Writing to prisoners Prisoner's name BANGKWANG + building number 1 Nonthaburi Road Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand Dept of Corrections Tel. (662)967-3311-2 Fax. (662) 967-3313 e-mail to prisoners bangkwang_bkprison@hotmail.com FAX Number (662) 589-5252 [[ outside Thailand : (662)-689-5252 ]]
Contact Visits dates are uncertain and may change without notice. Check the Prison Bulletin Board
HOW TO GET TO BANGKWANG ( from downtown Bangkok ) ALTERNATIVE #1 : Easiest and least expensive: Take the Chao Phaya Express boat to Nonthaburi pier. It is at the "end of the line" ... the last stop. ( NOTE : the Chao Phaya Express is NOT one of the "long-tail" boats )! There are three speeds of "express" boats. They all cost about Bt.10 ( ten Bhat ). 1) "one flag" boats. It does NOT stop at all piers ( ask at the dockside for help ) It takes about 45 minutes from downtown to the Nonthaburi Pier. 2) "two flag" boats. It is slower because it makes more frequent stops. 3) "no flag" boats. It stops everywhere. It is possible to take it from a low use "stop" to one of the "one flag" or ("two flag") stops.
ALTERNATIVE #2: Fastest : Take a taxi. It costs about 200-300 Bhat from anywhere in downtown Bangkok. BE SURE your driver understands. Show the destination on a map. BE SURE to say "on the meter" !!! ( otherwise you may have to pay up to Bt.700!! ).
From the Pier ... Walk straight out of the Nonthaburi Pier for about 50 meters. Turn left at the first intersection. Walk about 200 meters to the prison area. The visitors registration office and coffee shop, are to your left, near the river. There are several signs in both English and Thai. Ask the attendant for a visitors pass application in English. Fill it in. Hand it and your passport back through the window. After a few minutes you may get your pass. More likely there will be an announcement calling all visitors to the window. Foreign passes seem to be handed out last. Look at the visit time, printed on your pass. When that time arrives, cross the street to the Visitors Entrance. ( best to follow the Thai people throught the pathways ). Mail can be left at the "Foreign Affairs Office" before entering the visitors area. Once inside the secure area, you must leave your camera, cell-phone and other non-allowable items with the security people. You will be given a claim ID-tag. Gifts for prisoners must be searched and approved at this time. Non-allowed items should be stored with your checked baggage. Take approved gifts with you through the metal detector. Cross the driveway then out the metal doors to the visit area. Pass by the "store", "bank" and many Thai visitors, to the end of the hall-way. Turn left, cross the driveway. Present your pass to the foreign visitor's desk. After "check-in", you may want to return to the store for a bottle of water. This is also a good time to deposit money at the bank or buy some fruits or other things for later delivery to your friends ( you can buy for anyone at any building ). Your friend will arrive in 10 to 30 minutes, depending on staffing and visitors. You may have to shout across about 2 meters of open space between two heavy fences. It becomes very noisy sometimes ! After completing the visit you can leave gifts (ONLY the prisoner you were visiting), at the "gift window". The "gift window" will have many Thai people with big bundles of fruit and clothing. Get a ticket. Fill it in. They will re-inspect your packages, attach the ticket and your passport. They take your gifts for a final check, before delivery to your friend. After about 5 to 15 minutes your gift will be delivered and your passport returned to the desk. Foreign peoples are processed last. Don't worry. Your pasport is safe! As you exit, there is a last chance to spend money at the bank or store. Pass back to the security station for your checked baggage. Before heading home ... cross the street for a cool drink !
RETURNING TO DOWNTOWN BANGKOK:
FASTEST : Taxi to downtown. A "metered taxi: wil cost about Bt.250 - Bt.340. Remember ask for a "metered taxi" (ON THE METER PLEASE).
Most Relaxing and cheapest: The Chao Phaya Express to Downtown : From the Nonthaburi Pier, take the Chao Phaya Express boat, down-river to Bangkok. Connections to the Skytrain are possible. Watch your maps carefully.
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