Positive Experiences in Thailand

[Lung Per]

There are so many wonderful and helpful people here in Thailand and in our grumpiness we often tend to fergit the sunny side of life in LOS. Please do report your positive experiences so that we may have a balanced view!

Here's one:

This morning I went to the Chevy dealer for the regular service. As always, received a warm smile and "how have you been". During the service I asked them to check on the status of my aircon system. They regretted very much they did not have the required fluid for refill in stock today, but found an automobile aircon specialist shop for me, located only a few blocks down Petkasem. No problemos. The shop went to work immediately and found that everything was fine and no need for repairs or refill. When I asked how much they responded with a smile "No Charge". "No work, no charge"! I did, however, manage to put a couple of small bills in the hands of the mechanic, which he only accepted reluctantly.
This Thailand - service with a smile.

[margaretcarnes]

Here's hoping you get a few more responses LP! But yes - maybe too many positive experiences to remember. One in particular though (some others on here may remember this) mini bus back from Ranong one night blew a tyre in the mddle of nowhere - or so it seemed. Our Thai driver pulled in to someones' front yard. The building was in darkness. He knocked at the door and it turned out to be a tyre fitting place. The guy rapidly got to work, despite presumably having been woken up, and very good naturedly changed the wheel.

Then there were the taxi lads on Naeb who would arrive before 7 am with our Bangkok Post. Or take the water bill and money to pay it and return with the exact change. And the lady on the market veggie stall who always threw in freebies.

More recently the buffet car staff on a sleeper train last Christmas Eve who had everyone up dancing. And last but not least the patience of Bangkok taxi drivers (yes there are some good ones) who simply sit in traffic singing 'roc tit roc tit'.

[Takiap]

Yes, I've had far too many positive experiences to mention them all here. In fact, I have positive experiences virtually every single day here, but as we all know, most people are only interested in the negative experiences.

Right now I don't have the time, but maybe later I'll sit down and write a few paragraphs about some of the nice experiences I regularly have in this wonderfully crazy place.

[Dannie Boy]

Yes, I've had far too many positive experiences to mention them all here. In fact, I have positive experiences virtually every single day here, but as we all know, most people are only interested in the negative experiences.

Right now I don't have the time, but maybe later I'll sit down and write a few paragraphs about some of the nice experiences I regularly have in this wonderfully crazy place.

I really can't remember having a really bad experience. Ok maybe not everybody goes the extra mile but on large, I have always enjoyed a good relationship with the people I have done business with and been more than happy with their service and attitude.

[Bamboo Grove]

As with those above, plenty of good experiences so just a few examples. A bus driver going his way to send me to a hotel in Yala and all men (muslim) shaking hands with me when leaving the bus.

A family taking very good care of me and my Japanese friend in Tak, showing us the sights nearby and even giving us presents when we left.

A couple taking us on the back of their pick-up when we had a flat tyre on motorbike in the mountains of Mae Hong Song.

I could go on and on...

[richard]

Way, way more positives than negatives

That's why I'm still here

[traveller2]

We have had many positive experiences in Thailand, which is why we keep coming back.
A girl we met gave up her only day off to show us around the area. At the end of the day we offered money/tip, but she was adamant she wouldnt accept. She even paid for water and admission into some of the places she took us and wouldnt allow us to pay.
Needless to say, she is now a very good friend of ours and we try to visit new places that we all want to see, whenever we are in HH.

[MajorBloodnok]

Hello chaps & mates,

my wife and I had never been to Thailand when we decided to settle in the LoS.
Of course, we informed ourselves as best as we could by means of the internet, including your forum, tv documentaries & videos and written accounts by British & German expats.

When we arrived at Bangkok Airport for the first time on 30 Jun 2012, there was a queue of several hundred new arrivals waiting to pass Immigration.

I was situated somewhere in the middle of this long snake, patiently waiting to gradually move up to the counter.
Suddenly I, being handicapped (amputee) with my two crutches caught the eye of a stern looking elderly female immigration officer sitting at one of the immigration counters. She immediately called out to other immigration officers, got up, walked over to me and lifted the rope barrier to allow me to jump the queue and be dealt with immediately!

A pleasant first impression, indeed!

[dtaai-maai]

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.

[Bristolian]

It has been my experience that Thai Immigration is actually very good, now that they have sorted out most of the major queuing issues.

When I have travelled with my with my Thai wife and young son, we have always used the Thai passport desks to speed up the process and when I have travelled alone with my son I have always been directed to the VIP or diplomatic desk. The assistants at the immigration area seem to keep a watchful eye for those travellers who are young, the not so young and anyone who would generally have problems in queuing for a while.

I have never been treated in a similar manner when arriving at any other airport outside Thailand.

[moja]

every time my elderly Mother arrives she gets special treatment and has never yet had to stand in the queue for Immigration although she did once have to walk there on her own; every other time she has had assistance whether she has asked for it or not.

[Sanctum]

Immigration at Swampy, can be a test of patience, as it is in many parts of the world. Countries spend millions of dollars promoting tourism. The first thing you meet in a new country is endless waiting, and a grumpy immigration officer who see you as a potential problem. What happened to a little politeness, i. e. a "welcome to Thailand" and a smile when you get your passport back after stamping? Would be worth millions in goddwill, I am sure. Land of Smiles? Start with Immigration.

[pharvey]

Immigration at Swampy, can be a test of patience, as it is in many parts of the world. Countries spend millions of dollars promoting tourism. The first thing you meet in a new country is endless waiting, and a grumpy immigration officer who see you as a potential problem. What happened to a little politeness, i. e. a "welcome to Thailand" and a smile when you get your passport back after stamping? Would be worth millions in goddwill, I am sure. Land of Smiles? Start with Immigration.

To be honest, I think I'd get a little pi**ed off with hundreds coming through saying "how about a smile?"..

That said, when going through passport control I try to give a smile and say hello/thank you in their language, be it Thai or otherwise.. 2 words not difficult - 90% of the time I get a smile Sanctum.

[dtaai-maai]

In one of my previous incarnations I was an immigration officer in the UK. Sanctum and pharvey are posting at opposite ends of the spectrum, but both are right.

In no particular order:

1. Many officials of all varieties suffer from the "Little Hitler" syndrome.
2. Politeness works both ways. It just so happens that my personal approach was (usually) friendly, but that was just my style. In the other direction, it was always interesting to see which 'celebrities' took a friendly approach and who played the "Don't you know who I am?" card. (Never a good idea... )
3. Some punters wouldn't appreciate a happy/smiley/jokey immigration official after they'd been standing in a Heathrow queue for 2 hours...

Some of my favourite celebs:
Sterling Moss
Barry Sheene
Paddy Ashdown

And the worst ever:
Hughie Green

Some random stories:
I was once on the British desk at Dover. Long queue. Harassed woman arrives carrying luggage in both hands and with 2 passports between her teeth. She mumbles an apology as she leans towards towards me. "You shouldn't talk with your mouth full, Madam" says the oh-so-funny immigration officer. "Don't worry, mate, she never does..." says her husband just behind her.

In the late 70s EU citizens were still sort of subject to control as they entered the UK. At Dover we got so bored we used to play silly games when we thought we could get away with it. Ferries from Zeebrugge would have 100s of cars carrying Dutch families to Camber Sands.
IO: "How many cats are spayed in the UK?"
Dutch tourist: "2 weeks"
etc.

One colleague got caught out as a middle aged Japanese guy pulled up at the car kiosk. When he asked how long the man would stay, the Jap just stared blankly. Cue silly humour:
IO: "How rong you stay Engran?"
Jap guy: "Oh sorry, didn't quite hear you the first time. Probably just a couple of weeks. I have a series of meetings with the governor of the Bank of England..."

And there was the story of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore sauntering up to a deserted British desk at Heathrow after all the other passengers had gone through. The IO put down his newspaper and took his feet off the desk. Peter Cook stood there while Dud bent down to get his passort out of his bag. The IO spontaneously said, "Come on, c#nt" Dud looked up and said "Don't call me a c#nt, you f####ing c#nt" etc.
It would be so good if that story was true.

Of course all that was a very long time ago...


Sorry for the brief diversion - back to topic.

[richard]

I've known customs officers and police officers in many countries and they have a job to do. A smile always helps IMO. Thailand is the same. Just smile and be polite and it goes a long way towards a friendly discourse. Same same with immigration too

I believe there is nothing to be gained by being offhand, rude and frowning. Many Thais say to me 'you good heart, you smile'. The worst offenders are actually HiSo Thais