Scott's Bangkwang Time

Visit Scott

To see people it's great, most welcomed and very kind. To those who have already been - nice one!

Things to bring - fresh fruit (apples, oranges etc.), biscuits & chocolate, any cooked food, a big smile and if really kind a Burger King plain cheeseburger!!

See you soon!

Scott

If you happen to be passing through Bangkok and have a few hours to spare Scott would love to see you. Don't worry that you may not know what to say to him - Scott has the most amazing sense of humour and can talk for England! If you do manage to get a word in edgeways let him know where you heard about him.

The information we give is based on the experiences of family who have visited Scott in the last twelve months. One thing we have learned when visiting Scott is that things can change without warnng! If you know of any changes please let us know for when one of us next visits!

Visiting days for Building No: 6 are on Tuesday and Thursday. You are able to visit in either the morning or afternoon. You will need to have registered at the prison visitor's centre by 9am for the morning visiting session from 9.30 - 11.30 and by 1pm for the afternoon visiting session from 1.30 - 2.30. Please remember that these session times are not always adhered to, sometimes you will have to wait a little longer for Scott to be called and other times the phone line which you talk to him on can be abruptly disconnected.

What You Will Need to Take

You will need your passport

You will also need a copy of your passport - if you are unable to get one it can be done at the prison for a few bhat.

You will need to know Scott's full name and that he is in Building No: 6

You will need to be dressed appropriately - for men long trousers, take a long sleeved shirt as they do not always let you in wearing a T-Shirt, women need to have their shoulders and knees covered.

How to Get There

A taxi from Bangkok takes about 30 minutes depending on the traffic and at the most should cost you 200 bhat.

From the Central Pier you can take the Chao Phraya River Express Boat which goes north bound in the direction of Nonthaburi, which is the last stop. The cost is about 32 bhat. At the end of the pier in Nonthaburi walk along the road directly in front of you going away from the river. You will pass a convenience store on your left which also has an ATM outside - the only one we have found in the area. Continue walking and take your first left hand turn. Continue along this road and you will see the prison watch tower ahead of you to your right. It is about a ten minute walk from the pier.

At the Prison

Firstly you will need to register at the Visitor Information Centre which is across the road from the prison. Wait in line at one of the windows with your passport & photocopy. You will be given a form to fill in with your details and the name and building number of who you are visiting. Stamp the copy of your passport with the red stamper on the desk and then hand in your form and photocopy. At times they will ask what your relationship is to the prisoner, Scott had advised that if this happens you say that you are a cousin.

If you have taken any books, magazines etc. they need to be taken to the Foreign Affairs Office which can be found to the right hand side of the Main Gate to the prison. Write Scott's name and Building No. on them - they will not let anything with naked or partly naked ladies into the prison. They will be censored here and then go to Scott.

Anything else you have bought for Scott needs to be in a clear plastic bag with his name and building number written on the side. If you do not have such a bag you can purchase one at the prison - again for a few bhat.

When it is visiting time you enter to the left of the Main Gate. Follow the path round to your right and continue - you will not get lost as you will be caught up in the flow of other people visiting. You will have to hand in all of your belongings, including anything in your pockets, which are put into lockers for you and a numbered tag will be given to you. You are allowed to take in a drink for yourself and pen & paper to take notes if need be. Yo will also need to keep with you your paperwork you have for your visit.

You will then come to a desk where if you have taken anything in for Scott it will be checked here and either allowed through or put to one side for you to collect on your way out.

You will then pass through an airport type scanner and be body searched.

After all of this you will find yourself in an area behind the Main Gate which you saw from the outside. A guard will check your paperwork again before letting you through a small door in a second large gate.

You will now find yourself outside again with a road in front of you, beautifully kept flower beds to each side of it and on the outer side of those what looks like a row of glass door and windows down each side. Turn to your right and follow the path past the visiting areas, these are for those visiting Thai inmates, at the bottom of the path you will see a window in front of you which is where you need to hand your paperwork in again. When they have read it they will return it to you and you cross over the road to the visiting areas on your left. Enter any one of the doors and take an empty stool - a good tip is to try and sit near to an open door as the fans above you are not always switched on and it can become unbearably hot in the glass corridor which you are sat. In front of you will be a glass screen with bars behind it, a gap of about 1 meter and more bars - this is where Scott will sit. Also in front of you, on the ledge, is a phone. You now have to sit and wait, conversations are often struck up with other people waiting which can be helpful if they happen to be regular visitors. As the prisoners start to filter through you may suddenly panic that Scott will not know who you are - don't worry he will have been shown your name and you have seen photo's of him here on his site so you should spot him as he walks along looking for you.

When Scott arrives pick up the phone and he will do likewise. You can now speak.

When your visit has finished, if you have taken anything in, you need to return to the window next to the road. This is where you hand your gifts in, they can also be rejected here - again without reason. Scott will be waiting behind this office and your gifts will be handed to him to take back to his building. You can then collect your belongings and if you wish purchase goods at the prison shop to be sent into Scott.

You are now free to enjoy the rest of your stay in Thailand in the knowledge that you have made an enormous difference to Scott's day and morale.

Having read this far you are probably feeling very dispondent about visiting - it does sound complicated! Remember though that there will be many other people, like yourself, visiting an inmate - some of who do so on a regular basis. In our experience they are very good at spotting someone who looks a little lost or confused and are more than willing to steer you in the right direction. It also helps to smile and be polite to the guards and officials - no matter how you may be feeling - as a visitor you have no rights so there is no point in trying to demand them!