Survival Guide - Bangkok - page 544

Internet Access
» There's no shortage of internet cafes in Bangkok competing to offer the cheapest and fastest connection. Rates
vary depending on the concentration and affluence of net-heads - Banglamphu is cheaper than Sukhumvit or Silom,
with rates as low as 15B per hour.
» Most internet shops have Skype and headsets so international calls can be made for the price of surfing the web.
» A convenient place to take care of your communication needs in the centre of Bangkok is the TrueMove Shop
( www.truemove.com ; Soi 2, Siam Sq; 7am-10pm; Siam exit 4) . It has high-speed internet computers equipped
with Skype, sells phones and mobile subscriptions, and can also provide information on citywide wi-fi access for com-
puters and phones.
» Wi-fi, mostly free of charge, is becoming more ubiquitous around Bangkok. For relatively authoritative lists of wi-
fi hot spots in Bangkok, go to www.bkkpages.com (under 'Directory') or www.stickmanweekly.com/WiFi/
BangkokFreeWire lessInternetWiFi.htm.
Legal Matters
» Thailand's police don't enjoy a squeaky clean reputation, but as a foreigner, and especially a tourist, you probably
won't have much to do with them. While some expats will talk of being targeted for fines while driving, most anecdotal
evidence suggests Thai police will usually go out of their way not to arrest a foreigner breaking minor laws.
» Most Thai police view drug-takers as a social scourge and consequently see it as their duty to enforce the letter of
the law; for others it's an opportunity to make untaxed income via bribes. Which direction they'll go often depends on
drug quantities; small-time offenders are sometimes offered the chance to pay their way out of an arrest, while traffick-
ers usually go to jail.
» Smoking is banned in all indoor spaces, including bars and pubs. The ban extends to open-air public spaces, which
means lighting up outside a shopping centre, in particular, might earn you a polite request to butt out. If you throw your
cigarette butt on the ground, however, you could then be hit with a hefty littering fine.
» If you are arrested for any offence, police will allow you to make a phone call to your embassy or consulate if you
have one, or to a friend or relative. There's a whole set of legal codes governing the length of time and manner in which
you can be detained before being charged or put on trial. Police have a lot of discretion and are more likely to bend these
codes in your favour than the reverse. However, as with police worldwide, if you don't show respect you will only make
matters worse, so keep a cool head.