Heard that there was an immigration police raid on Feb. 11th at KBA, one of the kiting schools along the beach.

Anyone got some news?

Is it common that the immigration police gets active in Hua Hin?

Not heard any details of that raid but every now and then immigration raid places, usually as a result of a tip off that there are foreigners working without a work permit.

Are you sure it was the immigration police?

The tourist have been raiding businesses for the last couple of weeks, especially those under farang management ............

Barry - was told it's the immigration guys.

Regarding your info, are they causing legitimate problems, i.e. no good farang paperwork, or they're just causing stress for the usual reasons?

Afraid I can't be any more specific than that I walked the beach to Khao Takiab today and passed about 4 or 5 kiteboarding places.
Have to say that some of them had flags/advertising flying on the beach, but there didn't seem to be any boards out, or ant activity at all, on a fairly windy day - this was around 10.30am.
I wasn't really paying attention though.

seasides wrote: "Regarding your info, are they causing legitimate problems, i.e. no good farang paperwork, or they're just causing stress for the usual reasons?"


The answers are: Yes and Yes!!

Bit like the chicken and egg question though. really ...........

Neighbour told me that another farang he knows was given a hard time when seen mowing a friend's lawn by the MIBOr IMm equiv's and was told that it should be done by an employed Thai!
Maybe he told them to go fly a kite

It's possible that there have been complaints about the Kiteboarders from a number of sources.

They have rather taken over the beach this year...

Sj

I hope not! "Pai Chak Wao!"

There was a "raid" alright, but it seems that the kite shop in question had all their papers and work permits in order. It looks like a tip off from a disgruntled customer/competitor or something. Anyway, business as usual today at the same kite shop. I heard there was an apology after it was found everything was in order.

This month the wind doesn't pick up strong enough until after 1pm usually so you'll not likely see much kiting in the morning....

As someone who strolls along the Tao Takiab past Suanson regularly I am surprised that some "kiters" spend so much time plying their skills in close proximity to swimmers!

I gather BB chak waoing is a given right for Thai males in particular!

Exactly, it's a showing off of the worst kind.

I avoid kiting there, there are beautiful beaches more south without disturbing anyone.

They're all waiting for the first major accident - which we all hope will never arrive - at the schools.

Khao kalok and a long pranburi beach seems to be many kite boarding schools advertising lessons etc, ideal place to learn in quiet, open beach.

look at youtube etc and the statistics about people killed and injured doing and observing kite boarding.

would not like one of those boards hitting me at 60km/h or more.

at least hua hin does not have the noisy jet ski's yet blasting up and down the beach like cha am.

Walked the beach again this morning and there was a brigade of track-suited police going down it in a black SUV with "City Law Enforcement Officer" or some such words on the vehicle and their attire.
They were stopping at all the kiteboarding places and seemed to be having a "quiet word". It looked like the businesses were being told to move their signs back and maybe take the flags down.
I did notice also that signs were being also moved back for massage places and the deck chairs, so it didn't seem to be directed solely against the kiteboarding schools.

It is not just confined to Hua Hin

I am in Khon Kaen at the moment and it appears several farang operated businesses have been raided by Bangkok police checking licences and work permits

OK there are no Kiteboarding businesses here for obvious reasons but nevertheless raids are being conducted.

KK has always been a little more laid back than other farang spots. No passport required to check into a hotel. No compulsory crash helmets being enforced. Now, I have noticed police checking hotels for farang residents and the owners being informed that passport and/or ID details are to be kept

This appears to be a national purge. Tea money aside I think the clamp down is influenced by a high level political mandate.

Roll on the 27th when all will be revealed.

Might need my ark sooner rather than later in 2012