GiantFan

A little bit off topic. Had an opportunity to buy a Rawai guesthouse last month. The owner was quite open about bookings history. Totally full in Dec/Jan/Feb. Between 20 - 50 percent the other 8 months. Couldn't see making any money, so passed. I see a very large Thai owned hotel is being built at the junction near the Sea Gypsy Village. Pie in the sky.

Even though living here for 7 years, I am a Rawai novice. Besides retiree's and high end rental villa's, what are the tourist arrivals like in Rawai? Are more people choosing Rawai vs. West Coast beaches? I am guessing that it's a younger crowd on a budget.

Not necessarily the cheapest of the cheap, but you certainly get what you pay for here! Good villas and good service

Crikey! These are 30,000thb+ monthly rental villas, the OP needs a bungalow for a few days maybe a week.

Has anyone mentioned those Shrek apartments? Not the nicest looking building but that would be a great location for the OP. Almost across from my favorite sauna, walking distance to Rawai Beach and Nai Harn Beach, lots of restaurants and bars nearby.

Yes, but only 20K in the low season. HHH!

Of course, the financial wizards at Peua Thai had NO IDEA what the cost of their campaign promise might be...and the poor working people assumed it was some kind of magic made by Khun Thaksin.

Promise them anything, and then have someone else to blame when the result (election landslide) is achieved, and the thing won't fly...where was the Thai Chamber of Commerce during the campaigning?

Good points. Reminds me of the baht healthcare plan that Thaksin started. Hospitals left holding the bag. Also, loans to farmers. They didn't realize that they needed to be repaid. Lots of Fortuna's in Isaan, but eventually, lots of land sold to repay the loan.

I saw a reference to this website on this forum. I made a fairly extensive check on the items available and it looks good. Pretty much all I am looking for, albeit a bit of a French flair on the cold cuts, but fine. English mustard would be a nice addition. I've signed up and plan to do a trial run next week.

Has anybody used this service yet?

I have a 5 year old Nissan Wingroad NV. Everyone stop laughing.

OK, a rock kicked up and made a very small crack in the windscreen. Probably about 1 - 2 mm. I have read about a way to fix it, but not sure if anyone knows of a local company (Patong / Kathu preferred)that will do it. Can anyone help?

6 years never had a problem with Astro. They don't take channels away, they actually give you 1 or 2 new ones every year. Recently added ITV Granada. Talk to Joe at Jaksat.

My buddy has a 5 - 6 year old Honda Wave registered in his name from the Honda dealer in south Patong. He has been transferred by his company and will not be back to Phuket for a while. The bike is parked in my garage at the moment. He has asked me to sell it on to pay me back for money that he owes me. He sent me the Green Book (not stolen).

I think the easiest way is to transfer to my name first. Years ago, I knew a man (husband of a waitress I knew) that went down to the Land Transport Department every day to register cars / motorbikes, but I have lost contact with him. Anyone know of someone that does this? What documentation is required?

BTW, never see Honda Wave's for sale in the Gazette. Any idea why? What is a 6 y.o. Wave (110 cc) worth these days? Low mileage (3 - 4K km).

Why are you asking HERE?! Just ask anyone (THAI) at your local 'mom'n'pop' shop, hardware store/garden store ... Jeezuz ... 'rue mee khon tam suan mai?' and they'll give you a number/send someone round.

Good idea. Went down the road to my local mom & pop, but they didn't know anyone that would be interested. Will keep looking.

You say you are based in Patong, is the pruning you want done in Patong or somewhere else in Phuket

My home is in Patong. Soi off Phrabaramee Rd.

I have contacted numerous local comopanies to get a quote to prune a few of my trees and cart the rubish away. They all are happy to prune them, but carting away seems to be the problem. All are "too busy" at the moment to quote. The one company that did stop by to have a look said it would take one day for a team of 4 guys.

My job may be too small for the well known companies (that advertise in the Gazette, et al) to bother. I am happy to work with a smaller, hungrier, company. I am based in Patong.

Anyone have a recomendation?

I just purchased a sprayer to do my own pest control around my villa. Cheaper than the other pest guys for 1/10th of the price. One problem is the bag of powder that I purchased at HomePro (0.5% w/w Cypermethrin) is not the exact stuff. It is insoluble in water and clogs up the nozzle. I need to find its cousin (pyrethroid based but not sure of the name), preferably already in a concentrated liquid form. Any help? Checked HomePro again at Tesco Lotus, but no luck.

Or is this another one of those scams to prevent the farang from doing a bit of DIY (recall the previous blogs on the availability of grass seed in Phuket).

E-Coli from Vacchira would be interesting. Which department would I contact?

Answer back from Bangkok company that tested to the Thai Standard for potable water (listed 30+ things that they tested for) was THB 20K. One problem was that the sample needed to be kept at 4 degrees C on the way to Bangkok. Major hassle.

Thanks for the info on ESP. Will check them out tomorrow.

I would like to have my well water tested. Have sent emails to a few companies, but no response. University Department of Environment says that they are thinking about offering, but not for a while. Any companies that do this in Phuket?

they should be focusing on Govt departments like the Thai FDA!! Extortionists in the extreme

Agree. Import beauacracy to bring in F&B is so over the top. Thai products go into the USA with little extra testing, etc.... Spoke to the US trade rep, but too small to worry about. Thai's can also purchase property in the US, go figure.

notice all those two sided revolving box's for advertsing along the road between Katu and the big Lotus. I drive it every day and have only seen ads on them maybe 2% of the time since they were installed.

True. But must be a good deal for Kathu government. They are all on government land, so must have paid a fortune to install them. They are dangerous as well. On the road between Caltex and Tesco-Lotus, I saw one was T-boned by a car. Concrete plinth was torn out of the ground. Would have like to see the result on the car that hit it.

Reminds me of the multi million (usd ??) idea of a magic show on the top floor of jungceylon..

Did that get started ??

Construction started up last month. Supposed to kick off mid-April, but that looks optimistic. They ran some adverts in the Gazette for ticket, marketing, etc.... staff, so it looks like it's the real deal.

My favorite station is 91.5 FM. BBC at 6AM, hourly BBC news updates, good music with Doris and Johnny O as well as sports on the weekend.

Lately, the evening show is house music. Not sure if I'm just too old to appreciare it. The show seems to be targeting overseas internet listeners, with rebroadcast at 3AM - 6AM Phuket time to get the London / Euro clubbers hopping whilst they get ready to go out.

I don't hear local advertisers during the "house show" so why not delay it until midnight, play real music in the evening! Also, if this show can be franchised to European locations, why not get local clubs to pay a fee to air it? Sure it will be hard, but not impossible.

guess its easier to ask here than to depress your brake and move your steering wheel in a counter clockwise motion and check for yourself.

Yes it is. Thanks to all who have responded. Walking around 100 shops in the heat to find a bargain is not worth my time. Perhaps yours is less valuable.

You can by them at Tesco/Lotus as I did. But a bigger selection is when you go from Tesco/Lotus, through the intersection towards airport on Bye Pass Road. Just on left side you see they sells paint and there is a turnaround. Walk into the shop and in the back, do not walk up any steps, you see they have a good selection. Good luck!

I think this place is called "HomeMart".

Anybody been to the Premium Outlet on the Bypass Road? Whenever I drive by, it looks empty. Worth a visit?

Went to get a spare part last month at the old place near BMP on the Bypass Road. Surprise. Just go see them. Down to Boat Lagoon, make a right at the light at the Toyota shop, up the hill and it's on the left. Easy to miss. I had to reverse as I went passed the driveway.

If a simple rectangular plastic plate, you may want to consider silk screening. I had the need for about 50 plates with the same wording on all. The T-shirt company over in Kathu (near police box) did a good job. You will need to supply them with the artwork. About 5 baht / pc. You will also need to give them the plastic piece.

Trying to find a repair shop in Patong for my JRD. The plastic bit on the right throttle broke (housing for on/off button, starter, etc...). Tried to contact JRD in Malaysia for parts / authorized service centre, but no reply. Anybody know somebody?

Not 100% related, but can anyone advise if I can bring garbage directly to the "Garbage Man"? I have about 20 boxes of useless items and don't want to leave them out on the road. Prefer Patong.

Had a nose the other day. Next to Banana IT is boarded up with a lot of construction permits posted up. The door was open and all that is inside is an empty room. No rendering / paint, no chairs, no stage, nothing. It is going to take months to fit it out. I see that they advertised for a lot of staff on a few local websites back in October. Putting the cart before the house (Ha Ha Ha).