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Stopped and Searched
I've just had something of an unsettling experience. I wasn't far off the beaten track, no more than 1km down Sukhumvit Soi 3 away from Nana. I was going to buy some jewellery for the wife and noticed two regular cops stop a meter taxi and shakedown a big 'African American' looking guy.
I didn't think too much of it because I have seen that sort of thing in most countries I've been to, not fair but not unusual I guess.
Anyway, on my way back they got me (Iwas walking). I'm not used to being searched by guys with guns, and I was pretty fortunate to be carrying my passport. They asked for it and normally it would be in the hotel, this time it was in my pocket.
They can't be looking for somebody specific, because you could not get two more different looking people than me and the other guy. They were polite and apologetic, but I don't know how it would have gone if I had not had my passport on me.
The moral of the story for me now is that whenever I am mooching about in Bangkok I will carry my passport. I know taking your passport along is not a good idea when you are out on the beer in the evenings, but during the day and especially away from the tourist areas I now see it as a must.
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