an officer in the corporation, just an employee, which luckily settle the case. The FBI showed up a few times at my home. One could always tell the driver was a fed. Chrysler K-car, he shirt and tie, smelled Cop a mile away. They just wanted to know if I heard from him.
He did call me from Barbados about 4 years later and said: “I am thinking of buying another airplane. Would you like to work for me again, you were an excellent pilot”. “Sure Mort” I said. “I want 120,000 per year, payable in advance :>)” That was the last time I heard from the guy.
Best regards, the ol’ Capt’n , still hanging in.
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@Udon.
OK, well I was a little naïve to say the least, but I had always trusted my instincts. In Thailand however, screwing falangs seems to be a national past time.
If I could find an E-mail address of his Majesty the King
Bhumibol Adulyadej,
who was born in the USA and from what I read about him, seems to be a fair-minded guy, I would dare to send him my experiences. Maybe he would laugh his royal butt of, but at least I would have the satisfaction to dispel this myth that not all foreigners are sex tourists, drunks and drug dealers, but someone like me who donated 300,000 baht to repair the damage to the local school, the tsunami had caused.
As for leoboss. He is quite a joker but I have known him for 3 or 4 years. He is a highly intelligent Thai, now hmm, 21 or 22,??? speaks 4 or 5 languages, married with twins, was a monk for a year (catholic Buddhist what a combination :>) but now living in Germany. Even I had a bit of a problem translating Hemmingway’s musings, because it contains words that are only used in Cuban Spanish.
This is what I would send to the KING:
To His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
It behooves me to write to you, although I am sure you never will get to read this.
I have lived in Southern Thailand now for almost 2 years. I love the climate and (most) of the people. I was a professional pilot for over 40 years in the USA, traveled all over Europe and South America. Two years ago I took a vacation in southern Thailand and fell in love with the place. After my sons grew up and went their own way, my wife divorced me after 30 years I decided to pack it in. I sold my home in New Jersey, since most of my neighbors had either died or moved away. I had nothing in common with the young folks who moved in. So I pulled up stakes and decided to live in Thailand for whatever years I had left. I presently lease a house at the edge of the jungle east of Khao Lak, away from the tourists and all the bull. The only female living with me now is my Thai dog whom I got as a puppy. Sorry for the long introduction, I just wanted to tell you a few things about me.
How to got screwed out of money at every turn as soon as I arrived here.
I have since learned, that cheating Farang seems to be a national past time, but to completely strip someone of almost 3 million Baht within less than 2 years must seem some kind of record.
It started out with the shipment of my container.
Prior to my arrival here in March of 2004 I contracted with an American shipping company to have a 1 CM container, weighing about 240 kg, containing assorted household goods and memorabilia to be shipped from the east coast of the US to Phuket. Everything went as planned. 5 weeks later I received a telephone call from a fellow who introduced himself as the Thai agent of the US forwarder. "Hello, your container has arrived here in Bangkok and is ready for pickup by you." "You must be kidding“, I said. “I am not going to drive 1000 km to retrieve this thing. Ship it to my home here in Khao Lak and if there are any additional charges let me know." (A Swiss friend of mine in Tap Lamu had a ship Diesel motor weighing 2 tons shipped there from Bangkok for 1,800 Baht, so how much could it cost) "No, you need to mail me your passport first" was his repy “ No way José, I am not sending my passport to just anybody, but wait, 2 of my Thai friends will be driving to Chiang Mai for Songkran next week, I will have them stop by and hand you the passport.” 2 days later I get a call from my friends stating that this guy needs 8000 Baht for "expenses" but we don't have that much cash on hand. I wired them the money, they handed the creep my passport as well as the 8000 Baht.
About 3 days later I get an e-mail saying that my container is now in Phuket because the truck could not negotiate the narrow roads in Khao Lak. What ??? Route 4 ain't exactly a dirt path. I e-mailed the guy back and told him. OK, forget it. I will pick up the container in Phuket, just tell me where. Another few days went by when I get another e-mail. Your container is with the authorities at the pier in Bangkok ready for release to you. We will not release the container as well as your passport until the following charges have been paid.
Pier fee: 3,500 Baht
Handling: 4,800 Baht
Transportation:26,000 Baht
Customs fees: 12,600 Baht
Miscellaneous: 5,200 Baht
Grad total: 52,100 Baht
At the pier in Bangkok ? Are we talking about the same container which was supposed to be in Phuket ??
I sent two guys with a rental truck on a 3 day trip to Bangkok. Expenses, fuel including overnight meals etcetera 14,000 baht.
This creep would not disclose the location of my passport until he had the cash in hand. The container was actually still sitting at the pier where the cargo ship had dropped it of. It had never even been moved one foot.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is this a way to say: “Welcome to Thailand ??”.
I paid TOT 24,000 Baht to have a 1,5 km phone line strung to my home just to have internet access. The word "preung nee" was mentioned several times which I understood to mean "tomorrow". I have a feeling though that it means more like "some other day", because it took 12 preung nees to get the line installed. Even then, the line was and is still full of knots and only about 2 cm from the electric lines. A magnet for lightning bolts which cost me 2 modems, including one DSL modem so far. All requestst to TOT to rectify the situation fell on deaf ears. I now have “DSL” back (800 baht per month), after 8 months which, even at 5 AM goes from slow to brain dead when the entire world is sleeping and just accessing my e-mail takes 10 minutes sometimes.
I purchased a brand new fully equipped pickup from Mitsubishi in Kokloy, paid 700,000 Baht cash and thought, well with a 100,000 km guarantee I would never have to worry about any repairs. Wishful thinking. I really don't drive much, in fact I hate to drive here. Most drivers are suicidal and plain "nuts" anyway. I now have the truck for about 19 months and have less than 14,000 km on it. At around 3000 km I noticed that the exhaust was smoking at any speed and burned about 11 to 12 liters of Diesel/100km. I took it back to Mitsubishi where the "mechanic" told me: You drive too fast, she smoke". At 40 km/hr ???? I found a fellow in Tap Lamu who works on ship diesels. He adjusted the injection timing. 600 baht and I was on my way. :>) Around 5000 km the electric passenger side window refused to go up and after several tries the carrier came up and the glass fell into the door. When I had Mitsu check it I was told, that "I ABUSED" the window, therefore there would be a charge. The right windshield wiper mounting had been loose and wobbling. They checked it and told me "no have part" must be ordered from Mitsubishi. OK order it and let me know when it comes in. That was in October of 2004. I still don't have it. 6 weeks ago, the air conditioner was weak and worked not at all at idle. The genius at Mitsu pulled the drain hose off the bottom and said: See is dripping, is OK. No shit Sherlock With this heat it should be running like a faucet and not just drip. Take a look at the receiver dryer. There are bubbles in it. Also the suction line is hand warm. It leaks somewhere and needs freon. (I used to repair air conditioners for a living years ago) Then came the stock answer:" NO HAVE." You mean to tell me that a certified Mitsubishi service center has no means to repair air conditioning when every damned car around here has AC ? I found some schmo in Baniang who was supposed to be an expert. He added a few pounds of freon (500 baht) which got me going (for a week) After it went dead again I stopped at the same guy and told him to check for leaks. He looked at me like I just came from Mars. His only test equipment was a manifold set with the high pressure gage minus the glass and a bent pointer, which he tried to coax into moving by bending the needle.
I had bought a washing machine June of 2004 in Phuket and opted for the 2 year warrantee, at the suggestion of the sales person. In October it quit. I was told to bring it back (to Phuket ??) So I called a local guy who took it to his shop. 4 days later he called and told me it needed a micro chip which had to ordered from Japan. Well it was still waiting for the chip December 26th when the Tsunami confiscated it and took it into the Andaman sea. Lucky for me I had bought another less high tech washer in November.
Naturally I also lost my telephone service December 26th and received a temporary number around the middle of March. TOT had the unmitigated gall to bill me for services rendered, including DSL, for January, February and March, 2,200 baht. I am waiting for some Satellite Internet service, then they can stick their telephone up their respective noses. Sunday night before Songkran the line wend dead again. I called TOT and was told: You know many people go to temple and many travel to visit relatives far away. Sooo? The world stands still meanwhile ???
The phone was dead for 10 days.
Back in June of 2003 I was involved in an accident with a motorbike in Phuket driven by a guy who had an illegal side car attached to it, no insurance as well as no driver's license (what else is new). Well the man had a badly injured knee. The hospital they had taken him to, wanted to amputate his leg, therefore I had him transferred to the International Hospital in Phuket. Since the hospital did not trust my insurance company (I found out later why) I paid the daily charges, such as private room, ICU, surgery etc. All in all it came to around 260,000 Baht. I did visit the man at the hospital several times and remember when I met his family right after the accident. Instead of a grieving wife and daughter I found smiling faces. "Hot dog, we are in fat city now. A Farang and looks like one with money" !!!!! Facit, it cost me over halve a Million Baht to settle the case. Then.......
About 3 months later I received a check from the insurance company for 240,000 Baht to reimburse me for the hospital expenses. It promptly bounced due to insufficient funds. A trip to their office in Phuket revealed that they had closed their doors and disappeared. I also had to pay 22,000 Baht in advance for the repair of the motor bike, because it was fixed at an "unauthorized" (per insurance) repair shop. At the same time I had to pay 33,000 baht for parts to repair the damage to my vehicle, again because the place did not trust the insurance company.
I had invested 750,000 Baht in the transportation company of my new found Thai friend Suwan Ramkew, also known as Mr. T. He was related to the folks who own all the bungalows here. He spoke reasonable English and was invaluable to get me through the trauma of the accident in Phuket. We operated 10 minibuses. Business was booming, until December 26th. Out of the 10 vehicles, only 2 survived. Sadly we also lost one driver and 4 tourists. The insurance company balked at paying, citing something like "act of nature" We did get 500,000 Baht for one brand new bus which had cost 1,6 Million. My Thai friend promised to repay me as soon as he can get on his feet but I explained to him that it was an investment and not his fault the money was lost. I told him "it's only money at least we are alive". He then though I was the greatest thing since sliced bread, since most of his Thai investors were hounding him.
Recently my second washing machine quit. It will be an adventure to see how I get this thing fixed under warrantee.
Minor annoyances, having to buy a new washer very 6 or 7 months ;>)
Truly I still love it here. As a pilot I managed to get around in the world and was particularly intrigued with Ecuador. I toyed with the idea to retire to the place, not only because of the climate, but also since I speak Spanish as well as German but as things go in Latin America, there always seems to be open season on Presidentes every few years. Well, there was another change in Presidents not too long ago. I therefore decided to hang in here for the few years I have left. Another reason why I picked Thailand is the fact that it is very pro American, something that is rare in today's world. I can buy property, own a business 100% own a car and all of this without getting involved with another female. (I think I mentioned, that I was married for 30 years raised 2 sons and lived with a lady for another 10) The only female who lives and sleeps with me is my "genuine" Thai dog, a very intelligent animal whom I got as a puppy. She has been sterilized, and has had all the required shots.
My call to the business which sold me the second washing machine was futile, because the tsunami claimed the building as well as the inventory. Luckily the owner escaped with his life and advised me to just have the machine repaired at my own expense. OK, what else is new. I called a local shop who promised to be here "preung nee", which was 60 days ago.
I sent one of our out of work drivers and paid him for the day to Mitsubishi in Phuket with my Pickup to have the air conditioner taken care of. According to him they too are not equipped to take on the work. (unbelievable but true ) He took it to one of his "friend's" shop who in his words was an "expert". Sure enough the guy discovered that the shop who had repaired the truck after the accident had used the old bent high pressure line to the condenser and patched a hole in it with Superglue. However it needed a new receiver dryer which was, as he said "full of water ?" OK, change it. On the way home the compressor apparently exploded in Thai Muang.
Anyway, my Mitsu pickup picked Thai Muang as the place to scare halve the town when the compressor jammed, the fan belt smoked and finally snapped. (Everybody thought the car was on fire .) But directly in front of a place called THAI MUANG AUTOSOUND AND AIR. Why didn't anybody tell me about this place ? My driver told me that they are the best equipped shop within 200 km. I was told that the "expert" in Phucket overcharged the system, lost most of the oil causing the compressor to jam. (sounds logical). End of story. The very next day. Replaced Compressor, dryer, belt, freon ? (probably not the right stuff but who cares ) 22,750 Baht. So much for the 100,000 km warrantee. (No wonder we Yankees have to prove an income of 60,000 Baht per month or more. Back in the US I could probably sue the guy as well as Mitsubishi for not living up to their warrantee, but who cares at this point. The air conditioner works (for now anyway :>))
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My philosophy right now is to do the most good to wherever it is needed. I am 70 years old and the track record of my ancestors and immediate family is not very good. (they all died in their 70's) Quien sabe, who knows. I don't want to leave my ungrateful children anything. Money is there to be spent.
A former client of mine (I flew his multi million corporate airplane for over 10 years) arrived in Phuket last year in order to donate money benefiting the victims of the tsunami. He was thrilled to find, that I only lived about 100 km north of Phuket. We met for lunch, I showed him the devastation here, as well as in Baniang, Khuk-khak and Nam Kem. He pledged 300,000 Baht to rebuild the damaged driveway at the school in Baniang, providing I matched the amount, which I did.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/Avia...ngschool022.jpg
Now I am sure my Thai “friend” also received a nice “commission” from the contractor.
After getting the bad check we decided to sue the Insurance Company. Several trips to Phuket to court, which for me was sort of superfluous, since I couldn’t understand a thing that was going on, I sent T by himself the next few times.
He called me on a Thursday with the news that he had a settlement check for 244,000 Baht in his hot little hands. Joy to the world. That’ll buy a few beer Changs, since I had already written it off as a lost cause. He sent me an SMS that he would be home around 6 PM and would see me then.
……….That was the last time I heard from him for 2 weeks. I get the usual “Kathod kaa” solly the person you are trying to leach is not avairable whenever I dial his cell phone number. :>) Could it be ? To a person who makes 12000 Baht a month whenever he is working, 244,000 must seem like a lot of money. Naaaa impossible. He is such a nice guy and Thais are sooooo honest. I did go to court with him the first 2 days, but sat around like a dummy, because I didn’t understand a thing during the procedure. somewhere at the I wasn’t hedging any bets for a speedy return. coinciding with the receipt of the check for the settlement. Hmmm. Add the 20000 Baht for the camera he bought for me, 244 grand, it would be a cool quarter of a million for someone.
Even before he was constantly asking for money. He was building a restaurant and when the lumber arrived he needed 100,000 baht for the wood. Then his son was born and he needed 75,000 Baht for the hospital bill. He had told me that I had a very “good heart”. Well back in the USA they would call me a sucker.
He sent an SMS, that he needed to pay the attorney and would send his mother to pick up a “power of attorney” form, which I did (gullible and STUPID THAT I AM) :>(
Then nothing for another 10 days.
I had a foreboding and went to the bank. Previous balance: 960,855.90 Baht. Current balance : 121.90 Baht. Well, this would not even buy me a bottle of cheap Thai Rum I suppose.
OK stupid: 960,855.90
Plus: 244,000.00
Total: 1,204,955.90 A new Millionaire !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That SOB “emptied “ my bank account :> ((((( and left me 121.90 Baht. He couldn’t just have left me a couple of thousand ????
He also mortgaged my pickup for which I paid 700,000 baht “cash”. I have the receipt and in the USA that would constitute grand larceny. He had registered the truck in his name and kept telling me that “Farang” can not own a new car, even though I know that “Americans” can do it. He still refuses to give me back the “book” as well as my bank book and ATM card.
I have been told by several people not to even try to recoup my money. He is Thai, you are Falang.:>(( forget it.
Is that fair, your Royal Highness, ????
Farangs are fair game and when they are broke, just send them back where they came from ?
T, called me Papa and I treated him like a son (he is 30 years old and my youngest son just turned 36) He had possession of my passport many times, trying to get me a work permit and a non O retirement visa from the Phang Nga immigration office where he was always greeted like a long lost cousin. Whatever happened ??? I don’t know. One SMS stated: Papa, I now have big problem, but will be resolved prueng nee. (here we go again, I am beginning to hate this word)
His family, or rather his wife’s family are understandably upset, in fact his father in law delivers breakfast to my door every morning at 7:30. I haven’t completely lost faith in humanity although I am getting close. But that's one reason why I don’t want the police involved.
The following are e-mail exchanges between T and I.
"Papa, now I would like to tell you about my big problems as you know I use many money for my bussiness and construction in Khaolak but all of it lost when Tsunami come.I have to pay for a driver and construction but I can't get money beck from agency. And I use your money for do the bussiness again in Phuket with hoping it will help me to have a good life but it not so good because my partner (who's my friend) he cheating my money and I can't find him. So how do I do? I know it's the wrong to take money from you account.
I don't cheating you money. I will return i to you. don't destroy my life, my future by only this money. But I don't know how to do and how to tell you.and because of this cause it make me confused I don't want to go back to Khaolak and don't want to see anybody.I'm scare nobody understand me but they will blaim me like you do at this time."
No shit kid. They will certainly blame you. But why show up with a brand new 2.2 Million Baht Toyota SUV with TV, window rattling stereo and whatever, right after the tsunami.? To show off ???
.
So far I have received 15,000 Baht from this Kha-moy. I have been told that I shouldn’t even try to take him to court. A Judge will most likely order him to pay 3000 Baht per month. I won‘t live long enough to collect all my money.
To continue with T’s e-mail:.
I still have my house my family in Khaolak but as you do to me you tell this problem to manyperson It damage my name and my family's name . How i can stay and can do the business in khaolak again cause it not to much money.
I can’t figure this guy out. He is related to 75% of the populous in this village, blames me for disseminating the facts. By the way, I did screamed at his father in law after retuning from the bank, (“get a hold of that sonofabitch whatever it takes“) which I am sure was broadcast throughout town to all the relatives within hours.
I love the first part when I threatened him with the police:
Before you will do any think, if you go to police both of us have to fight by lawyer. And it will bring to many problems between us . Also you have no connect no paper with me about money problems.
(Yes, he made sure there was no paper trail. And I was stupid enough to trust him)
He continues: I'm a man, if I do the wrong thing I need a chance to sorving to a correct. Please,give me a chance and stop to destroy me by tell to any body cause 1 person will tell to 2 person to ten person and all of the village so how do my family can stay.I love my son and my family like you lov yours it have more valueable than money which I used from you.
Please , forgive me.
In essence, Farang are fair game and when they are broke, just send them back where they came from ?
I am able to live comfortably on whatever social security I receive every month. However I worked over 47 years for my money, raised and educated my sons and hate to have some punk screw me out of it and laugh at me ??. I would have liked to have a little cushion in case of unexpected expenses. I have been told to: Not even try to collect, because you are Farang and he is Thai.
Be it as it may, but what right does he have to keep the book to my car, my bank book and my ATM card ??
Best regards, the old Captain, sad but in a way happily retired in the LOS.
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To the moron who said I "embellished".
Will it ever end ????
Never. Not if you don't wise up. And you think I'm a moron?????
Well Sirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. If the shoe fits. You made it sound like I made all of this up. I don't not consider myself a moron, just "gullable" OK ?
Ahora es el fin de la contributión a este foro. No tengo gusta la tierra de los pendejos, espaldas mojadas y de las pinches buhtas igual que usted.
-
To the moron who said I "embellished".
I wished.
I must be a walking billboard that says: Hey, there is one that hasn’t been tried.
A young American, (39) from the back woods of Pennsylvania, doing mission work, voluntarily for some Christian organization, moved in a few weeks ago to a bungalow down the street. Works like a dog for “free” 6 days a week, building homes for the tsunami victims. Since I am the only Yankee around here he was glad to find someone from the US. We were getting together in the evening to just chat and having a few beers. He is sort of a “honky”, loves “country music” which I abhor. However, I am flexible and he was glad to have someone to talk to. Since he has to pay his own expenses, he depends on contributions from his friends and relatives back home.
Well, his family back in the States sent him 500 US dollars via a bank transfer 3 weeks ago . Since he has no bank account, it was funneled to the mission here.
He was broke and asked me for loan of 2000 Baht. I tried to tell him, that because of my Thai “friend” I am on a tight budget until the 3rd when My S.S. check comes in. Well, what could I say. As of this writing, the money is supposedly still in the church’s account. (collecting interest).
I think I posted something about many kids in the neighborhood showing up everyday to watch UBC and play games on my PCs. A boy named Bigun 14, whom I have known for almost 2 years), has no parents , lives with his grand mother, asked me for a cell phone 2 weeks ago. I attempted to explain the situation to him and he seemed to understand. Last week he had a fancy phone and said his grandma bought it for him. The next morning I opened my locked attaché case and 10,000 Baht where missing. He must have memorized the combination when I left the case open. I contacted the grandma, (who is one of the richest old ladies in town she owns about 30 Rai of prime real estate) denied that she gave the boy any money and her answer was: Your should not have let him into your house.
(She probably congratulated him for ripping off this Farang ) This boy is going to be very rich when he turns 18, because one of his aunts died recently and left him 10 rai of land here. (current price 2.5 Million baht per rai.)Blood is thicker than water.
My right hand man, Mehn, now 17, whom I rescued from a dangerous and low paying life on a fishing boat to come and take care of me 2 years ago did it to me also. I paid him whatever he made on the fishing boat. Clothed him, fed him, bought him a motor bike, let him drive my Pickup, treated him like a son. He is the only one I trusted with my ATM card and password.
Recently his mother complained of starving because her present boyfriend did not provide enough support for the family and is going back to Burma She must have asked him for money, because now my US account is 25,000 baht overdrawn
Will it ever end ????
Greets the ol Capt'n.
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@Fred
..remember your "long hand" friend(s) that Malaysia is not far away.....
Whipping as Punishment for Crime in Malaysia
Caning/whipping is a supplementary form of punishment to imprisonment for some 40 crimes including drugs offences, rape and attempted rape, kidnapping, firearms offences, attempted murder, causing grievous injury, child abuse, robbery and theft.
The authorities are of the opinion that caning/whipping has a deterrent effect on criminals. During the nineties, the authorities have, at various times, suggested caning/whipping for white collar crimes, illegal racers and its organisers, illegal workers and employers found harbouring them, pimps, as well as for wife battering and juvenile delinquency. In December 1994, caning for economic crimes such as embezzlement, tax fraud and bribery was introduced. In 1996, the Immigration Act was amended to make caning a mandatory part of the sentence for those convicted of using forged passports and other immigration offences.
Savasdee krap, mein Deutsch/Italienischer/Thaijunge.
However, whipping isn't going to get me my money back.
I do, however have some connections to the local mafia.
Quien sabe ?? Ohio gozeimas o' gengkideska. Fred
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To Sir Burr.
Correct me if I am wrong but , isn’t a “BURR” some growth in the woods, which latches onto one’s underwear and butt while taking a crap in the thicket thereby causing the desire to tell the world about this discomfort.
So, if you have nothing positive to say, SAY NOTHING. OK ?
-
Yes, I haven’t posted anything, especially after reading some of the above. I am being accused of story telling and embellishing. An author I am not and in truth I have a hard time dealing with the situation. I came here with 3 million Baht in the bank and because of my naiveté and trying to be a nice guy I wound up holding the bag. I now find it hard to trust anybody at this stage.
Even my falang friend Berni whom I lent a million Baht in order for him to get a non O retirement visa, as proof of the required 800,000 Baht bank balance. From day one, he used the money as though it were his own.
I don't really have to justify anything, but here are:
the following are e-mails between T. and I, if it makes my situation a tad more believable.
August 27th 2005 T. wrote:
Now I would like to tell you about my big problems as you know I use many money for my bussiness and construction in Khaolak but all of it lost when Tsunami come.I have to pay for a driver and construction but I can't get money beck from agency. And I use your money for do the bussiness again in Phuket with hoping it will help me to have a good life but it not so good because my partner (who's my friend) he cheating my money and I can't find him. So ow do I do? I know it's the wrong to take money from you account.But I don't know how to do and how to tell you.and because of this cause it make me confused I don't want to go back to Khaolak and don't want to see anybody.I'm scare nobody understand me but they will blaim me like you do at this time.
I don't cheating you money. I will return i to you I don't destroy my life my future by only this money. I still have my house my family in Khaolak but as you do to me you tell this problem to manyperson It damage my name and my family's name . How i can stay and can do the business in khaolak again cause it not to much money.
Papa, I think between us we still have relaionship,I will work hard ,work o give you money back even not all of it in one time but I will return it 20,000 to 30,000 Baht per monthIf I have much I give much.will you believe me or not it up to you but I will do for you to believe me again.Can you forgive me ? give me a chance I want to have a good life and good bussiness like anybody.I'm a man if I do the wrong thing I need a chance to sorving to a correct. Please,give me a chance and stop to destroy me by tell to any body cause 1 person will tell to 2 person to ten person and all of the village so how do my family can stay.I love my son and my family like you love it have valueable than money which I used from you.
Please , forgive me
Ti
In the end of this month I will send the fisrt money
August 30th 2005
fred
I told you on last mail end of this month today you can get money befor 5 p.m when i back from chang mai i can find big money i can send to you big money and give time for me
Sept. 3rd 2005
PAPA
On 10th this month I will send more 50.000 baht befor 5.00 PM
My reply:
Oh yea ????????? Where is it ?????
Sept 14th 2005
papa
I NO BUT SOMEONE HE BUY MY MINIBUS HE CHANG FROM 10th to 19th I WILL GIVE YOU SOURE 19th THIS MONTH WHENE I HAVE MOUCH I GIVE YOU MOUCH
Sept 15th 2005
PAPA
EVERY BAHT WILL TURN TO YOU I AM NOT A BAD MAN LIKE YOU SAID
Sept. 26th 2005
Papa
I would like to tell you that tomorrow I will send money to you 100% If tomorrow you not recieve money from me you can go to police.And I would like to tell you about Mahn he can use his life normally in Khaolak because he is my employee in work promitt so he is in my responsible. I can guarantee that the police not catch him cause the every police in Khaolak know me if there is any problem for Burmese in Khaolak the police will tell me.And for your money if you would like to do by lawyer is up to you because I can do as good as I have power to doI don't know how to find money for 100.000 Baht per month when I work and get money I have to pay to you,give for my mother,give for milk and every things of my son and my wife so I can give to you as much as I can give .I already told you If I have much I give you much maybe if you do it by lawyer I can tell him and they will order me to pay you 5.000Baht per month or mush as i can give.for insurance you can let your lawyer check it with the insurance company cause the name for the owner of the car is me but the people who get money from insurance is you not me and you will know i not get money from insurance even think the not have me I don't know how my family can stay. I can tell oyu that I can do as good as I can do
My reply on the 27th of September.
[Papa
I would like to tell you that tomorrow I will send money to you 100% If tomorrow you not recieve money from me you can go to police.]
Well, believe me I won’t hold my breath.
[And I would like to tell you about Mahn he can use his life normally in Khaolak because he is my employee in work promitt so he is in my responsible. I can guarantee that the police not catch him cause the every police in Khaolak know me if there is any problem for Burmese in Khaolak the police will tell me.And for your money if you would like to do by lawyer is up to you because I can do as good as I have power to do
I don't know how to find money for 100.000 Baht per month ]
Stop right there: Who said anything about 100,000 baht per month ?
[when I work and get money I have to pay to you,give for my mother,give for milk and every things of my son and my wife,]
Am I responsible for the support of your mother, your wife and your son ??? You stole over 1 1/2 million baht from me. I am sure your still drive around in your 1,8 Million baht Toyota ? If you had robbed a bank for a Million baht, would you tell the police you needed money for milk for your son ? What a laugh. !!!!!!
[so I can give to you as much as I can give .I already told you If I have much I give you much maybe if you do it by lawyer I can tell him and they will order me to pay you 5.000Baht per month]
5000 Baht a month ???? I won’t live long enough to collect what you owe me.
[or mush as i can give.for insurance you can let your lawyer check it with the insurance company cause the name for the owner of the car is me.]
You are the owner ???? HOW ??? Did you pay for this car ???? You told me this bullshit that farang can’t own a new car. Horse shit. I checked with the authorities and AMERICAN farang CAN own any car.
[but the people who get money from insurance is you not me and you will know i not get money from insurance even 1 Baht.]
So what was this garbage about going to court, getting a lawyer and you telling me on the telephone that it was settled.???? You are a pathological liar, a crook and a common thief. You just needed an excuse to get power of attorney from me so you can go to the bank and steal the money.
You not only cheated me, but you also gave me a bad name to Ross Dworman, whom I now can not pay back the money he “LOANED” us, because you were too eager to get the project at the school started before the 500,000 Baht from Ross arrived and who knows how much “commission“ you collected from the contractor.
Is this how Thais reward people who came from far away to help with the rebuilding after the Tsunami ????? Millions of Baht disappeared and were stolen by the police, officials and people like you. I know f**ng falang is a national pat time, but I worked over 50 years for my money and I won’t let a two bit hoodlum like you screw me out of it. Stop playing the big shot and go to work instead of drinking whiskey every night with your friends. At least Berni was man enough to admit he stole money from me and is willing to pay me back.
I still INSIST on getting the book for my car, my bank pass book and my ATM card.
I also need to know when the tax on the car is due and the insurance payment. Also, do I have health insurance or not ? I did pay you for it.
On the 30th, he sent 15,000 Baht.
I now know that he mortgaged my truck, for which I paid over 700,000 Baht CASH. At least I have the receipt. I am still looking for an attorney, one whom I can trust. (Not to many of those around. I know because I have dealt with some shysters back in the US)
Greetings, the ol’ captain, still hanging in.
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DaveYo tsk, tsk, tsk.
You are politically incorrect, or from the old school. mechanics are now referred to aviation technicians
There was never much love lost between the two entities. Pilots considered them incompenent hacks, out to kill them and mechanics knew that all pilots were stupid anyway.
Therefore when the pilot left a "squak-sheet" with maintenance at the end of a flight, mechanics would delight in leaving the following:
(P) = Problem reported by pilot, (S) = Solution on form left by maintenance,
(P) Left inside main tire almost needs replacement
(S) Almost replaced left inside main tire.
(P) Test flight OK, except autoland very rough
(S) Autoland not installed on this aircraft.
(P) Something loose in cockpit
(S) Something tightened in cockpit
(P) Evidence of leak on right main landing gear strut
(S) Evidence removed.
(P) Dead bugs on windshield
(S) Live bugs on back order.
(P) Number three engine missing
(S) Engine found on right wing after brief search.
(P) Aircraft handles funny
(S) Aircraft warned to straighten up, "fly right" and be serious.
Best regards, the ol' Capt.
PS. The washing machine guy hasn't shown up as yet
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Well, two of the best one's I remember was, when Japan Airlines was first
allowed to fly into the US.
Japan Airlines 752 to Honolulu approach. Checking it at one one zero thousand and the ATS (Airport terminal service info )
The controller waited for a minute and then said: "Are you shure you filed a flight plan this time ?"
The same on one British Airways flight, landing at Frankfurt, after getting lost on the taxi way, was admonished by the ground controller: "What is se matter, haven't you been to Frrrrankfurt bevore" ?
"Yes", said the old Captain. "In 1944, but then we did not lend."
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Doctor, por vavor.
El mundo es muy pequeño de hoy.
Como usted sabe es muy importante ahora en los Estados Unidos, especialmente a la costa de este, hablar más de una idioma.
This cool Thai, (now 20 odd years old ??, korrekt mich, wenn ich falsch bin Leoboss) who lives in Germany, speaks about 5 languages fluently, has a cool wife and a set of twins, even was a monk once.
We try to keep up on our German together.It may have been the wrong time and place here.
So, Scusilo amici mio
Arrivederci.
El Capitán. Viecho, pero contento en el pais "de los sonrisas". -
AchJee...TermitenKrieg beim ollen Capitano...
Gugge mal nach der AdjaanMailPost...
Sorry Folks for the ABSOLUTE off topic....
Habbisch doch schon geguckt, is aba nix drin in meinem elektronischen Postkasten. Nur das Bild von Deiner übergroßen Mietzekatz, Du alter Thai/germane/katholischer/Buddhist Junge. Wie gehts den Kinderlein ? Zeit zum
pennen, ratree savat.
Fred, der Bruchpilot
-
-
First off, thank you Udon for trying to assist me with locating the SOB when he was in Chiang Mai. I suppose grandma didn’t die. Well, I had sent him a nasty e-mail threatening him with he police. He now seems to be back in Phuket. I am certain, I won’t ask his permission to post the following e-mail from him last night:
"Papa, now I would like to tell you about my big problems as you know I use many money for my bussiness and construction in Khaolak but all of it lost when Tsunami come.I have to pay for a driver and construction but I can't get money beck from agency. And I use your money for do the bussiness again in Phuket with hoping it will help me to have a good life but it not so good because my partner (who's my friend) he cheating my money and I can't find him. So how do I do? I know it's the wrong to take money from you account.
I don't cheating you money. I will return i to you. don't destroy my life, my future by only this money. But I don't know how to do and how to tell you.and because of this cause it make me confused I don't want to go back to Khaolak and don't want to see anybody.I'm scare nobody understand me but they will blaim me like you do at this time."
No shit kid. (he is 29) They will certainly blame you. But why show up with a brand new 2.2 Million Baht Toyota SUV with TV, window rattling stereo and whatever, right after the tsunami.? To show off ???
I too have a son in the USA who just turned 36 2 weeks ago. Drives a Ferrari, but doesn’t have a pot to piss in, or a window to throw it out off. He was one of the cutest little boys when he was small. But like I always say: The only thing wrong with kids is, that they grow up to be “PEOPLE”.
wasn't he beautiful ?
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/Avia...edaswarenno.jpg
To continue with T’s e-mail:.
I still have my house my family in Khaolak but as you do to me you tell this problem to manyperson It damage my name and my family's name . How i can stay and can do the business in khaolak again cause it not to much money.
I can’ figure this guy out. He is related to 75% of the populous in this village, blames me for disseminating the facts, by the way I screamed at his father in law after retuning from the bank, (“get a hold of that sonofabitch whatever it takes“) which I am sure was broadcast throughout town to all the relatives within hours.
I love the first part when I threatened him with the police:
Before you will do any think, if you go to police both of us have to fight by lawyer. And it will bring to many problems between us . Also you have no connect no paper with me about money problems.
Yes, he made sure there was no paper trail.
I'm a man, if I do the wrong thing I need a chance to sorving to a correct. Please,give me a chance and stop to destroy me by tell to any body cause 1 person will tell to 2 person to ten person and all of the village so how do my family can stay.I love my son and my family like you lov yours it have more valueable than money which I used from you.
Please , forgive me.
Bending over again, the ol' Captain. Will it ever end ???
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Thats good but I was told that if I signed a contract again and paid money....GET A RECEIPT FOR THE CASH PAIDMaybe off topic, but you have few addicted to your stories anyway
Well, the English language yeti.
Few. This would mean that only very few, a small minority really gives a rat's ass about what I post.you have few addicted to your stories anyway"A" few, would probably be worth the effort.
Quien sabe ??
I dont post much but I do like to read you stories
By the way....The Termites are now DEAD. It took 3 goes & a lot of grief. Whe I signed the contract, which was for 12 monthly visits, I paid 8000 Bt. The guy who took the dosh gave the company 4000 Bt and kept 4000Bt telling his company I would pay the other half the next month. This we found out after a visit from one of the Bosses saying the salesman had done this on a regular basis with a lot of customers and was now under Poice investigation. I had to sign a statement saying I had paid the full amount to this guy and my contract would be honoured in full.
Thats good but I was told that if I signed a contract again and paid money....GET A RECEIPT FOR THE CASH PAID.
We live & Learn
Or do it the blonde's way
Dear Diary:
Last year, I replaced all the windows in my house with those expensive
double-pane energy efficient kind. But this week, I got a call from the
contractor complaining that his work had been completed over a year
ago, and I had yet to pay for them. Boy oh boy, did we go around!! Just
because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I'm automatically stupid.
I proceeded to tell him just what his fast-talking sales guy had told me last
year...that in one year, the windows would pay for themselves.
There was silence on the other end of the line, so I just hung up, and
I haven't heard back.
Guess I won that stupid argument....
Your Blonde
the ol. Capt. -
Maybe off topic, but you have few addicted to your stories anyway
Well, the English language yeti.
you have few addicted to your stories anywayFew. This would mean that only very few, a small minority really gives a rat's ass about what I post.
"A" few, would probably be worth the effort.
Quien sabe ??
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I F R = I Follow Rail lines
Oh, did I wish they had them back then. (Rail lines that is)
One of my trips to South America some 30 years ago, again between jobs, involved ferrying a small single engine Piper Arrow from Florida to Santiago Chile. In the "olden days" airliners like Lockheed Constellations and DC 6's had at least a navigator with a sextant, or whatever magic he used to tell us where we were supposed to be, but here I was on my own, all by myself with the latest editions of US Air Force ONC charts ("Operational Navigational Chart") which had a note at the bottom: "Unexplored territory. Elevations "believed" not to exceed 4,000 feet".
Cool. I left Georgetown in Guyana and pointed the airplane south. Oh great. A road right where it was supposed to be, going straight at.......into the jungle and now covered by vegetation.
No problem. Just hold a heading like they thaught you in basic training back in 1958 and keep going south towards the equator and Manaus/ Brazil my intended stop.
ONC chart #1 was running out, but it did show a rather large lake at the bottom of the page with the coordinates (so many degrees latitude north and whatever degrees longitude west. Sorry I forgot the exact coordinates) Looking at the second chart. Hmmm, no lake anywhere near those co'ordinates to be seen. Just keep the airplane heading south. After encountering the ITC (inter tropical convergence) where I was sure I was flying a submarine, because of the torrents of rain, I had some time to look for that blasted lake. Sure enough it was about 150km west of where it was supposed to be on the other chart. The US Air Force actually used this crap?
There must be an easier way to make a living I thought a the time, but the mortgage had to be paid and kids needed to be raised. Then along came another airline job, flying almost the same route at 31,000 feet, dodging huge build-ups trying to convince my young crew that I was down there once in light plane. By their facial expressions I could gather, that they thought: Boy this old guy is full of sh...t
Back then crossing the Andes VFR from Santa Cruz Bolivia via Cochabamba and La Paz at 16,500 feet, no oxigen and smoking a pack of cigarettes on the way down to Arica (Chile) with 22 and 25,000 foot mountians of majestic beauty next to me was unforgettable and something to behold.Maybe we should change this thread ??? Off topic, as far as Thai incompetence is concerned
Anyway, best to all. "It ain't over 'till its over" said Jimmy Lasorda during a baseball game, when his team was definitely going to be the looser.
The ol' Captain.
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I also realized later on, that my reaction time was not what it used to be during the grueling simulator and/or check rides required every 6 months.
You'd be perfect for the job.
As an aside, I logged a few hours on light aircraft, and even (with 3 friends) bought a small one (a TB9). However, while I could take off smoothly and safely, fly straight and level without difficulty, stall, turn etc etc and even land without killing too many people - I couldn't navigate to save my life. I did enough to pass the CAA exams, but after much effort, I realised that I would be a danger to myself and others because of my complete inability to navigate or even grasp where I was.
Saddened me very much, but I stopped.
Haha sadman.
Navigation ? Today, who needs it with GPS.
I remember one trip about 25 years ago after being laid off by a now defunct Arline in a Piper Navajo (twin engine turbocharged recip) from NY to California, when the boss asked me:" Where are we? Is that the painted forest or the grand canyon below ?"
"Sheldon", (that was his name) I said. "I know where I came from and I know where I am going. Anything in between is immaterial"
Greets the ol' Capt, happily retired.
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If all else fails, you can fly for Phuket Air.I haven’t completely lost faith in humanity although I am getting close.
Don't lose it, cap'n. It's what sets us apart from ...... from ....... well, just don't. Other peoples' actions say more about them than they do about you (although, perhaps a little caution is called for?) Keep the faith.
If all else fails, you can fly for Phuket Air.
Well, once I turned 60 they, (the FAA), wouldn't let me fly the "big ones" any more, which did not present a problem with me, because afterwards I did have a lot of fun driving Lear-jets and the Astra, looking "down" on the airliners from 41 and 43,000 feet who barely made it to FL 390 (39,000 feet) and then only after burning off a lot of fuel.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/Aviador/Astra.jpg
I also realized later on, that my reaction time was not what it used to be during the grueling simulator and/or check rides required every 6 months. So at 68 I decided to opt out, while the going was good. I would liken it to a boxer, who after being the champion after several bouts decides to quit, while he was still the "champ" and not attempt a come-back, only to be disgraced by a younger man.
It was cool to be the "boss". Once I threw an FAA official off my airplane because he came into the cockpit without "MY" permission.
After flashing his badge, I told him in no uncertain terms: "I am the Captain of this boat and nobody, I mean NOBODY comes aboard without my permission". Hey, I could'nd even pull this shit with my wife.
Greets the ol' Capt, who really doesn't miss flying that much.
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I know it is getting to be "old hat" but:
In anticipation of the onslaught of visitors the next season promises, it’s construction time down-town our fair village. Widening the thoroughfare to 4 lanes of highway, broad sidewalks, installation of storm-water drainage pipes, you name it. The area looks like a war zone. Pity the poor business owner who in his haste or ignorance to expand his business, had encroached on the “right of way” property of state owned real estate. The bulldozers know no mercy.
Since utility poles are placed at the edge of said land, it is up to the skill of the operator manipulating these monster machines to work within inches of said carriers of life giving juice. Well, one eager beaver managed to knock down the concrete structure, wires and all. I was typing a rather lengthy e-mail around 11:30 AM Thursday when the lights went out. Naturally all my work disappeared in cyberspace. Once more, I must tip my hat to the electric company, because 3 ½ hours later, all was well again, except for dear old TOT. Deader than the proverbial doorknob. Some fellow arrived in town driving a TOT truck, surveyed the jumble of wires littering the ground, but decided to have lunch, since the mess was right in front of a restaurant. Afterwards he departed, figuring it was probably too late in the day to do anything, so “preung nee” was sufficient.
Later I went downtown and took some pictures. I can’t for the live of me understand, why, after almost 8 months, having had the chance to re-do everything in a professional manner, the “rat’s nest” junctions are still in vogue. No sense of esthetics I suppose. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/Aviador/Ratsnest.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/Aviador/TOT001.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/Aviador/TOT004.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/Aviador/TOT003.jpg
It is now Tuesday the 23rd of August, 6 days after the power failure. After numerous phone calls to TOT, only to receive the same old answer: “We will check”, I resigned myself to just wait, because after all the weekend was coming up, when sure as shooting nothing would be done anyway.
Just now, the geniuses from TOT arrived, laden with electronic equipment. (meters, oscilloscopes etc.) After thoroughly testing the incoming wiring, as well as the line inside the house, the “PROGNOSIS”: Nothing wrong with your line, must be further down in the village. NO SHIT SHERLOCK, I could have told you that.
A phone call right at this moment confirmed my suspicion. Just like the last time. They hooked up my line to someone else‘s phone.
Life is never boring in the LOS.
Greets the ol' Capt.
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Well, a few words of explanation are in order.
I have known this person since I arrived here 17 months ago. His wife’s family is one of the largest and richest property owners here and the house I rent belongs to them also. He and his brother were the one’s who drove all the way to Bangkok to ransom my container out of the hands of this creep Piddipong, or whatever the f… his name was.
He spoke reasonably good English and was invaluable when I had the accident in Phuket last year, negotiating with the police. He knew everybody and everybody knew him. I was invited to all their family functions. During my last visit to Phuket I was invited to the studios of channel 7 in a fancy hotel. While there, I noticed a picture, someone passed around. There he was with one of the biggest Mafia-bosses, a guy who owns the largest fishing fleet in Tap Lamu. He called me Papa and I treated him like a son (he was 30 years old and my youngest son just turned 36) he had possession of my passport many times, trying to get me a work permit from the Phang Nga immigration office where he was always greeted like a long lost cousin. Whatever happened, I don’t know. One SMS stated: Papa, I now have big problem, but will be resolved prueng nee. (here we go again, I am beginning to hate this word)
His family, or rather his wife’s family are understandably upset, in fact his father in law delivers breakfast to my door every morning at 6:30.
I haven’t completely lost faith in humanity although I am getting close. But that's one reason why I don’t want the police involved.It must be me (What was the name of the kid in the Peanuts comic strip with the cloud overhead ? That‘s me?) When I dissolved my household in the US, I did not want to leave for Thailand from JFK again. The flight via Alaska and Taipei is over 22 hours just flying time and stretches into more than 2 days. I had sold my Mercedes but still had a vintage 1985 BMW 524 dt Turbo Diesel in mint condition. I therefore decided to drive this car to Florida where I had “friends”, leave the car in the care of some guy, whom I have known since he was 17 (he’s 64 now) start from Tampa, stay overnight in San Francisco, where I have a brother and leave after a good night sleep for Phuket, via Taipei. My friend, now one of those church-going-bible-thumping-Methodists who was going to be eternally grateful to me, because I took care of his 82 year-old mother in New Jersey for 10 years, promised to sell the car for me. Done deal. That was in March of 2004. As time went by, I kept e-mailing him, inquiring about my automobile but received nothing but evasive answers. Until one day when his sister, who lives in the state, e-mailed me that he had sold the car to his minister for $ 5,000.oo but kept the money for himself.
Now there is only dead silence. Really, the guy is not destitute. He drives a new Fort Explorer, owns a fancy boat, as well as a nice house.Go figure. Greetings the ol’ Captain.
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Savasdee crop once again.
I have been suffering from a nagging back, as well as anal distention problems these last 3 or 4 weeks. Nothing serious mind you. It’s only the result of bending over too many times in dealing with financial situations in this LOS.
Remember my “Thai connection”, whom I sent to court in Phuket ? Well, I received an SMS from him after about 10 days of utter silence with the following message: Need to deposit check from insurance company right away into your account, but need your power of attorney for the lawyer’s fees to be deducted first. I am sending my mother to your house tomorrow. Please send your pass book signed paper and your passport. She will also bring you your new camera. (I am firmly convinced that preung nee could not possibly be interpreted as being “tomorrow”, because is never has, at least as long as I have been here.)
Shoore ’nuff, the old lady showed up 3 days later with the camera and a box of Dunkin doughnuts. I had met her before while she lived here in town, but moved to Phuket after her home was destroyed by the tsunami, and had no reason to be suspicious of any misdeeds on my “friend’s” part.
After that, totally incommunicado. No phone calls, no messages, no nuttin. Well the fellow has plenty of family here, including a wife and new son, but they too where mystified. I toyed with the idea to drive to his mother’s house in Phuket, but realized that he would probably not hang out there in the first place. My visa was running out on the 16th , I needed my passport, if nothing else. I had left word with his wife and mother in law to somehow get a message through. Sunday mom returned with my passport and nothing else, except the unlikely story that her son had to drive to Chiang Mai to visit his sick old grandmother. Foreboding thoughts crossed my mind. Monday morning, passport and account number in hand, off to my friendly banker man, with the request to retrieve a balance of my account from his trusty computer. Theeeere we go…….The printout. And me, mouth agape.
Previous balance: 960,855.90 Bht. Current balance : 121.90 Baht. Well, this would buy me a small bottle of cheap Thai whiskey I suppose.
OK stupid: 960,855.90
Plus: 244,000.00
Total: 1,204,955.90 A new Millionaire
Not bad for a few days work I would say. For this he leaves his wife and son ? Actually this doesn’t come as a surprise to me. Most kids around here don’t have their real father living with them. It somehow seems too easy in Thailand for the guys to just take off and leave when they get tired of the scene.
Gandma in Chiang Mai will probably be ill for the next 20 years.
Luckily I still have an account in the US. Completely broke I ain’t, but coming close. At least he left me the camera.
And the washing machine repair guy still ignores me as well.
Greetings, the ol Capt. Down, but not out (yet)
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Oh yes, journalism at its best.
I tuned to CNN after the juice came back, in only 3 days after the 26th. (My hat off to the electric company) and here was this broad from CNN amongts the rubble of what used to be Nang Thoung beach here in Khao Lak, (yes it was bad and still is) interviewing survivors etc. Fine. But what took the cake was her final sentence: This is XXXXX (I forget her name) reporting from Phuket, Thailand.
????This dumb bitch didn't even know where she actually was.
Greets, the ol Capt.
Oh My God
in Phuket
Posted
Yes you are right. I spoke to my "friendly" banker and he confirmed it. Total rip-off.
I am sure that the 12,000 baht went into the pocket of my erstwhile "friend".
What is a UPS ?