A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all from all of us here in Ratchaburi. With Luna over seven months into her pregnancy we will be taking it very easy this year with the emphasis on rest and relaxation. Our school term ended yesterday and it's very welcome to have about 10 days off. We will probably go to Mass Christmas morning: easier than Midnight Mass with no disruption to his nocturnal routine. We will have a nice meal somewhere, maybe even a trip to Suan Pueng, and then just take it nice and easy.
One of the things I always like to do at Christmas is take in the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from Kings' College, Cambridge. It is broadcast on BBC Radio World Service which is piped into our home by cable TV so at 22:00h that's what I'll be listening to. I like the sacred and holy side of Christmas and I don't think that it gets more sacred and holy than this.
New Year is the big holiday in Thailand at this time of the year. Christmas Day is business as usual. But the western New Year is probably the second biggest holiday in Thailand after the Thai New Year in April. With the exception of Christian schools there will be no closures. Benedict will be at nursery, which means Luna and Jona will get a bit of a break.
I am not feeling 100% with a heavy cold and feeling a bit run down. However I am hoping a bit of rest will do the trick. So once more Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tourist Thailand - Caveat Emptor
My mate Brian booked a condo for a month on Koh Samui through a company called kohsamui.com and wired 28,000 THB to them. The idea was to sort out a place for his annual Christmas trip to tourist Thailand and after the long flight from Scotland to be able to head to his accommodation with his elderly mother and get settled down.
Five days after his arrival he and his mother are in a hotel at their own expense, no condo, no money back and nobody doing anything. I find it hard to believe this has happened. But from my own bitter experience, Koh Libong in particular, I can hardly say I am too surprised. I would never pay for anything up front in Thailand again unless I was there and was happy with what was on offer.
In the great scheme of things, we all make mistakes and most of us try our best to put them right. In business you say you're sorry and pay the money back immediately because you are fearful of the consequences for your reputation. I am staggered that my mate is still waiting for a refund and likely will have to make a trip to to the tourist police and regulatory authorities. He is being subjected to procrastination tactics: "Sorry the owner is away and won't be back until tomorrow" "It's a holiday weekend". What's wrong with a simple phone call - give this guy his money back and apologise.
A relative is coming to Thailand soon and he too is headed for tourist Thailand. I am fearful for him. I am sorry to be so negative about tourist Thailand but it really makes my blood boil to learn about this sort of practise. As you know I don't like paying 80 baht for a bowl of noodles!
So be warned.
Update: Brian got his money back after 3 weeks' dogged persistence; there was also some police involvement. He learned a lot of other people were in the same position with this company. So once more, be warned.
Five days after his arrival he and his mother are in a hotel at their own expense, no condo, no money back and nobody doing anything. I find it hard to believe this has happened. But from my own bitter experience, Koh Libong in particular, I can hardly say I am too surprised. I would never pay for anything up front in Thailand again unless I was there and was happy with what was on offer.
In the great scheme of things, we all make mistakes and most of us try our best to put them right. In business you say you're sorry and pay the money back immediately because you are fearful of the consequences for your reputation. I am staggered that my mate is still waiting for a refund and likely will have to make a trip to to the tourist police and regulatory authorities. He is being subjected to procrastination tactics: "Sorry the owner is away and won't be back until tomorrow" "It's a holiday weekend". What's wrong with a simple phone call - give this guy his money back and apologise.
A relative is coming to Thailand soon and he too is headed for tourist Thailand. I am fearful for him. I am sorry to be so negative about tourist Thailand but it really makes my blood boil to learn about this sort of practise. As you know I don't like paying 80 baht for a bowl of noodles!
So be warned.
Update: Brian got his money back after 3 weeks' dogged persistence; there was also some police involvement. He learned a lot of other people were in the same position with this company. So once more, be warned.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)