Missing In Bangkok

Came across this story in the Jan/Feb issue of Spring, a publication distributed by the North East Community Development Council. Names of the people featured in the real story has been changed.I wanted to reproduce the story to remind people that dangerous people exist in apparently safe cities like Bangkok.


Lost Love

It was to be their second honeymoon but it turned out to be the last time *John, 54 would ever see his wife Linda* Tesxt Aileen Lai

"My wife often dreamed about going on a second honeymoon when we were done bringing up the kids. That dream came true three years ago when we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. Linda didn't want to go to any place exotic or expensive. She thought Bangkok for a week would do just great.

Bangkok was a special place for us- it was where we first met. I was on a vacation with some college mates and Linda was there with her parents. We were in the sametour group and on one occassion, my group had a little misunderstanding with her father over a table at a restaurant. You can imagine her parents' first impression of me...

However, something between Linda and I clicked. we secretly exchanged contact details and quickly became pen pals. We sarted dating in no time.

Naturally, her dad was furious when he found out. The Bangkok incident aside, he disliked the fact that I was three years younger than Linda, and also that I wasn't from a wealthy family.He even tried to stop us from dating but we presevered.

Five years later, we tied the knot and went on to have two beautiful children, who are now an accountant and a lawyer. I am happy my realationship with Linda's folks also improved over the years when we had our kids.

Life was great until that fateful trip We were to be in Bangkok around Christmas and linda excitedly planned everything months in advance.

The day after arriving in Bangkok, where we had checked into a prestigious five star hotel in the central district, we decided to visit a few temples on the outskirts of the city. Just as we hailed a cab, Linda realised she had forgotten the camera. I suggested she wait in the cab while i went up to get it. She smiled and nodded at me.

When I got back down 10 minutes later, the cab was gone. So was linda. I checked frantically and asked the hotel staff, but none of them knew anything. I recall going crazy, shouting at everyone and running around the vicinity! I searched aimlessly for hours with tears straming down my face, all to no avail.

When I had calmed down, i filed a police report and imeditly extended my stay for a month. I exhausted every avenue looking for my dear Linda. With the help of a friend, I even approached some triads for help. My in laws and children flew in to help too, but we simply couldn't find any trace of Linda.The whole thing didn't make any sense.
how could Linda disappeared just like tha?

A month pased before I was advised by local authorities to return to Singapore. I cried everytime I thought of Linda. I couldn't believe that she had gone missing just leke that, and I couldn't imagine what had happened to her. I could barely eat or sleep for months.

I eventually quit my job and went back to Bangkok every couple of months, hoping against hope that I would be granted a miracle and Linda would suddenly show up safe. It remains extrememly painful to go back I get flashes of thatfateful day all the time and I blame myself for leaving her alone in the taxi.

Linda my love for you remains strong as ever and I will never stop looking for you. If I do not se you in this lifetime, I pray you remain safe. We await your return. You are in our hearts forever."