Service (such As It Is) In Thailand

[Aviador]

Oh life in the LOS. Thais will scream at each other, but present a sinister smirk at farang, because farang are fair game to be taken advantage of at every opportunity . Not withstanding that they screwed me out of close to 4 million Baht within 2 years, but I too have learned a few things since.

I experienced a slow leak, a screw puncture to one of the front tires of my pickup. Of course there is nobody in this blasted tourist town to fix anything, let alone a car tire. A large place in Takuapa was recommended. Yes it was huge. Thousands of tires and all the machinery necessary to fix flats, mount and balance tires etc. My Burmese English and Thai speaking friend and I were served ice cold Coke, by the smiling lady owner. “Wow, a farang get the vaseline ready“ :>).

She pointed out to me that this tire was “very old” and needed to be replaced. Well, it showed excessive scuffing wear on the outside, probably due to misalignment. After the accident last year, the morons at he body shop in Phuket most likely never checked the alignment. This “very old” tire had 20,000 km (12,430 miles) on it. However she made me a reasonable deal on 2 new tires. New valve stems, mounted and balanced 4,000 Baht .

As for the alignment, she recommended a Mazda dealership her father owned just down the street. “Only charge 400 Baht for whole thing“. She even called the place, most likely to alert them to the arrival of an “easy mark” . Well I did not see an alignment machine when we arrived, but 2 fellows jacked up the truck, started wiggling the wheels, note paper in hand and disappeared. I told my young friend “watch this, they will probably try sell me something” Sure as shootin’ some broad came out later with an “estimate”. “Sir, it seems you need 2 ball joints, one sway-bar, and possibly 2 shocks”. ON A TRUCK WITH 12,500 MILES ON IT ???? (I just did not want to go back to the Mitsubishi dealer in Kokloy who has even worse morons working for them) This is when I lost my cool: “Look, I worked on cars before you imbeciles were even born. Take the damned truck off the lift, before I sick the dog (who was inside) on you”. If I want to get screwed, at least I would like to get kissed at the same time too. Old farang ain’t as stupid as you think he is.

Actually, I should have known better. I had taken the truck to them when I first bought it and complained about smoking at any speed as well as excessive fuel consumption. The owner of a resort here in Khao Lak recommended the place. By then it had almost 5,000 km on it and needed an oil change anyway. (The idiots at Mitsubishi in Kokloy couldn’t find anything wrong with it.) After they changed the oil, the “mechanic” raced the engine to the point, the entire shop area was enveloped in thick black smoke. “Is ok, may pen ray, you go too fast she smoke” said the genius. 40 km/hr is going FAST? lol:

I finally found a Farang ship Diesel mechanic who adjusted the injection timing and the problem was solved.

For the 10,000 km checkup I decided to once more deal with Mitsubishi in Kokloy, mainly because the back of the coupon in the book listed 11 items (all in Thai) to be addressed to at his time.

I have never been without a car in over 55 years, did most of the maintenance myself, but since this thing is under warrantee, I have no desire to get my hands greasy and crawl under a car at my age, why not let the “experts” do it.

I arrived at 11:25 AM, 5 persons were working on the only other customer’s Mitsu saloon car. Two guys placed my truck on the lift, opened the oil drain and returned to finish the other fellows vehicle. I sat in the lounge, looking at some magazines when I noticed that the girls in the office were locking their door. Is was now 12:00 o’clock…. Lunchtime!!! Everybody had disappeared. I sat there all by my lonesome self until 1 PM when the crew returned, replaced the oil as well as the oil-filter. 1,300 Baht, savasdee crap.

They did not even check the water in the battery.

Service ??? I don’t think they know the meaning of the word.

[khall64au]

Oh dear, Aviador! You need to make friends with these people. Smile and joke with them. Buy them lunch even. Small towns breed small outlooks. Try it, maybe your life will get easier....

[cdnvic]

Why didn't you go to lunch?

cv

[kasi]

Aviador seems like your attitude may be a source for many of your difficulties. You ooze negativity. This post in particular is arrogant, ignorant, demanding and demeaning.

If your POS truck was in an accident and have been running around out of alignment there certainly is a possibility you needed some parts replacement prior to an alignment. If you knew anything you would know that.

Quite possibly you encountered your first competent technician and you missed it because you think you know it all and assume everyone is out to rip you off. Note the first three letters of the word "ASSUME". People probably spot you a mile away.

Americans with attitudes like yours just make the rest of us look bad.

I'm an airline pilot too and can spot the "I'm better than you" big turbine driver attitude. I have to contain my own arrogant tendencies.(it takes one to know one)(though I'm just a lowly sled and navaho driver out of bush AK)(I could tell you a thing or two about bootleg IFR!)

Loose the attitude it really didn't work in the "industry" and it certainly doesn't work here!

Thankfully most thai people are descent, resilient and take people like you(and me) in stride. I'd say you have much to learn about living here.

And loose the POS mitsubishi and buy a toyota hilux!

Edited May 31, 2006 by kasi

[Aviador]

Aviador seems like your attitude may be a source for many of your difficulties. You ooze negativity. This post in particular is arrogant, ignorant, demanding and demeaning.

If your POS truck was in an accident and have been running around out of alignment there certainly is a possibility you needed some parts replacement prior to an alignment. If you knew anything you would know that.

Quite possibly you encountered your first competent technician and you missed it because you think you know it all and assume everyone is out to rip you off. Note the first three letters of the word "ASSUME". People probably spot you a mile away.

Americans with attitudes like yours just make the rest of us look bad.

I'm an airline pilot too and can spot the "I'm better than you" big turbine driver attitude. I have to contain my own arrogant tendencies.(it takes one to know one)(though I'm just a lowly sled and navaho driver out of bush AK)(I could tell you a thing or two about bootleg IFR!)

Loose the attitude it really didn't work in the "industry" and it certainly doesn't work here!

Thankfully most thai people are descent, resilient and take people like you(and me) in stride. I'd say you have much to learn about living here.

And loose the POS mitsubishi and buy a toyota hilux!

OK. Hold on there junior.

I don’t know how old you are and whether you even live, of have lived in Thailand since you are flying the bush in Alaska. I did not just arrive yesterday. Sure I ooze negativity, because having been screwed out of my life savings within 2 ½ short years by devious people whom I treated like family. “You have a very good heart” was the consensus until they cleaned me out, as well and incompetent repair persons. If you read my post right, the part of the wheel alignment was my second encounter with those “competent technicians”.

Quote:

I'm an airline pilot too and can spot the "I'm better than you" big turbine driver attitude. I have to contain my own arrogant tendencies.(it takes one to know one though I'm just a lowly sled and navaho driver out of bush AK)(I could tell you a thing or two about bootleg IFR!)

End quote.

No you can’t. I too, spent 3000 hours in a Navajo (it’s spelled with a “ J” you know) no auto pilot, no radar flying checks in the Northeast corridor for 3 years in between jobs when the aviation industry hit bottom in the 70’s. I came up the “hard way’ like most pilots in the US (with the exception of the ex military jocks) I flew dead bodies in a Cherokee 6, ferried airplanes for Piper all over Europe and south America. I have 11 trans Atlantic ferry crossings in light aircraft, 4 in single engine airplanes (the last one was a Cherokee Warrior from PBI to ETGT Oxford Kidlington UK) before there was GPS or even loran. 14 hours of hand flying, solid IFR dead reckoning from Gander to Shannon). I crossed the Andes from La Paz Bolivia at 16,500 feet VFR to Arica Chile, no oxygen and smoked a pack of cigarettes while doing it.

Sunshine, before you start calling me the “better than you big turbine driver”. I started with the Gooney bird (DC3) and finally got the big break about 30 years ago. I was hired by a now defunct (what else is new) carrier. Started out as FO in an old 049 Connie and later got typed in the B707 and the B727. I was in heaven. Naturally that did not last very long either. Then a few stints in renegade old “water wagon” 7ohs’s where nothing worked, throughout South America. All one needed was a passport and “balls”. I ended up flying charter in Lears 25, 35, King Airs, Astra jet until I decided to pack it in. I have 16,000 hours TT, but only about 5000 in turbine equipment. I am still corresponding with former FO’s who are now Captains for the majors and call me “the best Captain they ever flew with.

Hey, if you want to trade war stories, I have a million of them. I could write a book, really.

My e-mail is: [email protected]

Greets, the ol’ Captain, happily retired.

[Guest endure]

How come a man with your vast experience of life got screwed out of his cash, Captain?

[kasi]

No you can’t. I too, spent 3000 hours in a Navajo (it’s spelled with a “ J” you know)

I rest my case you know it all! (remember the attitude thing?)

But for your information in AK we call PA-31-350's "Ho's" for short. My mistake!

Your aviation experience far exceeds mine.

I had to cut my career short (10 years and just under 10000 hours, 8000 hours in AK and 6000 hours in C-207's aka the "sled") because of 9/11 which hosed the whole industry(as you know).

I came up the hard way too, flight instructing glider towing. So I know little, still not much really. I got a few eye opening and hair raising stories too.

Anyway you should write a book sounds like it could rival some of Ernest K. Ganns' stuff.

Your writing is entertaining.( "junior", "sunshine", truly pleasant little pejoratives!)

But my point about the practice of living in Thailand remains.

I have a friend(about your age)in Barrow who had a similar misfortune of loosing his life savings hoping to retire in asia. But too old for the airlines now he is hauling frozen pizzas, whale meat, seal oil, pepsi and drunk natives around the grimmest and grimiest places in the Arctic. I doubt you'd want to do that.

Oh yea Im 50 years old now and have lived in Phuket for just over 2.

I have found it necessary to relinquish much of my old way of thinking. I've made a few mistakes but generally living here beats the "H" out of anywhere in the USA.

I miss my guns and hunting caribou, moose and grizzly bear. And flying off airport.

Edited June 2, 2006 by kasi

[Aviador]

OK, so you are living in Thailand. Sorry my mistake.

The old Piper, build like a truck Navajo. I never heard of one coming apart in severe turbulance, was known to us North Easteners as "Nava-Joe".

I quit while the going was good at 68 and still squeek through a 2nd class medical. (I am 71). But your story about your friend remined me of something. I don't know if you ever saw it.

THE LIFE AND LOVES OF AN AIRLINE PILOT

22 years old. Graduate from college. Go to military flight school. Become hotshot fighter pilot. Get married.

Have 1st kid.

25 years old. Now hotshot fighter jock getting shot at in war. Just want to get back to USA in one piece. Get back to USA as primary flight school instructor pilot. Get bored.

Volunteer for war again.

29 years old. Get back from war all tuckered out. Want out of military.

30 years old. Join airline company. World is your Oyster.

31 years old. Buy flashy Car, house and lots of toys. Get over that military poverty feeling.

32 years old. Divorce boring first wife. Pay Child support and maintenance whilst looking for second wife. Drink lots of booze and screw around whilst looking for second wife.

33 years old. Repeat above for a few more years.

35 years old. Marry young spunky 25 year old virgin flight attendant.

37 years old. Buy another house. Gave first one to wife #1.

38 years old. Give in to second wife to have more kids. Father again.

39 years old. Now a Captain. Hooray! Upgrade house and buy boat and even flashier cars.

42 years old. Wife #2 runs off with wealthy merchant banker but still wants share of house (100%).

43 years old. Settle with wife #2 and resolve to stay away from women forever. Seek appointment as Check Captain to have something to do. Move into two bedroom apartment.

50 years old. Meet sexy model on International trip. She loves you and says you are very "beeeg."

51 years old. Marry sexy model. Buy big house, boat and upgrade cars.

52 years old. Sexy model wants kids (not again). Resolve to get vasectomy.

54 years old. Try to talk wife out of kids but hey presto she's pregnant. Says got sick after taking pill. Accident, sorry, won't happen again.

55 years old. Father of triplets.

56 years old. Wife ..3 wants very big house, bigger boat and very flashy cars. Give in.

57 years old. Make rash investments to try and have enough money for retirement.

59 years old. Lose money on rash investments and get audited by IRS. Have to fly 100% International nights just to keep up with child support & alimony to wife #1.

60 years old. Wife ..3 (sexy model) says you're too damned old and no fun. Leaves. Takes most of your assets. Forced to retire due to age 60 rule. No money left

61 years old. Now Captain on a non-sched South American 727 freight outfit and living in 1-bedroom non-air conditioned apartment directly underneath the approach corridor of MIA International RWY 9.

65 years old. Lose FAA medical and get job as sim instructor. Don't look forward to years of getting up at 2 AM for 3 AM sim brief in every godforsaken town you train in due to your carrier finding cheap, off-hour sim time at XYZ airline.

70 years old. Hotel alarm clock set by previous hotel room FedEx occupant goes off at 1 AM. Have heart attack and die. Happy at last!

I too got raked over the coals by wife of 30 years (and the lawyers). "Community propery" as it is called in the state of New Jersey. But when her father died and left her 1/2 million bucks, that was none of my business.

Well, life is a bitch and then you marry one.

Greets, the ol Capt.

[kasi]

The old Piper, build like a truck Navajo. I never heard of one coming apart in severe turbulance, was known to us North Easteners as "Nava-Joe".

The navajo is a good tough bird, they work well up north. The ones I flew had fancy GPS' coupled to and auto-pilot along with radar altimeters.(essential for getting into places like Point Lay!)(some of the ugliest weather I've seen was up there). You set your altimeter for 50 feet! come in over the water on an OBS set in the GPS, if you see the runway land if not bug out! We're talking weather less than 100feet and a 1/2 mile. That was routine!

I don't have time to get into the exiting stuff with single engines and ice over the Norton sound.

The all time classic story happened to an acquaintance who had both engines on an MU2 stop at night over a cloud deck over the norton sound. He glided in and managed to put it on an ice floe. (barely! the nose of the plane was hanging over the water) Everyone was rescued except the airplane. The salvage helicopter dropped the plane into the water never to be seen again!

Edited June 2, 2006 by kasi

[Aviador]

Before someone starts bitching again that this is turning into an aviation chat, let me just say: There have been many times when I said: OK, thank you lord, I'll take over from here. : whistling:

Airline flying, except for the monetary benefits is much like driving a bus. Get them on, close the doors. Oh, there are indefinite departure delays? Well, we will be out of duty time then. Call dispatch and tell them to get a relief crew, we are going to a hotel.

Once I was cited by the FAA for landing at LGA when the weather was below published minimums (indef. ceiling X vis 1 1/6th) I had a transplant team with a human heart on board and was proud be to be able to get this organ to the person who was waiting for it in NYC. The FAA didn't give rat's ass made a big deal out of it and tried to fine me. Well it was settled, but it was put on my "record". So what

I had a file (didn't take it with me) 4 inches thick, battling with those bureaucrats for 40 years, even lost my license once for 6 months over something stupid. I never bent an airplane but was known at the charter office as "Captain fearless". My boss, although happy I made him money used to whine:”Here we go again, why did you do that you know it was illegal"? "So, I accomplished the mission, didn’t I? ”

After Sept 11th it was fun no more: annoyed: especially in the NYC area. Once I had to be "escorted" back to my airplane by the line crew because I had left the ID badge on my uniform jacket hanging in the cockpit. This happened at an airport where I was known for 20 years: bah:

Well, honestly I don't miss it. I had a great carrier, saw places that the average person only dreams of. Let them fly their computerized steed, FMS, GPS and side stick airplanes.

By the way, I bought a P51 Mustang surplus in 1959 for $ 6,500.oo. Now that was flying. But that’s another story again. (and also the story of my loss of license)

Greetings, the ol’ Captain.

[Gary A]

Well Captain fearless, after all you have been through how did you manage to get taken for four million baht here by a bunch of morons?

[OlRedEyes]

OK, so you are living in Thailand. Sorry my mistake.

The old Piper, build like a truck Navajo. I never heard of one coming apart in severe turbulance, was known to us North Easteners as "Nava-Joe".

I quit while the going was good at 68 and still squeek through a 2nd class medical. (I am 71). But your story about your friend remined me of something. I don't know if you ever saw it.

THE LIFE AND LOVES OF AN AIRLINE PILOT

22 years old. Graduate from college. Go to military flight school. Become hotshot fighter pilot. Get married.

Have 1st kid.

25 years old. Now hotshot fighter jock getting shot at in war. Just want to get back to USA in one piece. Get back to USA as primary flight school instructor pilot. Get bored.

Volunteer for war again.

29 years old. Get back from war all tuckered out. Want out of military.

30 years old. Join airline company. World is your Oyster.

31 years old. Buy flashy Car, house and lots of toys. Get over that military poverty feeling.

32 years old. Divorce boring first wife. Pay Child support and maintenance whilst looking for second wife. Drink lots of booze and screw around whilst looking for second wife.

33 years old. Repeat above for a few more years.

35 years old. Marry young spunky 25 year old virgin flight attendant.

37 years old. Buy another house. Gave first one to wife #1.

38 years old. Give in to second wife to have more kids. Father again.

39 years old. Now a Captain. Hooray! Upgrade house and buy boat and even flashier cars.

42 years old. Wife #2 runs off with wealthy merchant banker but still wants share of house (100%).

43 years old. Settle with wife #2 and resolve to stay away from women forever. Seek appointment as Check Captain to have something to do. Move into two bedroom apartment.

50 years old. Meet sexy model on International trip. She loves you and says you are very "beeeg."

51 years old. Marry sexy model. Buy big house, boat and upgrade cars.

52 years old. Sexy model wants kids (not again). Resolve to get vasectomy.

54 years old. Try to talk wife out of kids but hey presto she's pregnant. Says got sick after taking pill. Accident, sorry, won't happen again.

55 years old. Father of triplets.

56 years old. Wife ..3 wants very big house, bigger boat and very flashy cars. Give in.

57 years old. Make rash investments to try and have enough money for retirement.

59 years old. Lose money on rash investments and get audited by IRS. Have to fly 100% International nights just to keep up with child support & alimony to wife #1.

60 years old. Wife ..3 (sexy model) says you're too damned old and no fun. Leaves. Takes most of your assets. Forced to retire due to age 60 rule. No money left

61 years old. Now Captain on a non-sched South American 727 freight outfit and living in 1-bedroom non-air conditioned apartment directly underneath the approach corridor of MIA International RWY 9.

65 years old. Lose FAA medical and get job as sim instructor. Don't look forward to years of getting up at 2 AM for 3 AM sim brief in every godforsaken town you train in due to your carrier finding cheap, off-hour sim time at XYZ airline.

70 years old. Hotel alarm clock set by previous hotel room FedEx occupant goes off at 1 AM. Have heart attack and die. Happy at last!

I too got raked over the coals by wife of 30 years (and the lawyers). "Community propery" as it is called in the state of New Jersey. But when her father died and left her 1/2 million bucks, that was none of my business.

Well, life is a bitch and then you marry one.

Greets, the ol Capt.

Not a unique life story, in the bigger sense. Think you will find many in the same boat, given a few detail changes.

Probably a good reason for current attitude though, which in turn causes current problems?

Living in LOS can be a trying experience if one becomes too intense....

[kasi]

So I'll bring back to a Phuket related aviation topic. There is a group here trying to get a flying club together

That's thailand related.

Too bad we can't roll back the clock and get that P-51. I'm tempted to go to florida and drop the big buck to fly the crazy horse.

Edited June 2, 2006 by kasi

[Aviador]

Well, we may have started out on the wrong foot, but it is great to find someone who shares an interest other than booze, broads and whatever.

But, to keep with the program. As the man in the Bangkok Post today put it:

I came to Thailand investing close to 35 million baht in this country. It is therefore with great sadness that I feel I am not wanted in this country. I feel the Thai authorities would just be delighted were I to pack my bags and go back to the UK, so long as I left my money here. It is a fine country; it has much to offer, but also much to learn. Whilst many Thais believe they are superior to every race on the planet, the reality is quite different. I did not agree to have a frontal lobotomy. I believe I have the right to criticise that with which I do not agree, and I am motivated by a desire to see my new homeland develop whilst at the same time retain all of the characteristics that serve the country well.

Homer Pidgeon.

The man is married to a Thai lady and has 2 sons who are being educated here. So my 4 million Baht are chickenfeed and I am sure he bought more than his share of Dinners. The illegal Mexicans in the US demonstrated and want the same rights an priveleges as legal one's. How would that fly in Thailand ?

Back to airplanes though:

I bought my first airplane in 1959, a PT 26 plywood primary trainer. Inverted 200 HP Ranger engine. Lots of fun, for $1000.oo. 1960 we(I had a partner) purchased this P51 D. V 12, 1800 HP Packard Merlin engine, surplus in Canastoda NY. I was only making $ 70.oo a week working in electronics at the time and still single (My partner owned a cinderblock manufacturing business) It took us an entire summer to get this thing flying because it was stock military with all the armor plating, (notice the plugged gun ports) but when it was done…………!!!! .Boyoboy. I was deaf every time I came back from a flight, because the air force pilots wore leather helmets with head phones. With it I did loose my license, but like I said, that’s another story.

I had to dig out and scan it, hoping it wasn’t destroyed by the humidity and mold around here. After all this pix is 46 years old.

http://serv3.imagehigh.com/imgs/03//27036_..._08_PM_0007.jpg

Funny thing about the PT26. It had some dry rot at the spar, because it was wooden and not supposed to outlast the war. I sold it to a friend for $ 75.oo in 1962 whose father owned a duck farm. He put it in a barn, restored it, flew it to Oshkosh many times and sold it 20 years later for $ 85,000.oo. (Better than investing in the stock market)

Greetings birdman, the old captain, happily retired.

[kasi]

The way to live here in my limited experience is to practice acceptance. Criticizing the way Thai people things doesn't get much mileage. You might even get them to agree with you. But chances are the will do so to avoid confrontation.

People here generally avoid confrontation. While we westerners tend to view the world from a confrontational standpoint.

Especially those of us who have professions where we were responsible for lives and expensive complicated equipment. We learned to take the bull by the horns or die.

(That's one reason we see so many westerners flying airplanes for asian airlines.)

Not so here. Things are more subtle and under the surface.

While many of the Thai people around the farang "industry" just look for ways to take advantage. There are many who aren't.

This is a place where you try not to get excited, you don't honk your horn (unless it's for Budha) and generally let things take their course.

Anyway I think life here is a process of acceptance and balance which I don't really expect to perfect it. Any that was my 4 bahts worth

[Aviador]

The way to live here in my limited experience is to practice acceptance. Criticizing the way Thai people things doesn't get much mileage. You might even get them to agree with you. But chances are the will do so to avoid confrontation.

People here generally avoid confrontation. While we westerners tend to view the world from a confrontational standpoint.

Especially those of us who have professions where we were responsible for lives and expensive complicated equipment. We learned to take the bull by the horns or die.

(That's one reason we see so many westerners flying airplanes for asian airlines.)

Not so here. Things are more subtle and under the surface.

While many of the Thai people around the farang "industry" just look for ways to take advantage. There are many who aren't.

This is a place where you try not to get excited, you don't honk your horn (unless it's for Budha) and generally let things take their course.

Anyway I think life here is a process of acceptance and balance which I don't really expect to perfect it. Any that was my 4 bahts worth

I also read recently where someone extolled the "gentleness" of the Tai people. At the end he stated: "But whatever happens to it when they get behind the wheel of a car ?"

May pen rai.

[kasi]

There are some really focked up drivers here! ever notice how many white accident outlines are around. On average one person dies everyday in a motorbike accident in Phuket!. Shocking. Got to keep on your toes and eyes wide open while you try to relax!

I avoid driving for days sometimes. But that's the way it is. Try to change them! fogetaboutit

[kasi]

The drivers in Anchorage aren't any better, btw

[OlRedEyes]

IMHO the Thai's 'gentleness' is a misnomer. I thought so too a few years back, but from my experience I have to now believe it is simply a combination of fear and face.

If you have set high standards for yourself, and others you deal with, throughout your life there is a very good chance you will end up with serious conflict in Thailand at some stage, unless you can tone it down constantly. Wearing beer goggles improves the experience considerably, I suppose. Being selfish helps tremendously. False smiles is a must.

All of which I find hard to do. Found myself tired of being ripped off by the local immigration here, and demanding a reciept. Caught myself in time, I hope, wondering <deleted> am I trying to do. I am in LOS. The corruption is not just local, it feeds back to the top.

This is not a place for those trying to help anybody. Won't be for a long time to come.

Your assessments are correct. You just can't say it here in LOS.

[Aviador]

I absolutely refuse to drive in Phuket. I was only here a couple of months and after driving back from the airport, I had flown to Malaisia, made a wrong turn and drove aimlessly for about 10 km to the east. Realizing my mistake I attempted a u-turn at a bend in the road. Old habits die slow and after driving on the right side of the road for more that 50 years, I wound up on the right (incorrect) lane when suddenly a fellow on a motorbike with a side car appeared in front of me. He flew up onto the hood and roof and landed in front of my truck. I nearly got sick when I saw the poor guy with the bone of his right leg at the knee sticking out and blood gushing from his head.

Anyway I called my then Thai friend, who was at the time indispensable dealing with the police, insurance and everything. We drove to the hospital where they took the poor fellow and was informed that they were about to amputate his leg. I inquired what the options were. Well you could send him to the international hospital in Phuket, but your insurance will not cover it. Look, I said, it was my stupid fault and whatever it takes I will pay for it.

Anyway, they took him there, operated immediately, he was in the ICU for a week, but they managed to save his leg. (The bill came to more than 400,000 baht all together.) I will never forget when we went to see him, meeting his family downstairs, his wife, son in law and a little boy. A young lady came up to me and said “Hi I am the daughter”, grinning from ear to ear. I expected grieving next of kin but no. “Wow, a falang, and from the looks one with MONEY.”

Of course then came the “settlement”. The family was asking 2 million baht and believe me, If I had had it I would have gladly paid it because it was my own stupidity. The chap was 34, the same age as my youngest son. My Thai friend told me: “you should have killed him, it would only have cost you 100.000 Baht”. (NICE).

Anyway the settlement was arranged at the police station in Phuket. I received an e-mail stating, “just bring 200,000 cash.” What was in my favor was the fact that the fellow had no driver’s license, no insurance and an illegal side car. I still feel bad about this entire affair to this day.

In January my Social Security payments stopped. It seems that SS had sent me a questionnaire verifying my present whereabouts which never reached me. Consequently they declared me dead. I now had to prove that I was still alive and that I was who I claim I am The US embassy thankfully sends a representative to Phuket every 3 months or so, eliminating a trip to Bangkok.

I did not want to drive myself because # 1, I am still gun shy, due to the accident I had there, # 2, I really don’t enjoy driving anymore. I offered to pay one of Mehn’s (a Burmese kid) friends, a young Thai who drives a local taxi, was supposedly familiar with the city but spoke no English to drive me there with my truck. Additionally, in case of an accident, foreigners are automatically guilty and it would be wise to have Thai behind the wheel. I red a story where some Farang in his car or truck was waiting for a traffic light to change, when he was hit by a motorcycle trying to beat the light, killing its driver. 5 “eye witnesses” swore they saw the truck hit the bike. It cost the man 100,000 Baht and the use of his car for more then a month, which had been impounded.

I had downloaded a map of Phuket, printed a copy, marked the place where the meeting was to take place and gave it to the guy the night before. It was the “Phuket Hilton Arcadia”, a huge Resort at the South end of the island. My guess was that the trip would take at least 2 hours knowing how these people drive. The embassy staff was to be available from 8 AM to 12 noon, therefore I told this fellow to meet me in front of his house as 6 AM sharp, in order to be one of the first ones to be taken care of. I arrived at the guy’s home at 6 AM sharp, but found no one waiting. At 6:05 I blew the horn, which resulted in mother appearing 1 minute later, motioning to me, that he was getting dressed. 5 more minutes passed, now I was now told he was taking a shower. Anyway we left at 6:15, thundering along at 110 to 120 km/hr along this mostly 2 lane road, blazing through towns which were already crowed with motor bikes.

I remember reading the map, noting that Arcadia was south of Patong and was surprised that he stopped there several times to ask for directions. (He had forgotten to bring the map and gotten lost.) We finally did arrive at 8:15, exactly 2 hours after we departed Khao Lak. There were already about 20 people ahead of me, but things moved along smartly. Additional pages in the passport, having my citizenship verified, outfitted with the official seal took less than 20 minutes. I now asked the man if he could fax this to the embassy in Manila which houses the Social Security office for Asia, as soon as possible and could hardly believe my ears when he said: “Official documents can not be faxed, they have to me MAILED” !!!!!!!!!!! Mailed ??? It will get lost sure as shoot’n and take weeks. Just send it via DHL he said, there is an office here in Phuket. Of course no one knew where, but a nice young lady at the hotel desk suggested the airport. Sure, make sense, why not.

I motioned to my non English speaking genius that I needed to get to the airport, however not to the airline terminal, rather the cargo section. I even wrote, in big letters DHL on a sheet of paper to facilitate the search, by asking the personnel at the entrance, which he declined by saying: “ROO JAK” Right then it started to rain heavily and where did he take me ? Straight to the Passenger Terminal OK sunshine, let’s try this: Drive to the exit, (after paying for parking which we didn’t) and shout “CARGO” ???? to the attendant. Hey that worked, because the lady pointed south. Finding the place wasn’t difficult, but we were denied access due to security regulations. He did manage to talk the fellow at the booth into issuing us 2 badges. Entering the huge building, I asked another guard the location of the DHL office. “May mee” (no have) “ is in City“. Where in city ? May roo. (don’t know). I was close to screaming when a young lady approached and pointed “upstairs”. Hallelujah !!! The second intelligent Thai person I met so far today. Upstairs was indeed an agent of DHL. Filled out the paperwork, she copied my passport, I paid 1000 Baht, now here the 64,000 Dollar question: HOW LONG ? “3 working days” Well, it was Thursday afternoon, we have Friday, then the weekend, therefore the soonest this thing could arrive in Manila would be Tuesday.

Arriving back in Khao Lak where it rained like crazy, the guy jumped out, I switched seats, started up the hill to my house when the engine quit.

The truck was out of fuel. Couldn’t he have motioned to me that it would be a good idea to stop at a gas station on the way home ? Why me, oh Lord, why me ?

When they gave out brains, Thais must have been way back in line.

Well, it took almost 4 months to get this straightened out. Here I was in a foreign country and no money. I had to borrow money from a sister in Canada to tide me over. I wrote an e-mail to the US Embassy in Bangkok 555555, what a joke. They never even bothered to reply.

Greets the ol' captain.

[Old Croc]

Every time you put up a new post ol' captain it is required reading. For entertainment value they sure beat the crap out of most new threads these days.

I just wish, that once, you would come out ahead in one of your encounters with Thais, chattels and money.

[kasi]

Dang that's a rough story!

Made me be a little extra careful out on the road today!

I had a little road rage incident with some young Thai yahoos, which after all was said and done cost me 70K. That hurt too I got beat up by those fockers and had to go to the hospital(minor stitches) but you know who had to pay!

[Aviador]

Hi. So where is the gentleness of the Thai people?? You shoulds hae bought them dinner like someone suggested

Well, I it is supposed to be the rainy season, but hasn't rained in more than a week. Nothing to do, so I felt like writing down some of my happenings.

Your quote:

[Especially those of us who have professions where we were responsible for lives and expensive complicated equipment. We learned to take the bull by the horns or die.

(That's one reason we see so many westerners flying airplanes for Asian airlines.)]

That’s it in a nutshell.

The air, as well as the sea is very unforgiving towards any incompetence or bravado. Consider the story of UAL’s flight 232 which suffered complete hydraulic failure and loss of “all” flight controls due to a turbine wheel failure of the center engine. Capt Haynes had the gift to “talk” to an airplane and managed to coax the ship to Iowa City, a feat which could not be duplicated in any simulator. This “gift” can not be learned in any school. It doesn’t matter whether one has 5 or 500 passengers on board. When the shit hits the fan the “nut that holds the wheel” is what counts.

A captain has to assert his command authority. Someone once told me: You can't really be a captain unless you have scared the shit out of youself

This is one reason I had a running battle with the FAA. The majority of the inspectors were disgruntled pilots who never made it to the majors, or even earned a living in aviation prior to joining the Government Service. Some were college dudes who didn’t know an elevator from a stall strip. Get an education, earn a law degree, pass your bar exam, hang out your shingle and you are in business. How successful you will be, depends on your ability, but nobody is going to question your capabilities again. Same goes for a doctor. But pilots have to undergo the threaded “check ride” every 6 months. Someone will breathing down their necks to make sure they are still able to fly the ###### thing. Airlines have their own check airmen but the charter pilots have to fly with some Yoyo FAA inspector in the cockpit, who will nit pick and point out an occasional slip-up, blooper or oversight just to make himself feel important. Once I was scheduled for a PIC ride in a King Air (10 pax turbo prop) and my FO was due his annual competency check. Everybody in the company was familiar with my disdain for those paper shufflers and the guy giving the ride was known to be very tough, failing about 60 % of his “victims”. I had never flown with this individual before, so after the 2 hour oral and 1 hour paperwork verification was completed it was time to make like a bird. The inspector sat behind us in the doorway of the cockpit during taxi. I went through my usual, “Now you tell me what you want done, how and when and don’t throw me any curves routine. I heard you are a prick”. My co-pilot turned white as a sheet. “Me”? The man said. “Who told you that? “Well rumor has it” is all I said. Anyway, the check ride was accomplished without a hitch. I must say he was fair, perhaps because of my assertiveness, but the young fellows were scared to death of those bureaucrats. He also asked me, if he could fly the airplane back. Clearly the landing at the home airport was, shall we say an”arrival”. He thanked me and whispered “I haven’t really landed an airplane in almost 2 years.” (Being an FAA inspector he should have notified maintenance to check the condition of the landing gear.)

Once sitting in the cockpit at EWR (Newark NJ International) on the way to Miami going through some departure procedures, because I hadn’t been there in a while. Between noise abatements, Newark being jammed in between the airports JFK, LGA, TEB and MMU it makes one feel like drunken sailor after take off. Climb to this, turn left to that heading, climb to this, turn right ad nauseatum when out of the corner of my eye I spotted some guy sitting in the jump seat. “Who the f… are you” I said. “Ahm gonna flaah with youuu today” was his reply. I said “Get off my airplane before I throw you off personally”. “But aaam wid da FAA”. “I don’t give a rat’s ass who you are and with whom. I am the captain of this boat and no one, I mean NOBODY gets into my cockpit without my permission.” “But….” As I started to get off my seat he ran out the door. Operations called the chief pilot in Miami and after many phone calls I declared that I am now too upset to fly this trip. After talking to the chief honcho I returned to the airplane when there was a knock at the cockpit door: “Yes?” “Hi captain, may I come in?” “Sure, no problem, make your self comfortable and remember, sterile cockpit (no unnecessary conversation) until 10,000 feet”. In other words “sit down and shut up”.

I felt very bad for Phuket Airlines being banned when, because of some chicken shit isle light miss-function or fuel leak, something that happens in the best of families. Those were not new airplanes and things are bound to break at the wrong time. I don’t think I ever got into an airplane where EVERYTHING worked.

A friend of mine used to fly a B747 night freighter out of JFK. Maintenance was in the habit of stealing parts from his airplane to get scheduled daytime departures going. There was a sea of yellow tags in the cockpit. (Yellow tag items are things that have been deferred and are only to be used until the next maintenance stop and are not really airworthy.) It would take him hours just to make sure he was “somewhat” legal to fly his trip. He would fly to Los Angeles, dump his load and re-position to San Francisco where the maintenance base was, during which all those items miraculously became defective. What used to bug him though was the placement of the head. (toilet, potty, loo.) Normally the area behind the cockpit on the 747 is the upper lounge. The rear was partitioned off with a sheet of plywood and the toilet was placed right in the middle which means you had the pleasure or displeasure to observe the goings on in the cockpi while doing your thing. (And so could the rest of the crew) As a whole, air travel is still the safest means of transportation.

Perhaps I should write a book.

About the utter idiocy of some British controllers, the “I don’t care really attitude of the French, the barking voices of the Germans who sounded like drill sergeants, women in the tower cab during PMS , supposedly English speaking controllers in Caribbean. I received a clearance once from a guy at La Romana in the Dominican Republic to West Palm Beach Florida when my FO said “Boy captain, good thing you speak Spanish” and when I told him that this was supposed to be English he wouldn’t believe me. Taking off on a taxi way after being awakened by a phone call from the airport in the middle of the night and told to go, go and get out, at an airfield in Africa, with machine machinegun strafers zipping by. (This was by the way a ferry flight in a light aircraft, Piper Seneca)

Well, time for a beer Chang.

Greetings the ol' Captain.

[Aviador]

Apologies are in order.

My quote:

He did not forget to bring the map.

I found out yesterday from a “friend” who was sworn to secrecy that he simply did not know what to do with it. The young man is in his early twenties comes from a well-off family, attended a good school, knows how to read and write, but didn’t have a clue what a map was or how to use it.

What are they teaching kids in school here?

Greets the ol’ Capt, scratching his head.

[mrbyeng]

dunno what to feel while reading this page. dunno whether i should be laughing or feeling sorry for what you've been through. but i guess i can relate. i too was messed up by them. but not like yours where they messed you up BIG TIME! mine is just a simple motorbike problem where i asked them to replace my gas tank because its leaking and what they did was change my air-intake filter because it's drenched in gas. i said to myself...OOOOKAY, i'll give you that but i still need my tank replaced. And with patience i said "please change the gas tank because that's the cause of the air filter being drenched." ok he said, and moments later he came back with a small stool and proceeded to sit down on it and from the looks of which he's going to remove the oil plug underneath. HE'S GOING TO GIVE MY BIKE AN OIL CHANGE! no, i said. my tank, needs to be replaced. this time, pointing to my gas tank. would you like to take a gander at what he did next? he opened my gas tank, took a look inside and said, "tank finit" i'm telling you, as i am a happy person i just looked at the cashier and smiled. (as i do not know how they might take it if i burst out laughing) and to add to that, i still have half a tank that day. (what? you think my gas gauge isn't working?)anyway, i said to him, "please remove the tank" looks at me, somewhat puzzled, i said motioning him by lifting the tank out from the air. "please remove the tank" and i dunno, must be some divine intervention and he got his tools went to work on the tank and removed it (FINALLY! to my relief!) THAT'S WHEN HE SAW THE LEAK. needless to say, i finally got it fixed but for a price. i lost valuable work-time and consequently lost quality time with my family as i have to work overtime.

if these are the kind of people you're going to work with everyday, you better have a long patience, AS IN LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG! you can't have your tempers flying because you always lose in the end. just smile and wish that they don't experience what you're experiencing, because if that where to happen they'll know how it feels. And you'll feel very sorry for them.

That's my 2 cents on the subject!

Edited November 28, 2008 by mrbyeng

[steelepulse]

cliff notes please:)  

[stuandchris]

I thought this was a thread about getting ripped off about tyres. I was wrong, it is about someone loosing a lot of cash in a Thai relationship.

If you don't know what the country is about you have done research.

Tyres aren't your main concern.

If you want a decent person for service then m2m me, the rest is your fault matey.

[pothai]

View "Service" post made over three years ago....I would think anybody would move on after that amount of time, not this post though