"be extremely careful when traveling in Thailand"
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In Bangkok, I was forced to withdraw money from an ATM.
Eight people surrounded me as I withdrew cash from the ATM, demanding that I not record anything. I called the police, but they said they did not have enough manpower.
The events unfolded as follows:
1. In Big C, the largest supermarket in downtown Bangkok, I tripped over the security door, scraping my knee, but the door also fell over.
2. Supermarket "management" demanded cash compensation. (Cash only)
3. I said I wanted video recording, and a group of people surrounded me, blocking my face, trying to take my phone, saying I could not leave without paying, and forcibly confined me for three hours.
4. Because I had to catch an early morning flight, I did not have time to argue and was forced to agree, but I demanded:
a. The management's name.
b. The entire incident be recorded.
c. A detailed invoice for repairs or a new purchase, to be emailed to me later.
5. In the end, they rejected a and b, agreed to c, and said they would email me in two days.
6. Three months have passed, and my inbox is empty.
Recap:
1. At that time, I felt like a prisoner, my freedom restricted by a group of people.
2. The "manager" claimed it was my fault and demanded compensation in cash only, without providing any receipts, invoices, or breakdowns (I suspect he was trying to line his own pocket).
During my negotiations, the compensation amount dropped from 100% to 50%
(Does this mean you can get a discount just by chatting with someone online?)
3. I suggested calling the police, and the "manager" called the Thai police, who replied that it would take at least two hours to respond.
4. They would not allow me to keep any records. Finally, they compromised and promised to send me the results and details via email, but three months have passed and I haven't received anything.
Thoughts: Bangkok's appeal lies in its status as an international metropolis, where you can meet all sorts of people and encounter strange and unusual things. You have a great deal of freedom there, able to do many things you would not normally be able to do. However, freedom and safety are somewhat inversely related; the more freedom you have, the greater the danger. Therefore, be extremely careful when traveling in Thailand.
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