Travel Tips - THAILAND WARNING - Cambodia - May 2007

Thailand WARNING: Expats thoughts on Thailand's problems - Angkor Wat Temples - Air Travel from Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) to Phnom Penh - Vietnam - Malaysia - Singapore

Wednesday May 30, 2007 - National Radio Text Service

With all of the problems tat are going on in Thailand today a tourist may not know quite what to think. Should I go or should I know may be the scenario.

Knowing is a good thing. What a foreigner thinks who has been in Thailand and knows the lay of the land better than an unsuspecting tourist may be a good place to start with regard to information and their thoughts regarding the situation.

Therefore we are including in this months Travel Tips edition some of the Pattaya City Expats Clubs thoughts in dealing with some of the problems they face while living in Thailand. For starters the opening headlines does not say it all but it does say a lot.

POSSIBLE RIOTS AND UNRULY CROWDS in Bangkok tomorrow, Wednesday, May 30, 2007.

THIS IS an IMPORTANT WARNING to all members and friends of the Pattaya City Expats Club. The Thai Constitutional Tribunal Court will issue its decision on the possible dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai Party and the Democratic Party tomorrow (May 30, 2007). The Royal Police and the Nation have articles warning about these potential riot areas in Bangkok, and possible problems at these political Party Offices throughout Thailand.

The Pattaya City Expats Club strongly recommends that all members and friends refrain from going to Bangkok tomorrow (Wednesday) unless it is absolutely necessary, and if it is necessary to go, to stay far away as possible from the areas mentioned below, and ANY large gatherings of people, or police. The Areas where trouble could possibly erupt -

Sanam Luang:

Tomorrow, when the Saturday People Against Dictatorship plans an anti-coup rally. Popular Jatukam Ramathep amulets will be given away to gatherers.

The Royal Plaza:

Thursday, when PTV plans a rally at a nearby location. Headquarters of the two main parties involved: the Democrats, off Rama VI Road, and Thai Rak Thai at the Navasorn Building on Rama III Road.

Checkpoints will be set up at Pok Klao, Pin Klao and Krung Thon bridges and on all roads connecting to them. These bridges and certain sections of the roads will be closed if the protest becomes too large.

Places to avoid -

Areas with heavy police presence Within the Constitution Court compound on Chakra Phet Road, where only 500 people will be permitted inside. Around the Tribunal Compound, where 900 policemen and a back-up force comprising an unspecified number of soldiers and municipal police will be on duty.

Only 3,000 supporters of both parties and onlookers will be allowed near the compound.

Source: the Royal Thai Police and the Nation, plus a lengthy report in the Bangkok Post

PATTAYA CITY EXPATS CLUB FOUNDED IN MARCH 2001 - NEWSLETTER FOR Nov. 12 to Nov. 19, 2006

SPECIAL NOTES -

MARTIAL LAW has been extended by the Council for National Security - we believe that means there should be NO discussion of politics at, or during our Sunday meeting, please.

FEB 16, 2006 - PATTAYA CITY EXPATS Newsletter

VISA’S – A very scary report of the jailing of twelve foreigners for overstay, arrested while on a visa run from Phuket to the border, has been reported on the ThaiVisa and Phuket Gazette websites. None of the twelve had overstayed more than six days.

They were thrown in the Phuket Jail, with conditions that sound like the Pattaya jail, reportedly paid a fine imposed by the court, and returned to a jail for a total of six days, facing deportation – and were finally allowed to go to the border, where they were processed, and allowed to return to Thailand.

Pattaya Immigration tells us that a person with a Retirement Visa will be allowed a seven day grace period after the required 90 day report is missed – no fine, no problem.

If the 90 day report overstay is 8 days the fine is 2000 baht, more with more days late.

With a multiple re-entry Visa, the fine for overstaying is 200 baht per day. In either case, you have to get to the Immigration office without coming to the attention of the police.

If this is a scary scenario for you – as strongly suggested at our meeting - keep those very important Visa reporting or expiration dates in a way you will not forget them.

Angkor Wat - NR photo

CAMBODIA'S ANGKOR WAT and SIEM REAP

To fly to Cambodia's famed Angkor (Wat) Temples you have only one choice from Bangkok and that is with Bangkok Airways. They have a monopoly on the route and their fares reflect that given the amount of miles flown verses the cost of the ticket.

Siem Reap is the destination where there is lodging and dining and is just a few kilometers from the temples.

Web site: www.bangkokair.com

CAMBODIA AIRPORT TAX

In Cambodia departure tax is US $6 for domestic flights and US $ 25 for International flights.

AIRLINES FROM SIEM REAP

There are several airlines that service Siem Reap to other countries. They include:

Malaysia Airlines to Kuala Lumpur: www.malaysiaairlines.com

Vietnam Airlines to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi: www.vietnamair.com

Siem Reap Airways to Phnom Penh, Luan Prabang, Laos and Hong Kong: www.siemreapairways.com

PHNOM PENH

The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh ranked number 2 on our NR (National Radio) Top 10 most read stories since our web site launch in April 1997.

SIHANOUKVILLE

We no longer recommend visiting the beach town of Sihanoukville. There have been numerous problems regarding safety. Much of the problem occurs from foreigners traveling through and living in the area. Several travelers have been reported missing after having been last seen in the town. There is a lack of law enforcement protection... BEWARE.

ATM MACHINES NOW AVAILABLE IN CAMBODIA

This past summer of 2005 ANZ Bank began business in the country. They have provided what many travelers need most…. ATM machines.

They are located in several areas in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap at Star Mart stores. In Siem Reap there is one located on Route No. 6 near the Sokha Angkor hotel.

AIR TRAVEL to TIBET -

Air China Adds Service to Tibetan Plateau. Mrs. Zhang Lan, Senior Vice President for Air China said, “The beauty, culture, and majestic environment of Tibet are drawing visitors from all over the world."

The imposing Tibetan Plateau is the highest plateau on earth. The world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, is a feature of Tibet, and the region is also known the world over for the culture and history of Tibetan Buddhism. FULL STORY

JEWELRY SCAM IN THAILAND

Beware of the jewelry scam hustle in Thailand. It has been going on for years. Tourists are lured by tuk tuk, taxi drivers to an office or jewelry shops and sold stones that have little or no value.

Ten years ago a tuk tuk driver in Chiang Mai took us to an office to hear about this great deal where we could make money.

The office was near the train station. Upon arrival it appeared that there was very little in the way of furnishings. The small offices contained basically a desk and chair and nothing hanging from the gray walls.

We were told that they had a customer in the US that was waiting for the package of jewelry. The sales rep said that the tax to ship the items was very expensive.

We were asked to pay a sum of money for the jewelry. Our profit was to be made when we delivered the goods to their customer.

TIP: Save your time, trouble and most of all…money.

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