Thread: Stories at the Immigration office.....

Today I went to the immigration office to get a Multi Entry update as I had been here on a single but work has me traveling to various countries now.

So as my wife and I sat today chatting with the immigration officer an old German guy came in with his wife for a check in. They were pretty fast and left. Then the office gossip started flying. Apparently that old guy beats his wife, last big one actually happened outside the immigration office and he hit in the head with a big book and knocked her down. She wouldn't press charges.

My wife asked if that happens a lot, the guy said yes. In fact he said 2 weeks ago a guy came in for his annual and did not have the 400k in his account. He tried to brib the guy with a 1000 bht. He refused and said we do accept bribs so please go get the money proper and return. The guy went nuts. started throwing stuff at him in the office, they called in a few police and arrested the guy.

So as I was sitting there thinking, No wonder why foreigners get a bad wrap. Some fuktard goes nuts and we all pay.

He also heard that 6 or 7 Germans at their weekly meeting at Central had some sort of throw down and the wives jumped in as well. He only knows the names as they will not be able to renew their extensions as this is 3rd or 4th time these guys have done this.

I know Lampang is a very large province but I never see white guys up here. I asked where do all these Germans live. I want to avoid there area.

no surprise, stupid Thais are playing monkey games, and Germans don't have their sense of humor when playing with their lives

if your local Somchai had to go through their stupid immigration games, they would come back with a gun and shoot everyone at the immigration office

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

if your local Somchai had to go through their stupid immigration games

I always, always found the ladies of counter L at CW to be extremely helpful, kind and understanding as long as you kept your cool. I have seen my fair share of fuckwits there though and seen the treatment they get, it never fails to give me a laugh.

Originally Posted by CSFFan

I have seen my fair share of fuckwits there though and seen the treatment they get, it never fails to give me a laugh.

I agree, I have seen a bunch. I was interestingly amused at the 'town" gossip. Small towns are good for it. I guess though in the end losing your cool at the immigration office seems retarded and grown old men fighting a shopping mall must be a helluva a pathetic sight.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

I want to avoid there area.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

6 or 7 Germans at their weekly meeting at Central had some sort of throw down and the wives jumped in as well. He only knows the names as they will not be able to renew their extensions as this is 3rd or 4th time these guys have done this.

Why? Sounds like you could get some good drone cam footage.

Damn Civilised Foreigners and their civilised character.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

He also heard

Originally Posted by JPPR2

Then the office gossip started flying.

Talk is cheap. The thing I hate in the village is talk. Nothing better to do. Sorry JPPR2 just my experience.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

The thing I hate in the village is talk. Nothing better to do.

It's pretty much the same the world over.....

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Talk is cheap. The thing I hate in the village is talk. Nothing better to do. Sorry JPPR2 just my experience.

Old school tradition, Prag.
Manner of keeping up on things - good, bad, indifferent

The key is not to take offence.

the key is to keep your ears open as to which women are on the prowl

it is tinder for us luddites

Originally Posted by JPPR2

He also heard that 6 or 7 Germans at their weekly meeting at Central had some sort of throw down and the wives jumped in as well. He only knows the names as they will not be able to renew their extensions as this is 3rd or 4th time these guys have done this.

I know Lampang is a very large province but I never see white guys up here. I asked where do all these Germans live. I want to avoid there area.

Hard to believe the Germans' wives jumped into the fray as they never take them anywhere. They have had previous incidents at their Thursday get-together at Central and there always seems to be one guy as a repeat offender.

Their preferred drinking hole is outside the supermarket at the railway station and they seem to have regular disagreements there as well.

I hang out with a mixed group of Americans, Brits and Australians in Lampang and we have been able to avoid fisticuffs over the last 20 years. I note that the Lampang Expats Facebook page has 614 members and I have probably only met half of them.

Originally Posted by Shy Guava

Hard to believe the Germans' wives jumped into the fray as they never take them anywhere. They have had previous incidents at their Thursday get-together at Central and there always seems to be one guy as a repeat offender.

Their preferred drinking hole is outside the supermarket at the railway station and they seem to have regular disagreements there as well.

I hang out with a mixed group of Americans, Brits and Australians in Lampang and we have been able to avoid fisticuffs over the last 20 years. I note that the Lampang Expats Facebook page has 614 members and I have probably only met half of them.

Glad you are in the know because I have met none and plan on keeping that way quite honestly. I have seen a about a dozen "Caucasian" guys at Central over the years (No idea of where they hail from) but have never talked to them. My wife says there is a Thai local Lampang page covering all the various news and she said those German guys have made the news several times for their public fighting. At immigration she and the officer remember the most recent one at Central. I guess it got pretty bad. Rather silly being these are grown damn men.

Again, all gossip stuff. I only heard it all as I was signing docs and had to wait to get my change and stamps in my Passport or I would have been on my way.

Interesting there are 614 expats in Lampang. Are they all residents here or can anyone join from anywhere?

Originally Posted by JPPR2

Again, all gossip stuff

Yes, definitely worth noting.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Yes, definitely worth noting.

Yeah man. No idea what is what. Just thought it amusing as it is pretty sad that these guys potentially behave like they do. Supports the current Thai gov and media push about removing the riff raff.

Everyone seems to need a nationality to look down on in Thailand though.

And it tends to vary with the nationality of the person they're talking to.

True point. I don't pay much attention as there are idiots and assholes in every race. I guess in the big picture it's a perception and apparently not a good one.

Lots of layers to the onion. Perception.

What is the perception of the “average” Thai concerning falang? First, define the average Thai. The average Thai’s perception of falang (white foreigners) comes from the TV. The average Thai has no contact with falang.

I live in Nonthaburi – I see another falang perhaps, once a month (less my monthly VFW meetings held in Bangkok). Frequently visit family living in the slums of Din Daeng – rarely see a falang there. Visit family in Suphan - again, no falang. Visit family in Lampang, never saw another falang. When I travel I do notice many eyes on me. Furtive glances from adults that often look away, avoiding eye contact. Children who stare out of curiosity.

I see falang in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and of course Pataya, Hua Hin and Cha Am. Visiting family in Surat Thani, never saw another falang, nor in Hat Yai, or Songkhla or Pattani.

Now, I know they are there, just very few and far between. So, where does the “average” Thai get their perception of a falang?

More importantly, where do the folk who write Thai laws get their perception of falang?
Immigration and arrest reports.

One thing impressed upon us in the military, and it holds true everywhere, as a foreign visitor in another country you are an ambassador and you actions and activities will be judged.

Yup, only takes one or two bad apples to ruin it for the rest. One “aw shit” wipes out a slate full of “attaboys”.

Originally Posted by bowie

More importantly, where do the folk who write Thai laws get their perception of falang?
Immigration and arrest reports.

Exactly. While you and I may not see the expats they all funnel through immigration so those folks likely get inundated with a large cross section. Even if 9 out 10 that came in were polite and did their business that one guy blows a gasket and it's done. Foreigners are a big problem.