aussiejosh

Thanks, I'll have to try and get over that side of the city some time with week with my dads girlfriend...

Any other ideas?

I take mine to a game shop in MBK on the 5th or 6th floor?? (Which ever has the games on it and not the furniture. The one I go to is next to the second large open space away from the sky train in the building, larger than average guy and skinny busy looking guy run it. Nice dudes, they all are up there. Talk shop with them about games and you will find they are very helpful and will give you a decent price. Remember, they are gamers too.

Trust me, they won't arrest you. Just smile and pretend you don't understand for 10 - 15 minutes and they give up like bored flys... Seriously keep smiling nodding agreeing and just never get your wallet out, their time is money don't forget. There are a lot easier people walking about and they are certainly not going to want any more publicity after that Aussy woman was nabbed in phuket for something equally retarded. Honestly, just act like you don't understand, pick up the sign, thumbs up it and tell them its very beautiful, NEVER EVER BE RUDE.

I wondering where would be the best place in Bangkok to go and find someone to make a simple fold out table for me. I actually want it to be a poker table that folds out for easy storage with about 6 to 8 matching chairs. Anyone know of a good place I could get this made? Preferably cheap and reliable.

Its actually alot more complicated than your thinking. I have had the problem here as I love, absolutely love to gamble. I play a lot of online poker, and recently had a problem with authorities as I had been playing with cash online, however as I hadn't with drawn any money or deposited it from Thailand, it was existing money in my account I ended up having to pay a small processing fee 'aka bullshit money' and wasn't asked any more questions.

I think you just need to worry about how you handle the money, if you have an overseas bank account and you do a transfer here with that money to a website I don't think there is much they can do.

But be careful. They love their bribes when it comes to gambling. Have had sooooo many issues with that here.

WHO CARES IF SHE MAKES MONEY, THINK ABOUT THIS LOGICALLY THE THAI POLICE MADE THE STORY WITH THEIR ACTION, NOT HER.

The Thai police put it in her bag ??

The Thai police had her resist arrest and run away ??

The Thai police have her verbally abuse and officer and chief ??

The Thai police had her refuse to sign and admission of guilt and have it all over and done ??

Yes.. Sure.. The Thai police mad this story..

No its quiet simple, many thousands of objects are lifted daily as souvenirs, yes it is a problem but a problem made worse by this kind of policing. I am saying they created the story by being the dodgey bastards they are and making this small minor infraction into a international fuss because they now need to save face even in light of further evidence being presented that the original allegation was false. That is the story, the story isn't her actions its the way the police are dealing with it, reacting to it. THAT IS THE STORY EVERYWHERE.

This forum may be addressing the Thai response and limited response in Australia but there are other news services around the world and travel industry news letters that are addressing the issue as an over reaction by the Thai police, I get a few of these news letters and the regional tourism industry is looking at this and worrying. Another nail in the coffin indeed.

Everyone would goto jail if it was this easy...

Getting a lot of bad press in OZ

What are the headlines?

Increase in exports of aussie thiefs to asian countries has grown 3% this year

Stealing is now a crime in thailand.

Thailand has issued a travel warning to all its nationals that people are now being arrested for stealing and is not a laughing matter like in oz.

Well, England got rid of the theives to Australia now looks like we are sending them off else where.

I run a pub in Australia and all my patrons know I wouldn't stand for them stealing a bar mat but I don't think we would go to the extent they have in Thailand.

I think the story is not quite all there. Bit like an iceberg.

Carl

The worst that would happen is they'd end up in the drunk bin but still home the same day just feeling a little sorry for themselves. Instead of now embarrassing obviously honorable men... I mean, don't you feel just warmth and security as you see our uniformed officers patrolling our streets? They're so moral and up hold the law as best as anyone can when acting purely in self interest.

And no the headlines are making fun of the corrupt legal system and the ineffective police force here which makes more use of its materials trying to gain and extra buck for the individual and not actually improve the community.

And can anyone believe what is printed in newspapers anyway??

SHE IS A THIEF IN THAILAND, EUROPE, AFRICA, ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES AND EVEN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!

SHE IS DOING SO MUCH HARM WITH HER DISRESPECT TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO HER OWN COUNTRY !!

What is your problem? Down syndrome? Something severe like that?

IF YOU LOCKED EVERYONE UP WHO COMMITTED PETTY CRIMES LIKE THIS IT WOULD COST THAILAND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS DETAINING, PROSECUTING AND JAILING THEM; AND REMOVE USEFUL MEMBERS OF THE LABOR FORCE, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT IT DECREASES TOURISM AND CASH FLOW THROUGH THE ECONOMY DUE TO POOR PRESS IN A RELATIVELY IMPORTANT ECONOMY IN TERMS OF TOURISM FOR THAILAND. UNDERSTAND?

Please try reading and understanding the much more informed and intelligent opinions of others before attempting to form your own 'complex' ideas and opinions... if thats what your attempting.

robbers, muggers, rapists, politicians get all away with a million time worse than a towel theft or joke...

shame on the bar owner,

he could have asked 500 baht damages, but preferes to go to court over this ?

sick world we live in

Well, let's see.

He'll make more money from Tourism and I bet the Bar mats for sale price will go up even more now.

She'll sell the story to New Idea.

Sorry, ignorance is no excuse. No defense in Australia.

Having lived in Thailand you would have to be pretty drunk (steal the taxi Aussie bloke couple of months ago) or just plain dumb to pull a stunt like this in a country that is not your own.

PLAIN STUPID.

Sky News today with husband pleading for the PM to step in to help the "working Australian family" <deleted> what a joke.

WHO CARES IF SHE MAKES MONEY, THINK ABOUT THIS LOGICALLY THE THAI POLICE MADE THE STORY WITH THEIR ACTION, NOT HER.

Didn't make her sleep it off in a drunk bin which would happen anywhere else in Thailand (I'd know I've had it happen in Khao Sarn, and was abusive, beers the devil!!! sweet tastey delicious devil), anywhere else in the world, what country wants to spend resources on this. Oh and 500 baht fine for them having to look after me lol.

Once again I ask, where were the oft-mentioned Foreign Tourist Police Volunteers when all of this chaos was occurring? Isn't providing assistance to foreigners during this the very sort of incident the reason usually given for why that they exist?

NO, the creation and the existence of the foreign tourist police is for show and publicity purposes only.

Hmmm... That's not what I have been led to believe by the umpteen threads on Thai Visa in which such volunteers extol the virtues of their work. My perception was that the foreign police volunteers were there to act as liaisons during misunderstandings/miscommunications between the Thai police and foreign visitors. So again I ask... where were they during all of this?

Probebly trying to help someone who was inocent!!!

Not trying to argue innocence or guilt here, but look how FKN petty this is. <deleted> is wrong with you, if everyone was locked up for petty crap like this 50% of the population would goto jail at some point in their lives. YOUR AN IDIOT. Even stupid people 2,000 years ago had that idea ingrained into them. Who was it that once said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone?", if this was the sin you are talking about i can guarantee 100% of us are sinners in this metaphoric example.

Sara: How was your visit to Thailand?

Jane: Great! Look what I stole, a bar mat from the Aussie Pub in Phuket.

S: That's so cool? Are you allowed to take things that don't belong to you?

J: If you're a foreigner, you can do anything!

S: Really?

J: Yah! If you get caught, you simply complain that you're being persecuted because you're a foreigner.

S: That's so cool.

J: It is cool! Why should we follow laws in a foreign country?

S: What about the people who say what you did was wrong?

J: They're just a bunch of moralistic haters. They don't know me - they shouldn't judge me!

S: You go, girlfriend! Stinking' A!

J: STINKIN' A! I am so cool. Besides, Australia was stolen by the English, and they put all of their criminals here. So, I'm just getting back to my cultural roots.

S: That's so true, and it is so cool!

J: Stinkin' A, it is cool.

S: You are so cool to think that I'm cool.

J: You're cool, just being you

Good one but unfortunately true

You two should seriously go suck on the end of a pistol. Your ignorance is astounding...

How about this, if we locked up everyone who did something silly at this EXACT same level, the minor little pranks and stupid things that people do to each other from time to time how many people would be locked up in prison... and then how much of a detriment to society would that be due to the loss of labor and skills in the workforce and community?

Are the two of you so narrow minded and short sighted that you can't see in this case the police here have stepped over the line in order to gain in the short term to be met with someone ignorant of the corrupt legal system here, ended up detaining them and want to drag it out because now they have been found out for the douche bags they are they want to save face.

The funny thing is its getting more press and more convictions than actual crimes and problems in this country. Complete and utter joke, of course no one will be held accountable for anything now. Police are probably hoping the media coverage dies down so they don't have to back down publicly. I wonder what Abhisit thinks about this.

EPIC FAIL THAILAND, epic fail.

Getting a lot of bad press in Australia. If we could measure the popularity in Thailand from an international perspective its just going down further and further to the rest of the world.... Depressing really..

As for the police, wouldn't be surprised if its the usual case, small minded big ego ed.

The people of Malaysia, how stupid are you. Do you think everyone in Malaysia was given a form and asked the write their opinions down and then the best got picked? lol Idiot. How often are laws actually made by the people who are living by them? NEVER EVER EVER, and the people who put these laws into place enjoy the underground scene as much as anyone, its just someone needs it to stay illegal for profit purposes or they are just stupid and believe a country which has laws for that reason (USA)

No sense lashing out, dope. The Malaysian law is quite clear. I wait in high anticipation of reading about your arrest and how you'll twist and gyrate and scream it's not fair.

Good luck.

Nearly happened last night, got pulled over out the front of the PMs house with 4 grams of grass on us... I got out without a problem, Indian friend of mine paid 6,000

I don't take risks. Was polite, got searched... Let me go straight away, lucky for the Indian guy someone terribly genius had presence of mind to snatch the shit out of his glove and hide it on their body well. But they found a J on him, rest of us left without a problem.

But later when I came back with the money he needed to pay them I said "som nam naa" to him

I don't like the death penalty but bad place to get caught... He obviously deserve's whatever he gets.

Until they put a quota on how many people they can execute in a year, they really have no reason to save the punishment for the harder drugs. Again--we ain't the ones in charge of these matters. Without doing a poll, though, I am not sure that people (criminals) would be better off with us or with the authorities!

What do you mean a quota? are you suggesting they are attempting to reach a target? (if so that would be immensely disturbing)

That's your opinion. When you're appointed supreme ruler of your own nation, apply the laws you see fit.

Unfortunately for these two smugglers, the people of Malaysia don't quite see things like you do.

If they had no intention of obeying Malaysian law, they shouldn't have ventured into the country. They did, and now they'll pay the price.

Whining and moaning won't change the circumstances.

Advice for drug smugglers: steer clear of Malaysia.

The people of Malaysia, how stupid are you. Do you think everyone in Malaysia was given a form and asked the write their opinions down and then the best got picked? lol Idiot. How often are laws actually made by the people who are living by them? NEVER EVER EVER, and the people who put these laws into place enjoy the underground scene as much as anyone, its just someone needs it to stay illegal for profit purposes or they are just stupid and believe a country which has laws for that reason (USA)

I wish they would do that here in the states! Execute anyone carrying enough to be considered with "Intent to distribute". Man this would free up much of our tax dollars and make drug trafficking MUCH more unappealing to drug dealers. More money in the state budget means better education for our children, even better medical centers, and possibly lower taxes overall. We pay MILLIONS of our hard earned dollars every year to HOUSE , FEED , and CLOTHE REPEAT offenders who look at being in jail as a good thing. Here they call it "Street Credit". Unacceptable. We all should take lessons from countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand!!!!

Also, for anyone saying Marijuanna isnt that bad and should be treated like a lesser offense......... a drug is a drug, and the Law is the Law. They knew the rules and the life of crime they lived was their own choice. Drugs breed crime regardless the "type" of drug. Drugs create dependency, and dependency only leads to desperation. It is out of desperation that drug users steal, rob , and murder.

Free up tax dollars? Have you just come in here and posted without reading anyone else's opinions or inputs into this discussion? Look at how much money has been spent by countries all around the world to combat Marijuana (which grows naturally so is hard to combat)... Look at all the people in prisons that are being supported by the government because they are prevented from being a useful member of society because an incorrect opinion of a substance. Now think, if that slander campaign against pot hadn't reaped the rewards for those who profit from its absence and we had used the money put into law enforcement on combating something real and an actual threat to all societies like... hmmm idk global warming... we would have done something about it by now. But because that doesn't make anyone any easy and good money they won't bother. As I have said before, if it was legalized and taxed you wouldn't just save the money from enforcement you'd make billions as a new industry would be created stimulating job creation and business options. California estimates their marijuana crop to be worth around 18 billion dollars a year, compared to their next biggest legal crop grapes which are between 3 and 4 billion dollars. With the same taxes on weed as there is grapes they would be making 1 billion a year in TAX revenues. So please, don't think making it stricter will solve anything it will just push the industry underground and we will never run out of people willing to make money from it. Legal or not. There is absolutely no points to these laws and if you can't do research and see that on your own. Then you fail my friend, absolutely fail. Epic fail.

Has he not left yet?

Contrary to popular Falang wisdom, Thai bovines do from time to time need a veterinarian's hand and aren't blessed with eternal life.

I think that the Khwai has made an udderly good point here.

And I think the reply below him was spot on, they got sick before he was around. Not his problem, nor something anyone should care about if its not your dam_n cow. Animals suck anyway.

Smack em in the eye lol. Not hard, enough to shock.

Well I have read in some scientific journal that .......

Approximately 80% of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation.

Wow that wasn't written by someone who has a vested interest in deforestation at all.... "The plants are the ones polluting, cut down the trees!"

I mean, hel_l vegetation lasted longer than the human race and so far in the last 300 years we have done about 10,000 years of climate change. Since 1999 the worlds temperature has risen from anywhere in 1.3 degrees C to 3.5 depending on who you ask. Of course the scarier studies have been hidden away to stop the public from realizing but it doesn't take a scientist to tell you its hotter than usual and the seasons are being effected by it. I was here for 105 days before it rained once for about 15 minutes. Then it rained right before songkran, I know its the weather, but the science behind it is sound.

I came to Thailand personally because I am interested in being a part of the solution, I actually am trying to launch a green product here at the moment which when you add it to your air conditioner it actually increases its efficiency by 20-50% thus saving the associated costs and saves the environment. I am not going to say more because I am still in the initial phases. But I can tell you its hugely popular in Dubai and the States, and is in use by many big name hotels and businesses including citigroup and LG.

Seriously, this is the only planet we have, I have only been on it for 20 years and I want to give my children the chance I had to experience it before we completely destroy it.

GO GREEN!

good lord, are you people all so ignorant? two questions...

for my fellow pot heads...

would you smuggle 20kg of weed into a country where the death penalty is an obvious result? if you say yes, you have been having a bit too much of your medicinal grade hydroponic

for the non-herb friendlies...

the question is about the death penalty, do people deserve to die for this? sure, they broke a law and got caught.... but do you honestly believe they should be killed for it?

just my two cents! more like 1/2 a cent cause i don't give a she-ite about to smugglers caught.... i have a fat bowl that needs lighting

Oh hel_l no I wouldn't smuggle anything... Blatantly stupid, but it doesn't mean I can't voice my opinion or concerns on the matter, I don't think I bothered defending them at all lol.

My other goal is to hopefully make some people who have the draconian right wing Christian fear so deeply set into them rethink their ideas and perhaps, questions what they have simply been told.

Anyone have that video where the kid on pot blows his head off with a shotgun? Thats the funniest anti dope commercial ever "Oh man, I AM SO HIGH RIGHT NOW, look at this shot gun" ........ *screen blanks, bang* "POT KILLS" I always watched that in Harold and Kumar and made sure to be blazing when it came on.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factshe...pport/marijuana

Helps with people dying of cancer, why deny it to them if its going to easy their last painful days?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/17/...in2696726.shtml

Reduces the size of tumors, even lung cancer, so goto hel_l all you "it causes cancer" folks, so does being alive to long.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4286435.stm

It may fry your brain in the short term, but hel_l it seems that this study shows it reduces the effects and severity of Alzheimer's

http://arthritis.about.com/od/medmarijuana...f_Marijuana.htm

WOW A WHOLE LIST OF MEDICAL USES ZOMGZ hang those dam_n doctors, they are peddling obviously a dangerous and illegal substance....

Or perhaps you want to stick with your 30's close mindedness, seeing as we are a multi race forum I thought I'd pick out my favorite quotes which should hit a cord with all of you.... Here is some 30's anti doping propaganda.

Here you'll all appreciate this one

"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men."

Oh no, not the saggins! (reverse it)

"Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing"

Hear that, if you smoke pot, you become a pussy and don't want to fight, what a horrid world that would be. And equality oh noes!

"You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother."

Uh my brother doesn't smoke anywhere near as much as me, and yet he has stabbed me and thrown my through a window, before he even knew what pot was... But we all hear the cases about how people murder each other over a spliff EVERYDAY right...

"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind."

Yes something that makes you lazy is the most violence causing drug on earth. I totally agree 100,000,000% because this seems so god dam_n believable.

Also I would like to point out there is absolutley positively no recorded incident of someone dying from smoking marijuana... NOT ONE, they have done tests on animals that show it would take 4000 times the possible dose from smoking to kill you, 4000 times... and TRUST ME I TESTED IT!

One last time for those who didn't look before here is a link to a very well written article about why people are stupid and why marijuana is illegal. Here have a look at it. http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/200...anaIllegal.html

And for those who have said we have gone off topic, we are debating the law on which the conviction was made and thus have not strayed off topic. OH, and I for one am enjoying it thoroughly.

Oh funny thing I forgot to mention I keep seeing coffee alcohol and cigarettes come up, and i literally smoke an ounce of ganja every 3 days (not going to say where for legal reasons) and wow I don't take any of those other things, I don't even drink coffee.... Yet I'll take 'hard core' substances every now and again(rarely maybe once every 3 months), will no one argue because i am not smoking and drinking alcohol and coffee I will be more healthy even though i smoke copious amounts of marijuana? Doubt it.

I was in my twenties when this commercial was running on TV:

Used to love rolling up a fattie and laughing at it!

Edit - youtube link bbcode wouldn't work...

Love the link, illustrates the complete senselessness on which these laws which people are so ready to defend and uphold are based upon... nothing... for the record, that is an egg in a frying pan for those who still chose to believe crap peddled to them by their peers since the 30s...

Times are changing, and hopefully for those who have been effected by these harsh and unjust laws there will be an apology some where along the line as so many lives have been ruined senselessly by laws designed to supposedly stop you from ruining your life yourself, what utter hog wash.

RIDICULOUS. What a person puts into his or her own body is their own business, and should never be governed by state. The 'gateway drug' notion is utter BS. I've smoked/eaten dope hundreds of times, and not once I ever felt the need to touch anything stronger... nor has anyone I've known.

If you have a proclivity to mess with mind altering substances, you will, period. Who should have a say in that? Don't give me this bull about it being a 'decay' of society, bla bla. So too is unemployment, getting pissed out of your face, and taking prescription drugs to cure imaginary diseases -- but all of those things are legal.

These guys are going to have a rope tied around their necks and their spinal cords severed from their brains, whilst 10,000 people today in Amsterdam are enjoying a spliff with their cup of hot chocolate and apple pie. Then they'll walk out of there, and go about their day. The world is a fuc_ked up place.

Sad but true, trying to talk to all these TV'ers is like smashing your head against the wall most of the time, they think they are right because they are old and believe what they have grown up knowing, not realizing its pretty much based on lies and profiteering by certain people who had enough political clout and power to push it through. No one will read anything here and do research its just a bunch of morose opinionated people trying to yell louder above each other not realizing that 90% of their posts we read the first line, realize they're fuc_king stupid and move on.

Take a step back from everything you know, read about things your talking about, form an actual opinion not given to you from one specific source, think about it, work on it, then come state it.