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Bangkok and beyond, travel talk on all other places in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
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Big Boy
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Post by Big Boy »

moja,

Sorry, but you've just confused the hell out of me for a couple of minutes :oops: . I've been trying to work out what you were doing in the ladies toilet - then it dawned on me :idea: . You must be a lady :D

Just thought I'd share my confusion with you :lach: I think it must be time to return to the UK and normality :cry:
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Post by Winkie »

I think its hit or miss, if you get a smile, or even an acknowledgement from the immigrations officers, even if you do speak to them in Thai. Mostly I meet miserable ones.

Have seen and met 1 or 2 very attentive and friendly senoir officers parolling the queues, sometimes they move you to smaller queues, Thai gueues of the Dimplomatic queue which helps alot. Howver, oftne these people are not on duty.

They should take note from some of the neighbouring countries, pleasant smiles, pleasant chit-chat during the the process.

I understood that smiling was recently highlighted as an issue, and all immigration officers went on smiling training courses.

Seems they didn't really pay that much attention.

First impressions do count immensely, and often I hear of how miserable the immigaration oficers are. I'm sure it does leave a small but lasting ememory with tourists and resident foreigners alike.
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moja
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Post by moja »

Yes Big Boy I am a lady - I know there are not too many of us on HHAD
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Post by lindosfan1 »

Bigboy 2 questions
Back to the UK and normality!!!!!? :( :? :roll:
and it must have been a good night last night or had you just woken up :cheers: :? :idea:
Woke up this morning breathing that's a good start to the day.
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Big Boy
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Post by Big Boy »

This is too good to be real. I'm afraid it's back to reality on Wednesday :cry:
Championship Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Leeds Utd :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED :cry: :cry:
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sandman67
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Post by sandman67 »

I dont like the new airport. Sure its prettier than the old one, but then again its new so it should be.

I just find the whole layout messy and confusing, from the endless walk from arrival gate to immigration, to the one of four possible arrival hall doors you leave by which makes co-ordinating meeting someone a pain. Baggage seems to take forever to arrive at the carousel for some reason.

Going out there is the inadequate number of immigration desks causing long cues that are unmarshalled and therefore turn into milling mobs, followed by the same cattle herding process at security. There is then a second round of security checks at the gate, and the departure gate areas always seem overcrowded with not enough seats and air-conned to freezing point.

For a new building it also seems to be suffering from aging quickly....or maybe the repair crews were on holiday when I was last through there. The plus point is that (at least last time I went through) there are still smoking booths for us confirmed drug addicts.

I like immigration here ... they always smile at me but thats usually because my passport photo looks like Rob Zombie whereas nowadays I'm a lot less hairy and bearded. Contrast that with the hitlers at UK immigration who all seem to have had charisma bypass operations.... if they are routinely rude to EU passport holders god knows how they treat foreigners :cuss:
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Post by Wanderlust »

I have said this before on a number of other threads, but will repeat it here anyway; when departing/arriving any country, people travelling together are always meant to be checked by the same immigration official, which means with my Thai wife we can leave and enter Thailand through the Thai passport holders desk, and enter and leave the UK through the EU desk. Or vice versa but we would not gain any advantage by doing so!
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Post by margaretcarnes »

BB - I've also seen male attendants in Ladies public loos in the UK. Mind you we are blessed with cubicles!
Interesting comments on the airport though. Just one question - has anyone noticed if those electric buggies are provided for people with mobility problems? :cheers:
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sandman67
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Post by sandman67 »

Mags

Ive seen the mobility "jeep" things in the airport a couple of times so I guess the answer is yes.....
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Post by Chas »

There are FOUR arrival door areas??
No wonder we had trouble finding our taxi driver.

I did greet the Immigration official I got in Thai and attempted a bit of small talk. No reaction whatsoever from her, not even a smile when she came and found me to cancel my reentry permit. Just an unfriendly "miserable" person I would say.

As for using the Thai line ( traveling with my Thai spouse) I never even considered doing so as I figured I would just get sent away.
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Post by margaretcarnes »

Thanks for that info Sandman.
Re the size of airports in general - as pointed out by Chas. Just a thought, but why can't they be built in a circle shape, like a cartwheel? Arrivals etc at the hub, with checkins, and radiating out via departures to gates on the perimeter. That way all gates would be equadistant from the business end. They could still be built on 2 levels.
It wouldn't of course allow for extending, but just a thought!
BTW this idea is subject to copyright! :idea:
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