Travel Tips - Cambodia - Thailand - July 2004

Monday July 12, 2004

Travelers To Cambodia Charged $30-50 EXTRA For Overstay - Thailand Shopping Woes aka Problems Too Much - Panthip Cleans Up Pirated CD's Now Deserted - Tourist Assaulted @ MBK - Have Fun Traveling Around Bangkok - Some Bangkok Maps Aren't Groovy

EXTRA TARIFFS AT HAD LEK/KOH KONG BORDER CROSSING

Two Cambodian overstay travelers report that they were asked for an additional $30 by Cambodian immigration officials at the Koh Kong, Cambodia border crossing to Thailand IN ADDITION TO their daily overcharge penalty of supposedly $5.

Another traveler was recently charged $45 for ONE DAY OVERSTAY.

APOLOGIES TO ALL CONCERNED

The story we wrote of foreigners and Thai's taking Muay Thai boxing lessons is on hold since the Terranet Internet shop destroyed the pictures.

Two weeks worth of work in Bangkok and Pattaya, time, money and travel expenses were lost. The commitment of others that so graciously gave us their time was wasted.

We were dealt a major setback with the loss of over a 120 key pictures. Some of the people that we took photos of we'll probably never see again. That photo opportunity is history and gone.

Fortunately in our backtracking to the gym where we took the Muay Thai boxing photos we found Iam Pullen from London, England from the original shoot the others including the gyms owner Surapol Rangsikulpipat weren't available.

While walking down the street the little Thai lady Neeboon Boonee who we interviewed and took her picture in boxing gear saw us and yelled out as we passed by. Fortunately she agreed to take another photo but at this outdoor restaurant the boxing gear wasn't available.

Many stories will have to be put off until another time after we hopefully will have another opportunity to take pictures of the subjects that we interviewed.

Our apologies to those whose pictures were lost including author Christopher Moore, the mayor of Pattaya, Dr. Sureerat Panyarachun, Niles Colov, members of the Pattaya Expats Clubs, Dave Watson, Blues Factory owners David Withers and Chris Leat, Thomas Rossetti, Wolfgang Fabian Russo and all of those we haven't mentioned.

TIP: If you value your photos don't take them to Terranet Internet shop near the Khaosan Road police station and the Shell gas station @ 84 Chakarapong Road. Full story...

PANTIP PLAZA CUSTOMERS DOWN - MBK CENTER SHOPPING CUSTOMERS UP

Bangkok's Pantip Plaza was the hot spot for buying computers, peripherals and software. Since the Thaksin Shinawatra government Thai Rak Thai (Thai Love Thai) has been in power they have virtually cleaned up the building of its most popular product…. PIRATED SOFTWARE.

The throngs of young people, primarily high school and college students that frequented the building are now going somewhere else. The somewhere is MBK shopping center.

Pantip's loss is MBK's gain. The irony is that Shinawatra's Cam Shin telephone service company SPONSORS A RADIO SHOW IN PHNOM PENH THAT FEATURES PIRATED MUSIC. THE STATION HAS ALSO RELEASED A CD OF PIRATED SONGS THEY DOWNLOADED FROM KAZA.

Irony aside or not the result is that MBK is busting at the seams with customers. They have modernized their facilities and are now catering to a more upscale crowd. The food court prices have doubled.

The top floor that serves as the entertainment area is bustling with foot traffic. It houses a cinema, bowling alley, book stores, fast food, Internet & game shops.

The fourth floor most popular area for product sales. That product is cell phones and services. There you can buy used phones for $25. Telephone services, SIM cards and prepaid cell phone cars are also available. BUT…. BE CAREFUL.

A customer had a problem with a phone and purchased a used Ericsson phone for 2200 baht. An extra ion battery cost 150 baht ($3.75) and a case for 60 baht (1.50). He forgot and the salesman neglected to provide a receipt.

The salesman did give a business card noting a SIX-MONTH GUARANTEE. He spoke decent English and pointed out that if there were any problems to bring the phone back. Problems arose. The ring on the phone was barely inaudible. The customer missed several IMPORTANT phone calls because he could not hear the ring.

The customer took the phone back to the MBK phone shop two days later. The seller said all phones have a melody ring. The customer said he wanted the phone to ring loud like his other phone. He asked the seller to call his phone and listen to the type of ring he wanted.

The seller took the customers phone and started twiddling with it. The customer asked what was he doing stating that he asked the salesperson to call the customers phone and listen to the type of ring he wanted.

The seller then pushed the customer aside and walked out of the booth. That is an ASSAULT.

How did this turn out? Full story coming in Consumer Reports.

GETTING AROUND BANGKOK

The TAT (Tourist Authority of Thailand) gives out a map stating to enjoy Bangkok to 'Arm yourself with a map, take the traffic in stride and discover Bangkok.' Take the traffic in stride? How do you do that?

The map we received pointed out the various ways one can travel around Bangkok BUT…. They left out one of the key means of travel available… the canal boats.

This is not recommended for the faint hearted, weary, elderly, overweight, those with long legs or candy ass.

This is an adventure for the Spartan traveler and more importantly for someone that wants to spare himself or herself a heart attack, high blood pressure or stress from dealing with street traffic in the City of Angels.

The boats run from the Lat Phrao Road area past Rajamangala stadium, Ramkhamhaeng University then parallel and between Phetchaburi and Sukhumvet Boulevards.

The boat makes a turn towards the parallel rout at Sukhumvet Soi 71. It continues to the World Trade Center and ends across the street from Wat Ratchandrahm.

The Democracy Monument is a block away. Khao San Road is two and a half blocks away and the Royal Palace and Emerald Buddha is a short bus ride or long approximately five blocks from that last canal boat stop named Tha Phanta.

A trip that takes two hours when heavy traffic exists can be negotiated in less that a half-hour.

The fares are based on distance. Fares we experienced ranged from 5 to 11 baht. To cover the entire route costs less than 20 baht.

When Brazil brought all of its top talent on its national team to play Thailand we missed the first half due to traffic jams. We forgot about the boat.

If we had taken the boat we would have made it on time. That's the good news. Now here's the bad.

The locals going to and from work and school use the canal boats. The boats have very little legroom. At 180 with fairly long legs a person will have to sit side ways.

The canal is one of BANGKOK'S SEWERS. The boats drivers have a tendency to race at excessive speeds thus throwing water back into the boat.

The defensive mechanism is a curtain that is raised by the passengers. If there isn't an industrious type sitting by the rope that raises the curtain… you get splashed with sewer water.

The solution to that is carry a small towel to wipe your self off if you are sprayed. Now if you can take this all in stride you can get around very quickly save stress and have a fun time by using the canal boats.

BUYER BEWARE

Vendors are selling old bus route maps. The new ones are out so make sure you purchase a NEW ONE.

The bus route numbers have been changed since the old map was printed. An example is the number 11 bus in now 511.

For some reason the 7-11 stores aren't carrying the maps as they did in the past. They are selling a ridiculous GROOVY MAP that points out where you can have a drink in Bangkok. Why would you need that? You can drink anywhere.

The Bus map sells for 40 baht or $1. The Groovy map sells for 150 ($3.75) - 200 baht ($5). GO FIGURE

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