Big Trouble in Thailand

Post by **Jaime** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:23 pm

Watched this last night - a new series.

http://www.bravo.co.uk/shows/big-trouble-in-thailand/

Anyone else see it? Any thoughts?

I'd be interested in peoples' views on the segment with the Royal Marines & the jet-ski hire owner.

It's repeated in the UK later this week.

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:21 pm

From adrenaline fuelled drug busts, organised tourist scams, scorned lady-boys, violent brothel disputes, bar room brawls, brutal murders, street robberies and sexual assaults, the series is filmed in the popular tourist hotspots of Koh Samui, Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya and Chang Mai. (source Bravo)

I'm glad Hua Hin is not on that list...!

Post by **JimmyGreaves** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:41 pm

Is this available online or on Thai TV somewhere?

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:57 pm

Yeah Jamie, I've been following this story also. It's one of the oldest scams with the jet-ski thing, same as the big bikes one too. Why people don't check the thing out properly first, even take photos of it on a mobile ect, I don't know.

Just shows what a joke it is in places like that because the police chief there recently said the government/police are going to clamp down on it then a bunch of foreign soldiers get stiffed by the jet-ski mafia, with guns on them, well, it's a farce. They (jet-ski bad guys) were very open and blatant about as if they were the police. Just getting worse all the time.

The soldiers ended up paying just over six hundred pounds to end the situation but that was only after the sargent told the others to pay, don't think they were going to till then.

Everyone has to remember that this is a third world country that has the bright lights and toys but the slightest thing can get you arrested/shot/in trouble. Places like Phuket/Pattaya/samui are nothing more than mafia infested gangster play grounds and the government has no chance of controling any of it or even keeping a lid on it, there's a mafia for everything, even kids clothes probably. For example, in Phuket Island I have read that there are only 1000 police officers to do everything. No wonder nothing gets done as every small business crook thinks it piss take time.

When I read these sort of stories then it just confirms that I'm in the right sort of part of Thailand. Dangerous places for all those places are.

Post by **PeteC** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:09 pm

I didn't see the show or clip yet but I'm not surprised that Thailand is the flavour of the year with the UK press. UK residents long ago surpassed the Germans and Americans as the most numerous Western visitors here, and perhaps even out number Asian tourists. I'm sure the BBC and other media read the same forums we do, and see the same local news reports we do. Thailand is high on the list of interest to the UK reader.

What's happened to the UK and UK people concerning Thailand in recent memory?

1) Thaksin buying MC and then being banned from the PL.
2) Thaksin using the UK as safe haven.
3) Numerous murders of UK citizens with cases still pending, or possibly abandoned.
4) Volumes of real estate scams.
5) Airport scam(s) with UK citizens virtually being abducted and held for ransom.
6) Stranded for days due to seizure of the airport with some initially being charged by immigration with overstay when they finally had a chance to get out.
7) Little if any compensation to date for those stranded. Some lost their jobs back home.
8 ) Thai authorities and media beating the drum that property purchased as part of a Thai woman/foreigner marriage is illegal, all records will be searched, and property seized.
9) Two fatal plane crashes in Phuket and Samui operated by Thailand airline companies with UK citizens onboard.

I leave it at 9 as tomorrow is 09/09/09, the luckiest day of the century for the Thais. Let's hope it brings better luck to everyone.

Regardless, is it any wonder the UK press is on this place like a pit bull on a poodle? Pete

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:12 pm

spitfire wrote:
When I read these sort of stories then it just confirms that I'm in the right sort of part of Thailand. Dangerous places for all those places are.

Assuming you're talking about Korat and Isaan in general, have you been away from the UK too long, spitfire, or do you just like a bit of drama in your life? Or have I misunderstood your post completely?

Post by **PeteC** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:15 pm

No, I'm not smiling at #8, if you type an 8 followed by an inward right parentheses you automatically get that. Been a quirk for years on here. Pete

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:19 pm

dtaai-maai wrote: Assuming you're talking about Korat and Isaan in general, have you been away from the UK too long, spitfire, or do you just like a bit of drama in your life? Or have I misunderstood your post completely?

No, not been here to long DM, there are others on here that have been here way longer. Was refering to Pattaya/Phuket/Samui etc with the dangerous places comment, can see how it appears ambiguous though, didn't realise the wording until to late, no edit possible anymore though.

Post by **Jaime** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:55 pm

spitfire wrote:They (jet-ski bad guys) were very open and blatant about as if they were the police. Just getting worse all the time.

I thought they were so open and blatant about things and the stand off with the RM Policeman so macho that the whole thing looked staged or at least exaggerated for effect.

What do you think?

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:24 pm

prcscct wrote:No, I'm not smiling at #8, if you type an 8 followed by an inward right parentheses you automatically get that. Been a quirk for years on here. Pete

Whatever it was it's gone, pete - did you manage to edit your post??

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:26 pm

Well, it's also on Youtube as well. As for staged, I don't know, I suppose you never know with this sort of stuff here. Maybe not, there are other Youtube warnings about this as well and has been in the news before. It's interesting that this has happened very shortly after the Phuket authorities announced they were clamping down on this exact subject a few days ago, not sure what can be read into it, whether it has become a more reportable subject since the announcement or whether the local mafia want to send a message by being so blatant, one even had a rifle on view.

Hard to say Jamie, but it wouldn't surprise me one little bit if it wasn't staged. My advice to anyone is don't even think of renting one (jet-ski) or a massive street bike, scam central. I heard of dudes renting a Honda CBR 900/R1 etc or so and then they come and nick it from the hotel you are staying at when you are sleeping, with the collusion of the security guard, and then want compensation the next day.

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:28 pm

dtaai-maai wrote:Whatever it was it's gone, pete - did you manage to edit your post??

Divine intervention I reckon.

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:34 pm

spitfire wrote:Well, it's also on Youtube as well.

Can you give us a link, spitfire, because I can't find it, and I can't download Jaime's.

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:39 pm

dtaai-maai wrote:
spitfire wrote:Well, it's also on Youtube as well.
Can you give us a link, spitfire, because I can't find it, and I can't download Jaime's.

Jaime's is just a quick promo vid and I can't find it on youtube either!

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:45 pm

If you Google the full title "big trouble in thailand" It's on a few of the torrent sites.