Stranded Russian tourist takes refuge at Surat Thani temple

[webfact]

Stranded Russian tourist takes refuge at Surat Thani temple

 

Picture: New TV

 

Thai media featured the story of a 22 year old Russian man who is stranded in Thailand and living at a southern temple.

 

They referred to Ivan as a "dek wat" - a child who has no financial means of his own who is obliged to live at a temple. 

 

"Dek wat" is a term at the heart of Thai and Thai/Buddhist culture and represents one of Thailand's unofficial social security systems. It usually refers to Thais not foreigners.

 

But these are not normal times. 

 

Director of the Surat Thani branch of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Nanthawan Siriphokphat went to the temple of Wat Pattanaram in Muang district where she spoke to the young Russian man. 

 

He said he was stranded in Thailand with no flights out. He came into Thailand via Malaysia and his visa expired on April 10th. This was automatically extended for several months.

 

Hotel closures prompted Thai friends to suggest to him that he could live at the temple. Since the start of the month he has been living there helping out with all chores. He even helps the monks when they do handouts to the needy. 

 

He had nothing but praise for the monks and the kind Thai people and said he would rather stay in Thailand than take his chances elsewhere.

 

Nanthawan said she was acting on TAT HQ orders to check up on stranded tourists. 

 

However, Ivan seemed to be fine. She gave him a mask and a TAT t-shirt. 

 

And promised to contact the TAT southern office to see if he qualified for financial aid under their schemes. 

 

Source: New TV

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-04-30

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Thaiwrath]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

Stranded Russian tourist takes refuge at Surat Thani temple

Probably his best chance of getting access to some alcohol ! ????

[BritManToo]

It's good to see the authorities being nice to foreigners.

If they did it everywhere, they might get some tourists coming back.

[cornishcarlos]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

And promised to contact the TAT southern office to see if he qualified for financial aid under their schemes.

 

He'll probably be classified by AI as being a "farmer" therefore not eligible...

[Phuketshrew]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

However, Ivan seemed to be fine. She gave him a mask and a TAT t-shirt. 

Oh what I'd give to have one of those TAT T-Shirts! TAT is the right word. ????

(shouldn't he be shaving his head?)

[DaRoadrunner]

In life, there is always a price to pay. In this case, one meal a day and no pu$$y.

[khaowong1]

42 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

In life, there is always a price to pay. In this case, one meal a day and no pu$$y.

except, he's not a monk so doesn't have to follow the rules.