Guess...

Exactly what do you think is wrong with this picture? Look really, really hard. Or take a wild guess.

The picture from this angle seems to suggest that the old guy is just being a chee ko pek*, staring at her ass. But that was not the point I was trying to make - he just happened to be in the way when this picture was taken. What's really wrong in the above picture is this:

Why the hell would she join a queue meant for foreign passport holders at the airport? This had me completely baffled for the following reasons:

• Unless she can't read the signs, one would think that it is blindingly obvious that these 10-15 counters were meant only for foreign passport holders
• There were at least 4 other counters specifically for Thai passport holders
• There were less than 2 or 3 people queuing at the Thai passport counters at any one time. Some of the counters for Thai passports had no other people queuing up and were practically EMPTY. (give those officers some work, will you!)
• The queue at the foreign line was horrendously long. Each and every counter opened had people queuing up to the brim, with each wait lasting at least half an hour before they stamp you through
• As a local at your own airport, wouldn't you be beaming at all those "express" priviledges which allow you to clear immigration within the shortest time possible? Hell, I know I would!

This is not the first time I've seen this. If they are with some friends, they usually tend to dress really fashionably and even speak some English (to each other) while in queue. Each time I searched my thoughts on a logical and plausible explanation for such illogical behaviour. I do have a few theories:

1. Herd mentality - just follow the crowd, don't ask any questions and obliviously blur
2. Illiterate or deaf or mute or blind or a combo of these.
3. A high need to be seen and establish herself as non-Thai (this is sad, if true)

Still, one can speculate the theories but I simply can't fathom this strange Thai antics. I mean, who in the right mind would want to spend hours queuing up at the immigration if you can avoid it, especially if you know there's always a special lane for you?

Although, I had to laugh witnessing the fact that she was turned away as she got to her turn. The officer had refuse her entry at that point and she was promptly told to go to the Thai counter. (snigger)

* chee ko pek: Singlish for dirty old man