Chalongian

That Apple shop in central is an official reseller but sell is all they can do. They can't deal with warranty's or service / repairs and the staff there are a useless bunch of monkeys. The only thing they could advise you on is which phone cover looks the prettiest. I still can't understand why Apple allow them to advertise themselves as an istudio. Official istudios everywhere else in the world have competent staff and are still selling the 3Gs but iphones are officially for sale in most other countries, in Thailand they are not (from Apple). This is also the reason why your iphones international warranty wont work here.

My bet is the 4 is more profitable so why bother stocking the 3Gs.

Dude be full of sh*t! One look at his website reveals he's a writer, fighter, true actor and gob <deleted>. Raised on the mean streets of Ohio by his single mom because his bad ass dad wasn't around. He overcame the odds and learned to take care of himself. Now currently in Thailand to train at a camp in the jungle, where "I will be putting my head in front of the fists, shins, elbows and knees of short deadly Thai men every day". Quote taken from one of the three pages of his blog entitled "Why I'm Flying to Thailand to Fight without health insurance" (sounds like a good move Miller). In his spare time he will be swimming with sharks and playing with anacondas from what I can gather. John Rambo eat your heart out. Cant wait for the full story to come out on this one.

I wouldn't really say I was going from big city folk to country folk, more like one tourist resort area to another, specifically KhaoLak, Krabi, and Samui. Though I will say the few times I was in Pattaya I felt the feeling from the locals was the same as in Phuket.

I was in Ao nang a month or so ago with a Thai friend who's lived in Phuket for 15 years. One of the first things she noticed and mentioned after a walk around town was that the Thai people in Ao nang haven't changed and are still nice people. It did seem like a much friendlier and happier place to me.

I have recently been told of the vote buying that supposedly goes on here. I know this place is corrupt to the core but Im still quite surprised to hear about this. from what I have been told representatives from the candidate go to visit each house and offer money somewhere around 1000 bahts or so to each voter, who in turn promises their vote and signs as a promise. When Its time to vote, there are people there checking if they have voted as promised and crossing them off the list. Money to be returned if not. I am lead to believe that the majority of locals will simply vote for whoever gives them the most money and its as simple as that. This in turn means whatever has been spent on vote buying has to somehow be recouped by large amounts of cash being creamed from somewhere or other. Is this really how it works and are the locals that are registered to vote here really that dumb ?

Would love to know more about this, can anyone shed anymore light ?

I think it's extremely funny, but I have to admit there is some truth in the whole thing. Try buying real cologne, cell phones, cheese or clothes that actually fit a westerner. It does get expensive. The value for broadband isn't there, and if you want quality in this city you have to pay for it. I have thought this city is expensive, but then I have to remember I'm in a developing country. But fruit is super cheap here, as well as many other things. Funny, but I think it's partially true!

Unless you are buying Mangosteen in Phuket which is going for 350 - 400 bahts per Kilo at the moment!

When I lived in Patong I used to do laps at the two 25m pools in Patong Resort where the membership was cheap. You can enter from the Soi Patong Resort side without having to go through a lobby but you should check first what the current rules are.

Second this recommendation, the pool on the same side as the reception building is a good size and was almost always empty when I've stayed there in the past. Main entry is from rat u thit road near to the christin massage.

I have problems buying size 12 runners at all the major sports stores but the outlet sports stores has a bigger selection and up to size 14.

I would also check out the specials on golf stuff, so cheap and if you like Rip Curl/Billabong surf gear, this shop is at least 50% off compared to Central pricing.

No food worth eating so eat before or after.

The Rip curl/Billabong stuff thats cheap is usually XXL or just <deleted> looking stuff that they couldn't sell in other stores, the decent stuff is not much cheaper than elsewhere. I remember looking in a few other shops and thinking they were all pretty crap. There was a sports shop (possibly Nike) that seemed to have a good selection of sports shoes at discounted prices. If you don't have your own transport, don't waste your time, just give it a miss along with the majority of the phuket population. Otherwise get off your lazy ass and into your car, or onto your bike and take a look for yourself, Its not that far away.

Any thai speakers? (wives)

What's written on the T-shirts?

The first 2 characters and the full stop are an abbreviation for Provincial police station. The last part says Kathu. Finally all that studying's coming in useful for something.

14.29, no signal chalong!

Hi all, I was just wondering if anyone out there knows of a nice hotel in the Khao san road area that does not charge a joiner fee? When I say a nice hotel I mean not a grotty guesthouse with a tiny room and 10 inch tv stuck in the corner of the room and preferably with a pool and Internet etc. Quick as you can with the feedback ....Im going tomorrow! Thanks in advance

Many times here in Kamala i have approched topless females and told them that this is a Moslem communnity and to please cover up as they are offending their host.

I'd say 95% of them should not have gone topless in the privacy of their own homes much less in Public.

Some would cover up and apologize and say they didn't know, some would say its not my country, others would tell me that no thai had told them that so they assumed it was ok,

There should be signs on every beach that it is NOT acceptable behavior in Thailand. Note not just the words but a pair of sagging breasts with a big red X thru them

You actually walk around the beach telling topless females to cover up....Get a life!

The Fish and chip set at 'chips and dips' next to the traffic circle on chao fa east isn't bad at all. Its's not a proper battered fish but you get a few decent sized chunks of beer battered fish and the chips are not bad too. Combine that with your choice of dip and a drink for 199 baht and on some nights I believe its buy 1 get 1 free. You cant loose

Hmmmm........don't know if it's the same owner, or, someone finally bought him out, but the fish batter was disgusting.

It was like eating fish in a doughnut.

Haha maybe I'm easily pleased but I've been there a few times and always thought it was decent. Not the best in the world, but in no way comparable with fish in a doughnut. Give it a try again then tell me I'm wrong.

Where can one get decent fish n chips with proper battered fish as I do not like the crumbed variety? Hard to find since the tragic demise of the couple from the shop on the road from circle to pier.

The Fish and chip set at 'chips and dips' next to the traffic circle on chao fa east isn't bad at all. Its's not a proper battered fish but you get a few decent sized chunks of beer battered fish and the chips are not bad too. Combine that with your choice of dip and a drink for 199 baht and on some nights I believe its buy 1 get 1 free. You cant loose

So you want to send a cheap chinese copy phone to your daughter and make her believe it is an original iphone that she can show of to her friends who might know better and make her feel like a loser.

You must love your daughter a lot.

Now here is the kind of reply that gives TV posters the bad name of grumpy old men with nothing but time on their hands but to wake up, open TV and scower for ads to reply to with a negative attitude.

Not that your morobic reply needs any justification but for your information my daughter is 12, not 30. She would probably lose it playing niky niky nine door or something. And yes of course if I got good replies about these phones and they seem good then yes I would send her one and of course she would show it off to all her friends. Thats what 12 year olds do Mr. Grump. Also I have already told her I'm not gonna send an $800.00 real iphone and why would I need to lie to her?

And your right, I do love my daugher alot.

Now on to a better post and leave this heathing to scower for other ads to trash.

Well as someone who has previously bought a copy iphone (named T iphone, that later became known as the Thaiphone) which looked the same but with an extra feature which was a TV tuner which didn't work outside of Thailand or very well in Thailand. I can tell you with 100% certainty that If you really do love your daughter, just buy her a genuine Nokia or whatever at half the price of the real thing with functions that actually work. A 12 year old is still old enough to know when daddy's offloaded a huge pile of crap onto her and wont thank you for it at all.

Yes It's possible, I've just bought it 10 mins ago on the last day of my original 1 year warranty!

................................

Thanks for that , can you please tell me how you did it , did you have to go back to the shop where you

bought your iphone from.

Actually I have just found out that the iphone is not officially for sale direct from Apple in Thailand re. my last post on international warranties, so I not sure if you can buy the apple care extra warranty here or not. Mine was bought in the UK and I bought my applecare on the phone to a UK number so you really need to ask whoever you plan to buy it from, otherwise call an overseas applecare number and ask them if it's possible to buy it if your phone was purchased in Thailand.

In case anyones interested I was told by Applecare that the iphone is not officially for sale in Thailand by Apple. The iphones sold here are imported from elsewhere and that is the reason they can not touch your phone under warranty if it was bought outside of Thailand. Im not sure about the istudio in the discovery mall in Bangkok but apart from that all of the other so called i studios in Thailand are not genuine. They may or may not be owned by companies that are licensed to sell and repair apple products but that will not include the iphone and the shop will not be an actual shop owned by apple, including the i studio in central festival phuket which is only a retailer ( even though it's in a nice mall with a big i studio sign and looks exactly like an i studio) This i studio is actually a part of alpha phuket, a company based in Phuket town who are a recognised retailer and can fix under warranty other apple products, but who also have a small stall outside of what looks like a genuine apple i studio in the mall. The major giveaway in this istudio is that the people working there are a bunch of morons. Some of the staff at alpha are actually quite knowledgeable though. Anyway, if you have problems with your overseas bought iphone.....forget about your warranty in Thailand!

Nobody going to mentioned Indian food?

Mr India in the parade of shops on the right on the way to Chalong pier is my first choice, but a very "English" version of Indian food. Large portions though.

Red Chilli two doors away from A&J's (he's finishing tomorrow, BTW) on Rawai beach road is more authentic, IMHO. But I could easily eat two servings at a time, they're so small.

Not at all, I had a chicken Korma at Mr Indias and It tasted nothing like the Kormas you get back in England.. Much Spicier over here, didnt really taste anything like what I know as chicken Korma .I'm not knocking Mr India by the way, he seemed like a nice enough bloke and the servive and popadoms were great, Im just a Pu**y curry eater. But If anyone does know where i can get a nice English style Korma / Tikka / Malaysian then do share.

Yeah I know what you mean....as a regular there Ive been having them since Daeng started cooking them, I tried suggesting it there but it has fallen on deaf ears....maybe the fact that more people from the UK and Europe eat there than Aussies and Kiwis. Im back in a week...I will personally buy a lamb and give it to Daeng to cook on Sunday the 20th. If it ends up really popular they might try it the next week

Sounds good, I'll be there to eat that lamb, hope it stays on the menu!

If you get credit in the mall they usually top your phone up this way, its normally just 7 11 and the likes where u get the voucher and do it yourself. Either way you should get a message telling you that your top up was successful and your new balance is ....... Now you know, don't leave until u get the message or go to 7 and DIY!

Does anyone know the reason iphones international warranty is not applicable in LOS? Phuket Alpha keep telling me it has to go back to England as thats where i bought it, but when I called an i studio back in England they told me the warranty is International and i should be able to get a repair / replacement in any i studio anywhere.

Yes It's possible, I've just bought it 10 mins ago on the last day of my original 1 year warranty!

Just tried Sunday Roast at the Green man. The Meat was quite nice but I think they must of tried to cook the vegetables in a fridge, undercooked is an understatement. Yorkshire pudding / Roti was all runny inside too. Didn't bother to complain as I had already read some bad reports about it, and guess this is the norm. On the other hand the Sunday roast at Happy days on the pier road is really quite nice. I'll be back there next week!

Tuktuks pay 30k each a month for the right to act as they please..

Pian and Co (his Son) have 600 tuktuks in the group.. Thats 18 million baht per month in that one aspect alone !! Plus 1000 'taxis' which pay an unknown amount and a further payment from the yellow non affiliated tuktuks (one I know says he has to pay 10k a month but he cannot stop anywhere, he has to keep driving around the circuit beeping)..

So that much monthly graft spreads enough around to buy the total and complete flouting aof any and all laws and rules.. It also makes a system where Pian wants MORE tuktuks, but as they have way to many for the market they have to keep driving the prices higher so that only a few rides per day can make a living.

Everyone who rides a tuktuk puts that money into his pocket.

30k each per month? I doubt it. Where did you get this information from? As far as I can see half of them don't even get a job every day.

entire banlga crawling with falangs people who sell tickets to Fame Nightclub! workpermit? pfftt....

Not just there, looks like farang are working at all of the clubs / bars owned by seduction, touting outside and serving at the bars, theres loads of them. Also a couple of smaller bars just off Bangla have a few farang touts and last week I even saw a fit blonde girl working alongside some equally fit Thai girls at a new bar complex on san sabi pulling in the punters. Makes me laugh when I see the police walking down the street closing everywhere early to "up hold the law"

Well your description differs to that of others, who say there was enough space for several people to sunbathe! There must be an obvious reason for that. Perhaps you were expecting more, were a bit annoyed, and have now subconsciously remembered it worse than it was . Or like I said, perhaps it changes with the tide. One way or another, it would seem there are definitely times when there is a very small beach there!

Yeah I was a bit annoyed as I asked the guy if it was a nice beach before i paid up and went down, of course he said yes its very nice, and 10 mins later when I was back at the top I told him theres no beach and its <deleted>, he just said sorry Im just staff lol.

Next time you pass drive down and check it out for yourself then post your opinion here, but dont say i didnt warn you!