I have some comments about the services that are supposed to be provided by Canadian Embassies in other countries. The first requirement is to serve the needs of Canadians in those countries when requested. By and large, the majority of senior officials in those embassies are family, friends and hacks of the senior government officials. This applies to most countries. My experience when visiting a Canadian embassy was in most cases, a waste of time. The only Canadian Embassy that I can speak good about, in all my experiences, is the Embassy in Paris.
Back about 2000, the government greatly increased the price for passports, using the false story line that it was necessary because of the great number of lost passports and the cost to replace them. In the same line, they said that replacements would be easier and at minimum cost. Not True.
I was in Paris with a small group of friends after having been in London for a week. We took the Chunnel across the channel, and had been in Paris for about five days. We were in the last evening in Paris. Our return train was at noon the following day. While having dinner, someone took one of the lady's purses off the chair she was sitting on...the back had a horn on which she hung her purse. In it were her passport, money and credit cards. I took her to a nearby police station where we reported the theft, and the police could not have been better. They gave us an office with a phone, and told us to call any place in the world we needed to. They spoke English fluently. We called Visa in Canada, her Bank and so on to have the cards cancelled....all at no cost to us. We were not far from the Canadian Embassy, and at 09;00, we were at the Embassy. There were a lot of people there for documents to Canada, and what not. As soon as we went in, an official came to us, found our problem, and started the process for a temporary passport. They demanded one hundred dollars cash...and photos to proceed. We were directed to a near by photo shop, and a bank. I had to take out money for the passport, and photo...the Embassy could not help!!!. However, in just over an hour, we had the temporary passport, good for one year. When I asked about the things we were told back in Canada, the man laughed, and said...don't believe anything the government tells you!.
We had ample time to get to Gare du Nord and the train back to London. The embassy staff were great, and most polite.
I was in Brasilia, Brazil a few years later and went to the Canadian Embassy....only to fine one local lady at the front desk, and told that all Canadians were taking time off, and were at the golf course...
not sure about tomorrow!.
My experience in Bangkok on July 3, was not good. All information we were given at the front desk....15 floors below the Embassy was useless. The two email contact numbers were dead, and the phone did not work.
My advice is to avoid our overseas offices unless it is a dire emergency. They do not want to be bothered. While External Affairs, (now Global Affairs under Trudeau) ask us to tell them where we go, it is a waste of time, in my opinion!.
Sunday, 15 July 2018
Monday, 9 July 2018
Ottawa, Canada July 9, 2018
This update is a bit later than I expected. I did not have the time to do an update while in Bangkok for a short stay.
The return trip to here was not without some unexpected events. The trip from the town of So Phisai on July 1 to Udon Thani is, as I have said only 127 kilometers, but the bus took us almost four hours. The only things that did not pass us were two men walking, and someone with a motor bike that had broken down. We stopped many times to pick up and drop off passengers, in an air conditioned...Thai style bus....all windows open four inches, and a door at the front and back open all the way.
A Tuk Tuk, (took took), was our ride from bus station to the airport, and a good 45 minute back to Bangkok's second airport, on the north side of the city known as Don Mueng. It serves most of the domestic travel. It was dinner time when I got to the hotel. The following day had been reserved for dental appointments so that went good, got excellent report, good for another year.
I wanted to do some work at the Canadian Embassy, so did a short walk over there on July 2. Despite all the crap that the Government tells travelers about checking in and being welcome, that was not the case. I do a good amount of Travel Consulting work, so do visit many embassy's here and in other lands. With the exception on our Embassy in Paris, I have not a good word for Canada. More on that in another post. In this instance, I wanted to talk to the people in the Visa section. The Canadian Embassy is on the 15th floor of what is said to be the most expensive office building in Thailand, known as Abdulrahim Place. Security inside the door directed me to a counter where a Thai told me I could not go up, then told me the Visa section was about five kilometers away, and not easy to get to. They had no cards or any document to give, but a plastic coated sheet that one could take a photo of, with the contact information; I wrote that info down, held up the line to do so, then, back at the hotel, found all information was outdated, and emails all returned as "unable to deliver."
July 4 was a day to do a bit of small item shopping, and relaxing, and on 4th, had a massage and readied for trip home. I went to the hotel lobby at midnight and read until three A.M., when I took a taxi to the airport.
Upon check in, I was given the three boarding passes and, only then discovered that United had changed my flight from Newark to Ottawa, almost two hours earlier than original.
The flights with All Nippon and United to Newark were great and on time. While flying over Sault Ste Marie, we were served a "lunch snack", in a bun...the food was totally unidentifiable. Later, as we were going through the security checks at Newark, for the first time in my travels, ever, by carry on bag was taken from the x-ray machine, and I was asked to step aside for a check.
This big chap, with a Brooklyn accent asked me if I had any "Unidentifiable food", in the luggage, because there was something inside they could not identify. I told hem, "No, United served us that over the Soo, and I gave it back to them". He had a good laugh, then I opened the bag and showed him.....the found nothing unusual.
We finally got on the flight to Ottawa, and returned to the terminal after twenty minutes due to thunder storms in Ottawa, Toronto area. We finally arrived in Ottawa, a bit later than the original schedule.
I will do a fill in blog by the end of this week, and also outline plans for the next adventure, which will be in the winter for 75 days.
The return trip to here was not without some unexpected events. The trip from the town of So Phisai on July 1 to Udon Thani is, as I have said only 127 kilometers, but the bus took us almost four hours. The only things that did not pass us were two men walking, and someone with a motor bike that had broken down. We stopped many times to pick up and drop off passengers, in an air conditioned...Thai style bus....all windows open four inches, and a door at the front and back open all the way.
A Tuk Tuk, (took took), was our ride from bus station to the airport, and a good 45 minute back to Bangkok's second airport, on the north side of the city known as Don Mueng. It serves most of the domestic travel. It was dinner time when I got to the hotel. The following day had been reserved for dental appointments so that went good, got excellent report, good for another year.
I wanted to do some work at the Canadian Embassy, so did a short walk over there on July 2. Despite all the crap that the Government tells travelers about checking in and being welcome, that was not the case. I do a good amount of Travel Consulting work, so do visit many embassy's here and in other lands. With the exception on our Embassy in Paris, I have not a good word for Canada. More on that in another post. In this instance, I wanted to talk to the people in the Visa section. The Canadian Embassy is on the 15th floor of what is said to be the most expensive office building in Thailand, known as Abdulrahim Place. Security inside the door directed me to a counter where a Thai told me I could not go up, then told me the Visa section was about five kilometers away, and not easy to get to. They had no cards or any document to give, but a plastic coated sheet that one could take a photo of, with the contact information; I wrote that info down, held up the line to do so, then, back at the hotel, found all information was outdated, and emails all returned as "unable to deliver."
July 4 was a day to do a bit of small item shopping, and relaxing, and on 4th, had a massage and readied for trip home. I went to the hotel lobby at midnight and read until three A.M., when I took a taxi to the airport.
Upon check in, I was given the three boarding passes and, only then discovered that United had changed my flight from Newark to Ottawa, almost two hours earlier than original.
The flights with All Nippon and United to Newark were great and on time. While flying over Sault Ste Marie, we were served a "lunch snack", in a bun...the food was totally unidentifiable. Later, as we were going through the security checks at Newark, for the first time in my travels, ever, by carry on bag was taken from the x-ray machine, and I was asked to step aside for a check.
This big chap, with a Brooklyn accent asked me if I had any "Unidentifiable food", in the luggage, because there was something inside they could not identify. I told hem, "No, United served us that over the Soo, and I gave it back to them". He had a good laugh, then I opened the bag and showed him.....the found nothing unusual.
We finally got on the flight to Ottawa, and returned to the terminal after twenty minutes due to thunder storms in Ottawa, Toronto area. We finally arrived in Ottawa, a bit later than the original schedule.
I will do a fill in blog by the end of this week, and also outline plans for the next adventure, which will be in the winter for 75 days.
Friday, 29 June 2018
So Phisai Thailand, June 29, 2018
I have some quiet time this afternoon, so will do an update now. Unless something great arises, I will not be doing a further page until I am back in Ottawa after July 6.
We finished the painting at noon on June 28, after spreading over six U.S. gallons of paint. In Imperial terms, the main living area is 18 by 34 feet, with ten foot walls. It is open beam ceiling. At times, we had six people working on the project, none of whom had ever done painting before. Two said they had a lot of experience, but I knew we were in trouble when they insisted in dipping their rollers into the large paint can, and not using drip sheets. I finished off the walls after they went home.
There was one surprise at the start. The bus that was to pick up Omah, had informed her that they were going to be three hours late.....and paint and supplies arrived as planned for, half an hour after she was to depart. There was some discussions, the subject of which I can only guess. In any event, when she returned today, she was extremely happy at what we had done...and stated that her fear was what her family would do to the house...as she knew they did not have a clue.
I have one more day here, then back to Udon Thani by bus for three hours or so on July 1, then one hour to Bangkok.with Nok Air. While here, I am at a motel which has all conveniences except a stove, at a great price...twelve Canadian dollars a night...including maid service.
On checking the readership on this blog, the numbers stand at 7919 reviews....thanks to all.
My stay in Bangkok will be short, really only four nights as I must be at the airport 0300 for my six A.M. Thursday flight to Tokyo, then after two hours, on to Newark, and then Ottawa...arriving just before midnight, still on 5th July, what I call "A day twice lived". The time in Bangkok will be
mainly for dental work on second, and if any need for more time, on either of next two days.
We have all been watching the events in Chiang Rai province where the 12 boys and football coach are trapped in a cave, since filled with water...six days now and looking grim.
As stated above, I will do an update soon after returning, and if I can find someone with Windows ten knowledge, post some photos.
In the meantime, I am going to enjoy my remaining time here with friends that look up to me......I am at least a foot taller that anyone here and to my knowledge, the only non Asian in this town of about five thousand.
We finished the painting at noon on June 28, after spreading over six U.S. gallons of paint. In Imperial terms, the main living area is 18 by 34 feet, with ten foot walls. It is open beam ceiling. At times, we had six people working on the project, none of whom had ever done painting before. Two said they had a lot of experience, but I knew we were in trouble when they insisted in dipping their rollers into the large paint can, and not using drip sheets. I finished off the walls after they went home.
There was one surprise at the start. The bus that was to pick up Omah, had informed her that they were going to be three hours late.....and paint and supplies arrived as planned for, half an hour after she was to depart. There was some discussions, the subject of which I can only guess. In any event, when she returned today, she was extremely happy at what we had done...and stated that her fear was what her family would do to the house...as she knew they did not have a clue.
I have one more day here, then back to Udon Thani by bus for three hours or so on July 1, then one hour to Bangkok.with Nok Air. While here, I am at a motel which has all conveniences except a stove, at a great price...twelve Canadian dollars a night...including maid service.
On checking the readership on this blog, the numbers stand at 7919 reviews....thanks to all.
My stay in Bangkok will be short, really only four nights as I must be at the airport 0300 for my six A.M. Thursday flight to Tokyo, then after two hours, on to Newark, and then Ottawa...arriving just before midnight, still on 5th July, what I call "A day twice lived". The time in Bangkok will be
mainly for dental work on second, and if any need for more time, on either of next two days.
We have all been watching the events in Chiang Rai province where the 12 boys and football coach are trapped in a cave, since filled with water...six days now and looking grim.
As stated above, I will do an update soon after returning, and if I can find someone with Windows ten knowledge, post some photos.
In the meantime, I am going to enjoy my remaining time here with friends that look up to me......I am at least a foot taller that anyone here and to my knowledge, the only non Asian in this town of about five thousand.
Wednesday, 20 June 2018
So Phisai Thailand, June 20,2018
I arrived here with friends on Saturday afternoon after a 45 minute flight to Udon Thani, then a three hour bus ride at a cost of 2.50 Canadian. The bus stops along the country roads to take on and let off passengers. The distance is only 137 kilometers. I am here until July one, when the trip back to BKK is started....same route in reverse.
I had a surprise in the plans for painting the inside of the family house. (Grandmother, Omah in most Asian countries), owns the house and her grown up children have tried to paint it several times. Omah has always said No!. Spend your money elsewhere. The house is over 40 years old, and badly needs paint. The family agreed that if they could surprise Omah, she would be happy, but do not tell her in advance. During a heated family discussion on what to do, I did the manly thing....took the two youngest kids, five and eight for a walk. As luck would have it, we just went two blocks, and there was the ice cream shop. When we returned to the house, the problem was solved, at least for a while.
Unbelievable, as it may sound, while the discussion was going on, a government agency called to offer Omah a four day trip to a resort south of Bangkok, from June 25 to 28. That is when the job will get done. I expect to be back at my motel when she returns home. I see tape, scrapers, brushes, etc in places that I guess Omah never goes, so plans seem well in place.
I am enjoying the time here, on the edge of the forests. I can walk half a kilometer and see mango, papaya, lychee, rambbutan, and all sorts of fruits to which I do not know the name. I also see the apple, to which the cashew nut grows outside at the bottom.
I have known some of these folks for six years, and it is just great doing things with them. Thai people do not keep much of a schedule in the countryside, so one never knows what is next. I have breakfast at the motel, then get picked up and go to the family home each morning....on a motorbike.
All is going great and I get a lot of requests for information and advice, so there are some people who listen to me....and act on that advice!.
I will probably do an update when back in BKK, soon after July 1.
I had a surprise in the plans for painting the inside of the family house. (Grandmother, Omah in most Asian countries), owns the house and her grown up children have tried to paint it several times. Omah has always said No!. Spend your money elsewhere. The house is over 40 years old, and badly needs paint. The family agreed that if they could surprise Omah, she would be happy, but do not tell her in advance. During a heated family discussion on what to do, I did the manly thing....took the two youngest kids, five and eight for a walk. As luck would have it, we just went two blocks, and there was the ice cream shop. When we returned to the house, the problem was solved, at least for a while.
Unbelievable, as it may sound, while the discussion was going on, a government agency called to offer Omah a four day trip to a resort south of Bangkok, from June 25 to 28. That is when the job will get done. I expect to be back at my motel when she returns home. I see tape, scrapers, brushes, etc in places that I guess Omah never goes, so plans seem well in place.
I am enjoying the time here, on the edge of the forests. I can walk half a kilometer and see mango, papaya, lychee, rambbutan, and all sorts of fruits to which I do not know the name. I also see the apple, to which the cashew nut grows outside at the bottom.
I have known some of these folks for six years, and it is just great doing things with them. Thai people do not keep much of a schedule in the countryside, so one never knows what is next. I have breakfast at the motel, then get picked up and go to the family home each morning....on a motorbike.
All is going great and I get a lot of requests for information and advice, so there are some people who listen to me....and act on that advice!.
I will probably do an update when back in BKK, soon after July 1.
Friday, 15 June 2018
Bangkok, Friday, June 15, 2018
After a good flight back from Phuket, I got to my hotel after a one hour taxi ride...and another fight with a driver who thought he was getting a sucker. I made note of his license information and after calling in to get instructions as to where my hotel was, we were on our way. I told him where the hotel was, and showed him on the map, but he then played the old game of not understanding English.....which I pointed out was a condition of his license. It was a silent ride into the city.
Phuket was very nice, but with the forecast for lightning every afternoon, we did not go on the water at any time. We never got the lightning. The temperature was in low thirties every day...quite nice.
Saturday at noon, we fly to Udon Thani in the North East, then take a three hour bus trip to the village of So Phisai where my Thai family friends have the farm. I was informed today that I was to lead the team to paint six rooms in their house. It is the rainy season all over this part of Asia, but it really is hit and miss. Some will be in the rice fields planting the new rice crop, and I guess some will be painting...I agreed, on the condition that I do not pick the colours.
I will be in the north eastern area until July 1, when I return to Bangkok and begin some dental work on July 2.
We have temperatures in the low thirties here..just a couple degrees more than at Phuket, which is on the Andaman sea coast...and a bit cooler. I see that the weather back home in Ottawa has not been so great, and I also keep up with the news there, so am well up on the happenings there.
That is about the end of the news for here, under the Code of Rome Rules. For those that do not know, it means that "What happens in Rome, stays in Rome". One can have a lot of fun, and no one knows who you are...like today...we were getting on an elevator that only went up one floor to the train level....and I said, "Ten Please". You soon see that many people understand more English than they let on.
If the wi-fi is working, I will do an update from the farm in a week or so.
Phuket was very nice, but with the forecast for lightning every afternoon, we did not go on the water at any time. We never got the lightning. The temperature was in low thirties every day...quite nice.
Saturday at noon, we fly to Udon Thani in the North East, then take a three hour bus trip to the village of So Phisai where my Thai family friends have the farm. I was informed today that I was to lead the team to paint six rooms in their house. It is the rainy season all over this part of Asia, but it really is hit and miss. Some will be in the rice fields planting the new rice crop, and I guess some will be painting...I agreed, on the condition that I do not pick the colours.
I will be in the north eastern area until July 1, when I return to Bangkok and begin some dental work on July 2.
We have temperatures in the low thirties here..just a couple degrees more than at Phuket, which is on the Andaman sea coast...and a bit cooler. I see that the weather back home in Ottawa has not been so great, and I also keep up with the news there, so am well up on the happenings there.
That is about the end of the news for here, under the Code of Rome Rules. For those that do not know, it means that "What happens in Rome, stays in Rome". One can have a lot of fun, and no one knows who you are...like today...we were getting on an elevator that only went up one floor to the train level....and I said, "Ten Please". You soon see that many people understand more English than they let on.
If the wi-fi is working, I will do an update from the farm in a week or so.
Monday, 4 June 2018
Addendum to June 4 update...June 4/18
After posting the first page, I realized that I missed some information.
Firstly, at the Ottawa airport, the only contact with an airline staff member is when one goes to put their luggage on the conveyor belt. Near the belt is an agent with a hand held scanner to read the Bar code on the luggage. That is a control to ensure all luggage gets on the right plane.
United flights from Canada arrive at a domestic terminal in U.S., as customs and security has already been done. Most then must take a train or bus to another terminal...not very convenient. We must again clear security.
United airlines no longer go west of Tokyo for most countries. Instead, they buy seats on another carrier by longstanding interline agreements. My flight from Tokyo to Bangkok was on All Nippon airways, which carried passengers with United, Thai air and, yes even Air Canada. One could fly Air Canada from Toronto or Vancouver, and on to Asian cities, never having been on an AC aircraft.
The Thai Baht, (Bat), is about 25 cents Canadian. So a 100 THB note is four dollars Canadian.
With respect to the Bangkok taxi matter, 400 THB is about 16 dollars, so the guy wanting 1200 was a real rip off... 48 dollars versus 16 legal rate.
Phuket is 421 miles South-west of Bangkok, on the Andaman sea. It is one of the top tourist stops in Thailand, and as a result, everything is on sale here...hawkers selling anything you want and, much more.
This note will fill in some of the blanks.
Firstly, at the Ottawa airport, the only contact with an airline staff member is when one goes to put their luggage on the conveyor belt. Near the belt is an agent with a hand held scanner to read the Bar code on the luggage. That is a control to ensure all luggage gets on the right plane.
United flights from Canada arrive at a domestic terminal in U.S., as customs and security has already been done. Most then must take a train or bus to another terminal...not very convenient. We must again clear security.
United airlines no longer go west of Tokyo for most countries. Instead, they buy seats on another carrier by longstanding interline agreements. My flight from Tokyo to Bangkok was on All Nippon airways, which carried passengers with United, Thai air and, yes even Air Canada. One could fly Air Canada from Toronto or Vancouver, and on to Asian cities, never having been on an AC aircraft.
The Thai Baht, (Bat), is about 25 cents Canadian. So a 100 THB note is four dollars Canadian.
With respect to the Bangkok taxi matter, 400 THB is about 16 dollars, so the guy wanting 1200 was a real rip off... 48 dollars versus 16 legal rate.
Phuket is 421 miles South-west of Bangkok, on the Andaman sea. It is one of the top tourist stops in Thailand, and as a result, everything is on sale here...hawkers selling anything you want and, much more.
This note will fill in some of the blanks.
Sunday, 3 June 2018
Phuket, Thailand June 4, 2018
After about 23 hours in four aircraft, I arrived here with family friends on June 1 at about four in the afternoon.
I went out to the Ottawa airport at eleven in the evening of May 28, and found myself with about eight very unhappy campers....or travelers. These people were from Florida, and were going home. They had been "Assured", by Air Canada in Edmonton that they would be in Ottawa in time for their flight...the last United of the day, to Newark, and then they were onward to Florida. Good old AC got them to Ottawa one hour after the flight south. They did not have a single paper among then...all tickets were on cell phones. They booked again to Florida, but did not check times in Newark and when we got to Newark, the Florida flight was gone. Talk about hostility. I did not help the matter for the first and only time in my life, I found myself defending AC. At first I was just kidding, but one guy got quite hostile, and nothing went right.
Tim Horton's has reduced the overnight counter to four small tables, two chairs each, so I went to a lounge area upstairs and that is where the Americans also came to.
Now, at Ottawa, there is no staff at the counters until 0400, but almost all check ins are by the traveler anyway. I went over to a United machine, put in my passport, answered two questions...name and number of baggage pieces to be checked. Out came my three Boarding Passes and the baggage tag.
All flights, except the one to Newark were ahead of time at arrival. We were held for 30 minutes, about 100 miles out.....thats when the Florida folks realized what had happened...some were just behind me on the plane.
For the first time in all my flights into and out of Asia, we did not have a headwind at any time, so were well ahead of schedule in Tokyo and at Bangkok which is another six hours from Tokyo.
At Bangkok, I had a dispute with one taxi driver who wanted 1200 Baht for the ride to the city. I know government regulations only allow for maximum of 400. We had words and I suggested I would report him to the Tourist Police....and took his number. I got another car, who said he did not know the cost because he did not know where the hotel was. I was in the car, and while he called, he saw me....it was intended that he would...make note of his number. He screamed..."What you do?",and I told him that I knew the rules and would be reporting him....he then said 400 baht, and we were on our way.
I had 24 hours in Bangkok to rest and allow for any flight delays, and was met by friends and all ended well. It was 0100 Thursday morning.
I will do an update in about ten days...around June 15.
I went out to the Ottawa airport at eleven in the evening of May 28, and found myself with about eight very unhappy campers....or travelers. These people were from Florida, and were going home. They had been "Assured", by Air Canada in Edmonton that they would be in Ottawa in time for their flight...the last United of the day, to Newark, and then they were onward to Florida. Good old AC got them to Ottawa one hour after the flight south. They did not have a single paper among then...all tickets were on cell phones. They booked again to Florida, but did not check times in Newark and when we got to Newark, the Florida flight was gone. Talk about hostility. I did not help the matter for the first and only time in my life, I found myself defending AC. At first I was just kidding, but one guy got quite hostile, and nothing went right.
Tim Horton's has reduced the overnight counter to four small tables, two chairs each, so I went to a lounge area upstairs and that is where the Americans also came to.
Now, at Ottawa, there is no staff at the counters until 0400, but almost all check ins are by the traveler anyway. I went over to a United machine, put in my passport, answered two questions...name and number of baggage pieces to be checked. Out came my three Boarding Passes and the baggage tag.
All flights, except the one to Newark were ahead of time at arrival. We were held for 30 minutes, about 100 miles out.....thats when the Florida folks realized what had happened...some were just behind me on the plane.
For the first time in all my flights into and out of Asia, we did not have a headwind at any time, so were well ahead of schedule in Tokyo and at Bangkok which is another six hours from Tokyo.
At Bangkok, I had a dispute with one taxi driver who wanted 1200 Baht for the ride to the city. I know government regulations only allow for maximum of 400. We had words and I suggested I would report him to the Tourist Police....and took his number. I got another car, who said he did not know the cost because he did not know where the hotel was. I was in the car, and while he called, he saw me....it was intended that he would...make note of his number. He screamed..."What you do?",and I told him that I knew the rules and would be reporting him....he then said 400 baht, and we were on our way.
I had 24 hours in Bangkok to rest and allow for any flight delays, and was met by friends and all ended well. It was 0100 Thursday morning.
I will do an update in about ten days...around June 15.
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