The Road from Hell

[sandman67]

Just a warning for people heading out to HH immigration on a bike

went last week to sort out a bugger up on my visa thanks to Ranong. Stamped with wrong stamp. Sorted with no pain and a small "present".

The road there was never good, and due to building developments was potholed and damaged due to trucks etc...

Well it seems the rains have added to the problem and made the surface even weaker.....and there are now three of four really bad points with proper killer potholes.

I stopped and looked at one that was deep enough to break a bike wheel if hit at speed and throw the rider. Luckily the holes were water free so I could see how deep they are. Theres a bad one developing just where the Immigration road (concrete) meets the bigger soi (mud and gravel)....a nice trench and lip combination...interesting when wet.

If you are going down on a bike be really careful and watch ahead.

If its been raining DONT go through a pothole full of water as you cant see how deep it is.

Wear a helmet and go slow.

Oh and some sod has been round nicking the signs again.

[Norseman]

Hey Sandman.
The tracks are now in a better shape than never before.
A few years ago you needed rafts, dingys, canoes or camels to pay our common friends a visit.

[Big Boy]

Sandman67 wrote:

If its been raining DONT go through a pothole full of water as you cant see how deep it is.

England has the best potholes http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cUKSKKdet ... re=related

[Norseman]

Ok, you win BB, for now.
But we have several times more scattered all over HH!!

[dtaai-maai]

Stamped with wrong stamp. Sorted with no pain and a small "present".

looked at one that was deep enough to break a bike wheel if hit at speed and throw the rider.

I can't imagine anyone hitting any kind of speed on a bike or in a 4-wheel drive pick up within 5 kms of the immigration office.

What really caught my attention, though, was the 'present' reference. I know the 'grease my palm and all will be well' thing has been covered on a number of occasions, but I've never been asked, never offered and never had a problem. Were you asked, Sandman?

[T.I.G.R.]

Please don't anyone start bashing me on this, just posting a comment, not a suggestion.

My wife always slips the appropriate "official" a hundred baht or so when doing official business. She spoke of this twenty years ago, so it doesn't have anything to do with the Hua Hin office.

I mention it because, at least in her experience, it was the normal thing to do when anyone in her family had dealings with Government officials.

I think maybe that's why some refer to it as a "present".

[migrant]

When we went back to Thailand my wife registered some land she bought while here in the states. 14 years since she last visited, but no hesitation on needing the"present"

[sandman67]

DM

yep I was "asked"....

what had happened was that last time I was at Ranong some Americans in the cue in front of me were giving the immigration bloke a hard time....something about the three entry visa on arrival rule. When I got to him he was a bit flustered/pissed off with farangs and mis-stamped my passport with the wrong entry visa.

I was knackered so didnt check the stamp, just put it in my pocket and went on my way..... doh.

Got back and went down to the bank last week. Lass at the bank pointed out my visa had expired two days ago..... ohhhh nooooo!!!!!

So had to go to see HH IS. Get there and smiley lass is very helpful but her boss is in a crappy mood and says I have to go back to Ranong to sort it. Smiley lass sends me outside while she sorts this out.

She comes out and says her boss will sort it but I should give him a present as it means a few calls to BKK and Ranong, and some computer work.....I can sit outside, smoke and she brings me a coffee..... so in a way Im getting looked after for looking after them????

My view is its better to have that done than trawling all the way back to Ranong ... worth it and a lot more cost effective.... a couple of hundred rather than a 12 hr journey/driver costs etc.....

Bribery sucks but in this case it got the job done. I was just surprised how blatant it was.

Still....Im happy, shes happy and her boss is happy. Alls good.

I also asked her where the signs keep going and she said the builders keep nicking them? Anyone know what for? Surely its not for the scrap plastic value......???

[sargeant]

I am with you DM i have never been asked and never offered in 11 years and have had no problems i must add however i dont speak Mrs Sarge does the lot i am only there for my signature.
Mrs Sarge has passed an envelope with dosh in it for a letter from a policeman to say he knew me for a number of years mind you that was a long time ago 6/7 years and that was the only time Mrs Sarge knew him well but i had never clapped eyes on him so to my mind as Mrs Sarge put it it was above and beyond the call of duty.

[kendo]

Sandman are they this bad



kendo.

[Spitfire]

Will say that Sandman is right about being careful of the pot-holes that are full of water, you never know how deep they are.

[pfotoguy369]

Bribery sucks but in this case it got the job done. I was just surprised how blatant it was.

It is the way, and they do it with a smile.

[norm]

Think about Thai immagration people that have to drive over that crappy road almost every day, rain or shine.

They almost deserve a bit of tea money for being able to still be in a good mood after that drive.

[Guess]

Bribery sucks

Go and wash your mouth out with carbolic. It was a gratuity.

In all seriousness there is a very fine line between the two. Nothing is black and white.

He was probably under no obligation to help you and he quite likely would have been within his rights so send you back to the stamping office (Ranong) to sort it along with your black mark and 500 Baht per day overstay fine.

I would have personally dropped him a monkey.

[sargeant]

Thats what i was trying to say Guess well put and total agreerment from me