BangTaoBoy

In my mooban I can take a songteaw out to the mainroad, a distance right at 800 meters for 5 baht, granted, this is in the 'burbs of Bangkok.

That's cool. I can assure you though that if 3.5 million people visit your moo bahn next year that will soon change.

Really ... in most places more volume = lower unit prices.

In tourist areas?

14 kilometer Aircon Taxi ride in Khon Kaen costs 200 baht. A little further than 800 Meters.

Go further in to the sticks and you will go the same distance for 100 baht. I don"t see the relevance. Not like for like.

So ... explain more about this 'like for like'

Are tourist areas the world over not vastly more expensive than rural residential areas?

Tourist areas are designed for two things. Tourists to enjoy and businesses to make money. If you try to be a resident in a place like that and expect it to be the same as living in a non tourist area then you aren't being very realistic are you.

I maintain my opinion that the vast majority of the 3.5 million tourists that came to phuket last year, that used tuk tuks did so without any problems, or any complaints including the ￡4 cost.

If you are a long term resident, and you have issues with it perhaps you should have considered living in a non tourist area.

How come the farang business owners are quite happy to charge twice the price for their products & services? Nobody compares those to the prices in rural thailand do they.

Your proprty rents at the same price as the Khon Kaen city equivelent does it?

In my mooban I can take a songteaw out to the mainroad, a distance right at 800 meters for 5 baht, granted, this is in the 'burbs of Bangkok.

That's cool. I can assure you though that if 3.5 million people visit your moo bahn next year that will soon change.

Because the two places are completely different, and what is the point in discussing the price of taxi ride without counting the metre starting price?

Is it possible to travel 800 meters in BKK for 14 baht?

Aaah ... good point. And where is that meter in a Patong Tuk Tuk ???

Horses for courses. Different place different set up.

14 kilometer Aircon Taxi ride in Khon Kaen costs 200 baht. A little further than 800 Meters.

Go further in to the sticks and you will go the same distance for 100 baht. I don"t see the relevance. Not like for like.

Because the two places are completely different, and what is the point in discussing the price of taxi ride without counting the metre starting price?

Is it possible to travel 800 meters in BKK for 14 baht?

Rediculous comments compairing the price to a 'once in motion' BKK price of 14 baht won't help.

Tuk tuks are for tourists and the vast majority of tourists love them.

I think 'love them' is a bit overdone. I hear quite often complaints from my guests about high prices, not about the quality of the service though, that seems to be coming only from residents and TV members who don't even come to Phuket.

Regarding the lists, did find it funny SB comes up with his own story here on TV as proof of his claims.

Perhaps love was a bit strong, although you do see families with big grins on their faces as they're sitting in the back, especially the kids. Although that's probably just an indication that they're having a great holiday in general. I do believe for tourists they are an attraction and part of the fun, the same way I still get a kick after all these years, out of bombing about in TT's in BKK.

Baring in mind the vast majority of the 3 1/2 million visitors every year will have never read a single story about them, and will go home at the end of their holiday blissfully unawair that they even have a bad reputation. It pains people to accept that for some reason, but it's the truth.

P.S I didn't notice that SB quoted his own story and I'm glad you used the word 'lists' (plural)

I lived in St Augustine for an extended period and it wasn't exactly like you make out. Every time a hurricane hit, which was at least once a year it would pretty much blow the house away. They would then rebuilt it out of new sticks and the same thing would happen again the next year. We had to evacuate everytime. No local bars in pretty much any of the neighborhoods and Taxis far more expensive than here (but people didn't moan about the prices) and no decent nightclubs unless travelling to Jacksonville or Orlando.

Sport was good, loved the NFL, College football, Ice hockey etc. Not sure i would emigrate/migrate for an autoparts store, If i was you in that regard i would pay someone to do the running around for you, especially if time is money.

Anyhow, I feel its far more laid back here, better night life, more of a community feel and cheaper in pretty much every regard. If people don't have an income from abroad, aren't good at what they do or have no skills then its best not to stay or even to have come here in the first place in my opinion. If you are good at what you do or are a specialist then you can get a work permit no problem, I think the law works well here. Everyone I know that fall into the categories I have mentioned are all happy and successful in Phuket.

Good post. Phuket isn't suitable for a lot of people, and people who need to work for a living fall in to that category. As do people who will never be able to adapt to living in a developing country and the vastly different way things are done in one.

It's up to people to find somewhere to live that suits them and makes them happy. It's not down to the place to change and adapt to the kind of place you want it to be. If you don't understand that you are destined to be unhappy and a forum moaner and groaner.

Most people stay very close to where they grew up for their entire lives, and there is a good reason for that. Most people aren't wired to adapt and accept a different way of life to the one they are used to it. It's down to those people to realise this and stay at home.

Excuse my language, but you are now talking complete <deleted> - unless you are living way up North where there are few people on the road.

You're refusing point blank, to accept that he hasn't had any problems with road rage? Wow!!

So you think everyone o the island has the same life and experiences as you?

"My perspective from the people I've met (a wide cross section) he will eventually become jaded, the numbers who haven't are far fewer and far between then those who have."

That's absolutely right.

Some of us get past the disillusionment - others don't.

Yet another self centered, ego centric,I have disillusionment so every body must post.

Why haven't you mentioned the people that don't have any. Oh that's right, that can't possibly exist can they, because that would mean they are different to you, and that can't be possible can it?

I am happy here because it is a much better place than the UK, I love the Thai people, I have never had a problem with any Thai people, I have never suffered road rage here or any problems with the police, this place is cheap compared to the UK, the weather is better than the UK, I am not treated like shit unlike the UK, Asian girls are amazing unlike the UK, as I have said before the only thing missing here is the great NHS.

Please don't tarnish us good decent people with the fat ugly perverts that come to this country only to abuse any thing that moves, these people should be hanged if caught...

The vast majority of people would agree with you Kenny, they just don't come on Thai visa to say it. Sad really, this forum could be used for so much better things. When was the last interesting photo thread, or decent interesting post? The last one I remember was a nice post about Je T'aime with photos of the food. Other than that can't think of a single one.

You are both living in cloud cuckcoo land.

Why would anyone be interested in photos of where they live?

Either we enjoy the beauty or, find other aspects of living here bad enough to move away.

That's just it, people who get pleasure from moaning about every tiny thing won't. People who live enjoyable, interesting lives probably would. People use forums 100% for their own benefit, instead of putting a little bit of thought about others in to it. The vast majority of people that will visit this site know very little about Phuket, and they would enjoy seeing photos of somebodies day trip to Raya, or recent road trip to Krabi etc, and I myself would find it much more enjoyable than reading the constant old man moaning on here. But instead people use the forum as a form of therapy, to share their pain and missery.

I can understand how you can feel the way you do if you have not worked or lived in the Patong/Kata/Karon area. If I was happy living in Kathu or Bang Tao, and hardly ever went to the populated tourist beaches, I would probably be ignorant of the problems as well. The people that have had to live and work there understand. The problem to us can not be summed up by a list of stories on the internet. To dismiss the problem simply by stating "If you don't like them, don't use them." shows an incredible ignorance of the scope of the problem and it's consequences. It goes way beyond extortionate fares and drunk tourist beat downs.

That's just it. TT's aren't there for people that live or work in Patong/Kata/Karon, they are there for tourists. If you run a dive shop, you shouldn't be relying on tuk tuks to get your tanks back to the shop. (If you have so many stories, why do we always hear the same 2 or 3 from you? Why don't you mix it up a little )

People live in Patong, a highly touristy area, and then complain it's only geared up for tourists and not residents. Well that's kind of how touristy areas work, get used to it.

My use of tuk tuks is much more representative of the average users. The average holiday maker isn't penny pinching, and doesn't care how much they are. 99.9% of them are happy and friendly and pay what they were asked to pay, and get on with having a fantastic holiday. Just as when I very occasionally use them, and used to use them a lot more in the past, I don't have any problems, just like the tourists don't.

Tuk tuks are for tourists and the vast majority of tourists love them. The vast majority of people who have issues with them, like SB are residents, and to that I say tuff titties.

Sorry I cannot address your comments about my list as they do not appear to correlate at all with the list of links I posted. I can't imagine you made your comments hoping no one would check the actual links against your claims. Perhaps you were referencing an earlier version of the links from a different thread?

ha ha ha.. Busted..

All that proves is you have such an unhealthy obsession, you have spent a shed load of time writing two long lists. The list Logician was talking about is the one in this thread, and 4 of the first 9 links were all to the same story and most of the others were links to irrelivant nonsence. He obviously assumed this list was the same one, and that nobody would be so possesed as to write two seperate, long lists.

http://www.thaivisa....-phuket-police/

And the original list.

The Sydney Morning Herald: Phuket rip-off: the trouble with tuk-tuks

Fodor's Travel Guide: Phuket Tuk Tuks and exorbitant charges.

Lonely Planet Travel Guide: Phuket tuk tuk warning

Tripadvisor: Phuket's Tuk Tuks are still at it.

iPetition: Governor Wichai - ban the Phuket tuk-tuks!

Making Phukets Tuk Tuks, Taxi's Fair

Phukets tuk tuks shared among top officials

Tuk tuk problems solved soon: Phuket Governor

Thaivisa: Tuk Tuks clearly a bane to Phuket tourism

Phuket Tuk-tuk Driver Attacks French Family for parking in 'wrong place

Tat 'worried' About Phuket Tuk-tuk Gangs

Tuk Tuk standoff in Karoni

War on taxi mafia

Tuk tuks no good

Time for action

A recent visitors comments about the taxi mafia

Phuket Taxi: Primitive transport

Would you believe it..Police citing the taxi mafia?

Beating the taxi fares/

Phuket Public Transport: Cartels continue in the driver's seat

Honorary Consuls Meet In Phuket To Discuss Jetskis, Pollution And Tuk Tuk Mafia

Phuket consuls keep pressure on tuk-tuk, jet-ski scams

Phuket tuk tuk fares in the firing line

Tuk tuk driver questioned over sexual assault of British girl.

Paradise Lost

Phuket officials tackle tuk tuk blockades

Good old Phuket tuk tuks at it again

Phukets must do's and don'ts

How do you get around Phuket cheaply?

Swedish Tourist Punched by Tuk Tuk driver.

Tuk Tuk Violence

Local expat gets major beatdown by 4 tuk tuk drivers.

Crazy tuk tuk driver tries to run me off the road.

Tuk tuk driver stabs Welshman

4 Aussie tourists beaten and stabbed by gang of tuk tuk drivers

Tuk Tuks in Patong

Tuk-tuks warned: 'improve or die'

Tuk Tuk fares still to high: Consuls

PM turns spotlight on Phuket problems

Taxi driver charged with rape

Phuket Cruise ship passengers blockaded

Tuk tuk driver assaults a Canadian man after the man refused to pay the extortionate price for a 1 minute ride

Tuk-tuks blockade US military in Phuket.

Governor lays out strategy for war on 'taxi mafia'

Tuk-tuk drivers in protest over access to port

Eco-tour firms protest tuk tuk 'bullies'

Tourist Belted By Tuk Tuk Driver

Issues and Answers: Why aren't parking rules enforced (on tuk tuks) in Karon?

Issues and Answers: Tuk-tuks in Kata-Karon

Issues and Answers: Action on tuk-tuk rip-offs

Issuea and Answers: Why no bus between Kata/Karon and Patong? Answer: Bus driver was pulled from his bus and beaten by "competition."

Issues and Answers: "Government intervention will be needed to create a new taxi service in Phuket." - Pol Lt Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen, Deputy Traffic Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station

"Stay away from tuk tuks and ladyboys" Says Phuket Governor

Busted? I wouldn't say so. I think he just underestimated Scubah Budahs obsession, and the likelihood of him writing two seperate different lists in the space of two days.

It's an important question for tourist.

Perhaps. But the OP is a long term resident that pretty much acknowledged he already knew the answer. I would say the OP was making more of a statement than asking a question on behalf of tourists.

I personally am more than happy to accept when I climb in to a tuk tuk, that I'm 100% financially responsible for taking care of myself if I were to be in an accident. And that's just the way I like it.

You can say as much or as little as you like mate, that's obviouse. You made a bold statement that you think considerably more people that live in phuket will end up jaded than will continue to be happy here. I question that theory especially seeing as it comes from someone who's never been happy here, ever, and put it down to the typical bitterness of people who aren't able to live in a developing country and in a different country of their birth, and try to validate this by convincing themselves that they are in the majority that feel this way.

The fact that you want to say these things but then brush over them when questioned, confirms my theory.

After you've left, the vast majority of people will continue to enjoy phuket. I'm sorry that troubles you so.

I didn't bring up my personal info on the forum, you did by meddling and making broad ASSumptions, I still haven't mentioned anything about it.... I'm not concerned in the least with WHAT you think.....

I make no apologies about NOT wanting to step back in time and live in a "developing country" just to repeat all the mistakes modern countries have already learned to avoid so that tone of offense has no bearing what-so-ever on me..

I could really give a toss whether or not you or anyone respects my point on the matter I've been here long enough to know from what I speak, it still remains valid and you have the choice of respecting it or not, won't affect my life in the least....

My perspective from the people I've met (a wide cross section) he will eventually become jaded, the numbers who haven't are far fewer and far between then those who have.. Check out the thread full of admitted recluse's to see how many really feel. It's just that after a certain point for most there is no returning due to multiple factors so they just stick it out with no alternatives and make the best of it or knock themselves off....

P.S. I couldn't avoid mentioning the glasses of the offending color there was no other example I could think of that would get the point across and you all mentioned it first..

How did I know that your wife wasn't going with you and your sons, and that this was something that caused you concern, if you didn't tell me? You brought up personal information. If you wanted to have a chat with yourself, you should have gone and stood in front of the bathroom mirror with a hair brush, not come on a forum.

I haven't provoked you in any way, and I haven't suggested you should care about my opinion. If you can't handle discussing something, then don't bring it up on a forum.

I asked you about your people becoming jaded comment, and finally you have taken the time to answer it, and this is where we disagree. You think more people become jaded than don't, based on the people you've met and some internet forum threads. This is where I believe you and many others have it very very wrong, and I've simply been giving you that opinion. Do I expect you to care? No more than I care about yours I guess.

You made it quite clear that you've never liked living here, so your opinion will always be bias. You said Thailand is no good for you because of the limited work options. Well that's obvious. If you need to work, then moving to a country that doesn't have very good work options is going to cause a problem. It's a bit like wanting to skii and moving to a country that never has snow.

This island is full of people from top to bottom that have fantastic lives. People that live in million pound houses, people that own million pound boats, people that eat in fantastic restaurants every night of the week. People that spend their time sailing, riding motorbikes, diving, playing golf and everything else you can imagine. Why would these people become jaded? Why are they suddenly going to stop having the time of their lives, just because you don't like it here?

You're just another bloke on a forum that can't just say 'Phuket isn't for me' or 'I don't like it here' but you have to add that Kenny will become jaded soon too, and more people will become jaded than will continue to enjoy the place. It's a common thing on forums, make yourself feel better by trying to drag others down to you.

Whatever gets you through the day mate.

It makes plenty of sense and how do you now what the visa requirements are for my wife? Do you know us? Or our situation here? Mighty presumptuous of you speaking out of turn you are..

Because I've never been happy here since it was not my original goal makes my point more valid, not less, I'm looking at the realistic view, not through, as some would say, rose colored glasses. I came from a place that is ten fold more beautiful in all aspects weather not being the least then here so unlike you I have a much more even perspective, the lovely ladies notwithstanding don't apply to this married family man.. Phuket has nice mountains in relation to the ocean over Florida but now I've seen them and it's no longer awe inspiring and other things become more important, their beauty was short lived and now I want out before me or my family get electrocuted or something by some fool laying down electric lines in a puddle or repairing a pool light by splicing a 240v line under water that shouldn't even be 240v in the first place. And yes that's a real life example I've seen it first hand and made some loud noise to the management when I was at pool side knowing it was incompetent.. Just like installing an electrical meter 4 feet of the ground on a light pole is.. My boy could reach them when he was only 4 if he was so inclined to as many young children with curiosity are.

JFYI the OP is not just leaving Phuket he's leaving Thailand as a whole so no need to be so region defensive, I see it the same way he does but of everywhere I've lived here, Phuket was my favorite because it was more like back home..

I'm not trying to wind you up, but if you didn't want to discuss your personal situation, you shouldn't have brought it up on a forum.

I don't agree that your point is more valid in the slightest. If you haven't liked the place from the first day you got here, and it was never part of your plan to be here, then how is you wanting to leave a not worthy event? The OP used to like it here and now doesn't, that isn't the case with you, you've never liked it, so I fail to see how your point is more valid.

You implied, which so many people do, that Kenny will undoubtedly become jaded at some point in the future, and his love of the place is a direct result of him being a newbie. You didn't answer my question as to what happened with the people who have been happy here for decades How do they fit in to your theory?

Isn't the truth of the matter (exactly what I mentioned in another thread recently) that you just simply aren't cut out for life in a developing country, and like the vast majority of people in the world, need to be in the familiar surroundings of your home town/country? Isn't that all there is to it?

P.S You lost any respect I may have had for your arguement when you mentioned spectacles of a certain colour.

Sound like you shouldn't have left in the first place mate.

And the crime against tourists in popular places like Miami is very low of course.

These Tuk tuks are converted pick ups used for carrying goods not poeple,they are dangerous and the SWL is half a ton[10CWT] THEY WOULD NEVER PASS A CURRENT MOT TEST.....no insurance company would ever insure them for carrying pasengers even in Thailand.....they should be scrapped,they are past there sell by date and are dangerous,most ot them are over 20 yesrs old..

And the wooden busses here would sail through an MOT would they? Or is it OK for cheap transport to be dangerous?

You're principles are bias. If the old death trap busses were running between Patong and Karon all day and night, no one would even think to mention an MOT.

Let's hope then that all people in tuk tuks involved in accidents have travel insurance. Don't most semi civilized countries require decent mandatory insurance to those providing transportation to the public? No insurance no license and permit kind of thing.

If you go on holiday to a developing country without adequate insurance, then there can be nobody to blame but yourself if you get in to an accident. When you get on an airoplane and leave the West, thankfully you leave behind the blame game and the mental sue culture. Time to take responsibility for yourself for once.

Coming to Phuket and complaining that the tuk tuks aren't insured, is a bit like going to India and complaining when you get delhi belly.

I am happy here because it is a much better place than the UK, I love the Thai people, I have never had a problem with any Thai people, I have never suffered road rage here or any problems with the police, this place is cheap compared to the UK, the weather is better than the UK, I am not treated like shit unlike the UK, Asian girls are amazing unlike the UK, as I have said before the only thing missing here is the great NHS.

Please don't tarnish us good decent people with the fat ugly perverts that come to this country only to abuse any thing that moves, these people should be hanged if caught...

The vast majority of people would agree with you Kenny, they just don't come on Thai visa to say it. Sad really, this forum could be used for so much better things. When was the last interesting photo thread, or decent interesting post? The last one I remember was a nice post about Je T'aime with photos of the food. Other than that can't think of a single one.

Simple answer here, how many threads have you seen on tv that have not been hi jacked by a complete and utter plankoid, I am thinking none!!! so who really wants to start an Interesting thread, not many!!

That's exactly right mate. I don't that's for sure. Time and effort in to a post to be told by a load of grumpy old men that you're wearing rose tinted glasses, as that can be the only possible explanataion for someone being happy.

People enjoy using this forum to slag Phuket off, so I get pleasure out of saying how much I love the place. Works for me Makes for a pretty crappy forum though.

I am happy here because it is a much better place than the UK, I love the Thai people, I have never had a problem with any Thai people, I have never suffered road rage here or any problems with the police, this place is cheap compared to the UK, the weather is better than the UK, I am not treated like shit unlike the UK, Asian girls are amazing unlike the UK, as I have said before the only thing missing here is the great NHS.

Please don't tarnish us good decent people with the fat ugly perverts that come to this country only to abuse any thing that moves, these people should be hanged if caught...

The vast majority of people would agree with you Kenny, they just don't come on Thai visa to say it. Sad really, this forum could be used for so much better things. When was the last interesting photo thread, or decent interesting post? The last one I remember was a nice post about Je T'aime with photos of the food. Other than that can't think of a single one.

Fair enough to you too, "mate". Selective quotes are so amusing.

For myself, I avoid Thai Issan males.

If anyone here thinks TV is anything more than a way to make money for the "businessmen" who run it, you are mistaken. Same with that lame Stickman in Bangkok, and the other English language news media here. Why not a secure proxy off to a country that doesn't mind if you name and shame all the bad actors, foreign and domestic, here?

You will not overcome the corruption in places like Phuket. There are way too many ricebowls involved. Say you brought in a bunch of metered taxis. What do you imagine will happen to the metered taxis? And the drivers? These are criminal gangs. The only real solution is to put them all away, with the possibility of going back to Issan to do something socially useful (like planting and harvesting rice).

They had a couple of polls within the last yearin Thailand where close to 70% of the respondents thought that corruption was just fine.

But I do love it here. Oh yes.

That is a telling statistic...so could one assume that a good percentage of the 70% are on the take, or at least benefitting from corruption in some way ??

Man it would suck to be one of the 30%

It's the same anywhere in the world. If people are the ones benefiting then it's not a problem. If they see other people benefiting and they're not, they call foul. Take nepotism as a perfect example. If you're the one not getting the job you cry and moan like a baby. If on the other hand you get offered the job, you don't turn around a refuse it do you. It's called having convenient principles.

Farang don't like being the ones that aren't in control. Especially when the people that are, are believed subconsciously (or very consciously) to be inferior as Thais often are.

The price of houses is astoundingly low with REAL property that you own, the toughest part of returning is going to be having to make a decision on which cars and which houses to purchase as the glut of top choices is mind boggling. I won't mind blending in again neither and not feeling like a potential target all the time and looking out my front windows and NOT having bars on them..

Where are you going back to 'WS'? I don't know of anywhere in the developed world that is a great place to live but the property is astoundingly cheap.

Are you really going to be buying cars and houses (plural) when you go back? Are you saying you are going somewhere where the houses are cheaper than they are in Phuket?