Chainsaw

"Unfortunately, as I post, they will still be collecting tea money, and be involved in bribery, extortion and corruption. As I mentioned, the jet-ski scam continues, unabated.

I hardly think one postive interaction at a traffic stop can be applauded as a cultural change to a more efficient and more honest BiB.

You call me negative, but, thousands of business owners here are still being coerced into making their monthly corrupt payments to the BiB. This is a fact. I have been told this, first hand, by many, and have even witnessed the hand over on one occasion."

Do you know what 'ad nauseum' means? You're right on one point you do 'hardly think'.

Anyway, now that you've given your support for my request. I'm sure the TV members will be more confident in relating any positive experiences with the BIB. That's what this thread is about - positive experiences.

It would be a refreshing change if you stopped droning on about the negative stuff, you've made your opinion very clear.

Or are you just trolling to sabotage this thread? If so, that's sad.

Just the usual suspect trying to divert the thread.

It's still about new policemen in Phuket, lets see if anyone else has had any positive experiences with the BIB lately.

We've had the negative opinions about the police droning on and on ad nauseum, lets hear about the good stuff!

i personally would like to see young females,lets call them gibs for now .... around the age they finish uni, now i would pull over on a voluntary basis to be interogated .... now that would be a refreshing change ..as for noticing new young bibs same shit different day ....

I expect you would insist on being strip searched too!

Well lets get back on the topic.

Has anyone else noticed that there are quite a few new young BIB on the island these days?

The ones I've encountered seem to have a much friendlier attitude towards farangs than the old overweight, surly guys who seem to be disappearing from Phuket.

Could it be that the bad eggs are being replaced?

I've also noticed that there are considerably more arrests being made of the gun carrying, drug dealing fraternity these days.

Positive steps for sure.

Sure Chainsaw, when you don't throw bad language out at them or flip them the bird, they probably (mistakenly) took you to be an o.k. sort of bloke.

You know me Grumpy, always sweetness and light.

"Flip the bird"? You colonials have such a quaint vocabulary!

"Flip the bird" isnt one of our sayings, Im pretty sure its American.

Yep, us Brits still view America as one of the colonies.

"lets hope they get the chance to be real policemen and regain some respect for the uniform." - you use of the word "regain" suggests "real policemen" did, at some stage, have "repect for the uniform."

Since when has Thailand ever had "real policemen" who had "respect for the uniform?"

What a sad little negative world you've created for yourself.

Really?

Coming from someone who posts, "Faith in humanity restored."

Here you are applauding the BiB, and not only the BiB, but the Phuket BiB - one of the most corrupt police services in Thailand, therefore, the world.

If the young policemen tries to break the mould, he will be transferred. You've been here long enough to know that's what awaits him, should he not join the ranks of the corrupt.

Not to mention, he most likely has to collect corrupt payments in order to pay for his uniform, gun, bike, and to be stationed on Phuket.

I think it is laughable that you create a thread stating it's "refreshing" to see police here actually doing traffic duty, their job, while some poor bastard only metres away is getting extorted for a scratch on a jet-ski.

"a refreshing change from my last contact with a TPV" - so, it appears the score is 1 - 1 at half time.

So, it appears, the game of life is in the equalibrium for you, neither negative, or positive.

I'm a postive person. It's my realistic view about living on Phuket that keeps me that way.

I rest my case....

Sure Chainsaw, when you don't throw bad language out at them or flip them the bird, they probably (mistakenly) took you to be an o.k. sort of bloke.

You know me Grumpy, always sweetness and light.

"Flip the bird"? You colonials have such a quaint vocabulary!

I have been looking for property in Phuket for over a year, casually though. Meaning I keep an eye on some agent websites and check out places while driving around if I feel like doing so every now and then. But it's not like I really need something quickly. I think there are a bunch of other folks in a similar situation like me. There is just no pressing need (e.g. rapidly climbing prices) to buy urgently. The prices have gone so high in the past couple years that they are mostly unrealistic now. Thailand has not been the most stable country, then the visa crackdown scared a whole lot of people away. Combined with the fact that foreigners cannot own land, that makes property a tough sell if it's not a really good deal. If you can get property in another more stable but equally beautiful place, with less crime, scams, dirt and on top much less risk, why would you buy here?

Phuket is not a place for expats to live a nice family life. It wouldn't be my first choice for bringing kids up. It's not easy to get a well paying job for young people either. Tourists don't buy property. Most thais don't have the money to buy the luxury villas - they buy houses in secure estates or condos and for that they don't need an agent. So who is left? Retirees? They go for less expensive houses and have time to research on their own.

Properties are for sale for years on end and prices keep climbing. Doesn't make sense. There is no logic in the market here. Yes it's a buyers market but the market is <removed> up. No data available on recent sales, questionable build quality in many cases, countruction companies that bring the term "drive-by building" to my head also don't add anything positive.

I am now waiting for a solid crash and will pick up some good deal then. If I am still around here by then, depends on how Phuket can cope with its problems.

Good post, and what's it all telling you???? ..................................Rent - don't buy.

Unless you are someone who would prefer to live in a dwelling built themselves, befitting their individuality, alter at their own will, grow a garden to their own taste, have PETS! without the need to consult some 'landlord' being able to throw you out on a moments notice. Not worry about 'rent' and said landlord's ability to increase same as and when particularly if times get hard.

If, however, you really don't mind the any of the above, yes, rent. And forever be on your guard as to who holds the cards. The rest is BS. Including property 'investment' here.

You described my situation exactly there jpeg. Great innit?

"You may think you're everybody but you're only a few, because I'm some of them"

Maybe then you would grasp the true meaning of Carpe Diem!

Something to do with fish?

No, you're probably thinking of "Carpe Carp"

Number 1: that's not true at all. Best proven by taking the inverse example: if you have no money you'll likely run into some pretty shitty situations that make you quite unhappy.

You missed the meaning entirely. I said stop worrying about money! I didn't say stop worrying about having no money. I assumed that the PO isn't destitute.

Number 2: I didn't experience this at all and I interact with Thais quite a bit.

Well that's just your experience maybe it's the kind of people you interact with, e.g. the money chasers. I interact with Thais all the time and have done for the past 15 years and I find them infinitely more patient than the average farang.

Number 3: You missed the Carpe Diem point entirely and started banging on about planning ahead and other countries debts etc. Don't you understand my words? The meaning was quite simple. STOP WORRYING ABOUT MONEY!

I really do think that you especially would benefit from a day at the beach without your laptop and phone just to give yourself some perspective. Maybe then you would grasp the true meaning of Carpe Diem!

I would advise the OP to check out Rawai at the Southern tip of Phuket, if he's looking for somewhere other than the sordid part of the island.

Excellent beaches (Nai Harn, Ya Nui, Laem Ka and many boat trips available from Rawai Beach) Lots of great inexpensive restaurants serving a variety of cuisines from many nationalities.

Many small, reasonably priced resorts.

A big bonus is the fresh, clean air!

Come on down!

@NKM

Sigh sigh - if you googled anywhere in the world you will find 'bad' stories, even where you currently live.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who doesn't believe he lives in Patong nor Thailand.

See above post.

I've been living in Patong for around 2 years now, with no intention of moving to Rawai anytime soon.

Lots of folks here in Rawai are very pleased and relieved to know that.

In the interest of fairness, we've all agreed not to move to smelly Patong.

Righto. Both names correct.

Got it.

How's your tongue?

PhuketRichard and NKM,

by your assumptions that nothing will be done if you complain, and spreading your apathetic opinions re changes in Phuket, makes you part of the problem IMHO.

We have a couple of large dogs who, truth be known, wouldn't hurt a fly, but when they start barking they sound as if they would rip out the throat of any intruder.

They've gone off a few times in the middle of the night. It's impossible to tell if they were scaring off potential burglars , or were just letting a strange cat know where to go.

However, they give us a sense of security at night.

Same here. I think a couple of dogs are much more of a deterrent to would-be burglars than cameras. Lots of dogs available free at Soi dogs, already vaccinated and spayed.

I have the feeling it is far less this year, I hear nothing in my area about burglaries.

Same here.

So anyway, are you looking for Harleys or road bikes? I always take my meds in the evening (it's been a habit of mine since the 60s).

I'll call in at Tony's tomorrow and get the information you need, if you want to hire road bikes. Let me know ASAP.

(Sorry for digressing about the Rawai Sois, I tried to give you some helpful in formation and I thought it was important that the directions were correct but was sidetracked, it's all part of being in a forum.

Chill.

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yes it does connect at a tee junction , where the swiss bakery is or was ..right opposite that is the place ...on the right a little..

That's not Sai Yuan, it's the continuation of Visit Rd.

for those that live in rawai , we all refer to that soi as sai yuan ..however if you wish to follow a google map ,then you could argue that in fact its called another un named road, which looks like it extends from the end of viset rd, but with a different road ref number ... in order to find the bike shop we need to give directions from planet earth not mars . So soi cockmakham is the ref point still, where it meets the soi formally known as soi sai yuan , or on mars the extension of viset rd ...

No WE don't all refer to it as Sai Yuan (I've lived in Rawai for 12 years) Sai Yuan runs from the traffic lights on Visit Rd. to the 3-way intersection by Gig's Jam Club, most people who live in Rawai know this.

As you rightly said Tony's bike hire shop is slightly to the right opposite the end of Soi Cockmakham where it meets the road that has NEVER been known as Sai Yuan because it isn't Sai Yuan. Got it now? Calm down.

yes it does connect at a tee junction , where the swiss bakery is or was ..right opposite that is the place ...on the right a little..

That's not Sai Yuan, it's the continuation of Visit Rd.

Depends whether you want Harley style (in which case, the Swedish guy is the place to go) or the bigger road bikes, if so there's a place in Rawai opposite the end of soi Cockmakham (not the Nikita Bar end) which hires out these kind of bikes.

On Soi Sai Yuan and near Chokmakham? It was Mike's Bikes, I think he's a forum member, but I for some reason thought they moved. Maybe not, I don't turn right that often from Cokmakham onto Sai Yuan, usually left away from the police trap.

Soi Cokmakham doesn't connect with Sai Yuan at any point. The guy with the big road bikes is an Englishman called Tony.