[I'm NOT loving it or how McD's makes you feel bad]

Since I don't speak Thai properly, the online ordering websites in English for ordering food are a blessing. I'm posting this to let others know about the inherent mistake that one will make about McD's McDelivery system so that they don't get dun out like I did.

I made my order this morning as usual, and when I went to checkout, there was a promotional offer on this page. I selected this and learned that I could get 5 pieces of chicken free (normal cost 169 baht) if one pays with a Visa credit card. I was then immediately brought to the payment page and then I used my Visa although I've always paid cash before as it's simpler.

When my order arrived, there was no freebie, and I called up the branch that made the delivery. I was passed around for 8 minutes and then asked to make my complaint to the call center at 1711. The lady who answered was insistent that it was my mistake because I should have selected the full pay version of the chicken in the original menu pages, and then the discount would be given after I paid with the Visa card.

This crucial step of some form of "Indian-giving" was not explained in the run-up to the payment. I selected the promotion and then was led straight to the payment page. Retroactively, I now understood the procedure but I felt I was still entitled to the freebie. No dice.

I then e-mailed McD's (the e-mail address for complaints is [email protected] if you're interested) about my unhappiness with their online ordering setup, and how their procedure appeared to be a bait and switch - the freebie is offered and it's not made clear that there's a hidden step to be undertaken on their website (one has to backtrack to select the paid option which will be knocked off after paying with Visa).

I've just got a call from McD's local hq and it was just some more waste of time - the customer didn't do the steps correctly and the customer can feel cheated but McD's won't bother to do any damage control. There wasn't a real apology as the purpose of this call was to underscore how the customer was wrong and McD's had no interest in helping the customer feel better.

This is an awfully small matter, and I don't salivate for McD's fried chicken, but it is a endemic problem here that there appears to be no common sense in handling customers who are left feeling small or disgruntled. Anybody else has any similar stories? Visa...are you hearing?

[Information on Protest Sites]

The first item on Channel NewsAsia's hourly bulletin (1 p.m. Thai time) was from their reporter at the Ratchayothin protest site. Terrifically up to the minute coverage.

[Information on Protest Sites]

Avoid Major Ratchayothin. At 11 a.m. there was a crowd outside the shopping center with a very large police van and smaller police vehicles. Just passed it half an hour ago and there were three military trucks and the soldiers were lined up in formation for dispersing crowds. There is a protest crowd chanting, and what seems to be some media coverage.

I'm writing this to let people know about the traffic situation because there is a bad tailback for all roads in both directions of Thanon Phahonyothin from Major. The cars are not moving, and the traffic lights at the junction itself appear to be manually controlled.

[Bangkok Immigration - Avoid area today - expect traffic jams]

Just got back from CW today (Friday). Very fluid situation so skedaddled out as soon as I finished at 9.25 a.m. When I got there very early this morning at 7.30, the overnight stayers seemed to be just waking up, but when I left, the numbers seemed to be rapidly rising. Also, started hearing those whistles which seemed to indicate some call to arms.

The immigration usually opens at 8.30 but just like the previous day (thanks, Puyai Baan) the officers decided to open the doors early. On Thursday it was 8 and today it was 7.50. I really have to commend the officers who were trying to make the best of a tricky situation and were very proactive in helping the legit crowd. The officers are still dressed in their civvies for their own well-being, so don't be surprised if a person who's not in uniform starts trying to help you.

Anyway, it turned out to be the shortest time I'd ever taken to settle the visa and 90-day reporting. My Thai friend's advice had been right - if you have to go to CW and can't wait due to deadlines, get there as early as possible in the morning, as there may be problems as the day progresses. As I was leaving, I also saw a tv truck with a huge satellite dish on top and additional buses of people so obviously things are heating up.

Once again, I would like to praise the immigration officers who were handling the delicate situation as best they could. There were a number of people sleeping rough in the big atrium area just next to the immigration doors, and the officers explained that they were opening the doors early to allow us to get to the inner areas where we could sit in greater comfort. Certain officers then started their duties half an hour early and started the processing.

[Child Friendly (Int )School Bangkok]

I don't know whether you've settled your schooling options, but check out jwmontessori.com where there's a Montessori program for pre-schoolers and a home school program for kids up to 12. The set-up is very child-oriented and it has very nice facilities and materials (check out the photos on the website.)