GiantFan

I've used Garnett Symonds in the past and thought he was good. Off Sai Yuan as well. He has a website. You need an appointment as his hours are ad hoc.

If you are talking pizza, I would always use Pizzeria Hut on Soi Sansabai in Patong. Prices have gone up a bit from years gone by, but the pizza is good (wood fired oven). They deliver in Patong. I usually go for one of there set menus, which includes a 10" pizza, chips, and several chicken wings. I don't have the menu handy, but something like THB 420, including delivery.

That's the old Rang Rak (than it became Players Retreat). Not exactly sure what you want it for? Was done up a few times in recent years. Bathrooms were OK and it had a pretty nice kitchen. Parking on the road is available, but not ideal. Price seems way too high.

If you were a person and you travelled from say Australia or Europe to Thailand by boat, subjected to massive tempreture swings and bounced around on the decks of a ship and on the back of a truck for days at a time, my guess is you'd finish your journey in a somewhat of a worse state than when you started, imgaine how the wine feels! And you wonder why you can't get decent wine here.

I would say the 400% tax on wines would be more the real issue wouldn't you?

+1

I purchased 2 washers in 9 years. Both times when I needed service, I went back to HomePro where I purchased them. They sent them back to Bangkok for service. It took a while, about 3 - 4 weeks, but they were fixed and the price was very reasonable.

You don't need to show them an invoice to prove you purchased from HomePro. As long as they are selling that brand (and they do sell Karcher) they will service it.

I also noticed in Patong today the road that takes you to the beach road on the right hand side has all been demolished. It cant have been more than 3 years old. Its a shame as it was a good place to park

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If that's the place nearly opposite Duanjitt Resort, I noticed that myself last month. Quite a large plot of land. I also enjoyed the parking. Had a few beers at Phuket Island Lager Bar many years ago and a burger at Steveo's Burgers. That place (DJ Plaza, i think) never seemed to take off. I wonder if any of the owners were compensated? TIT.

I love the guys driving huge 4WD trucks that inch over the bumps.

I will be leaving next month to start a new job outside of Thailand. I will close down my company, WP, etc..., which my accountant advises will take around 6 months. I was considering making the company a "Dormant" company, but my accountant believes this is not the best choice. That's not what I'm writing about.

Having paid into Social Security for the last 9 years, my friends wife advised me not to cancel my Social, but to use Section 39 of the Act to "pay-in" after I close the company down. I can pay via standing order every month from my BKK Bank account and I will keep my medical benefits (for when I come back to Thailand for visits) and I can take the Pension portion of Social and get a lump sum payout when I turn 60 y.o. And best of all, the monthly fee is THB 452.

Anyone ever gone down this road?

The fee may have also been for the early pick up. Normally, it's in the afternoon. If your agent got your PP's back in the AM, you were able to get back much earlier than if you got them back at 1 - 2 PM.

My friend renewed his retirement visa at savanaket 6 months ago and went to the consulate at about 10AM for pick up. He explained that his Thai wife was ill and that they wanted to depart Laos as fast as possible. They believed him and gave him his PP early. So it can be done if you are a smooth talker. Good Luck.

My local Family Mart has been out of Archa for a few weeks now. My buddy up in Ubon mentioned that they are out of stock as well. Apparently, his sources say that a new batch is being produced and will be available soon. Not sure how the factory can let this happen.

If you are from an APEC country, you can apply for an APEC Business Traveler Card. A Kiwi and a HK friend of mine have them. They get 3 months on arrival.

Came through in the evening a few days ago (about 8PM). Was very surprised that the contractor was actually still at work at this hour. Saw quite a bit of welding sparks. Glad to see it. Now if the contractor along Sai Kor Road in Patong could get the hint.

New PP apps probably delayed.

I presume at the moment it is on white plate with green lettering? If so just change the name, no need to change the plate (as indicated in the title).

Thanks Don / Stevenl. Yes, currently on white plate / green lettering. I purchased it used, and it was on a white plate / black lettering. Since I purchased in the company name (no WP at the time), I was told to go for the white / green. Not sure if that was 100% true, but I was a newbie at the time.

I am considering changing the registration of my car from a company plate to a personal plate. I could keep it as a company registration and drive it till it dies, but prefer to have it in my name if I wish to sell it in the future. I am most likely closing down my company and though the car has depreciated to zero asset value, I'm sure the bureaucracy at the LTA will require an up-to-date company registration from the DBA if I were to sell it in the future.

I will have my accountant handle to docs, but just wondering if anyone had experience in doing this and what the tax / fees would be? It's a 2004 Nissan NV, so probably worth around THB 100,000, maybe a little more. Company still active and I have a WP.

Thanks.

Here are my two favorite Phuket restaurants 2013:

Number 6 Restaurant in Patong: Good and affordable authentic thai food. Don't waste your time waiting for a table in the Number 6 Restaurant on the main road, but ask the waiter for the free shuttle bus up to their second restaurant up in the hills. It's more quiet there and you have a wonderful view over the bay. Unfortunately, the waiters are a little bit slow, but the food is very good.

Kata Kitchen in Kata Beach: If you like personal service and authentic thai food, don't miss Kata Kitchen in Kata Beach. It's quite a walk away from the main road, but they offer a free pickup service: cheap cheap and good good! Check my review on Phuket-Trip

Have a good Dinner

genuine thai food in the tourist ghetto? dont think so..

Of course you will find genuine Thai food in Kata and Patong. The place mentioned are not authentic Thai, but nice enough places.

Agree. No. 6 is OK, but watered down to farang taste buds. Much more authentic is Karb Gluaay (Banana Leaf in Thai) down on Phrabaramee Road (next to Andaman Divers Hotel). They just expanded to the adjoining building next door. Very authentic Thai food. Most customers are Thai. The new outlet has an air-con option, if you don't want to eat at the side of the road.

You need 7 months validity on WP to get 1 year multi B visa in Penang.

Perhaps your accountant is confusing VAT refund and expense. My car is a Nissan NV with business plates. I can claim petrol / repair / etc... as expenses on the company but no VAT. It was explained to me that only pick-up trucks / vans / etc... could be categorized as company vehicles and get the VAT invoice.

Too bad. I have / had eaten there many times. I think the problem is with Index Mall. Very few walk by customers. Many of the shops in the lower level have come and gone over the years.

The Korean tour buses obviously don't pay the normal price that we do. Maybe they couldn't park their buses on the bypass road anymore!

dear all,

i'm not from phuket but am coming for holiday with family this weekend... can any kind person tell me where i can watch "LIVE" F1 race (Hungary) this sun at 8pm? I'm staying at the Sala Resort and it seems it's really near the airport? i know my hotel doesn't have the right channel to show it. Please help.

thanks guys. De

F1 will be on FoxSports channel on our local cable / satellite. Many hotels only have the most basic channels, as you point out. Not far from your hotel is Bill Bentley's pub in Turtle Village next to the Marriott Residence (might be called Renaissance). Good pub with all the sports you could want.

well the taxi associations of patong and Kata/Karon are receiving direct payments from every paying passenger on the bus. l got this from a good source

The whole of JJ Plaza is leased to "you know who". My friend had a unit there a couple of years ago and I don't think he is a BS'er. They were trying to get this place to become the New Bangla a while back. So the bus stops here now. Makes sense. Pay the boss a "landing fee" and he will keep the boyz quiet.

Nanai Rd. The old Ubol wet market.

Please, having dealt with the FDA for many years, I think they are only concerned with preventing foreign products being imported into Thailand. Import barrier.

Pay through the nose for re-testing, etc... and the Thai %'s are way off the international norms. I have a friend that was importing milk and had to stash her samples in her car trunk for a week so that the % of some vitamin or other would come down to Thai standards. Pure import barrier.

Check the date... 13 July!!!