British Embassy Cyclists Gearing Up for “3 Pagodas Challenge" for Charity

 

 

Bangkok, Thursday 11 January 2018 –

 

At the break of dawn today, a team of 10 cyclists from the British Embassy Bangkok embarked on a ‘road trip’ that will have them cycling 375km along the route of the infamous “Death Railway” from Bangkok to the Thai-Myanmar border at 3 Pagodas.

 

This is all part of the “3 Pagodas Challenge”, in a bid to raise in excess of 1 million baht (approx. £23,000).

 

All money raised from donations and sponsorship will be split between 4 worthwhile charities: Thailand Veterans General Hospital, Action 4 Diabetes, The Royal British Legion and Breast Cancer Research. Each charity has a personal value to each cyclist and seeks to benefit people in the UK, Thailand and Myanmar.

 

The British Embassy Bangkok is proudly sponsored by Zuellig Pharma, AIS, VFS Global, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Pencari Training, Sivatel, Tesco Lotus, The British Club Bangkok, Fitness First, Seafresh Industry, The Rembrandt Hotel, Time Matters Global Special Speed Logistics, Thai Airways and Singha Corporation.

 

Every year, The British Embassy Bangkok supports a number of local community organisations in Thailand. Last year, Embassy colleagues helped build facilities for the children at the Klong Toey Foundation for Slum Children and Wat Pathum Wanaram School and assisted with the cats at PAWS, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of Bangkok’s stray cats.

 

You can track the team’s progress on Twitter @BKK3PC and Facebook @3PagodasChallenge. Further donations can be made via their Just Giving page or by contacting Sebastian Kay directly on [email protected].

 

23 minutes ago, webfact said:

Challenge

 

The challenge will be not to get killed on the highway..

I didn't think that British Embassy staff got on their bikes for anything  . . . .  

No doubt they will be given FULL protection and an escort the whole way. 

 

Not like some other poor sods on bikes who have been annihilated by the selfish, scummy morons on the roads here.

I cycle here and its far safer than it looks, it just looks worse when walking. Thais are also mostly extra careful at junctions, i was pleasantly surprised when i actually cycled.

Any of you guys in the first posts actually cycle?

so that's where my tax money is going, great

utter none sense. get in the office and work. costs more money having those guys not working. how dare they bring the british legion into it?! go to work 

8 minutes ago, Happy enough said:

utter none sense. get in the office and work. costs more money having those guys not working. how dare they bring the british legion into it?! go to work 

 

Wow... that is some chip you are carrying around with you.... 

 

"How dare they bring the British Legion into it ?"...  ?? Huh ?... the British Legion is one of their Charities.... Are you suggesting that those who work for the Foreign Office are not worthy of contributing to the British Legion ???....  

 

The aggressiveness and bitterness of some posters really brings in to question their mental health... 

Just now, richard_smith237 said:

 

Wow... that is some chip you are carrying around with you.... 

 

"How dare they bring the British Legion into it ?"...  ?? Huh ?... the British Legion is one of their Charities.... Are you suggesting that those who work for the Foreign Office are not worthy of contributing to the British Legion ???....  

 

The aggressiveness and bitterness of some posters really brings in to question their mental health... 

ok. got that. will check with my doc. are you not allowed an opinion anymore?

"Are you suggesting that those who work for the Foreign Office are not worthy of contributing to the British Legion ???"

i wasn't suggesting, i was telling

1 minute ago, Happy enough said:

"Are you suggesting that those who work for the Foreign Office are not worthy of contributing to the British Legion ???"

i wasn't suggesting, i was telling

How many do you think might be members of the RBL in their own right?

 

What will it be, M, L, or XXL?

12 minutes ago, evadgib said:

How many do you think might be members of the RBL in their own right?

 

What will it be, M, L, or XXL?

none, didn't quite understand the t shirt

14 minutes ago, evadgib said:

How many do you think might be members of the RBL in their own right?

 

What will it be, M, L, or XXL?

i'm in paknam, chumphon. please head here and speak to me to my face

8 minutes ago, Happy enough said:

i'm in paknam, chumphon. please head here and speak to me to my face

guess you're not coming then ; ) more than welcome mate

 

375 K's in how many days? Those are mountain bikes with knobbly  tires, very hard work on roads, three days would be realistic. The sum of money they are aiming to raise is rather paltry, why doesn't Mr Ambassador just forgo his wages for a couple of weeks, and let these desk Jonnies get back to work?   And what's that? Is the British Embassy sponsored nowadays? By some people called Seafresh [probably using slave labour], Time matters global special speed logistics [happy to let you waste time reading the name of their company], a sad reflection of the diminished status of the UK.

They should of course support good causes but at the same time they seriously need to improve the services given to expat Brits. I realise that most British politicians regard anyone living outside the country as a traitor and someone to be inconvenienced at every opportunity. With a witch like May, who is paranoid about Britain sinking into the North Sea under the weight of immigrants, as PM there is little hope of any improvement. After all when she was the Minister in charge of things like Immigration we had hours' long lines at airports not to mention the degradation of the extortionate passport renewal services.

 

British embassies are stuffed with Hooray Henrys and chinless wonders who love to look down on" native chappies" acros the world as if their tin pot little country had some relevance to the 21st century!

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I cycle here and its far safer than it looks, it just looks worse when walking. Thais are also mostly extra careful at junctions, i was pleasantly surprised when i actually cycled.

Any of you guys in the first posts actually cycle?

Yes, I cycle a lot. Still have to be ultra vigilant!

I'd say they'll be needing a charity to pay the hospitalisation fees after the race pile up

Yep, great advert for the promotion of Thailand road safety. Stand on the flaming rail road !

What is it with the embassy staff trespassing on railway lines?

 

I am Sick to death of everyone running down the British Embassy & what they are doing here.

I am in the RBL here in Thailand and work very closely on a lot that they have to deal with in Thailand and i find them helpful in every case, some cases happen to be very serious ones.

I think if you ask the members of the RBL Thailand the majority if not all would agree with this. 

Well done the bike riders on this event!

1 hour ago, Fips82 said:

I am Sick to death of everyone running down the British Embassy & what they are doing here.

That would be not a lot and charging an arm and a leg for it 

On 1/12/2018 at 12:20 AM, PremiumLane said:

That would be not a lot and charging an arm and a leg for it 

Charging a lot for what??

6 hours ago, Fips82 said:

Charging a lot for what??

50+ quid for me to fill in a letter, look at my utility bill and then they put a nice stamp on it... how about that for starters?

13 hours ago, PremiumLane said:

50+ quid for me to fill in a letter, look at my utility bill and then they put a nice stamp on it... how about that for starters?

A(n unnecessary) requirement of the Thai Govt enabling you to comply with whatever obstacle they threw at you that particular week and billed as per HMG's published fee table has nothing whatsoever to do with those that provided the service or are getting on their bikes for charity.

 

Fererro Rocher did them no favours in the 80s. Social media has gone a stage further by fueling the myth that "the Embassy ain't doing Nuffink" whenever Joe Public's expectations exceed the limited services that are available & starts bleating online.

Edited January 14, 20188 yr by evadgib

On 1/11/2018 at 2:47 AM, Happy enough said:

so that's where my tax money is going, great

How is your "tax money" going for this? They are giving their personal time and they are being sponsored by third parties. Are you donating? This event promotes a positive image and acts to offset the negative stories circulating. You know like that last one of the young woman tossed from a balcony as she was allegedly being sodomized by a convicted sex offender Brit on the lam. The Thais will see polite law abiding sober men, and that does make for a nice change.

10 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

How is your "tax money" going for this? They are giving their personal time and they are being sponsored by third parties. Are you donating? This event promotes a positive image and acts to offset the negative stories circulating. You know like that last one of the young woman tossed from a balcony as she was allegedly being sodomized by a convicted sex offender Brit on the lam. The Thais will see polite law abiding sober men, and that does make for a nice change.

i was actually on this thread after about 3 bottles of wine so take my comments with a pinch of salt on this one

 

On 1/14/2018 at 10:54 AM, evadgib said:

A(n unnecessary) requirement of the Thai Govt enabling you to comply with whatever obstacle they threw at you that particular week and billed as per HMG's published fee table has nothing whatsoever to do with those that provided the service or are getting on their bikes for charity.

 

Fererro Rocher did them no favours in the 80s. Social media has gone a stage further by fueling the myth that "the Embassy ain't doing Nuffink" whenever Joe Public's expectations exceed the limited services that are available & starts bleating online.

He asked what they were charging a lot for, I told him... don't know what chocolates have to do with it though? 

 

Oh, and because they publish the rip off price, and because the Thai government ask for stupid docs, then my embassy can set a silly price,  then it is somehow OK? Strange logic that

Edited January 18, 20188 yr by PremiumLane

On 1/11/2018 at 4:48 AM, CelticBhoy said:

I didn't think that British Embassy staff got on their bikes for anything  . . . .  

That Miss Black does not that is for sure. Have a look at her facebook if its still there. holding on to a mast on a catamaran thinking she is on titanic is the most you get from her.