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Tags: Scams / Bribes / Security / Borders / → All Tags

Chicanery in Bangkok: Tourists Falsely Accused of Shoplifting at Duty Free Stores

Most travelers accept that low-level graft, bribery, and off-the-books transactions are an unavoidable part of visiting certain foreign countries. Sure, the security guard in Zambia might suggest you give him a few kwacha to "buy a beer" if you want to gain access to a government ministry, or the border agent in Latvia may hint that a ten-euro note folded into your passport might help you make your ferry in Tallinn on time, but rarely does this chicanery rise to the level encountered by a number of tourists in Thailand recently. As the AP points out, the governments of several European countries have put out warnings to their nationals to be wary of a scam in Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport in which tourists browsing in the duty-free shop are falsely accused of shoplifting, and then shaken down by seedy intermediaries for sums of up to $10,000 or more to win their freedom.

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Tags: Accidents / Bangkok Air / Koh Samui / Crashes / Death / → All Tags

Bangkok Air Plane Crashes Into Control Tower On Resort Island

Note to self: never fly into Thailand's Koh Samui island during heavy tropical rainstorms. Way back in 1990, bad weather caused a Bangkok Air plane to crash into a coconut grove, killing all 37 people on board. Yesterday it was again a Bangkok Air plane that crashed on Koh Samui, but this time the only fatality was the pilot.

The flight, from resort island Krabi to the Koh Samui, another resort island, landed during heavy rains and failed to brake hard enough to stop the plane from skidding into an unused airport control tower.

Onboard were many tourists, including a British couple on their honeymoon who suffered injuries, yet only 7 of the 72 people on board needed to be transported to a hospital for treatment. Although the pilot died, the co-pilot survived with only leg injuries.

Related Stories:
· Life Fears Of Plane Crash Briton [BBC]
· Four Britons Hurt In Fatal Thai Air Crash [Times UK]
· Accidents Coverage [Jaunted]

[Video: ITN]

Tags: Airport Hell / Crimes / Bangkok Travel / Airport News / → All Tags

Bangkok Airport Police Target Westerners In Frightening 'Zig-Zag' Scams

Don't touch that duty-free bottle of scotch just yet; you better intend to buy it lest airport security at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport catch you browsing and nab you for shoplifting. This is what happend to two UK travelers, who, shopping at the airport before their flight back to London, were hauled in by airport police and held in the jail until they withdrew and handed over £7,500 (approx $12,250) to clear their charges of stealing a wallet.

The details of their ordeal are the stuff of travel nightmares, as the couple, speaking to the BBC, said they were kept in "a hot, humid, smelly cell with graffiti and blood on the walls" with their passports taken away from them. After they withdrew all they could on one day for "bail," handed over to sketch interpreter working with the police, the couple was allowed to sleep in a motel while the police threatened to imprison them in the "infamous Bangkok Hilton prison" should they get any ideas.

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Tags: Zoos / Animals / Pandas / Elephants / Thailand Travel / → All Tags

All of Thailand Is Mad for Pandas, and the Elephants are Hopping Mad

The very happy nation of Thailand joined the panda-monium craze this week as the Chiang Mai Zoo in Bangkok introduced the country’s first every baby panda. After six years of feverish attempts to mate their two adult pandas, including a mock wedding and widely circulated “panda porns” of the pair attempting to reproduce, the country finally became just the fourth in the world to ever breed a panda cub in captivity.

Eager Thais finally got to see the six-week-old cub this week, and the cuddly critter has proved so popular that there were more than 500,000 entries in a contest to name it, and the zoo is building a pricey new snow house for the happy new family.

But not everyone is psyched about the panda craze. Zookeepers in the elephant kraal have grown incensed that no one is stopping by to see their pachyderms—Thailand’s national animal—and in protest this week they took to watercolors and painted the elephants in panda garb. Hilarious, until Peta hears about it. Maybe they’d have more luck if they made some elephant porn?

Related Stories:
· Will this stop the pandamonium? [Daily Mail]
· Thai zoo's 1st baby panda goes on display [AP]
· How To Cuddle a Baby Panda [Jaunted]

[Photo: Reuters]

Tags: Worlds-Coolest-Pools / Pools / Thailand Travel / Resorts / → All Tags

Get Your Feet Wet In Thailand

Last one in's a rotten egg! We're finding the best places in the world to stick our toes in this summer (or next winter) for our World's Coolest Pools map. Know of any pools we must check out? Let us know.

Sometimes it's the accessories that make the outfit, and this Thailand resort pool wouldn't be complete without the cabanas that have doubtless been the subject of many a turf war at this new property's shore. But to dip your toes in this beauty is worth a "Home Alone"-style booby trap or two.

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Tags: Bus Travel / First Class Travel / Thailand Travel / → All Tags

First Class Buses in Thailand Wake You At Your Stop

It's not just Japan where you can get a first class bus ride complete with tacky decorations. In Thailand, there's a whole system of government-run first class buses that will get you around the country in comfort and reasonably cheaply.

First class bus tickets include a meal, pillows and blankets, plus an attendant who'll wake you up when you arrive at your stop, letting you sleep as long as possible. As you can see, you probably will want to close your eyes to avoid staring too long at the frilly blue window treatments.

Apparently travel agencies will always try to book you onto expensive tourist buses, but the state-owned first class buses are a much better deal. Assuming it's safe to travel around Thailand, you can try to get info about the buses at the Transport Co. website – the English section doesn't seem to be working just now, but the music the site plays will get you in the mood for some Thai road travel.

Related Stories:
· Thai Transport Co. [Official Site]
· Pretty Seat Doilies Decorate the Limousine Airport Buses in Japan [Jaunted]
· Bangkok Protests Continue, Thailand Warnings Start Again [Jaunted]

[Photo: Travel Aficionado]

Tags: Protests / Thailand Travel / Political Travel / → All Tags

Bangkok Protests Continue, Thailand Warnings Start Again

Thailand, Thailand. You're so beautiful, so why do we have to keep writing these bad news stories? Unfortunately it looks like the internal political problems, while completely unrelated to travelers and the tourism industry, are going to stop thousands of visitors to Bangkok and Thai islands again.

While last week it sounded like even the ASEAN meeting of regional leaders might still go ahead, it's now been canceled and protests have become violent. Despite the government declaring a state of emergency, protesters have continued to gather in Bangkok and there are now armed soldiers on the streets.

Countries including Britain, Canada and Australia have already issued travel warnings advising its citizens to review their travel plans to Bangkok and to avoid the area if they are already in Thailand. At this stage the airports are still open, but remembering last year's chaos would definitely make us think twice about assuming it'll stay that way. Can we suggest neighbors Vietnam or Cambodia instead, as long as your flights don't connect in Bangkok?

Related Stories:
· Thai Protesters Clash With Police [NY Times]
· Travel Warnings For Thailand After Weekend Mayhem [Reuters]
· Thai Travel Might Be Tied Up Again [Jaunted]
· Thai Airport Standoff Proves World Is Indeed Flat [Jaunted]

[Photo: Y Not ?]

Tags: Amazing-Race-14 / Amazing Race 14 / Chasing Racers / Television Travel / TV Travel / → All Tags

Rooting Around in People's Mouths Could Be Unpleasant

Chasing Racers is back, with a brand new Amazing Race 14 mashup. This map will update the morning after every new episode. Send along tips, rumors, gossip, locations and spoilers to our map editors, become a member and comment on the stories below and add to the Jaunted-Flickr photo pool to get in on the fray.

Remember to zoom in, out and around on the map --with so much happening in each episode, it's easy to miss a map point.

This week, the Racers take off from Phuket, Thailand, the seventh Pit Stop in this race around the globe. The competition is really heating up, and with only five teams remaining, sights are set on the final legs of the race and the one million dollar prize. Who has the skills, smarts and strength to make it all the way to the finish mat?

LET'S FIND OUT!

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Tags: Television Travel / Beaches / Playboy / Bridget Marquardt / → All Tags

Snakes, Elephants, And Monkeys Greet Bridget in Thailand

We’ve run out of comments about the show’s theme music, so let’s just jump right in. This week Bridget Marquardt is off to Thailand, but unfortunately for middle school kids everywhere, there's not one joke about Bangkok. For the most part things are focused in and around Phuket, but we start off this week’s adventure in the streets along with Bridget’s special guest.

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Tags: Protests / Thailand Travel / Political Travel / → All Tags

Thai Travel Might Be Tied Up Again

Just when we were thinking it must be safe to go back to Thailand after last year's airport closures, we're starting to wonder again.

This week there were anti-government protests in Bangkok, with 100,000 gathering near the Prime Minister's office and taxi drivers intentionally blocking traffic in the city. With the ASEAN summit being held over the weekend, some authorities are getting a bit worried about security for all those VIPs.

Whether this is the precursor to another airport lockdown to strand thousands of tourists or just a small political glitch remains to be seen but we'd be checking the latest news carefully before booking our Thai flights.

Related Stories:
· Thai PM Says Peaceful Protest OK [Reuters]
· Thais Trying To Turn Tourism Tide [Jaunted]
· Thailand Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: Yan Pritzker]

Tags: Amazing-Race-14 / Amazing Race 14 / Chasing Racers / Television Travel / TV Travel / → All Tags

Gorilla? Gorilla? Gorilla?

Chasing Racers is back, with a brand new Amazing Race 14 mashup. This map will update the morning after every new episode. Send along tips, rumors, gossip, locations and spoilers to our map editors, become a member and comment on the stories below and add to the Jaunted-Flickr photo pool to get in on the fray.

Remember to zoom in, out and around on the map --with so much happening in each episode, it's easy to miss a map point.

Last week, Christie and Jodi landed in last place yet again, shaming flight attendants and travel professionals everywhere. This week, the Race heads to Thailand where the temperatures heat up and the teams are challenged to keep it together. Will Victor and Tammy irritate their way to another strong finish, or will they implode in a cloud of unmitigated ego? Will cheerleaders Jaime and Cara wear something other than emerald green, and what happens to Margie after the dramatic collapse shown in this week's promo?
LET'S FIND OUT!

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Tags: Hell No We Won't Go / Tourism Boards / → All Tags

Thais Trying To Turn Tourism Tide

Seems shutting down your international airport for eight days doesn't do good things for tourism! Thai officials say as many as 1 million visitors will now stay away in the wake of the closure and the broader political crisis in Thailand. This month alone, just 500,000 tourists are expected to arrive, just one third the crowd the country was expecting.

The head of Thailand's tourism ministry says the latest downturn is the worst in the agency's 48-year history, trumping even the crash after the 2004 tsunami. Hotels corroborate the stats from the government, talking to Reuters about 25 percent occupancy rates at a time of year when 7 of every 10 rooms are booked.

Even the transvestite go-go dancers are having a tough time:

“Right now, business is so slow. Some nights, only one customer,” said Jodie, a 24-year-old transvestite go-go dancer teetering around the capital’s Nana red-light district in spike-heeled, thigh-high boots.

Related Stories:
· Worst Slump in Decades for Thai Tourism [NYT]
· Bangkok International Airport Still Protest Central [Jaunted]
· Thai Airport Standoff Proves World Is Indeed Flat [Jaunted]

[Photo: René Ehrhardt]