BKK Immigration (again this happened)
Hong Kong was very boring because I can't play at all, so I decided to head back to Thailand after the weekend was over. After landing at BKK airport, the troubles began when I went through immigration. I have a 50 page passport, and about 40 of those pages are used up with stamps and visas from all around the world. Perhaps 25-30 nations total in the past 5-6 years. Thailand having the most because I spend about 9 months out of the year here. No special extended visas ever given to me, only 30 day stamps or normal tourist visas. In the past I have been given only 5 Thai tourist visas in the past 4 years, each 2 months long. So the officer behind the booth looked at my passport and saw I had so many entry and exit stamps for Thailand. Maybe 8-10 in a year for the past 3 years is what I have. He looked rather confused and lost while scrolling through all the pages in my passport. After about 5 minutes, he didn't even ask me anything, and handed me to off a coworker immigration officer. She then walked me out of the lines to a table for questioning by their superior officer on duty. Keep in mind about a year ago, same crap happened at DMK. This is only a "summary" of conversation.
Officer: What are you doing in Thailand?
Me: Holiday.
Officer: I ask you again, what are you doing in Thailand?
Me: I tell you again, holiday.
Officer: Your passport say you come to Thailand many many times. You last come in June.
Me: I cannot come many times to Thailand a year for holiday?
Officer: Why you have holiday so many?
Me: Because I don't work. For past 3 years, my life is one big long holiday. I don't need to work same like you. I just travel and have fun. Honestly, I go everywhere in the world and I think Thailand is the best for fun. Like I said, I don't work, I not married, I not have girlfriend, I not have kids. So I have freedom. Not easy for you to understand, right?
Officer: (Looking bewildered) Your passport very messed up. You go every where too many.
Me: Because I can go wherever I want, not same like everybody. I think you want to know if I working in Thailand, right? I tell you "no. " I bring my own money to spend here. All my money spend come from banks outside of Thailand. (I flash him all my cash in my wallet, which is more than his salary for 3 months. Show him the metal credit cards I have from my father. Show him my bank statements which shows debit ATM withdrawals and credit card purchases on my last trip and for this past year. These statements add up to about 15,000 USD per month as a tourist in Thailand).
Officer: (Looking at the bank statements and his eyes get big). I not worry you come to Thailand for working. I just want know why? You have girlfriend here? You have family here? You look same same Thai people with your many many tattoos.
Me: I think in another country, can make tattoos also. My skin is too white, not like most Thai people with tattoos. But no, I not Thai people. My last name is only 4 letters long, not 20 letters like Thai people. My passport tell you already I am from Hong Kong, but I live in no one country. I only travel, stay hotels, stay condos, and have fun. In Thailand, I don't know anybody but I have 2 baby chang (orphaned elephants) in Phetchaburi. My father and I give Thailand 50,000 baht every month for take care of these 2 chang. In Phuket, we gave 150,000 baht to Soi Dog take care of your dogs and to stop the Thai people from selling the dogs to Korea and China for eat. I just come back in June with my mom and she buy milk and food worth 20,000,000 and give to your temple to take care of kids with no momma and papa. (I then showed him my documents from these charity organizations, the receipts, and the photos).
Officer: Okay, okay. I don't want to see. What work your family do?
Me: My mother and father are not together, but they do not work. They not need to work. I think you know already. I not same another tourist and I not same another person. I think you want to ask me where our money come from. I tell you before already, you will not understand. And the more you talk to me, the more you will get confused. Already, I want to "speak in terms and diction that is probably incomprehensible to you".
Officer: (Looking really confused to what the heck I just said) I not understand what you say.
Me: I'll make this easy for us both. I come to Thailand to enjoy your food, your entertainment, and your beautiful women. I bring many many money from first world countries and give to Thailand and your people. My family and I take care of your animals, children, and your old. And this is not like giving somebody who is begging on Sukhumvit change or twenty baht. We have given more than you will make in your lifetime working this job. I am the perfect tourist for your country, so why are we sitting here having this conversation? Your job is stop people from coming to Thailand who try to work and those who do bad. Do we need to talk to someone who works above you to why you not letting me in?
Officer: (His tone changing and he begins to smile) I just doing my job. The other officer not want to give you a stamp. If I give you a stamp and you make trouble in Thailand, then the police will come back to me and ask why I give you stamp?
Me: (Smiling back) Okay I understand, but you see I been coming since 2011. No trouble yet right? Or else I would have never been allowed to come back again and again. I am good for Thailand. I not same another tourist. I think you know.
Officer: Okay, I give you stamp. But no trouble okay? I want ask question. Why you not open business in Thailand so not have this problem?
Me: (Grinning) For what? I don't work. Why would you want me to work? Why does everybody who works wants me to work? This is really not a problem. This is only fun. Everything I have told and shown you I do in Thailand with papers and pictures of, "Somebody" with more higher power than you have already told me to do in case this problem would happen. They said it will take care of itself, if not, they feel sorry for the immigration officer who denied entry to me. I have done so much for Thailand. Why not let me in? Because you never seen a person with such a good life? And besides, I want a 30 day tourist stamp not a business visa. I think I've done everything right and more to be your #1 tourist, right?
He just laughed and gave me my stamp and I was on my way with one more reminder to "don't get in trouble, I don't want to lose my job. " Now I'm back in Thailand to play some more. I think I will just keep doing what I've been doing to get in. If another board member is able to spend 9 months in Thailand each year without a special visa or multi-entry tourist visa, let me know. I don't think anyone has been able to do what I have done. I've had a other board member suggest I do a 6 month multi entry visa. For that I will get tons of questions as well. First it has to be done in your own country of residence. The requirements for for my country is that you need to show documents that you are 1. Full-time student 2. Employment 3. Retired with pension 4. Self employed or business. I am none of the above. Once again I don't work. I am unemployed and technically I am homeless because I don't have permanent address because I don't need one. So if I ever applied, they will also just get confused. They will ask where does your income come from? Then truth is you might want to ask my father. And honestly, I don't want to scare you, but I don't think you want to have that conversation with him at all.