ASIC

No!

Not all UK banks can do SWIFT transfer. One example is my customer in Wales. He use a very small local bank. However, his bank will use a larger London based bank to do the SWIFT transfer in it's place. The result is the same, but takes a bit longer - typically 3 to 5 days.

For BAHTNET, see:

http://www.bot.or.th/English/Statistics/Pa...dsTransfer.aspx

You should get a rate of about 53.47 (today's rate 15/10/2009 for GBP).

I think Mr Georgesen, tourist that he is, is a bit confused as to what constitutes Siam station. His story would make perfect sense if he was talking about the men in brown lurking on the overhead bridge connecting MBK to Siam discovery. They are indeed Thai government officials, and they are definitely in the cigarette butt business. I have seen with my own two eyes how they go for any tourist smoking, while conveniently overlooking the Thais obstructing the walkway with the counterfeit junk. They have even set up a table on the overhead bridge where they can issue "fines".

A danish citizen was arrested at the SIAM SKY TRAIN STATION in Bangkok recently! The guards accused him of throwing a cigarette on the ground.

Only problem: the guy works in a hospital and is a non smoker and said he had nothing to do with the case. The dane was brought into a room and he was not allowed to go untill he paid Bth 10,000 to the security guards.

Here is the link. The story is from yesterday, it is in one of the biggest newspapers in Denmark. http://politiken.dk/tjek/rejser/asien/article755129.ece

This is a newspaper that do NOT run gossip-stories.

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"I was allowed to leave, that was the most important".

Anesteciatist Nils Georgsen from Copenhagen warns against being extorted money from Thai governement employees.

This warning coinsides with more countries wanting to investigate whether tourists have illegally been accused of shoplifting in Bangkok International Airport - after which they were forced to pay large amounts to be allowed to leave the country.

For Georgesen it went all wrong while he was waiting for a train at Siam Skytrain station, during a visit to Thailand's capital.

"I didn't suspect anything. All was quiet. Then, suddently a skytrain security guard came and pointed at a cigaret but on the platform", Nils Georgsen explans. Smoking is not allowed on the station. But despite the explanations from the Danish tourist that he is a non-smoker and that he he didn't shrow anything, he was still escorted to a guard room and surrounded by security guards.

Had to pay on the spot

They wanted money. They demanded 10,000 Baht. "This was no joke. They were very threatening. I tried to explain that I am a non-smoker, but they wouldn't budge. They just wanted money" explains the Danish anesteciatist.

He tried to call the tourist police but the guards didn't allow him to. In stead he managed to negotiate the amount down to 2000 Baht. "I was then allowed to leave. Thas was the most important'

See the travel warnng on the ministry of foreign affair's website (external link).

He has since tried to protect himself, when he visit Thailand, and is very careful about access to money, if it should go wrong again. And he do understand why these things happen.

"They are dead poor and must daily watch rich tourists. Obvisouly it makes something click in some people"

Tourists must pay at the Airport

Georgesen was on the other hand very surprised to hear that similar events have taken place at the Bangkok International Airport where visitors from several countries have been extorted large amounts to avoid prison, after being accused of shoplifting. "It is food for thought. It's the main portal to Thailand" he says, and worries that it will affect the Thai tourist industry, which is already in decline.

It's immaterial whether this thread has become silly. The main point is that tourists are kidnapped and held for ransom at a crummy airport hotel by those that are meant to serve and protect, for an offence that, according to the law, should cost them no more than 400 Baht and a stern warning.

Let the posts continue to flood in, keeping the pressure up on the Thai government to do something. We are many who are fed up with the conditions in Thailand, so if this can be the catalyst, then I'm all for silly remarks.

One can’t read it without activating the alternative, phonetic pronunciation of ‘Phuket’. Clever!

Yeah that's really mature. What if we started calling Malaysia's capital for Cock-ala-Humper or something like that, and we would see the entire muslim population burn flags, blow up our embassies and boycot our respective countries products.

Shame on AirAsia.

Anyone know where and when the next Sodhi Limthongkul meeting takes place?

Has anyone heard if bird droppings are part of the health risk?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, avoid bird droppings at all cost. The droppings are THE major source of speading of the flu. Specially breathing the dust from such droppings, as it is airborn, full of bacteria and carry the flu.

And get ripped of by customs officials, while waiting 3 month for it to clear? I should think other countries with a large chinese speaking part of the population could do this job better... but maybe I am wrong?

Who do you report to for anything like this or people in residential areas keeping free range fowl?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What about pigeons? I have several that like to frequent my balcony. How about we got some information?

What you need is gas chromatograpy. I guess some medical companies, the hospitals and the universities have them. Problem is you need a gigantic database of all the various compounds available, and THAT may be hard to find in Thailand.

CAT will sue. I know it from experience.

So they finally became "Giant"

How about a black briefcase handcuffed to your wrist? And remember to tell me when the transfer takes place

ASIC

According to CAT, there is going to be a problem with the international internet link out of Thailand today and tomorrow (24th and 25th of December). Where I am now, it - very conveniently - only affects the ports used by internet phones, messenger services etc. Is this some sort of a joke? How many here believes this to be coincidence? Nice way to screw the tourist and visitors here.

And to really rub it in, CAT has arranged a party tommorow (the 25th of Dec.) at MBK to thank it's customers for the many overseas calls they have made in the past year. First price is a free phone call overseas and a trip to Hong Kong where overseas telephone charges are dirt cheap

At the same time CAT announces:

At the present, many providers of overseas calls worldwide acted on their own authority,which underwent continuous expansion. It may affect all over the crisis-stricken country and sorely prevailed over the Earnings paid to the States Coffers. CAT TELECOM together with Royal Thai Police. have arrested these illicit providers in prison or property seized for punishment

CAT TELECOM LTD. , is provided all kinds of telecommunication services and oher -related services, both locally and globally. In other words, CAT TELECOM

has absolute authority over International Telephone Service. To resolve these

illegal problems , the Follow-Up and Verification of Working Group has been

nominated to examine of accuracy of provided overseas calls services

In case, your destination number abroad [for coming call] is local call code in

contrast with overseas call code . You could immediately reported to CAT TELECOM at tel. 66 2956 7041-3. In addition, CAT TELECOM required more information, namely, destination number from abroad , date, time and the destination country for coming call.

For more information, please contact CAT CONTACT CENTER 1322 [24 hrs. everyday]

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has begun an effort to tidy up public telephone booths following complaints that many of them are obstructing human traffic on footpaths.

Seems to me it's it the slow speed of the human traffic that blocks human traffic?

And where are the jobs going to come from? I have been in the IT business in Thailand for donkey years, and there are no jobs here that require serious brain power. The R&D money is all going to China and India these days. There are jobs for IT people here, but who wants to work in a factory as a quality insurance guy?

ASIC

Usually, it's extremely difficult to breathe when your nostrils and mouth are being blocked.... (by a soldier's hand?)

Or duct tape?

ASIC

Maybe they could start by educating the morons that run the ISPs?

ASIC

Why is it that a book about Toxin written in English costs 6 times more than a book about Toxin written in Thai?

ASIC

errrrrr..... The Thai Buddhist Church?

That's almost 1 out of 500 who die while on holiday here.... Doesn't sound nice. Can this be true?

ASIC

Leena Jangjanya has large breasts.

So has Samak Sundarevej, the current governor

Hahahaha Good Stuff.

Something for both male and female voters here

And just before the elections... how convenient

ASIC

Or he doesn't get out much

artichokes, asparagus, hot peppers, onions, ginger, cardamom, chocolate and bananas

So it's really true what the rumour says! You English surely have the most awful food in the world.

ASIC