Trip to Prison - Lampang, Thailand

It was a nice, sunny day here on the Myanmar (Burma) border as we packed the car to make the trip to the Central Prison in Lampang, Thailand.

We wanted to visit Chom-nom to find out if he was alright, find out his release date, see what his plan was upon release and to let him know we would try to help him if he was ready to stay clean (drug free).

When we visited his mother a few days ago, she told us he was in the prison in Lampang which is about 300 Km (186 miles) away. I did a little research on the internet and learned a few thing about the Thailand prison system.

According to http://www.foreignprisoners.com/ this small country has the 25th largest prison system in the world and the second largest number of inmates in South-East Asia, second only to Singapore. The Thailand prison system holds approximately 200,000 people and it is estimated that over 70 percent are drug related crimes.

The trip to Lampang was uneventful, which was good. We stopped once for lunch in a large open market area just south of Chiang Rai. The price of gasoline is a little lower than it was in the spring at 36.11 THB a liter ($4.56 USD a gallon) for 91 octane. 95 octane gasohol is a little cheaper, by a few cents.

We arrived around 4:00 PM and checked into the Kim Hotel not far from the prison. It is an old hotel with free WiFi and coffee for around $11.50 USD a night. After we checked in we went for a little ride in a horse drawn carriage so we could see this town.

The driver stopped at the train station and we had something to eat. It was dark by then so we rode in the carriage back to the hotel and turned in for the night.

Up early, coffee, shower and dress in long pants for the trip to prison. We drove the kilometer to the prison, parked close and enter the prison gate.

There were about fifty people or so in the waiting area already. Daeng filled out a form showing who we were asking to see and all our information. She turned it in and was given small cards with the number 4. That means we were in the forth group to visit.

We sat down and waited as each group can visit for 15 minutes with about 5 minutes between each group. Number 1 was now in process so that means we would have to wait about 40 to 60 minutes.

In about 10 minutes Daeng’s name was called on a loud speaker system. She went up to the window and was told that Chom-nom was not at this prison. We went over the the administration office and were given a phone number to call so we could find out where he was.

We went out to the car were we left our phones and cameras as they were not allowed into the prison. Daeng called and was told he was in the Lampang prison but a different area about 15 Km away. We went back in and asked for directions. Now we know we are in trouble as directions are usually: “Go up this road about 15 Km and ask someone.”

We went back to the hotel, packed up, checked out and ask the lady at the desk for directions, also. We got about the same directions: “Go up the Chiang Mai – Lampang road about 12-15 KM. If you don’t see the sign stop and ask where it is.

As we were packing up the car we saw a "cute" motorbike that looked like a horse carriage but with the motorbike on the front. I asked the man: "How many horses this had?" He laughed.

Well, we want you to know that the directions worked. When we didn’t see the prison sign at about 15 Km we stopped three times and asked for directions. After we turned around we found the sign. It was hidden with the plant growth. We drove up the road about a kilometer and stopped at one of the gates with a guard and he told us we were at the right place.

We parked and went inside. It was 11:00 PM and the man at the visitor’s area said we could see him now but only for maybe 5-8 minutes or we could come back after 1:00 PM and see him for 20 minutes. We told him we had come a long way and would like to see him now, if possible.

Another guard filled out some paperwork using Daeng’s identification card and he sent another follow, maybe an inmate to find Chom-nom. We sat and waited.

About eight minutes later, Chom-nom showed up behind an area with wire and screening to separate us. He was in good spirits and looked healthy although a little skinny.

We asked him the usual questions and he told us he was okay, helping with the system. He said he was being a good boy there and would be released in 4-5 months. He wanted to go back and finish the children’s shelter in Ban AYO.

We explained to him that his mother was doing okay, we saw her last week. Daeng told him that she had no way to contact his wife regarding her or his two children as she had changed her telephone number. Chom-nom said he did not have her new number and phone calls were not allowed from prison here.

The guard said it was time to end the visit. We told Chom-nom we would help him and the shelter for the kids. We said good-bye and told him we would see him again in March of 2012.

I am glad we make the trip.

Daeng and I decided to spend the night in Lampang and drive back to our home in Mae Sai tomorrow. We stayed at the Asia Hotel for the night.

We did visit one of the largest light shops in the area but did not find any table lamps that we liked for our bedroom.

We also saw a young man carving "flip-flops". That is correct, he was carving pictures and saying into the rubber flip-flops. Daeng wanted a pair but he did not have her size, right now.

Oh well, TiT. TiT stands for This is Thailand.