| Subject: |
|
Re: sending money and parcels |
| Name: |
|
Bob Turini |
| Date Posted: |
|
Nov 17, 07 - 3:48 AM |
| Email: |
|
email@bobturini.com |
| Message: |
|
In my experience the easiest way to send parcels is to have a contact in Bangkok who will send parcels on your behalf. Does Scott have any friends out there? You can wire the cash by Western Union to your contact; they do the shopping and post the parcel. This saves on the high postal charges for parcels from UK. I sent many parcels to Steve this way and they all arrived safely.
Is Scott still in Bangkwang? If so, you might consider sending him cartons of cigarettes. Steve told me that since they stopped selling cigarettes in the prison shop their value shot up and he was able to trade for goods and services with the cigarettes I had sent. The local brand Krong Thip (red pack) is popular and can be bought for around 450 Baht per carton of 200.
It's better that you find out from Scott what he wants. If he doesn't want cigarettes, your contact can easily shop locally for toiletries, tinned meats, fish and fruit, sweets, biscuits, cheese, stationary, books, mags etc. All these things can be sent by parcel, though best avoid any glass containers. Thai postal services are cheap, reliable and quick so no problem sending fresh produce though they’re not so keen on carrying liquids so don’t mention the cartons of fruit juice when you get to the post office 
Unless Bangkwang rules have changed recently, I believe that money has to be paid directly into a prison account by visiting the prison. Again, best ask Scott how to go about doing this as his family may already have some arrangement in place.
If you know anyone who's visiting a Bangkwang inmate make sure they turn up with plenty of fresh fruit! There's a market 200 yards south of the visitors entrance; you'll walk past it if arriving from the river ferry pier. Depending on the season, you can buy apples, papaya, mangos, rambutans, mangosteens, bananas, durian, guava, longans, pineapple, jackfruit and citrus fruits all for around 10-20 Baht per kg. You can also place an order at the visitor's prison shop after your visit, though choice is limited and prices are often much higher than local shops. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
Forum
bravenet.com