Firstly this is my first post on Thai Visa. I have been reading for a while now and really enjoy the topics of discussion and the general banter between members. I moved to Phuket about 6 months and I am currently working full time for a large hotel chain teaching English. Today I happened to finish my lesson early and when this happens I normally go down to reception to watch the staff in action using there new language skills. At just after 6pm a bus full of Russian tourists pulled up and they all disembarked the bus to check in to the hotel. This is not unusual at all but as I watched closer something struck me. The only person Thai on the bus was the driver.....The tour guide was and assistant where both farangs....and Im guessing Russian.... because of the language used. My point is I have read countless stories on here of genuine people doing a hard days work and running a legitimate business being harassed by immigration constantly and from my understanding and reading this situation of only farangs being on board the bus is completely illegal............where are immigration police cracking down on these guys. Do either of these people have work permits to be doing this type of work....the answer I would think is no...as this activity clearly comes under the occupations foreign people cannot work in. It just annoys me that people get away with this.....when so many of us have to bend over backwards to live a legitimate life and keep our papers in order.

Well, they do leave bushels of rubles around the town before the depart, reckon that counts for some slack for their caretakers, and guides to Thai businesses who'll rip them off.... Just like the Bangkok jewelry scams and tuk tuk guides.

Mac

Here it takes a looooooooooooooooong time to sort stuff out BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, if someone is getting some in the chain is getting ''tea'' money then it won't be sorted out.

May I kindly suggest the next time you find yourself with some free time from 'teaching' you brush up on your English spelling.

It just annoys me that people get away with this.....when so many of us have to bend over backwards to live a legitimate life and keep our papers in order.

This attitude has no place in Thailand IMHO. Do you constantly walk around pissed off, thinking "Why is that guy not wearing a crash helmet?", "Why is that store selling alcohol during prohibited hours?", "Why is this shop willing waive VAT"...

If you wanted Big Brother nanny state constantly crawling up everyone's ass...might be best to board a plane.

You have chosen the security of doing things the right way; others haven't... you made your choice, they made theirs.

Edited April 30, 201214 yr by dave111223

May I kindly suggest the next time you find yourself with some free time from 'teaching' you brush up on your English spelling.

May I kindly suggest the next time you find yourself with some free time from 'teaching' you brush up on your English spelling.

Who me ? Must admit l failed English, and I'm English. .

May I kindly suggest the next time you find yourself with some free time from 'teaching' you brush up on your English spelling.

Well 4 posts in and the English Nazi's kick off well done

To the OP, if you feel so strongly about this issue may I humbly suggest you do your civic duty and report these despicable criminals to immigration and DOL without delay, if you are not prepared to do this and they are not affecting you personally...stop bleating....

It just annoys me that people get away with this.....when so many of us have to bend over backwards to live a legitimate life and keep our papers in order.

This attitude has no place in Thailand IMHO. Do you constantly walk around pissed off, thinking "Why is that guy not wearing a crash helmet?", "Why is that store selling alcohol during prohibited hours?", "Why is this shop willing waive VAT"...

If you wanted Big Brother nanny state constantly crawling up everyone's ass...might be best to board a plane.

You have chosen the security of doing things the right way; others haven't... you made your choice, they made theirs.

No need to be so flippant. The guy has a point the Russians are running ragged the immigration and business laws. I see it daily in Pattaya, but nothing will happen because as we all know. Money talks!

May I kindly suggest the next time you find yourself with some free time from 'teaching' you brush up on your English spelling.

Well 4 posts in and the English Nazi's kick off well done

To the OP, if you feel so strongly about this issue may I humbly suggest you do your civic duty and report these despicable criminals to immigration and DOL without delay, if you are not prepared to do this and they are not affecting you personally...stop bleating....

I can think still quicker than I can type so speeling sometimes happens! Rules bend here same as anywhere else but you know I to wonder where did all those Russians suddenly come from? 3 or 4 years ago I dont remember them!

May I kindly suggest the next time you find yourself with some free time from 'teaching' you brush up on your English spelling.

Well 4 posts in and the English Nazi's kick off well done

To the OP, if you feel so strongly about this issue may I humbly suggest you do your civic duty and report these despicable criminals to immigration and DOL without delay, if you are not prepared to do this and they are not affecting you personally...stop bleating....

The OP is moaning about immigration "cracking down on these guys". Maybe it's time they started "cracking down" on these so-called 'teachers'

May I kindly suggest the next time you find yourself with some free time from 'teaching' you brush up on your English spelling.

When you've finished that, learn about paragraphing.

Well 4 posts in and the English Nazi's kick off well done

If he's going to go on a public forum and announce that he's an English teacher, he should at least show some mastery of the language.

I remember KerryK saying on a topic a few months ago that if a Thai policeman would have stopped him in the street and asked him for his ID when he was here 40 years ago he would have laughed in his face. Simply put at that time Thais deferred to foreigners.

Over the years they have grown in confidence and maybe realized that they could ripp the p*ss out of the farangs a bit.

I reckon the Russians are currently living in a bubble because the Thais and Thai police can't get their heads round who they are dealing with. It won't take them long to suss them out then you will find the Russians being subjected to the same level of scrutiny as the rest.

With one proviso........there is a level of organized crime above and beyond the norm with the Russian community. It is one community that would have no compunction in taking on the Thais head to head in the assassination and violence stakes.

There have been some horrific stories coming out of Pattaya of Russian girls being found dead on the beach, I have some friends just returned from Moscow and they were disturbed at the level of intimidation and gangsterism in the country. These friends of mine, one in particular, are no slouches. This particular friend was over in Moscow to provide protection to a legitimate businessman. he came back and said that there was no half way ground with the Russians, if it's on, it's all in.

For all the pretendy gangsters that we meet in the bars of Thailand, these guys are the real deal. Apparently there are even Russians getting involved in the jet ski scams. You can kind of guess that if they can wedge themselves into that most criminal of enterprises it's either because the Thais fear them, or they are buying their way in. I think it's a bit of both.

Now the pity is that we end up thinking that every Russian is a gangster. Not so, many are highly defensive because they are used to being treated with suspicion by we Westerners. They expect us to be abusive and unfriendly towards them. Their first reaction when you talk to them is to go defensive, and claim they don't talk English in many cases. Try a different tack with them, the next time your at a pool or a bar with Russians around, open a bottle of vodka and whisky and invite them to drink it with you. Show them a spoonful of sugar and you will get sack loads in return.

Don't fear Russians, most of them are just regular people on the holiday of a lifetime, show them a bit of kindness and consideration and you will be amazed at how hospitable they are. Remember, they "fear" us as much as we "fear" them. I would rather befiriend them than fear them. We're going to need them to repel the Chinese when they attack us

ps. Old soldier story coming up, I was on Operation Lionheart in 1984, known as a REFORGER exercise to the US forces. It was the biggest mass movement of NATO troops into Germany since WW2. I think 160,000 troops flew in in 5 days.

Anyway, theblether was on guard duty at a River near Hannover, I was in the Royal Engineers, and we had just built a Bailey Bridge. We were told to expect an inspection visit from the Russian forces, ( they were allowed to inspect to prevent scheduled war games from becoming full scale attacks ) and at that point a helicopter showed up and off stepped about a dozen Red Army generals. They looked like the "evil men" from central casting.

My troop was understrength and I was in charge of the Carl Gustav anti tank weapon and the large bore machine gun ( can't remember the name ) as well as my personal SLR. At that time I stood 6 foot 2 tall and I was built like a tank, hence why I had the heavy machinery. Laughter ensued from the Russian Generals and the British Brigadier came over to see me, which was a pain in the ass as my hands were full and I didn't know whether to stand to, stay where I was, whatever ( ex-soldiers know you don't salute officers when you are on exercise in case you identify them to the enemy ), anyway the Brigadier told me to stand easy and explained the laughter from the Russians was them looking at me and one of them said " Eff me, I'm not fighting this mob, look at the size of that guy ".

Claim to fame, Yorkshire Television filmed the whole encounter and had a final scene with the camera sweeping round me and the commentator saying " I think we're safe with soldiers like this to protect us ".

theblether was proud of himself.

Just sayin'.

No need to be so flippant. The guy has a point the Russians are running ragged the immigration and business laws. I see it daily in Pattaya, but nothing will happen because as we all know. Money talks!

He's not just "pointing it out", he's stating that it "annoys him"...and I'm saying that how someone else conducts their own personal matters, which have absolutely no affect on the OP, are none of his business and certainly nothing for him to be "annoyed" about.

Interesting posts so far.....lovelaos...my spelling ????????? If my spelling is not 100% my apologies and as for paragraphing well its not so easy while on the staff bus and a blackberry in hand. Its amazing that people cant come on here and have a conversation about a topic. If you don't have anything interesting to say well then don't.........

I was merely making a point that crosses many peoples minds. Its terrible to think because I have an opinion about something I should get back on the plane and go home. Are opinions not allowed in LOS or on the forum??????

If he's going to go on a public forum and announce that he's an English teacher, he should at least show some mastery of the language.

But you know as well as I do that they are not real teachers, more like play play ones

Interesting posts so far.....lovelaos...my spelling ????????? If my spelling is not 100% my apologies and as for paragraphing well its not so easy while on the staff bus and a blackberry in hand. Its amazing that people cant come on here and have a conversation about a topic. If you don't have anything interesting to say well then don't.........

I was merely making a point that crosses many peoples minds. Its terrible to think because I have an opinion about something I should get back on the plane and go home. Are opinions not allowed in LOS or on the forum??????

Ignore the Good English police, they are actually breaking a forum rule by bringing up your misspelling.

Lovelaos you're a very naughty boy

Feel free to state any opinion you like, don't let facts get in the way of a good opinion. Just let it all out and we'll all have a good fight about it then go get a beer and fulminate about things.

Welcome to Thaivisa

Edited April 30, 201214 yr by theblether

Its terrible to think because I have an opinion about something I should get back on the plane and go home. Are opinions not allowed in LOS or on the forum??????

I'm just saying you might enjoy it more in a country where you can spend all day grassing your neighbors in for not paying their TV license.

No need to be so flippant. The guy has a point the Russians are running ragged the immigration and business laws. I see it daily in Pattaya, but nothing will happen because as we all know. Money talks!

He's not just "pointing it out", he's stating that it "annoys him"...and I'm saying that how someone else conducts their own personal matters, which have absolutely no affect on the OP, are none of his business and certainly nothing for him to be "annoyed" about.

It also annoys me when I am walking on Jomtien beach road and I am approached by a Russian tout offering me a tour. I bet that it annoys the legitimate Thais more than me or the OP.

Its terrible to think because I have an opinion about something I should get back on the plane and go home. Are opinions not allowed in LOS or on the forum??????

I'm just saying you might enjoy it more in a country where you can spend all day grassing your neighbors in for not paying their TV license.

Low blow.

I love it.

It also annoys me when I am walking on Jomtien beach road and I am approached by a Russian tout offering me a tour. I bet that it annoys the legitimate Thais more than me or the OP.

Why does it annoy you more if the tout is Russian? Russian tout, Thai tout, Nigerian tout...makes no difference to me...

Its terrible to think because I have an opinion about something I should get back on the plane and go home. Are opinions not allowed in LOS or on the forum??????

I'm just saying you might enjoy it more in a country where you can spend all day grassing your neighbors in for not paying their TV license.

I did that........got bored of it..........do they have TV licenses here???????

Its terrible to think because I have an opinion about something I should get back on the plane and go home. Are opinions not allowed in LOS or on the forum??????

I'm just saying you might enjoy it more in a country where you can spend all day grassing your neighbors in for not paying their TV license.

and if so........do you have yours?????

No need to be so flippant. The guy has a point the Russians are running ragged the immigration and business laws. I see it daily in Pattaya, but nothing will happen because as we all know. Money talks!

He's not just "pointing it out", he's stating that it "annoys him"...and I'm saying that how someone else conducts their own personal matters, which have absolutely no affect on the OP, are none of his business and certainly nothing for him to be "annoyed" about.

No need to be so flippant. The guy has a point the Russians are running ragged the immigration and business laws. I see it daily in Pattaya, but nothing will happen because as we all know. Money talks!

He's not just "pointing it out", he's stating that it "annoys him"...and I'm saying that how someone else conducts their own personal matters, which have absolutely no affect on the OP, are none of his business and certainly nothing for him to be "annoyed" about.

Why do you assume it will not or does not affect him ?

Organized shit eventually affects us all in some way or another.

Interesting posts so far.....lovelaos...my spelling ????????? If my spelling is not 100% my apologies and as for paragraphing well its not so easy while on the staff bus and a blackberry in hand. Its amazing that people cant come on here and have a conversation about a topic. If you don't have anything interesting to say well then don't.........

I was merely making a point that crosses many peoples minds. Its terrible to think because I have an opinion about something I should get back on the plane and go home. Are opinions not allowed in LOS or on the forum??????

Ignore the Good English police, they are actually breaking a forum rule by bringing up your misspelling.

Lovelaos you're a very naughty boy

Feel free to state any opinion you like, don't let facts get in the way of a good opinion. Just let it all out and we'll all have a good fight about it then go get a beer and fulminate about things.

Welcome to Thaivisa

and Thank you SIr......

If you think about this more.....there is something that we are all missing.....there will come a point when the Thai's get fed up with the Russians and some of there shady dealings as stated by a few posters.........what will happen then ?

I guess the OP has passed the test and showed he does have a sense of humour, he has managed 24 posts without splitting the dummy.

OP are you Irish by any chance ?...if you are, dont carry balloons on the BTS in BKK...

If you think about this more.....there is something that we are all missing.....there will come a point when the Thai's get fed up with the Russians and some of there shady dealings as stated by a few posters.........what will happen then ?

If you think about this more.....there is something that we are all missing.....there will come a point when the Thai's get fed up with the Russians and some of there shady dealings as stated by a few posters.........what will happen then ?

Nooooooooooooo, LOS is full of shady dealings, that's the way it is, and strangely, it's OK. Doesn't matter who you are or where you come from.

If you think about this more.....there is something that we are all missing.....there will come a point when the Thai's get fed up with the Russians and some of there shady dealings as stated by a few posters.........what will happen then ?

As long as the cash flows in the right amounts, Thai's will never get fed up with the Russians

I guess the OP has passed the test and showed he does have a sense of humour, he has managed 24 posts without splitting the dummy.

OP are you Irish by any chance ?...if you are, dont carry balloons on the BTS in BKK...

yes I am ........ and no i will stay away from balloons I reckon........they're bloody dangerous....

and that was yes I will lol