If the meeting was 1400 farang time, it would have been prompt at two pm. It it was 1400 Thai time, then sit back and relax and add an hour. Thai time meetings are scheduled an hour later than farang time. Be at ease here, this is a holiday destination, not the Porche factory. Deep breath and r e l a x.

Posted by Graham on March 16, 2009 16:48

Graham, you are joking, I presume? If this is your honest feeling, I would so hate to try and do business with you. Please publish you surname so I know to avoid you. The ambassy was here on official diplomatic business, not for a holiday in the sun. That the governor could not attend as scheduled is an insult.

Posted by Patrick O'Rourke on March 16, 2009 16:56

When the issue was raised by Phuketwan, he said responsibility lay with the tourists themselves. Tourists should be wary and avoid vessels that seemed unseaworthy
My god, shows how much he knows what's going on around here, this vessel was only 6 months old

Posted by Nick on March 16, 2009 20:45

Perfectly correct and justified act from Dr Hanns H. Schumacher to teach this governor some manners. Thailand remains a banana-republic as long as a person at the level of a governor disrespects the appointments of this level.

Posted by Jouni T. Ollila on March 16, 2009 22:48

Nick, age has nothing to do with it. If it was a bad design - top heavy - then it doesn't matter if it was 6 months old or 6 years old.

Posted by Mike on March 17, 2009 04:16

(When the issue was raised by Phuketwan, he said responsibility lay with the tourists themselves. Tourists should be wary and avoid vessels that seemed unseaworthy.) This is almost the same as saying 'don't come to Thailand because if anything goes wrong, it's your own fault.'

Posted by Andrew on March 17, 2009 07:49

Jouni,
This is not a banana republic this is a Kingdom.

Posted by David L on March 17, 2009 09:57

In a roundabout - a diplomatic - way, yes, perhaps His Excellency was saying, "Come here at your peril". He appears to be advising tourists to be safety-savvy because certain industries are so poorly regulated and policed; you cannot rely on the officials or industries here to be up to standards expected and enforced in developed countries. Expecting this has nothing to do with interfering with a country's sovereign right to be a lazy, sleepy backwater if it so wishes. If Thailand wishes to be a major player and a world-class destination, then it should seek the correct role models to stop people thinking that it is - as someone else put it - a banana (or a pineapple) republic, which in many ways it acts as.

Posted by Laura Pensworth on March 17, 2009 13:04

"Perfectly correct and justified act from Dr Hanns H. Schumacher to teach this governor some manners. "
What a bunch of imperialistic drivel. Do you honestly expect Thais to show respect for the childish antics of Mr. Schumacher ?Lol!

Posted by Bruce on March 17, 2009 13:16

Yes , Thailand is perilous - in every way , so why is US State Dept not warning citizens about lack of oversight and regulation ?

Posted by Mustava Mond on March 17, 2009 14:29

Bruce, I think you've been in the sun too long and at the same time had your head up your b*m too much, old dear. The days when such arrogance from a Thai governor, and the general manyana/mai pen rai nonsense are long gone, mate. Thailand/Phuket wants to be taken seriously.

Posted by Sambow on March 17, 2009 16:01

To inform Embassies of their Nationals' deaths is a reciprocal concept. To be late for a national Diplomat whose country provides a lot of revenue for the Kingdom is rude. Nevertheless, The Diplomat's comments should be taken before his actions in this case, we should not forget how serious this matter is.

Posted by Kev on March 18, 2009 22:39

"Tourists should be wary and avoid vessels that seemed unseaworthy." Get real!! How is the average tourist supposed to do that? Take a tour of the boat and check the expiry date of the fire extinguisher? Or the compression of the engine? Or check the hull for leaks? And what about the crew? Run a quick drug test? Check their licenses? - The tourist wants to spend money and have a good time; it's up to another institution to check the safety conditions of boats, buses, planes and rental cars.

Posted by Klaus on March 20, 2009 11:07

Klaus, I think you are right. That job is the responsibility and should be conducted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Harbour Department. The T A T sure make it extremely hard to get a TAT Licence, but then it fails to carry out regular checks on its members. ???

Posted by Graham on March 20, 2009 14:29