Positive Experiences in Thailand

[Lung Per]

MOD: There is already one thread on this subject: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22525

[blue05]

MOD: There is already one thread on this subject: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22525

so why not another? life is too short

[Sanctum]

Diverted from another thread, I'll clarify my view. I have been going to Thailand for 39 years, mainly on business, the last 15 years also on holidays, and my experiences with Thais are exculsively positive. My humble point is that Immigration is your first impression of a new country. I always smile at the officer in charge, and act politely. A "Welcome to Thailand" and a smile when formalities are sorted out, would make a perfect start on any visit - to any country. And especially to the Land of Smiles!

Would be worth a lot as a positive start on a visit, be it business or pleasure.

[Lev]

MOD: There is already one thread on this subject: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22525

Correct, they have now been merged.

[margaretcarnes]

Yes, an elderly Norwegian friend of mine arrived the other day and had the same experience. He uses a stick because of a dodgy hip, and he and his wife were whisked through Customs and Immigration in a buggy. He was chuffed to bits!



EDIT: Not quite the same experience, as I think he was given the special treatment all the way from the plane. Without asking.

Agreed - last time I arrived at Swampy with Billy in 2010 we were dragged out of the immigration Q (which to be honest wasn't very long anyway) and taken to the Thai desk and whisked straight through. What a difference to the way we were treated at Schipol on the way home, when stranded there for 30 hours and no one cared at all whether there was even a place to sit down.

[MrPlum]

My humble point is that Immigration is your first impression of a new country. I always smile at the officer in charge, and act politely. A "Welcome to Thailand" and a smile when formalities are sorted out, would make a perfect start on any visit - to any country.

40 below, flying into Moscow, I tried the smiley bit and was asked why I was showing my teeth?

[Huahinian]

[/quote]40 below, flying into Moscow, I tried the smiley bit and was asked why I was showing my teeth? [/quote]

I've never been asked that question!

[poosmate]

Better not to keep your teeth in the same pocket as your passport

[margaretcarnes]

My humble point is that Immigration is your first impression of a new country. I always smile at the officer in charge, and act politely. A "Welcome to Thailand" and a smile when formalities are sorted out, would make a perfect start on any visit - to any country.

40 below, flying into Moscow, I tried the smiley bit and was asked why I was showing my teeth?

Even a smile didn't bring forth milk and sugar at the caff in Moscow airport Mr P! Quite bizarre when the Duty Free had $2000 coats for sale....

[MajorBloodnok]

Correction: Substitute "DESK" for "counter"

[J.J.B.]

Correction: Substitute "DESK" for "counter"

Not to worry Major B, both are acceptable. I'm not sure whether the forum subscribes to British or American English, or that terrible hybrid of International English. I'm just glad that it's English!

Now, where did I leave that AP Style Book...

[Dannie Boy]

This morning I went for my usual bike ride at 7am and just over half way on my trip I heard a strange noise followed by a different sensation - it was a puncture, still first one in 18 months so I consider myself quite fortunate. Nothing else to do but walk the 2 km's back to my house, so I start out but within a very short time, one of the security guards at one of the hotels beckoned me to follow him into a small room, where he had a compressor, so he plugged it in and within 30 seconds he was attempting to inflate the tyre. Unfortunately I had gone over a nail and so the air was coming out almost as fast as it was going in, so back to pushing the bike.

I follow the same circular route most days so often see the same faces and by the time I reached home, had received 4 further offers to help, so it was a very humbling experience - I can't imagine getting anybody offer to help back in the UK.

[MrPlum]

I can't imagine getting anybody offer to help back in the UK.

Not sure about bicycles but there has always been camaraderie between motorcyclists.

[Dannie Boy]

I can't imagine getting anybody offer to help back in the UK.

Not sure about bicycles but there has always been camaraderie between motorcyclists.

Maybe so, but other than the security guard, these were ordinary Thai people sitting outside their houses offering to help with a pump.

[sargeant]

I have had similar experiences twice with punctures one in my bike and one with the wifes on both Moto sighs stopped and we were taken Bike at side to repair shops

just over half way

Nothing else to do but walk the 2 km's back to my house,

i think maybe your guesstimates may be a bit low