December 10 2003

Khao San Road drug sting ordeal

Everyone fears being fitted-up by the Thai police in a fake drug bust. This actually happened to Mango Sauce reader, Patrick. He befriended a Thai girl, Noi, on Ko Pha Ngan. Later, he bumped into her on Khao San Road and she lured him into a trap set by corrupt police officers. This is his story:

I got arrested in Bangkok and nearly ended up in the Bangkok Hilton. The reason I am writing this is that I read an article on your site about buying the police off with 15,000 baht - or if you are unlucky you might come across a straight police officer and then you are toast. (See Smile, you're in Thai jail).

I spent 5 months in Thailand from November until March 2002. I went to Ko Phi Phi, Chiang Mai and Kanchanaburi and then hit Ko Pha Ngan for the full moon party and New Years Eve. On Pha Ngan I met up with about 15 other backpackers from all walks of life. It was great until this Swedish lad said he could get some pills - E.

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Everyone gave this lad their orders and within an hour he had 100 pills. We all had a ball and didn't think we were doing anything wrong as the whole island seemed to be on them. I went to Thailand for the culture and not for drugs. I know the punishment for having anything on you. When you are on a party island and everyone's doing it, you feel like you aren't doing anything wrong and just go with the flow. I didn't touch drugs in any other part of the country - except when I smoked a bit of ya-ba in Bangkok. I'm not a druggy.

There were some Thai girls at our resort (Tommy's resort). We knew they were prostitutes but didn't mind as they made us laugh. We would help them out if they were skint. After spending a month on this island, we all went our separate ways. The Thai girls thought we were millionaires because we spent a small fortune. We did explain that we had to save for a good year to stay for so long.

Anyway, we all left and I headed back to Bangkok on my own. After stopping off somewhere for a week, I arrived in Bangkok and had to sort my return flight home ASAP as I was running low on funds.

I booked into the Grand Guesthouse on Khao San Road and went for a walk. I walked up this side street and heard my name being called. I looked around and spotted Noi and Bud - these 2 Thai girls I knew from Pha Ngan. They called me over and we were pleased to see each other again. We went into their room and there were about 8 people there smoking ya-ba pills. They asked if I would like to try some and I said yes. I thought, as I'm in their country I'll sample it. I've taken in all of the other Thai culture, like bamboo rafting, elephant rides, trekking, temples and meeting the monks.

After a while, this lad called Mike who I knew from Pha Ngan started to get scared and asked everyone to leave because, if the police turned up, we would all be doomed. Some people found it funny, but I got up and said I'm off. I read the book by Warren Fellows and I'm not going to end up in the Bangkok Hilton for anyone - so I left.

Two days passed and I didn't see the girls again until I was sitting in a pub on the corner of Khao San Road. I was talking to an English man, late 40's, and a German woman. As we were talking, Noi came in and looked very depressed. I asked her what the matter was and she said she was so skint that she couldn't pay her rent. I said sit here with me and I'll buy you a drink and a bit of food. She had the drink and asked me to sit outside on the step with her. I said ok but, just as I was going to leave, this English man said don't go mate - stay here with me. I said I'm going to try and help her. He said just watch your back then. What he didn't know is that I knew her from the island.

We went outside and sat down. The pub is at the bottom of Khao San Road and opposite the police box. We started to chat and I said why not stay at mine, go to work, save the money until you get on your feet again and then move somewhere cheap? She asked me four times the name of my guesthouse and then she said I should stay at hers. I wasn't very keen on the idea and asked her if she had seen my other friends. She said no and asked to stay at mine. I said ok. She asked if she could borrow 500 baht to pay off someone and pay the night's rent. I said I didn't want her to spend it on that ya-ba shit. She said no, I've stopped all that now.

I said fair enough. As I passed over the 500 baht I noticed that a Thai police officer was watching me. Noi said she'd be back in 5 minutes. Before she left, I asked her to promise me that it was not for drugs - because I was being watched. She said no it's not.

When she had gone, I noticed another police officer watching me. By now, I was really concerned and started to get a bit scared but I cheered myself up by saying I've got nothing to hide, I haven't done anything wrong. I just sat there drinking and chatting to another backpacker. After about 10 minutes Noi returned and nodded at me. I got up and followed her. As we were walking along, I said I'll only come back if you swear you haven't anything illegal on you. She said she hadn't.

We got back to her hotel. It was a big place with 60 rooms. As we walked up the stairs, she knocked on her friend's door but there was no answer. Then we headed to her room. As we went in, I knew that there was something wrong. I was scared. Something was going to happen and I bloody knew it. We just sat there for a few minutes but she wouldn't talk to me. I said Noi what's wrong. She then pulled out 5 ya-ba pills!! I said you stupid woman, the police have been watching me. What happens if they come in here? She said they won't. I replied if they do, they saw me give you 500 baht and will think those are for me!!

She started to break one up to smoke it. I got up and said I'm off. I don't want anything to do with you again - you are trouble. With that, there was a knock at the door, then another one and Noi said is that you Joy? Now I was bloody scared. I was shaking. I knew it was the police. I said throw those out of the window. She said no. I looked out of the window. It was on the 9th floor, so I couldn't jump out.

Then the door handle turned and - yes you got it - in walked a Thai police officer. He said something to Noi and turned to me and said you go to prison long time!! I got up and then sat back down because my legs gave way. I said they aren't anything to do with me. Noi said you are guilty. It doesn't matter if you didn't have any - you are in the same room with someone who has, so that makes you guilty.

I then said tell him I'll do anything, I'll pay anything you want. I read in the Lonely Planet you could sometimes buy the Thai police off with a bribe and kept saying to myself please let him be a bent copper. I gave him my wallet to show him that I didn't have anything to hide. He looked in my wallet and he wasn't interested in whether I had drugs but how much money I had.

It was not much help as I only had 200 baht. He then turned to Noi and said something. She said to me he wants 20,000 baht and then you can go. I said yes, I'll get it, no problem. One small problem - I only had 8,000 baht left to last me till my flight but I wasn't going to tell him that. I said to him I've got the money in traveller's cheques - can you give me 20 minutes please? He said NO! I'll give you ten minutes and there is a tuk-tuk waiting outside for you. If you don't come back, we'll find you and you'll have made things far worse for yourself. I said I'll be back.

I left the room and took 4 steps at a time, got to the bottom and another Thai police officer moved out of the way for me. He just smiled. I saw the tuk-tuk waiting and thought sod that. I ran as fast as I could and when running I kept saying think boy, think. What am I going to do? I thought about my little sister and brother and my mum and dad thousands of miles away back in England and, boy, how much I missed them now and just wanted to be with them again. My eyes started to well up with tears. I was so scared but no one could help me.

I turned into Khao San Road, went into the pub and told the Englishman what had happened. He said I told you not to go with her. You've just been had my friend. He said sit here and have a beer. I said no way - they'll probably look in here for me. I said bye and I was off again to my guesthouse. On arriving, I pushed open my door and started packing, left half my clothes but managed to fit my chess board in the rucksack. Anthony, who is from Brighton and is 19, said what's up Pat? I told him. He said shit mate and went into his room and told everyone to get rid of their weed. The place was bedlam.

I gave him my email address and said email me if they turn up. He said he would and told me to take care and good luck.

I went and cashed up my last 800 baht. I then had to decide whether to go back and say I've only got 800 baht. Would they take that and still nick me or take it and pat me on the back and say don't do it again? I think not somehow. What would happen if I did have the 20,000 baht and went back? They might still take it and nick me. I thought sod that, I've got to get out of Bangkok now - not tomorrow but now.

I moved 3 guesthouses up Khao San Road, booked in and came back out. This time I put on my jeans, a woolly jumper and a cap. I must have stood out like a sore thumb. After 5 minutes, I couldn't take any more and burst into tears. I put my head in my hands and just cried. I couldn't believe this was happening to me. I would pay ��?50,000 to be home right now. I really missed the cold, snow and rain and couldn't stop thinking about my family back in Sussex.

Just as I was going to get up, I noticed 3 policemen coming up Khao San Road. Now I was bloody scared. I knew they weren't going to give up and knew if they caught me then I'd be toast, big time. One was walking and looking left to right and the other two were on a motorbike. The one at the back was the one who arrested me. I went to the internet cafe and sent a message to my mate, asking him to ask my family to send out ��?700 ASAP but not to say why I needed the money. They would be in tears if they knew what was going on.

I had to get out of Bangkok now. I went back, got my rucksack and sprinted up Khao San Road like a headless chicken. I got to the top and got a taxi - Pattaya please. 3 hours later, I was in Pattaya and got the cheapest place I could find - 100 baht a night. I couldn't risk catching the flight out of Bangkok. What would happen if Noi had told them where I was staying? She knew my name, so they could get my passport number.

I waited 3 days, collected my ��?700 and got a coach back to Bangkok. I got a coach down to Surat Thani, then a mini bus to Songkhla, I think, then a coach down to Singapore. Crossing the border had me shaking and I thought my number was up. I made it to Singapore and got a direct flight home. When that plane took off, it felt like I had won the lottery.

I feel so sorry for the people who do get caught in Thailand - whether they are guilty or not. My adventure in Thailand nearly became a living nightmare.

David - What punishment would they have given me if those police officers weren't corrupt? I know ya-ba is classed as class A. To this day, I think about how long I would have been in prison for.

Thanks for sharing your story, Patrick - what a nightmare. You were incredibly lucky to escape. Khao San Road is notorious for this type of scam. Many people believe that Thailand is soft on drugs but, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. In a recent police crackdown, around 3,000 drug suspects were murdered. Their deaths have yet to be investigated. Though the campaign had no farang victims, we get treated as harshly as Thais in all other respects. Prison sentences are long and the conditions horrendous.

If convicted, you could have faced between 5 and 25 years in a Thai jail. However, if you had gone back with the 20,000 baht, they would almost certainly have let you go. These bloodsuckers only want to extort money - they don't want to draw the World's attention to their nasty little scam. Of course, many foreigners are already rotting in Thai jails. No doubt, some of them are innocent. Wise visitors don't just avoid drugs - they avoid getting involved with dodgy characters too.

[Posted to Your Letters by David]

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Readers' comments

mr peter says:

well we were all young once but: ' I've taken in all of the other Thai culture' to describe ya ba smoking is unbelievably stupid. And what about the guest house full of weed. It's hard to have much sympathy with this kind of carry on and I almost feel like taking the coppers side. Glad he got away though.-peter

February 20, 2004 7:54 PM

Willy Winston says:

Warning:Koh Phangan is notorious for local and visiting mainland cops exploiting tourists who buy ganja from bungalow resorts and restaurants. They allow the local establishments to sell the stuff to you and bust you within minutes, take you to the local jail for an overnight stay, then to Surathani jail to await your court hearing/trial. You must deposit 50,000 baht and they purposly set your court date AFTER your flight date so you forfeit your deposit/bail and the cops have a good laugh over beer & regency. This has been going on for years without intervention. Many instances of police accepting money, watches and other valuables in lieu of jail.

March 26, 2004 1:44 AM

Lol says:

What a fool, does he really expect us to feel sorry for him. He should be locked up as he was buying drugs for a Thai national

April 10, 2004 12:38 AM

stu_$ says:

whew !

one lucky dude , but i must say that i do a rainbow of substances in my own country ..but i wouldn't fart in thailand let alone get mashed up on pills .

not even a threesome could entice me to gamble my life, drugs are last thing i would do in thailand

i hope you ppl are takin notes
cause no one can help you if you go down over here

May 8, 2004 1:39 AM

Roger says:

FUCK YOU LOL. THE THAI THING OF NEEDING TO BLAME THE FALANG HAS NOW BECOME BEYOND BELIEF! YOU FUCKING THAIS INVENTED AND PROPOGATED BA OR MA AS YOU ORIGINALLY AND AFFECTIONATELY CALLED IT. WE DON'T DO THAT SOT OF THING TO THAIS OR ANY OTHER FALANG IN OUR COUNTRIES. BLATANT RACISM. WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. THAIS GET AWAY WITH MURDER! THE WEST IS WRONG TO BUY THEIR BHUDDIST P.R. BULLSHIT. I WILL QUALIFY THAT;-THE THAIS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT MANY TIMES USING ACTRESSES ETC SO AS TO SLANT STORIES IN THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, MAKING THE LITTLE DARLINGS LOOK LIKE THE VICTIMS. THEY ARE KNOWN TO USE CERTAIN P.R. COMPANIES. WHAT CAN ONE EXPECT FROM A RACE DEVOID OF MORALITY AND DECENCY, WHERE APPEARANCES ARE ALL? I WILL SAY VERY EMPHATICALLY THE THAIS HAVE NO RIGHT LOCKING FALANG SUBJECTS UP IN APPALLING CONDITIONS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME LIKE THEY DO. OH! AND DON'T GIVE ME THAT "THEIR COUNTRY, THEIR LAWS, I'VE GOT NO SYMPATHY IF YOU DO DRUGS" BULLSHIT. HOW ABOUT LOCKING UP THE REAL CULPRITS WHO HAVE NOW MONOPOLISED THE BA TRADE ie;- THE POLICE. OH! BUT BAD FALANG. I WILL CONCLUDE THAT INTERNAIONAL PRESSURE AND EXPOSURE ARE REQUIRED (REMEMBER, APPEARANCES!) IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE THIS WOEFUL SITUATION. PEOPLE LIKE PATRICK DO NOT, DO NOT DESERVE TO ROT IN THAI JAILS. NO IFS OR BUTS. SAVE IT FOR THE RAPISTS!

May 9, 2004 11:51 PM

Greg says:

Death to anyone who participates in drugs. Cut off the hand of anyone who steals. I am righteous. I know. God infuses my brain with moral authority. My name is Bush.

Fuck off and die all you stupid conservative bastards. Government has NO place in telling people how to live. If I want to wank off and drug my head into oblivion, that is no ones business but my own. If I want to be a subversive who critisices conservative self rightious pricks who think they should be able to tell me what I deserve, then I should be given that right. Conservatives are all Muslims, in a way.

May 24, 2004 6:11 PM

mr peter says:

Well bully for you 'dude' please try wandering about thailand wanking in public while out of your head on yaba and smoking weed all at the same time. Just tell the nice understanding policeman that no government has the right to tell you what to do. I'm sure he will be most sympathetic, if he has not shot you before you can open your mouth. Hopefully though he would let you off due to your being underaged-peter

May 24, 2004 8:05 PM

Bubble_Head says:

Glad to here you got home to the UK safe and sound. I similar nightmare befell myself. I few years ago 2001 to be precise I had been made redundant from my job in the UK... Having visited Thailand many times before I thought I'd spend a month in Pattaya partying and then go back to the UK to find a job..

I landed in Bangkok, spent two days there and then across to Pattaya. The first week was relatively uneventful I then bumped in to a young English guy of 21 and a Thai girl I had know from a previous visit... We all got along well, all four of us, two English guys and two Thai girls....

I was introduced to Ya-Ba, it was then very very prevalent and we would smoke that and go to Marine disco and get pilled and coked up most nights....

For 2 weeks we had a great, albeit expensive time... then the young guy I'll call him Tom decided he wanted a new girl....

Tik the girl he was with was furious especiallly when he bought her a 1000 baht watch...

You pay me 15000 baht, she said, you have been with me for 3 weeks.... What he exclaimed, I have paid for everything for you... And you have had a young good looking guy.. you give me 15 000 baht now or you ARE IN BIG trouble...she shrieked!!!

I could see her point and tried to impress on young Tom she was a working girl...

He was adamant, and we planned to do a midnight flit and hide in Bangkok.... OK OK tik you'll get your 15 000 baht tomorrow.... My mama , papa they wire it over to me he said... Tik smiled and inwardly Andy was smiling... I felt bad very bad, I could see both parties point of view.. Tom and myself must have spent about 80 000 baht a piece during two weeks, on booze, meals and drugs, not necessarily in that order...

We left the Flipper Lodge hotel a few times the day before the big escape, I could always see the same grim faces watching and following us...

I realised this was not going to be easy and we realised we were going to have to sneak out the back or something.......

As a precaution I had taken to wearing by money belt and carrying around my passport and all my cash and cards in case i had to move fast...

I had nipped out to Flinstones opposite the Flipper to have a drink and look as normal as possible....

Sitting at the bar I saw a police truck drive past and park outside the Flipper, who should pop out but Tik and two uniformed officers and a regular dressed Thai guy, very corpulent and very hard looking....

I immediately phoned Andy who was in his room...

Yes came a sleepy voice.. GET OUT THAT FUCKING ROOM THE POLICE ARE ON THE WAY... i uttered quietly in the bar... MEET ME IN THATIAN QUEEN IN ONE HOUR i said... picking this place as I could observe from the Beach....

I quickly paid up in Flintstones and caught a moto to Garden Plaza... I had a meal at McDonalds and then got a baht bus to TQ..... I stayed on the baht bus and let it pass TQ...... no sign of the cops......I walked back under the trees , shades on with a new shirt I had purchased from Garden Plaza..... I noticed the fat Thai guy I had seen going in the Flipper walking past TQ...... Too much of a coincidence.... I casually as I could walked to the end of beach road , then up to second road and booked a cab to Bangkok,,, all the time phoning Tom saying I was getting my Traveller Checks cashed and that we should head to Samui.....

He has sold me out and I needed to get to Bangkok...

I did get back to Bangers, it makes me chuckle now thinking of them all sat in TQ waiting for me...

I used up my nine lives that day....

May 24, 2004 8:35 PM

Seg says:

What were you clowns thinking? Drugs in a foreign country! Didn't anyone ever hear of a movie called Midnight Express?

May 25, 2004 2:16 AM

Roger says:

WE'VE ALL SEEN 'MIDNIGHT EXPRESS". THESE PEOPLE WERE NOT WALKING 'ROUND THE AIRPORT WITH KILOS OF HASH STRAPPED TO THEIR TORSOS-THEY WERE MERELY AND HARMLESSLY INDULGING IN SOMETHING THEY WERE ENCOURAGED AND SOLD TO BY LOCALS.
"DOING DRUGS";- PRODUCING? TRANSPORTING? SELLING? OR SIMPLY CONSUMING (HAVING HAD LOCALS SELL IT IN THE FIRST PLACE), IS THERE A DIFFERENCE THESE DAYS?. ALL THE SAME IS IT? ALL DESERVE TO HANG? SUITS POLITICIANS LIKE THAK SIN, FINE I GUESS. OO7-LICENSE TO KILL.
SPOT ON GREG! OH,"MR PETER" I "DO DRUGS" IN COUNTRIES OTHER THAN WHAT HAS BECOME A RIDICULOUS AND UNDER-AGED THAILAND-I SUSPECT YOU ARE THAI. FUCK YOU AGAIN LOL. I'LL END WITH A QUICK TRUE STORY OF MY OWN HERE: 3 YEARS AGO IN A BANGKOK TAXI AT NIGHT, HALF-WAY BETWEEN EKOMAI AND BANGLAMPHU THE TAXI STOPPED ON ACCOUNT OF A WHITE-GLOVED HAND HAILING IT DOWN- LO AND BEHOLD THERE WERE WERE ABOUT 70 COPS (SWEAR TO GOD!) IN THEIR ELEMENT! SUN-GLASSES, WALKIE TALKIES, RIDICULOUSLY OFFICIOUS ATTITUDE ETC. A TORCH WAS SHONE IN MY FACE FOR WHAT SEEMED A LIFE-TIME. THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS I HAD'NT SLEPT FOR TWO DAYS AND HAD 9 YA BA IN MY POCKET. ONE COP TOOK A VERY CLOSE LOOK AT ME AND . . . WAVED ME ON! NOW THAT'S SCARY. WHEN I TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THIS AND ASK THEM WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD THINGS BEEN DIFFERANT I GET A WHOLE RANGE OF ANSWERS- "STILL BE THERE", "3 MONTHS" ETC, AND OCCASIONALLY IMBECILIC OPINIONS OF THE "IF YOU DO DRUGS YOU DESERVE TO HANG" TYPE OF THING.
I KNOW ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN THAILAND BUT DOES ANYONE HAVE A REALISTIC IDEA OF THE CONSEQUENCES HAD I BEEN CAUGHT 3 YEARS AGO? BEAR IN MIND THINGS HAVE GOT WORSE SINCE THEN. AND PLEASE NO "WHAT AN IDIOT . . YOU DESERVE. . " TYPE OF VALUE JUDGEMENTS. IT'S THAT ATTITUDE THAT HELPS THE POWERS THAT BE GET AWAY WITH MURDER. QUITE FRANKLY, I WOULD'NT MIND SEEING SOME PEOPLE LOCKED UP INDEFINATLY FOR NOT HAVING A BRAIN AND ATTEMPTING TO BORE/IRRITATE PEOPLE TO DEATH. REGARDS!

May 25, 2004 12:40 PM

Seg says:

Roger, the point I was refering to about Midnight Express is the brutality of foreign prisons, not the point of smugglers vs common users. Jeez man get a clue! And while you are getting a clue, learn to type properly. Use caps the correct way, not the whole paragraph. Your quote of "THEY WERE MERELY AND HARMLESSLY INDULGING IN SOMETHING THEY WERE ENCOURAGED AND SOLD TO BY LOCALS." is idiotic at best. Drugs are never harmless, there is always a social cost to it. Plus, just because some one is encouraging you to do something doesn't make it right. Living in Vegas, I'm constantly being encouraged to go to casinos and gamble, go to strip clubs and also have "direct to you in 30 minutes or less" escorts/hookers. I don't because I would be broke in about 2 weeks. All of the above are lots of fun, been there, done that, except for the hookers. I've also done my share of recreational drugs. If I did all of the above on a regular basis, I would lose the hot little Thai babe that I've grown to know and love. It's known as self control. It's the same thing with doing drugs in countries such as Thailand. It's no secret that countries like Thailand execute drug smugglers, quickly, so knowing that, why would anyone expect that casual users would be treated with kid gloves. It comes down to use some common sense and show some self control. Don't do drugs in places like Thailand, or quit whining like a little bitch when you get caught.

May 25, 2004 2:17 PM

mr peter says:

' I HAD'NT SLEPT FOR TWO DAYS AND HAD 9 YA BA IN MY POCKET'

Did you learn from this?, or will you continue to act like a fuckwit until you get caught and end up with a 20 year stretch to grow up in a thai prison. Don't worry though plenty of compassionate and understanding travellers will visit you over the years. Just never let anyone tell you what to do in there either-peter

May 25, 2004 3:16 PM

Bubble_Head says:

Mr Peter, its all about risk. Have you had the pleasure of sitting up all night with a couple of Thai girls smoking Ya-Ba and boom booming for about 16 hours....

You obviously havent as you would feel the risk worthwhile. If you are discreet in Thailand just as anywhere you can enjoy drugs...

I do not allow some grey harired men sat in parliament to tell me Bubble-Head what I can and cant do....

If I ever do get caught I will take it like a man, however I dooubt it owuld be bust of the century, maybe a gram of coke and few pills, my choice... To this day I have never been caught, and I enjoy at least twice a month ever since I moved to Thailand permanently 2 years ago...

You should mind your own business and let people do what they want.

Bubble

May 25, 2004 5:17 PM

Howard Marx says:

yeah, too right. Weird how loads of farang blokes in Thailand think it's ok to screw any number of girls forced/tempted into prostitution by economic circumstances but come over all puritanical about smoking a bit of weed, popping a few pills or whatever.

May 25, 2004 5:59 PM

Anonymous says:

not that i haven't spent my time with girls, too. Obviously

May 25, 2004 7:15 PM

Don says:

I totally agree with Mr Peter - God, I'll have to pinch myself, did I really write that about the man whose musical musings could bore for Britain?

However, he's totally right and the likes of BubbleHead, Roger and the legendary Mr Marx are a touch paranoid on this particular issue (drugs do that to you, you know).

Nobody is getting 'puritannical'. People are just looking to give solid advice that if you f**k up with drugs here in Thailand, you will have major problems and could lose a sizeable period of your life.

I have a vision of BubbleHead that those familiar to Thailand will recognise only too well. A middle class kid in his early 20's who's 'rebelled' against the system and is showing his contempt for 'authority', although he's not sure what authority is. He's got his degree and he'll be working in a comfortable job in the UK within 3 years (and good luck to him, nothing wrong with that). He'll bore his mates rigid with regular tales about his adventures of living for a couple of years in Thailand.

I congratulate him on the most inane comment I have ever read on this site - 'I do not allow some gray haired men sat in Parliament to tell me Bubble-Head what I can or can't do'. (I've tidied up your grammar, BH).

Well, BubbleHead, as Mr Peter states, your mature and well thought out views may not go down too well amongst the Thai police and judiciary. I also suspect that if you were banged up, your mummy and daddy might also be rushing for assistance from the 'gray haired men' for whom their little Bubbles has such contempt.

As for comments like 'mind your own business' this is a forum for people to express their views, you spoilt little brat. Just because you disagree with them, don't try to stifle people

May 25, 2004 7:43 PM

NJW says:

It is illuminating to read the postings made by the drug users. It proves beyond a shadow of doubt to anyone with the wit to see exactly what regular drug use does to one.

As that last sentence is a bit long for the more stupid, I'll put it simply:

DRUGS FUCK YOU UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got that? Probably not, as for you lot it's already too late.

As for Greg saying " Government has NO place in telling people how to live." I assume that you will not be using a government funded hospital to treat the illnesses caused by your drug abuse, and you certainly wont be asking for your governments help when (not if) you end up in a Thai jail.

Drug abuse, it's evolutions way of getting rid of the stupid.

May 25, 2004 7:53 PM

Bubble_Head says:

Hey Don! Don't get your knickers in a twist. Your vision of me is wrong, but well done good effort.. I did the stint in Thailand after Uni, went back to the UK, worked for a few years and bored silly moved back to LOS. I am now almost 30... YIPES

I said to the other chap mind his own business as I felt he was being judgemental towards people whose habits have absolutely no bearing or impact on him what so ever.... He was IMHO a paid up member of the " throw away the key brigade" in hindsight looking at my post I realise I shouldnt have said mind your own business...

Time for my vision of Don....Your that small obnoxious American guy who infests the Cat House bar in Nana Plaza doing electrical work and stuff.. or do you model yourself on Bangkok Phil wanting to be a " Blue Chip" farang. all clean crisp linen shirt and GTG Thai/chinese girlfriend..

I am honest , I am here for the cheap beautiful girls and the " now not so cheap " drugs.....

Bubble Head

May 25, 2004 8:01 PM

NJW says:

"I am here for the cheap beautiful girls and the " now not so cheap " drugs..... "

Then if the drugs don't kill you, the STDs will.

Like I said; "Drug abuse, it's evolutions way of getting rid of the stupid."

May 25, 2004 8:54 PM

ttonychang says:

>

Given the choice I know who I'd rather be bored by.

May 25, 2004 9:53 PM

TANAI KWAI says:

"Then if the drugs don't kill you, the STDs will."

And if the STDs don't kill you, a car wreck will.

And if the car wreck doesn't kill you, the prostate cancer will.

And so on, and so on.

Some people really, really care about what happens to you. You can usually count them on one or, at most, two hands. But most people just want to meddle and force their fellows to conform to their own utopic/myopic vision.

I am always suspicious of people who try to scare you off of non-monogamous sex in Thailand because of STDs. They invariably have an agenda that involves more than safeguarding the health of my genitals. Often, it is a farang woman who voices such potentialities -- more as a curse than as a heartfelt warning -- because she is resentful of what takes place in Asia. Or it is an NGO-type or someone else who has a real hard-on against prostitution (or what they perceive to be prostitution due to their racist assumptions).

I always challenge these folks to fully articulate their political motives instead of merely threatening people's penises. It's at least more interesting if not more compelling.

(...)

May 25, 2004 10:15 PM

Dark says:

Dear Guys,

Roger,Greg and "Bubbblehead" are like those immature stoners ( which I used to be).
They can be belligerant and trash as conservative/square/fascist anyone who warns them that doing drugs in Thailand is a bad idea and not worth the risk.
I'd love to smoke a large one followed by some pizza and sex with a sweet young thing,hell I'd even try some shrooms, but not while I'm living here in Thailand.
I'll just hop on KLM and fly to Amsterdam for a couple of weeks to do these things.

If Roger, Bubble,Greg and David continue to do whatever they'd like without consideration for the consequences, I'd tell them to go right ahead.

Dark

July 19, 2004 10:49 PM

Damien says:

I used to go to Thailand quite a bit - I won't go there now. The last time I went to Koh Samui I was having a good time in one of the bars. I met an attractive well-educated Thai girl - definately not a hooker. We were getting on well and she ask my to go down the road to smoke some ganja with her - I politely told I didn't do that stuff. Needless to say I got as far away from her as possible. I am sure she was an undercover copper and I was being framed. Goodbye Thailand.

July 26, 2004 11:54 PM

Dana says:

They don't need to frame you. There are no laws and they have no pride. I consider going to Thailand to be extremely high risk behavior. I only go for one reason. If I figure out another place to go--goodbye Land of Smiles.

July 27, 2004 3:45 AM

jdman says:

Dana, I'll email you the next time I am visiting Boston. Have a gift for you. An atlas of dermatology. The chapter on STD's should make for some nice nightmares.

For straight sex (opps with condoms) there is Amsterdam (plus hash or weed) and only 6 hours away from Logan. How about The Phillipines? Not quite LOS but it has performed better than Korea and Japan by far.

I can see why you need to get out of the country. Unless you are college age, Boston is tough on a visitor or a middle ager. No good strip clubs, no lap dances, street activity too dangerous. Providence is not bad and is only 45 mins away by train.

July 27, 2004 7:54 AM

TANAI KWAI says:

JDMan,

For goodness sakes, send Dana to NYC, or Toronto, or Atlanta, or Vegas, or L.A., or S.F., or Dallas -- but Providence?!! I know he's in Boston (which also BLOWS) but I wouldn't drive 30 seconds to get to Providence.

(Little Rhodie: "The Mississippi of the North")

July 27, 2004 9:15 AM

Ubangi Me, Ibangi U says:

"I consider going to Thailand to be extremely high risk behavior... If I figure out another place to go--goodbye Land of Smiles."
The incident described in the main story was the THIRD TIME this person engaged in the same illegal activity. Other anecdotes in this thread are similar stories of serial offenders narrowly escaping. In my mind, the high-risk behavior was the yaa baa consumption.

I'm guessing that Amsterdam, while condoning weed, would not be so pleasant about methamphetamine. While they don't have a Bangkok Hilton, I'm guessing that their treatment of aliens occused of drug offenses would be a lot less fun than you'd have by just sticking with a blowjob.

TK is the expert here, but it seems to me that the courts in most countries tolerate sting operations because they nearly always net people who are engaging in illegal activities in the first place. That blond blue-eyed honey might be the next sting operative, Dana, just like her Thai sister before her.

It is true that journeying to a foreign country is risky to some extent. To avoid that risk, you simply don't go, but what sort of life is that?

The system is supposed to be designed such that, as long as you stay within the law, you have a pretty good chance of getting out without a hassle. Not much reason to arrest a fat 50 year old farang in his Camel Adventurewear shorts simply because he didn't get his arm torn off by a photo-op tiger.

Seems to me that illegal drugs, and the nefarious people such an activity brings you in contact with, were the things that elevated the risk level to "unacceptable" in all these cases. Why throw the baby out with the bath-sewage?

July 27, 2004 10:20 AM

Farangutan says:

Couldn't agree more, Ubangi.

Back home I used to love the persian rugs as much as anyone, but the risk of getting 'set up' here is just too great. The last thing I want is a stint in a thai prison - or worse, to be deported back to the Land Of Mingers, so I simply say no. We all have a choice.

July 27, 2004 10:56 AM

THE GENTLEMAN SCAMP says:

There are many issuse here that need addressing and one of them is that cunt tanai kwai who obvouisly does not have a clue what he is talking about.
are well back to thai visa i suppose.

July 27, 2004 11:26 AM

Ubangi Me, Ibangi U says:

"We all have a choice."
Yup, that's the crux of the biscuit (thanks, FZ).

I love that photo-op tiger image. Who started it?

July 27, 2004 11:27 AM

TANAI KWAI says:

"well back to thai visa i suppose"

Scump,

So fuck off to Thai Visa already, and stop merely promising to do so. Haven't heard from him in months and he's still nursing a grudge.

(And as long as I stay black I gotta stay strapped, and I never get to lay back
'Cause I always got to worry 'bout the pay backs
some punk that I roughed up way back
comin' back after all these years
rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat that's the way it is...
-- 2Pac)

July 27, 2004 11:59 AM

jdman says:

Good rap TK. Fuck'im.

The only reason why I suggested "The Mississipi of the Northeast" was that it might beat sitting on a bench in Boston public gardens every Sunday. If we head out to other cites, your list is reasonable (I would leave LA off it and add Montreal). It's just that Providence is realtively close, and besides real strip clubs, there are also a plethora of massage parlors with some real Korean talent to be had...new line up every few weeks and relatively low chance of being busted. After a happy ending there is the nice dinner on Federal hill with jailbird ex-mayor Buddy Cianci and his wise-guy gumbas. Now that's entertainment that is hard to find in Beantown.

My real motive in this effort? Let's get Dana's latex-free zone, unprotected prick out of LOS before he harms many more of our poor sweet young slappers (since it is probably too late to save him from harm).

July 27, 2004 5:57 PM

s- says:

Compared to my experience(s) in Siam, i find these stories very weird, almost hard to believe, but i'm sure everything is real, or seem to be mistakes, except for the paranoia people who see a cop or setup in everyone.

My experience(s) in Bangkok and Ko Phangan were quit nice... that means gettin high as a mofo in a simple bar on the road, in the hotel, on the beach, every fucking where.. cheap and good stuff ... swapping stories with some good thai fellas and other farang rabbits... while sucking on this big self made bong ........pills (xtc and ya ba) on party's ... no problemo... little bit expensive ... but hey, f*ck it .. you're on 'holiday' cant blame the Thai people..

even in bangkok i spend time with a bird that was begging me to swallow these weird little ya ba devils, to have a good night after going out .... gna gna .... while, or before, going out, i met some crazy usa (hate them, well, always exceptional people walking around) people, we just simply smoked some ganja on the streets with some security dude and a big copper next to us sitting on a chair protecting some kinda tourist building.

so, now i read stories about people being set up by gorgeous women, or other ~not so funny~ stories... what's up with that?

ill be heading back to thailand very soon, one of the things im really happy about is proceeding my merriage with ganja, and one night stands with mushrooms and other crazy stuff ... should i be worried now, and is this stupid, that means i should be careful now? sounds pretty bad

July 27, 2004 7:03 PM

TANAI KWAI says:

JDMan,

Your arguments are increasingly compelling.

Cianci is in prison but when he gets out he'll be a superstar again. He's got some balls on him.

(...)

July 27, 2004 9:06 PM

S- says:

but what about these set-ups or undercover work... is this real? and how often does this occur?

July 27, 2004 9:28 PM

John U says:

S-,

I've been going to LOS a few times a year since 1996, and I've never even been offered any drugs.

I suppose you have to be a certain "type" that looks as if he might indulge to the cops and/or pushers.

Talking about drugs, is it just me or is cannabis purely a soporific?

Every time I've tried it I just want to sleep, even when no alcohol is involved.

July 27, 2004 11:12 PM

wilbur says:

JDMAN:

I'd add Chicago to your list of cities. Great food, nice people, fabulous live music. Don't know about the massage, etc., I save my whoring for Thailand!

Folks say N'Orleans is a gas for the same reasons, but I've never been yet. Gonna make it a point this year, I think.

As to the drugs, I think it's an awful lot to risk to get high. Me I stick to beer. If a toke of ganja or a whiff of harder stuff is precious enough to anybody to risk becoming somebody's prison bitch, who am I to argue?

*bowing* I brought the precious "photo-op tiger" image to life. You may use it royalty-free.

July 27, 2004 11:46 PM

S- says:

JOHN U,

considering the fact that the thai police doesnt work by structure or big organisational planning, gives me the idea that setup or undercover work is really bullshit. but, i can imagine that some thai police men, will use their badge and power to work for themself and make some money by approaching/suprising tourists on a very sleesy way... you could say a setup. Why not use a nice thai girl that will let the farang fall much more easily in some plan ... doesnt sounds un-logical to me.

though im convinced that if you just keep your eyes open, follow your instinct, and always look people in the eyes you can smoke ganja in a nice relax way. even yaba shouldnt be a problem. make a good buy, take them to your hotel/living/appartment, swallow them before you go out... and have fun

oh and by the way JOHN U, to feel and understand the positive things of marihuana demands you to set yourself open, and most important, try it without fear or pre-judgement... and have good company.... in my town we believe 'ganja' can bring positive things to people/life... just like everything in life; dont exxagurate (whatever spelling) or take to much.... i may sound like a hippie to you, but hey, it's just some advice, i grew up with....

Greetings from Amsterdam

July 28, 2004 1:47 PM

Damien says:

Being offerded drugs by what I believe was some sort of undercover cop did happen to me. I am not a some "serial offender narrowly escaping" or some undesirable type. I looked like any other tourist and I did not initiate the topic of ganja in the conversation. Doing drugs in Thailand is for fools. Save it for your own country - at least you know where you stand if you get caught.

July 30, 2004 10:22 AM

Brian M says:

I'm looking for input. I'm planning to return to Thailand in a few months for the first time in 15 years. If any site could scare a man straight from
drugs would be this one. But unfortuantely, thats
not an option for me. I don't want the ya-ba or E,
but I do want to endulge in some ganja and
makong whisky. Am I at risk for extortion for a class 5 drug charge from the police or all these
comments related to hard drug use?

July 30, 2004 12:43 PM

Prorogue says:

Is the President a failed businessman? Does Tony Blair lie? Is the Hutton report an insult to the intelligence?

Brian you need to shape up. Possesion of marijuana can be up to 100 000 Baht bail for a Westerner. As for extortion; just do the math.

Jez trying to help!

Pro.

July 30, 2004 2:07 PM

Niall says:

The advice about hooking up with someone reasonable (question how would you know) scoring the stuff and doing it in private only is bollocks.

The police regularly piss test falangs. Sometimes they set up outside a club at closing time and piss test everyone coming out.

You test positive you are just as fucked as if you smoked it in front of them. When caught its time to be very very nice very very apologetic and very very generous with the baht, you probably will get away with it but at a price.

July 30, 2004 3:51 PM

Danielle Cain says:

I just discovererd this site now and find it very amussing.My husband I, and two small girls are living here in Thailand for the time being,until we get sick of it and want to leave.I have obseved alot here!Back home I ran a "hemp store" for several years,more often called a "head shop".In my country drugs are illegal as well but the risks are lower.In my country grass is almost legalized now.Some places you olny get a fine.If we wernt so close with the Ronald Regand'rs it would have happened already.Back home we smoke everyday and every now and then have other "treats" all in the saftey of our own home,bought with risk from local buddies we have.Never been caught,because there is trust among everyone involved.Unwritten rules I guess.Here in Thailand I can get what I want,but we dont because we have two small lives to protect as well as our own.If we were chidless we would most likley "pary hardy".Life you olny get to live one time round.If your a stupid flailing idiot knowing full well of the risks and the scams then yes if you get caught I dont sympathise.I dont think the punishment suits the crime though and my heart truly goes out to anyone suffering from those circomstances.If you dont take your time here and find someone you really can trust then your risking your life.Therefore hurting the ones you love,if caught.Do you guys and gals want your family members to go to bed at night, every night praying for your saftey.Think about for a moment.

June 10, 2006 12:42 PM

Windsor says:

I really enjoy weed. It's too bad it's illegal in Thailand. Alcohol is more dangerous than weed from my experiences and the experiences of everyone I have met who has tried both.

It is too bad that many conservatives have such a rotten view towards Marijuana. It makes me laugh at how many musicians, TV personalities, authors and intellectuals these people look up to and have no clue that they smoke weed. :)

http://www.slatts.fsworld.co.uk/famous.htm

God made weed. Man made alcohol. Who do you trust?

Yes, I've seen many -real- drugs destroy lives... but never weed. What's so wrong with it?

Oh, and just for the record: I will stay away from drugs like the fucking plague while in Thailand. 20 years in prison isn't worth getting high.

Man, what a fucked up world. Why can't people just relax? Too many guys with small dicks and big ego's trying to ruin good things for other people.

So you have a small cock. Mommy and Daddy didn't hug you enough when you were a kid. Is that seriously enough of a reason to push me around with your beliefs?

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is a good example of what I live my life to. Find your own path and be cool to people.

:)

July 14, 2006 10:51 AM

Sgt Sodomy says:

Windsor,

Take your hippy bull shit somewhere else before I get you raped!

You Khao San fuck-ups are all the same.

Peace out!

July 14, 2006 3:07 PM

BigUnit says:

While the initial story would be a shit experience to go through, he walked into the situation. He knew this girl has a thing for the yaba, he saw the coppers watching him..I mean, figure it out. He even had a guy telling him to just stay and drink at the bar, not to go.

I call bullshit that he just wanted to help her, I think he just wanted to get high again before he left and sat there ignoring all the signs of what was to come.

Regardless, 20,000 baht would have a been a small price to pay to get out of there. It just shows how much hard drugs can cloud a person's judgement.

Personally I don't think the Khao san road types are particularly too bright anyhow. With their braids, dreds, hippy bags..in their fabricated attempts at individuality and style, they end up all looking the same. They talk all this existentialistic regurgitated crap about how their trip to Thailand has opened their eyes. 100 baht guesthouses? get a clue, go home, make money, come back.

July 15, 2006 2:20 AM

Andy says:

I'm quite partial to a few "persians" (persian rugs - drugs) now and again. But not so much that I'd want my hair braided; ethnic tattoos; or eat phad thai and banana pancakes in a flea-motel shithole on KhaoSan Rd.
I'm surprised the local cops don't go in harder on these whining hippy tosspots. I'd start with those "full moon parties" on Ko Phang Nga, and strip-search the lot of them, before deporting the whole shebang at Daddy's expense. *chortle*

July 15, 2006 11:12 AM

mickyfin says:

I nearly got caught up in the corruption in bkk in 1992,stayed in bkk for 6 month,got confident with the local thai,farang community where i stayed,soi ngam dupli,malaysia hotel,smoked a bit of weed,but one night i saw this american guy from s.f,his first night in bkk,though he had told me he had been before,i knew his woman,i saw him buy the weed from the local dealer,never thought anything of it,went back to a friends house i was staying,then about 3am,woke up red hot,decided to go to malaysia hotel coffee shop for a cool beer,on the way i saw the american guy in the back of a police pick up and the dealer stood nearby talking to one of the policemen that had nabbed him,i said ,are you ok? he told me they raided his guest house and found the weed,upshot was,i saw him 1 week later,police had offered him a deal,12 000 baht to go free,to his courage,he said no,ill stay in jail,at that time you would only get a small fine for personal use,so he did the week in lumpini nick,then had to stay in bkk for another 4 month until his court appearance,never did find out what happened to him,i would have payed the money personally,but it made me a lot more aware of the confidence tricks and scams bing pulled on farangs,in some cases by farangs,my advice would be to stay away from drugs,talk to people ,make friends,but be aware and alert,think about it and dont be co-ercd into something by someone who pretends to be your best friend,or because were all english abroad etc

August 6, 2006 6:24 AM

Andy says:

Personally speaking, I prefer to buy my drugs directly from the local cops, and cut those dishonest "middle-men" types right out of the equation.

August 6, 2006 12:44 PM

philH says:

I see a lot of people in this string that can't recognise good advice when they see it.

If you do hard drugs in any country you are dealing with very dodgy characters. If you do drugs, any drugs, in LOS you are dealing with people who would kill you as soon as look at you. On top of that they would display about the same level of emotion as they would if they trod on a cockroach, which is about the level of respect they have for you.

The police, either direct or through middlemen, put the drugs on the street and therefore know, directly or indirectly, who is buying. The police get paid a bonus equal to a percentage of the street value of any drugs they seize. So they sell the drugs, bust the users and a few dealers, confiscate the drugs, collect the bonus and sell the drugs. Christ, there's probably a fancy name to this branch of economics!

The guy in the story saw it coming but for some reason best known to himself still went down that road. BigUnit is right, the guy just had to have that next buzz so much that the control functions in his head didn't connect with the body. Doing drugs in LOS is like skinny dipping in the everglades. You may get away with it time after time but deep down you know that one day you WILL get bitten.

August 7, 2006 2:48 PM

Johnny says:

Bubble heads friend still owes Tik 15000. The only reason she hanged around for 3 weeks was to get that money. That's not cool, I'm sure you've worked that out now anyway.
------------
Someone did offer me some Ganja and E once, I felt like a smoke too, but the thing you quickly realise is that the Police know all the dealers and all the informants, the risk of getting caught is obviously high, the penalty is beyond comprehension. So as much as a smoke would have been good, mai daai(cannot).

September 1, 2006 9:07 AM

steve says:

I have been living in LOS for 1 year now,
Love it, when I was back home I used to smoke the joints like now tomorrow.
And get it offered here all the time,
No thanks, a beer or Jack/Coke and a sexy Thai Girl is a good night out.

Has anyone seen or heard of the new swab test unit they have for Walking Street, you simply have to be walking past, they stop you, take a swab from your hands etc and run it by the machine, It tells them in about 3 -5 minutes.
If you fail , well its off for more testing and the rest is history.

As for Tom and the 1000 Bht watch,
YOU TIGHT CUNT.
Tom sounds like the other story I heard
about a Farang takeing a girl to an island for a week agreeing on 1000 baht a day, when getting back he gives her 1000 baht and pulls out a piece of paper showing all the expences he has spent on her for the week.

Even the person with an average wage back from whichever country we come from is a king in the LOS,

I dont mind giving up a smoking a joint to enjoy the kingdom of Thailand.
Its a cool place.

September 12, 2006 7:46 PM

Brian W. says:

I think many of you are missing a good point to this story. And that is Thailand is a cesspool of corruption. If you don't get scammed by your involvement with drugs, you WILL get scammed by some other means. The possibilities are limitless, and the Thais' relentless pursuit of the farang dollar is shameless to say in the least. Never in my life have I seen a racist culture with such a sizable inferiority complex.

December 7, 2006 9:02 PM

Quentin Wong says:

Hi guys, you know I thought Yar E was pretty ok in Bangkok... last time I heard everyone at RCA was on it and when the police came; there were those who paid right away and there was also those who paid for the fake urine test results...

I wonder... if you ever get into trouble with the local cops, wouldn't it be much wiser and smarter to just run to your respective embassy (if you can make it there in time)? Cos it's boom! Embassies are out of local jurisdiction and most likely, you'll be granted amnesty or immunity of some sort?

January 19, 2007 2:13 AM

Quentin Wong says:

It's me again. I noticed no one commented on my above suggestion cos maybe it was knocked off by more recent postings... but I'm really curious to know...

Would anyone care to comment? How do embassies and amnesty work in Thailand?

January 20, 2007 3:00 AM

Prufrock says:

Hmmmmmn: Quentin? I'm telling your mom.

January 20, 2007 4:19 PM

Paddy O'Ffialle says:

Quentin,

Look son you've been watching too many movies. The embassies here are totally not interested in shielding farangs from the consequences of their criminality or stupidity.

Last time I was waiting for my turn in the consular section of the British Embassy there was a tatooed gobshite insisting the Embassy help him. His story was that his hotel was holding onto his passport until he paid for damages done to his room. Without his passport he had no money. Therefore the British Embassy should sort this out for him.

Guess what the Embassy did? They suggested firstly that he should call the Tourist Police, and secondly he should fuck off and not come back. If he had been in trouble with the police only the second suggestion would have been given.

January 21, 2007 6:16 AM

chris says:

Hi guys, when i was younger, recreational drugs were quite a big and fun part of my life. After uni i decided to go and work in LOS, but realised i must leave this extream life style i was living behind in the Uk due to the horrendous stories ive heard on Bangkwan etc.

I feel that after reading a lot of the comments posted, people are being extreamly stupid to get involved in drugs.

Whilst in Bangkok i spent a lot of time in the Patpong area. I was always approached by several people offering me drugs. Across the whole time i spent there, it seemed to be the same local dealers who asked me each week or so... I found this strange!!! i always refused!! Who knows who these people work for!!! Its not like going round to a mates to score in the Uk where you know its safe.

I also want to post a positive message about Thailand, as i think these forums seems to be very negative towards the country. Thailand is one of the most amazing countries i have ever been too. I wish to live and work in Thailand again perminantly asap. Its the question of finding good work out there!!!

take care all!!!

January 24, 2007 12:23 AM

Quentin Wong says:

Recreational drugs are the bane and boon of the average farang visting Thailand... the same way about mixing with a local BG...

Some swear by it, some vouch never to touch it... similarities and differences aside, it's important to know what you're dealing with and the consequences.

Seriously, drugs are a big problem in Thailand and the penalties are harsh...

Personally, I know a mate who's never even met his dealer... he's into smack and living with a BG girlfriend whom he has known for the past 3 years... surprisingly, he got the connection from her and hires a runner(smack makes you paranoid whilst coming down) to pick up the stuff and carry out the transaction... pretty safe albeit the telephone numbers always change, he's not gonna get set-up anytime soon...

It's not about doing drugs in Thailand. It's in knowing how safe is your dealer... is he working with the police or your average Thai trying to make a living?

Choose your dealer and connections wisely.

February 23, 2007 8:43 PM

Tongue-Tied Danny says:

Well Quentin, sounds like your mate has found an easy, hassle free way of keeping up a smack addiction.

Clever boy!

February 24, 2007 6:56 AM

Rick H. says:

I've yet to encounter any police corruption or scams in Thailand even after 20+ visits and one 2 year stay. But in my only 3 trips to the Philippines (each for 2 weeks) I saw this surprisingly often and fell victim twice: one minor conflict and the other bone-chillingly serious.

I am never one to look for trouble and avoid most the dangerous behavior and dodgy characters describved above. I guess "wrong place, wrong time"... but believe me, YOU could also find yourself in dire straits without ever looking for it. If it wasn't me it would have been the next foreigner to come along.

February 24, 2007 3:12 PM

Gone Native says:

I get my sticky kind buds by the kilo from a cool retired cop/slumlord in BKK. He keeps it under his floorboards and only opens the door if you know the right knock. I smoke like a chimney and shared it freely. Never had a problem and this has gone on for years on end. Rooftop sessions with the band between sets, in the car park before a movie or after a meal, in my house (and flats I've had), down by the canal, out in the park, etc.. Heck, around the corner from Soi Cowboy, up on the third floor balcony of Nana Plaza looking down on the scene (when all there was up there was a short time hotel), and in the side streets near Patpong and Thermae when visiting friends had to be taken to those places. And of course after hours at Chatuchak and MBK and Siam Center with some drinks to chill out after long days of trading. In 20 years I can count the times I've been to Khao San Road on one hand, and I've never been to a Full Moon Party, so I can't say much about that. Sounds like a certain element has slowly but surely started blowing it for the rest of us. I think my unwritten policy of generally avoiding the farang hangouts and farang in general has served me well these past 20 years and will continue to do so in the future. In my experience, Thai people are far less trouble, much cooler and a lot more fun to be around. Good luck to all of you. Try not to make it any harder for yourselves than it needs to be.

February 25, 2007 12:53 AM

dingdongrb says:

Gone Native - "I think my unwritten policy of generally avoiding the farang hangouts and farang in general has served me well these past 20 years and will continue to do so in the future."

Then you mention......"Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza, Patpong, Thermae,Chatuchak, MBK, and Siam Center."

Damn if these are not farang hangouts, what are?

March 6, 2007 7:10 PM

Gone Native says:

Dingleberry, Oooh... You got me! Not. Re: the whore zones; I repeat, "when visiting friends had to be taken to those places". Re: the shopping centers; there is little to no interaction with the few farang I see in those places. It seems they have as little interest in my products as I do in them.

March 8, 2007 9:11 AM

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