Travel Tips Thailand - Trouble In Bangkok

December 2001

BEWARE: A tourist claimed that he was duped at an outside street bar on Sukhumvit 15. He had a drink with a girl that he met there. He then took her to his hotel room nearby. Within an hour he started to fall asleep.

He then remembered waking up but was in a drowsy state. He remembered seeing a man and another girl in the room. The tourist's money belt was cut away from his body leaving two lacerations on his stomach. When he awakened he found that he was robbed of $1000 and his passport.

PATPONG: When traveling to Bangkok, Thailand the Patpong area is usually mentioned as a must see for various reasons. The area is known for shopping, bars and girls. It s said to beware of the second floor bars in Patpong unless you go to an establishment that is owned by the Kings Group. Bars named King or Queen are owned buy the group. With its lofty reputation it is not without problems.

A tourist had a conflict with a tout of a second floor Queens bar. The tout that insisted that he come in and go upstairs and see a sex show. The persistence of the tout perked the tourist's interest. The tourist was a member of the press. He was returning from a press conference and his press credential was clearly visible on his shirt.

When another tout noticed the badge the tout then assaulted the tourist by pushing on his chest and insisted that he not enter the premises. The tourist advised the tout to take his hands off of him. The tout proceeded to assault.

The tourist police are at the end of the soi/block where the tourist reported the incident. After a long song and dance with the police the tourist filled out a complaint report. The police then escorted the tourist back to the Queens bar.

The police then talked to the tout. The tout sheepishly backed away from the door permitting entrance. Of course by that time the sex show as over.

When the tourist asked the police what would be done about the incident he was informed NOTHING unless someone else filed a complaint.

That incident wasn't the first time that tourist experienced problems in Patpong. On his first visit to Thailand in 1989 the tourist went to the then Paradise Club. There were very few people inside. A young girl came over and sat down next to him. The tourist was shocked how young the girl looked. When he asked how old she was she couldn't reply or understand since she didn't speak English.

Three ugly older women came over to the table. They persisted that the tourist buy a drink, he refused. The tourist became annoyed and started to leave.

Several men blocked the door when he tried to exit the premises. He was then told that he had purchased a drink for himself and the girl. He insisted he didn't buy any drinks.

The men then started poking the tourist in the side and stomach with flashlights and nightsticks. They demanded money for the drinks that the tourist DID NOT order. Realizing that the odds of around ten to one were not in his favor the tourist paid to get out of the bar.

ASSAULT BY TAXI DRIVER: A tourist and his lawyer friend hailed down several taxis in Patpong. The first two would not turn on the meter and insisted on a flat 200 baht fee to take them to their destination.

On the third attempt the tourists got into the taxi and then told the driver their destination. Consistent with the other two taxi drivers this driver also insisted that he would not turn on the meter.

The driver then got out of the car and walked around to the door where the lawyer was sitting. He put his hands on the lawyer and started to pull him out of the taxi. This the lawyer later said IS AN ASSAULT.

The driver in a temper then slammed the door and recklessly drove up to a dimly lit portion of the street. He then got out of the car and proceeded with his raging behavior. The more experienced tourist then got out of the car. The driver challenged him to fight. The tourist staired at the enraged driver and decided to walk away.

The two tourists walked to a nearby cross street where they quickly hailed down a taxi. Without a second thought the driver turned on the meter. The cost of the trip by the meter was 55 baht and not the 200 the other drivers insisted on.

A letter was sent to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) regarding the incident, there was NO REPLY.

POLICE HARRASS CANADIAN TOURIST: In Bernard Trinks "Nite Owl" column in the December 19th issue of the Bangkok Post a reader wrote in about a Canadian friend who was a passenger in a taxi that was stopped by the police.

The tourist was asked to get out of the car. He and his luggage were searched without being given a reason why. After the search he was allowed to go on. The writer stated that it wasn't an isolated incident. [ www.bangkokpost.net ]

Thailand is very sensitive and paranoid about stories that, in their view, present a negative image of the country. A few years ago a major American magazine drew a lot of critciism when it reported that the Thais were consumed with sex and golf.

It's not that these things don't happen but Thai officials consider this type of information as having a negative effect on tourism. Rather than fix the problem they apparently prefer to sweep it under the rug. The problem of abusing and taking advantage of tourists should be dealt with.

Related story: Thai Police Harass Tourists

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