@George ************
, thanks for the stories. I really enjoy hearing “how it works” in Thailand. Spent a small amount of time there a few years ago and would love to retire there eventually. I had a small run in with Thai police because I had been pickpocketed during Songkran. Turns out, it was a Cambodian ring stealing cell phones. The thieves were caught with a bunch of cell phones, and I eventually got everything back except a small amount of cash. I really needed the cell phone because I was expecting a phone call the next day and had no other way to contact this person. I left the police station in frustration because they weren’t going to release my phone for another week or so. There was a tourist liaison in front of the station that asked how everything went. I explained my frustration to him and he said hold on a sec. He went into the station and came back about 2 min later and handed me the SIM card. That was all I needed because I had an extra phone at my hotel. I was able to connect with the person the next day and all worked out fine. Such a simple solution to a huge problem. It just goes to show you how we tend to make things so much more difficult than is necessary, and the Thai people have the most easy, direct solution - it’s just almost impossible to get there with the western thinking mind.