Tourist Touts at the Royal Palace, Bangkok		November 98

Dear Editor,
yesterday, two of my Indonesian friends (a young couple) wanted to visit the
Grand Palace in Bangkok.
On the way there a Thai talked to them (suit, briefcase, nice and tidy,
excellent English, age 40..50), asked where they were headed to, found out
to the Palace and informed them that this was closed today because of Buddha
Day.
He started a chat, asked where they came from, explained he was a University
Teacher in English and History. And he had a good suggestion what they could
do, now that they had all this time on their hands: There was a special
factory sale not far away, a place where all the Khao San shops buy. It was
only on today and sold jewelry, clothes, wrist watches, ...
Later that day, there should be a Buddha Day ceremony near that factory
outlet. And the trip there was just B10 by Tuk2, sounded a great idea and
off they went.
The factory turned out to be a very high class jewelry shop (felt like a
5-star hotel), they were offered soft drinks, then they were explained how
diamonds are made and finally they emerged into a big space with many
showcases.
A neatly dressed women took care of them, guided them around and tried to
trick them into buying something, starting with the expensive items first,
then going to the cheaper ones.
Apart from my friends, several other couples (only couples) were in this
shop.
Actually, my friends wanted to go out, but they somehow felt that it was
inappropriate just to run away in this environment where they were treated
so nicely. However, after half an hour they managed to get out without
buying anything.
Then they wanted to go on a Tuk2 back to Khao San, but hard to find one that
goes for B10, just laughing. Well, they managed to get a Tuk2 for B10 to
Khao San. But it turned out that this one would want to go past another
shop, one that was supposed to be cheaper then the one they had come from
(driver said "good 4 u, good 4 me").
In front of that chosen shop, the driver did not accept B10 but instead
waited outside.
Shop offered soft drinks and so on, they were offered an item and could not
nicely go out until they asked to buy it for a very unrealistic price.
Now my friends asked the Tuk2 driver to go to Grand Palace as to take a
photo from outside (since it was supposed to be closed).
He agreed, took them to the palace, refused to accept the fare of B10,
instead waited. Still my friend paid him.
Now the Palace had really closed, but many visitors came out and it was
obviously open, before.
They wanted to continue to Wat Pho, now walked, afraid of any further
surprises with Tuk2.
-------------------
So far my friends.
When I visited the Grand Palace with my sister a month ago, also a man
talked to us, telling us that the palace was closed. But we checked and
found it was open.

Today, my friends visited the Grand Palace again and found similar sort of
people around.
I just wonder why the police doesn't stop this / set a trap to catch these
criminals.

Martin