Dawn [brunette, far right] and Nila [blonde, far right] partnering each other in a traditional Thai dance at prison.

Just before the show was about to begin, female prison wardens wearing their uniform took their positions on the stage.

Only then did the 24 models - all prisoners at Klong Prem women's jail - appear under the glare of the spotlights.

They were wearing dresses designed by 31 of their fellow inmates, who studied design in a special prison programme.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Justice and initiated by the head of Klong Prem, Kanchana Ketkarn, took place near the prison's hospital.

Nila and Dawn are the second pair from the left.

It was designed to showcase work done by the prisoners during the course, which was taught by famous designers.

Among the pretty prisoners-turned-fashion models were two foreign faces: Nila Duginov, a blond-haired beauty from Russia, who has served 10 years of a 41-year sentence for drug trafficking.

Fellow model Vanessa Goosen, 31, of South Africa, has 20 years to serve after being busted with 2.7 kilograms of heroin at Bangkok International Airport in 1994.

Goosen used to be a beauty queen in her home town of Port Elizabeth.

When she was arrested she was pregnant and gave birth in prison. Her child was eventually sent home to South Africa. Duginov also has a son in South Africa, where her family lives.

[Photo: Fashion Show in Lard Yao Prison, March 2004.]

Insert Prisoner's Name
Lard-Yao Women's Correctional Center (Bang Khen)
Building number ___ [insert if displayed]
33/3 Ngam Wong Wan Road
Chatuchak, 10900 Thailand

Expect delays. Your letter may take several weeks to be delivered to a prisoner because of the amount of letters being sent to the prison each day. Every single letter is subject to strict control. This is necessary for security reasons. You may also expect long delays in receiving a response from a prisoner.

NOTE: Oversized letters and parcels will be rejected! Avoid disappointment and do not send these to the prison.

Tips for letter writing

According to the very latest advice, prison authorities will NOT permit the delivery of care packages or oversized envelopes to prisoners in Lard Yao Women's Prison. If you are visiting the prison, you can make purchases from the prison store and/or deposit funds into the prisoners' prison account.

Visiting Times: 0900h to 1100h [9am to 11am] - 1300h to 1800h [1pm to 6pm]

Contact Visits: 9am to 3pm. Permission depends on the prisoners' behaviour and classification. Check with the prison beforehand to be sure you have been granted a contact visit.

Prison Telephone: To contact prison authorities only. This is not a service for prisoners. Be aware that you may experience some difficulties when communicating with prison authorities due to the language differences. (622) 580 0975

Prison Fax: (622) 588 1550

OPTION 1 : Easiest and least expensive:
Take the Chao Phaya Express boat [not the long-tail boats] to Nonthaburi pier and travel to the last stop. There are three speeds of "express" boats. They all cost around 10 Baht.
1. ONE FLAG BOATS - do not stop at all piers and take about 45 minutes from downtown Bangkok to the Nonthaburi Pier. (ask at the dockside for help).
2. TWO FLAG BOATS - are slower but make more frequent stops.
3. NO FLAG BOATS - stop everywhere. It is possible to take it from a low use "stop" to one of the "one flag" or ("two flag") stops. After reaching the Nonthaburi Pier you take a minibus to Klong Prem Prison. Cost is about 10 baht and takes about 20 minutes (depending on traffic).

OPTION 2: Fastest but more expensive.
Take a taxi from anywhere in downtown Bangkok and it will cost you around 200-300 Baht for a one-way journey. Make sure your driver understands exactly where you want to go and be sure to say "on the meter' otherwise you may have to pay up to 700 baht!

OPTION 3: Skytrain
The skytrain is an excellent and convenient way to travel around downtown Bangkok and is air conditioned. It runs till about midnight and sours high above all the traffic and congestion. Check out the map at each station or just ask the ticket operators who will be happy to assist you. Travel to MO CHIT stop. From there you will need to take a taxi to the prison. For more skytrain information, ticket prices, timetables, maps, click here: http://www.bts.co.th/en/index.asp

OPTION 4 : Bus Take a Bus from Downtown Bangkok
City busses are air-conditioned so you won't be a lather of sweat by the time you arrive. Take a bus from the Victory Monument and it stops directly out the front of the Klom Prem Prison and Women's Central prison which are co-located. See also BTS Shuttle Bus: http://www.bts.co.th/en/service.asp

ONCE AT THE PRISON
As your driver enters the round-about, direct him left to the Women's Prison [Bang Khen].

Once entering the gates of the Woman's Prison:
1. Go to the second building on the right. During visiting hours there are usually many people waiting on the chairs outside. If you speak Thai you will know what to do. If you do not speak Thai then ask at the desk for an English form.
2. Complete the form then return it to the desk officer with your passport.
3. Wait while your form is processed. [usually 10-30 minutes).
4. Listen carefully to the announcements for the name of the person you are visiting. When you hear it go back to the desk officer for your passport and a visiting slip. Follow the others to the visit area.

Note: Once you establish contact with a prisoner then you can ask them what the best way is of supporting them. Things change from time to time and they are in the best position to tell you of those changes [if possible].

Visit inmates Via Tele-Conferencing System
Many relatives of the inmates have mentioned a long travel from their houses to prisons or correctional facilities as a major barrier for them to visit their love ones. To remove such barrier, utilising technological innovation, Thai Department of Corrections has therefore introduced an e-visiting project to allow prisoners to remotely communicate with their relatives in real time. Click Here for More Informaiton.

Buddhism isn't just a dominant religion, but the outlook, the moral philosophy and the way of life in the Thai kingdom renowned as the Land of Smiles. It is true that a number of missionaries operate legally in Thailand but we would hope that you do not use the prisoners to further your own religious aims. The last thing they need is anyone's judgements, no matter how well intended. You must also respect the fact that Thais are passionate about their religion and you should observe these customs whenever you visit are prisoner. Keep in mind that Thais regard the Lord Buddha side-by-side with their beloved King and the royal family with respect bordering on awe. Read more here:

You must remember that diplomacy will yield far greater results than an aggressive or emotive appeal. It is a difficult position that Consular Staff are subjected to; and we know that many of these cases are complicated.

Please do not be disrespectful at any time because it will not help those detained. Rather, you should simply write to introduce yourself, state your concern, and appeal to the Consular Staff in a respectful and compassionate manner.

Click for List of Foreign Embassies in Thailand

Thailand is not a Welfare State, and we are only visitors in the Kingdom.

The Women's Prison may be the best smoke -free zone in Thailand. Prisoners are not allowed to smoke.

INMATE'S DAILY ROUTINE

(Except Saturday and Sunday)
06.00 Hours Unlock
07.30 Hours Breakfast
08.30 Hours Attend vocational training or educational programs
12.00 Hours Lunch
13.00 Hours Attend vocational training of educational programs
15.30 Hours Recreation and personal activities
16.30 Hours Dinner
17.30 Hours Lockup
21.00 Hours Bed time

Dormitory	Kitchen	Kitchen
School	School

HRH Princess Maha Chakree Sirindhon Presided over the Opening of Prom Panya Library

At Central Women Correctional Institution, women prisoners have demonstrated to the Princess their skills on vocational training such as fresh flower mobile, merit making handicraft, and traditional Thai dessert. Men prisoners of Klong Prem Central Prison have shown their artistic skills as the making of Thai drama traditional mask, sand painting, and traditional gold lacquering handicraft. They have received a touched compliment that "Some Thai traditional works that could be lost in these present time should be preserved and done by prisoners". After visiting the Medical Correctional Institution, the Princess has gracefully given a comment on Thai corrections that "Thai prisons have well perceived prisoners as human being; every prison should respect human dignity". Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakree Sirindhorn has melted all hearts of correctional officials as one. Her act of kindness has empowered the will to perform good deed of providing meaningful rehabilitation to all offenders in Thailand. Click Here for information about training for female inmates.