Asiantravel Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 (edited) As I was sitting waiting to meet someone in front of central festival beach shopping centre today on second road I saw a foreigner in his 50s or 60s standing near the entrance with a Macaw on his arm. (Identical to the one in the picture below) I thought that's nice to see how he has such a bond with the bird that they go everywhere together. Then a foreign couple passed by and started chatting with him and after a few minutes he was enticing them to take a photo of the bird, following which to my total astonishment, he asked them for money! They gave him 20 Baht and in full view of about seven taxi drivers who were sitting there watching him collect money and I wondered what they were thinking about what he was doing. He kept waiting for more people, but as no one else was around he decided to walk up the road. I have seen a couple of Thai people doing the same thing in the same location with a marsupial animal but I never believed I would see a foreigner doing this because I would have thought it would be against the law? Edited October 7, 2014 by Asiantravel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercool Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 It is against the law for a foreigner to do that but he won't get very rich at 20 baht a time ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asiantravel Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 It is against the law for a foreigner to do that but he won't get very rich at 20 baht a time ... I thought that and what a nerve to do it in such an incredibly public place when he would never possibly know if an off duty immigration Department official happened to walk by to enter central department store? I mean, he was right next to the entrance. And when you say he won't make much money that is my point really. Why would anyone in their right mind take such a risk regarding their immigration status for such pittance? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxforddon Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 (edited) Hi, this my first post and I recently joined although I have read Thai Visa for some years and have lived in Thailand even longer. I understand that many departments of Immigration and Police use the motorbike taxis in a "I'll scratch your back and you scratch my back" arrangement so even they could make trouble for him as well as Thai beggars who might think he is on their patch. He might not know the law but that ignorance of law does not excuse anyone in most countries. Unlikely he is just a tourist who bought such a bird but who knows ? Edited October 7, 2014 by oxforddon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercool Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 I would say those observations above are very accurate ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MyTHaiMyKe Posted October 7, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 7, 2014 Who cares! Not hurting anyone! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gsxrnz Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Here's one I didn't pay for at Star#ucks yesterday as he and the bird were sheltering from the rain. He's actually giving it a shower. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petermik Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 He,s been doing this for 4 years at least that I know of-he usually asks for more than 20 baht though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yahooka Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Here's one I didn't pay for at Star#ucks yesterday as he and the bird were sheltering from the rain. He's actually giving it a shower. IMG_0476.JPG Ahoy matey !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boike Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 The bird is heavy and requires a lot of food! Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post moonseeker Posted October 7, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 7, 2014 Beautiful bird. Seen him around for years. I am not bothered by thee actions of this guy. A friend taught me a lesson to be more tolerant in life and towards others, as long as they do no harm and since then I am trying, with more or less success. :-) MS> 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sometime Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 I had the unfortunately meeting with this chap and his bird, he had a tag around his neck, as he was official. When i said sorry no thanks I don't want a photo he became obnoxious, saying sorry sorry you will be sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pete Beale Posted October 7, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 7, 2014 I had the unfortunately meeting with this chap and his bird, he had a tag around his neck, as he was official. When i said sorry no thanks I don't want a photo he became obnoxious, saying sorry sorry you will be sorry. Should of threatened to cut his leg off and turn him into Long John Silver. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRISTIANa9 Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Does he has a work permit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tifino Posted October 7, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 7, 2014 he's just feathering his nest 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asiantravel Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 Beautiful bird. Seen him around for years. I am not bothered by thee actions of this guy. A friend taught me a lesson to be more tolerant in life and towards others, as long as they do no harm and since then I am trying, with more or less success. :-) MS> Like I said in an earlier post I am just curious why someone would risk jeopardising the status of their visa, particularly with a bunch of Thai taxi drivers watching it all and laughing and discussing it amongst themselves. When he does this in such public places sooner or later he will be caught out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lust Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 The bird is heavy and requires a lot of food! Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk Perhaps give the specimen to someone that can afford to pay the bills... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWorldwide Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 You're assuming he even HAS a valid visa - if some of the overstay threads in the Visa forum post crackdown are accurate, there are Farang living in Thailand with anywhere up to 10 years overstay hanging over their heads. The attitude seems to be 'as long as I can get to the airport and I have 20K baht to pay the maximum fine, I can leave anytime I want'. Not sure if you get a discount if you rock up with a McCaw though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post paddyjenkins Posted October 7, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 7, 2014 Beautiful bird. Seen him around for years. I am not bothered by thee actions of this guy. A friend taught me a lesson to be more tolerant in life and towards others, as long as they do no harm and since then I am trying, with more or less success. :-) MS> Like I said in an earlier post I am just curious why someone would risk jeopardising the status of their visa, particularly with a bunch of Thai taxi drivers watching it all and laughing and discussing it amongst themselves. When he does this in such public places sooner or later he will be caught out. Why does it matter what a bunch of thai taxi drivers think? Who cares what they think, they don't matter. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suradit69 Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Beautiful bird. Seen him around for years. I am not bothered by thee actions of this guy. A friend taught me a lesson to be more tolerant in life and towards others, as long as they do no harm and since then I am trying, with more or less success. :-) MS> Like I said in an earlier post I am just curious why someone would risk jeopardising the status of their visa, particularly with a bunch of Thai taxi drivers watching it all and laughing and discussing it amongst themselves. When he does this in such public places sooner or later he will be caught out. "Like I said in an earlier post I am just curious why someone would risk jeopardising the status of their visa, particularly with a bunch of Thai taxi drivers watching it all ..." Taxi drivers don't issue extensions of stay or work permits (I doubt this guy is here on a visa for all these years) and, unless he does something to p_ss them off, I doubt they'd rush off to Immigrations to report him ... or that they'd realize that exposing your bird in public was a violation of the law for a farang. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slygeeza Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Who's a naughty boy then? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlcwaterfall Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 It is against the law for a foreigner to do that but he won't get very rich at 20 baht a time ... I thought that and what a nerve to do it in such an incredibly public place when he would never possibly know if an off duty immigration Department official happened to walk by to enter central department store? I mean, he was right next to the entrance. And when you say he won't make much money that is my point really. Why would anyone in their right mind take such a risk regarding their immigration status for such pittance? You have made a good point. 'Why would anyone in their right mind" Enough said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post djhotsox Posted October 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 8, 2014 Well if it isn't against the law it should be but for the reason of taking such a beautiful animal from it's natural habitat to be paraded around Beach Road, bars and the like. Disgraceful. I am sickened by the the people that do this with snakes, cuddly marsupials and the like. Where's PETA when you need them? As one poster remarked, Who's he hurting? Well, he's hurting the wonderful bird that's who. That's my rant. Good-day! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post eeeya Posted October 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 8, 2014 For 100฿ the parrot can say "Does he have a work permit" I heard he learned it from reading thaivisa 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asiantravel Posted October 8, 2014 Author Share Posted October 8, 2014 Well if it isn't against the law it should be but for the reason of taking such a beautiful animal from it's natural habitat to be paraded around Beach Road, bars and the like. Disgraceful. I am sickened by the the people that do this with snakes, cuddly marsupials and the like. Where's PETA when you need them? As one poster remarked, Who's he hurting? Well, he's hurting the wonderful bird that's who. That's my rant. Good-day! " taking such a beautiful animal from it's natural habitat to be paraded around Beach Road, bars and the like." yes that part does bother me as well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 It is against the law for a foreigner to do that but he won't get very rich at 20 baht a time ... It is against the law for the Thais too as they are often utilizing animals that are very young or endangered. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post catweazle Posted October 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 8, 2014 That's the STUTTERING PARROT!!!!!!! We nailed him now!!!! Yeah!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercool Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 The point someone made earlier about overstayers (if that is what the man is) getting to the airport for a maximum fine of 20k needs an addendum to point out that at any time prior to getting to the airport that one is stopped for any reason where passport needs to be shown, the penalties for overstay are far more severe and can - and often do - include jail time and/or much more severe monetary consideration. Add to that the penalty for "working" illegally and this man is indeed taking a risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbkk9 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Nothing wrong with that.. I saw centurions do the same thing at the Colosseum in Rome. Except that they ask 5 Euros for a photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TheKnave Posted October 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 8, 2014 I had the unfortunately meeting with this chap and his bird, he had a tag around his neck, as he was official. When i said sorry no thanks I don't want a photo he became obnoxious, saying sorry sorry you will be sorry. Smart bird. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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