Thailands Ladies
 

I find it sad that when I asked if the King had only one queen I was told yes but he also had 17 ladies who are officially recognised, indeed a painting was on display in one of the Palaces of his women including the Queen.

It seems to me they set the example to the young ladies of Thailand who sell themselves, afterall are they doing anything different, would they be with the King if he was a Tuk Tuk Driver ?

Are you sure somebody's not pulling your leg here John? I've never heard this before. In fact all I've ever heard is that the present king is a very sober-minded, conservative, highly principled family man. Part of the reason why he is so revered by Thais is because he's not a womaniser and is devoted to his wife and family. And one of the main reasons many Thais are opposed to the idea of the prince ever becoming king is because of his womanising. Thais don't consider this appropriate behaviour for a monarch.
As for the painting on display in one of the palaces of his women including the Queen, I’d say who ever told you that is trying to be funny. I’m sure they are portraits of royal family members – there are many various members.

I agree, Tex. I think John has been led astray. I, too, expect he saw a portrait of the whole royal family.

Somebody's leg has been pulled -- this is absolute rubbish.

i agree....it was only with the birth last year of the prince's son that the playboy prince was well accepted back by the king...he had not been well liked by the people either....

the maiden princess seems to be the favorite and the one who carries out many of the royal duties these days...

John,

You should check your facts before posting this kind of crap.

might this fellow john and steves be one in the same?

And when in Thailand, you should also be aware that such "crap", as hanuman put it, is a criminal offence...The thai peoople revere the King and pearls such as "..if he (the king) was a Tuk Tuk Driver..." can cost you 5 years in the famous Bangkok Hilton (no, not the 5 stars one...).

5 years is prison is the better case...
if you say such thing and the wrong people hear you - even your dentist will not recognise your body...

be carefull, don't mess with the King's respect...

No, I don't believe john44 is that jerk ricksteves, john has many thoughtful posts and I think we should cut him some slack. Someone told him a story and, not being familiar with Thai ways, fell for it. We've all made these kinds of mistakes in the past so lets just correct him and leave it at that.

I agree with Laurie - the person who is in the wrong is the person who told John a tall story about the King of Thailand.

Also, bear in mind that John is from the UK (I think) where critical discussion of our Royal Family's antics is practically a national sport, and this is the case in many other European countries too where the royal families are frequently featured in the glossy gossip mags

You're probably right Laurie but I don't really see how this post has anything to do with travel and I can't understand why Fodors is not erasing it.

As a Thai it's quite insulting to me to read this kind of stuff but at the same time it gives me a great pleasure to read all the responses from all the regulars here.

I`m so glad to hear it isn`t true. I just read a whole book on the King, and nothing like this was ever mentioned, only his devotion to the Queen.

Just last week there was a small piece in my newspaper: Somebody from Norwegian diplomatic (!!!) stuff in Thailand had got a prison sentence because he insulted the royal family in some way. No diplomatic immunity when royal family is involved.

Hanuman, this is very travel related because now people can correct stupidities like the one in John´s post, and people who travel to Thailand can understand that the respect for royal family is very real.

I was in Hua Hin just a couple of months ago, and my hotel was right next to the summer palace. Earlier it was possible for tourists to visit the palace, but not anymore. The reason: King stays there more and more, because he prefers the peace and can concentrate in cultivation of plants, the thing that is very dear to him.

I think the present king is a very wise and righteous man. Very symphatetic. I was there during his birthday, and there was an interwiew in the local magazine. The king was asked why people can not critizise him. He answered that critizism is just fine, he appreciates it. If critizism wasn´t allowed, he would place himself above other people, and that he doesn´t want to do, because he is not a god. Critizism fine, insulting no. And the type of suggestion as in John´s post is insulting.

I agree entirely with laurie & bella and see no need at all to be hostile towards john44. It strikes me that john44 isn't very familiar with Thailand and some smart-ass has played a joke on him. This was why I explained the situation to him in a friendly manner in my earlier post.
What disturbs me far more is benkok's post that some Thais would hack someone to pieces over such a remark - you make Thais sound like a bunch of savages, or like the Muslim fanatics we see on TV running around Iraq.
All the Thais I’ve met & known over the past 3 decades would tactfully but firmly point out to somebody foolish enough to make such a remark, that they must not say these things.

Texasslim,

I totally agree that John was probably misled SO HOW ABOUT AN APOLOGY? Sorry is only five keystrokes and it would do a lot good to people like me.

Perhaps john44 doesn't log in every day like some of us and hasn't yet read all the posts - he hasn't posted on fodors for a few days.

As the above poster said, cut the man some slack. John44's posts may be insulting, but the implicit aggression within some of these responses is inappropriate for this type of forum also. Manners cost nothing.

Hi TexasSlim...

Thai people are like any other population in the world...
Some are nice, some are greedy, some are happy and some are criminal...

I didn't mean that all Thai's will kick your @#$ if they hear you speak bad things about HM the King, and i'm sorry if you got this impression.

Another thing you should understand (and i'm saying that with the experience of a soldier in the IDF for 3 long years) - What you see on TV is usually much bigger than the actual reality. Unfortunately, it's usually those few "fanatic" people that make all the mess and noise...
Wants to say – even thou it’s hard to believe, there are criminal acts, violence, murderers, mafia and sick bustards among Thai’s…even if they are operating in back allies (and they don’t…)
We should be happy that the majority of Thai’s are the honest, caring, loving people we all know.

the response I got from a thai person was that the prices may be the one with 17 ladies not the king.
There is no love for that guy. but I wonder what would happen if he did become king would the Thais have to revere him and us farang have to show respect or bite our tongue when mentioning anything about the new king.?.
------
hanuman. your my man. but I don't think john should post an apology. maybe he should post "I was a retard to believe that crap" but not anything formal. as some have said talking junk about the royal family or anyone in power in the west is just a game, we hold no unconditional respect for the rich and powerful unlike Thais seem too.

lol how many toes did I just step on. oh well nothing new.

Orgy,

The Thai people just got rid of one of the richest and the most powerful Thai person in history - Thaksin! Albeit, he might come back but most Thais definately will not take this kind of leadership and we would probably do the same in a monarch is unjust and abusive. So when you say "we hold no unconditional respect for the rich and powerful unlike Thais seem too" I don't think that is true at all.

The richest Thai businessman is not Thaksin, he is infact so low key that now body in the West know that he was the founder and owns Red Bull

Oops I hit the "post my reply" button by mistake so to continue - if John44 made a mistake then he should acknowledge it. Click on his name and go back to his earliest post and you'll see that I try to answer all of his posts or questions, something that I now regret.

To insult something that other people respect or hold in the highest regard is not polite or respectful and one should acknowledge that if they had made a mistake. What has the King or Queen of Thailand ever done to deserve this kind of an insult? As Bella had said "manner cost nothing" and as I have said "sorry" is just five keystrokes.

Hanuman,

You write "The Thai people just got rid of one of the richest and the most powerful Thai person in history - Thaksin!"

Well, I’m not an expert on Thai politics, but let me remind you - the 10 Million Thai's living in Bangkok are a small voting section...TRT party (And Thaksin...) got her majority of votes from the voters in Isaan, where around 30-40 Million people are living, and don't give a damm about business, economy and all the rest. They only think about if they have something to eat tomorrow morning (and they should...)

Thaksin is not going anywhere...he will be the PM after the elections.
TRT might have fewer chairs in the Parliament, and Thaksin will lose some of his power, but defiantly not lose his chair...

We all know he is stepping on toes (selling AIS to foreign hands, and basically doing whatever he wants…) but it’s going to take much more than that to get him out of his position.

But let’s stop with Thai politics, people wants to travel…:-)

Exactly Benkok - "people want to travel" so how does insulting something that a country hold sacred has anything to do with travel?

I wouldn't bet any money on Thaksin returning either!

I really tend to doubt that john meant to insult anyone. I got the sense he was just surprised that the King would have ladies other than his wife, which by now, if he has been reading, he knows isn't true. John's only "offense" is that he was gullible and believed something some jerk told him. Who among us has not fallen for some stupid line in the past? I know I have. Poor john is probably afraid to post now. He shouldn't be, he is not the one ro blame.

Seems to me, John just posted a query. So what is there to apologize for? I have learned a little by just reading these threads, as I have yet to go to thailand.

I totally agree with you, Laurie and Bella. I am sure John did not want to insult somebody.
I do not think that this discussion should continue longer. Its is a clear difference of opinions and feelings between people from Thailand and from another country.
If I was John, I would say, just because a polite person will do this: Sorry, it was not my intention to offend somebody, I just told what I heard.

If john44 recieved bad information on his visit to the Palace,should he not have investigated a little further before he formed his opinion of the King,and the young ladies of Thailand and writing his post.Or did he already have a preconcieved idea of the people of Thailand before visiting there country.If john44 had taken the time to learn about this country,and isn't that why we travel,during his visit he would known how insulting his post was to Thai people.

Perhaps his way of "investigating" this was to post on fodors. Many of us post here regarding things we've heard and this is the way of getting other opinions, expert or otherwise. Give this guy a break. What, are we all so perfect that we can't understand someone falling for something that isn't true? It's time for everyone to get off their high horses and show some understanding. If I was insulted to this point everytime someone made a derogatory remark about the U.S. president or New York City, I'd spend my life fuming and harboring a whole lot of resentment. Is this really how you wish to be perceived? What happened to the concept of understanding and forgiveness?

I think greengrem might be a troll - this is his/her first posting on fodors

Maybe we should wait and see what john has to say himself?

He's probably sitting back and having a good laugh at all the fuss that's been caused by his 'innocent' question.

Yawn! This is all turning into a storm in a teacup. There's no way john44's remarks can be deemed offensive – naive & ill informed perhaps– but not offensive. Therefore no apology is needed. Anyway, perhaps john44 just got his facts mixed up a little and was actually referring to some previous Thai monarch, such as Rama V who had 92 wives.

Texasslim,

Most Thais love and respect the King and Queen as if they are our loving parents. We don't expect people from another country to share or undrstand our feelings but it is definitely an insult to most of us.

I agree that this post should end now and it's obvious that John44 does not have any intention to retract what he has said.

Hanaman, there’s nothing to retract. John44’s remarks were not offensive, insulting, belittling or disrespectful in any way towards the Thai monarch. He’d heard a piece of erroneous information and was merely commenting on that.
I think you need to come to terms with the fact that Thai jurisdiction does not extend around the world. Someone suggested that john44 is in the UK. In that country it is perfectly acceptable and entirely legal to freely hold a discussion on any public figure.

The funny thing about this thread is how many of the same people respond to it each day.I keep hearing,give the guy a break,forgive and forget,yawn this is so boring,but everyday they feel they must keep the thread going,responding to each post with some kind of judgement(just because this was my first post someone felt like passing judgement on me)and isn't this what john44's problem was.His post wasn't in the form of a question he decided to make a statement on this website.after looking at one painting how do you come to the conclusion that Thailands prostitutes are a result of the King.Thats like saying the U.S.A's prostitutes are a result of Clinton's affair.bella blueball watch out this troll might be hiding under your bed, and get a life and do somthing besides posting on this thread everyday.

plus, as I pointed out before, he hasn't posted on fodors for a while so may not even have read this! He may have a life outside fodors :) He posts regularly on the Europe board re. UK and hasn't been on there either

I think you've got me wrong I never said that John44 broke the law in his country or that he should be extradited to Thailand to face criminal charges for what he has said.

To you it might not be offensive but to me and a lot of my countrymen it is very offensive. To write that our King and Queen set example to the young women of our country to sell themselves is so far from the truth and I can't really understand why he would make such a hurtful and insulting statement. If he was misled, like I think he was, is it so hard for him to say that he didn't mean what he said?

John was just questioning the culture of the country, as he did not know. If I had heard something like this, I, too would want to check it out, and I might be more comfortable asking on this board, than trying to understand from someone in thailand, and perhaps offending them. I didn`t know a thing about the prime minister, so Thailand`s politics are quite a mystery to me, in spite of the fact I have been reading everything I can get my hands on. (including a book about the king) Isn`t this board for asking questions and gaining knowledge? You are being way to sensitive.

Now the hysteria seems to have quitened down I will detail my side of the event.

I asked the question of a english speaking licenced guide and have repeated the response I got, he spoke in hushed tones and said previously nobody would have dared speak on this matter but recently it had come out in the open far more and people were begining to talk about it.

I had no reason to disbelieve the him and indeed even after all the responses on the board I am undeceided at what to believe, hense I see no need to apologise, if I have insulted anybody it is the ladies concerned, if they do not exist it is impossible to apologise to them, if they do exist I stand by my statement.