lianab

http://www.thaivisa....media-blackout/

The first post also said problems over in 30 days, then 3 months. Which, please?

Re read it - He clearly says: "The risk areas must be identified and plans established to resolve the issues within 30 days" and "the results we want within three months"

so totally different.

The word "Patong" and "Safety Zone" in the same sentence!

Haha..that dude has humor, have to give him that

I read it thinking they couldn't be serious there must be some twist. And within 3 months! Do I dare hope? I'd usually think no way but having announced it, there will be a huge loss of face if they can't pull it off. A tremendous rise in tourism $ if they can. Keeping it that way...

I'd love to bring my mum over for a holiday but as it is I couldn't leave her for a minute.

First off, great videos. As far as I'm concerned from a simple viewer's viewpoint, they looked very professional.

Now down to reality. I couldn't always hear what you were saying and the English accent probably tripped me up a little so if you covered any of the below items...my apologizes.

When you came to Thailand with your dog that must not have been easy. You must have had to get some kind of export permit or paperwork to take her out of England and certainly import papers to bring her into Thailand. I've looked into bringing our dog back to the US and it's a huge pain in the butt.

When you got the car, I'm not sure why you went all the way to Bangkok for a used car when there are 1000's in Chiang Mai. Also, there was nothing about about getting a Thai drivers license, though it's not necessary if you have an international license along with your national license from England. However, in one year the international will expire and then you must have a Thai license unless you go back to England and renew the international. Also no mention of the ins and outs of transferring the cars BLUE book into your name. I'm betting you never got a BLUE book. Also no mention of getting insurance. If you get in an accident and severely injure someone or even kill them then you will wish you had insurance.

I've lived here three years and have had to deal with all of these issues.

Good luck and as I said, great videos...very enjoyable.

The stuff about the International Driver's Licence is wrong, as it often is on here. Because it is VALID for a year does not mean it is a legal Licence to drive in Thailand for one year - it is not a Licence, it is a Permit, and inside Thailand it is valid for only 3 months - all the ex-pats driving around on an International after that, technically-speaking are driving ILLEGALLY in LOS. This does not mean that you can't get away with it given the lack of precise legal knowledge possessed by most BiBs who stop you.

Gee give it a break -you don't know what kind of licence they have. I'm looking at cars in Bangkok as well even though there are even more cars for sale locally than in Chiang Mai.

plus; you are wrong - An international licence isn't a permit - it is actually just a translation accepted by over 150 countries under United Nations sanction.

Hey, When you're envied enough to evoke Tall poppy syndrome you must be doing something right! Unfortunately there are a lot of contributors on this site who have embraced being negative to others as a perverse hobby.

I look forward to more episodes as we are excited about also moving to Thailand later this year (with our dog). I'll be studying Thai part time and the school organises the visa (For 3 years! - Not expecting to be ground down anytime soon ) Keep living the good life- being kind to each other makes all the difference in the world - why doesn't everyone just do that?

The fact that they did not seek medical help suggests ingestion of illicit substances.

I read the bed bug cleaning chemical the US believe killed the Chiang Mai tourists (blood samples "lost"!) include the symptom of them vomiting then feinting. (Also stating It doesn't stay in the body long enough to show up in autopsy) so be careful with your use of suggestion and tainting their reputation in case a cause is again "not found" Especially when word is the hotel had the room scrubbed clean with buckets of bleach asap!!

I find Mohamad's story very strange, seems something fishy about it.

Maybe you would find it less fishy if he was called Colin or Dave?

Yes he sounds like a racist. Plenty of them around.

So he is a racist and you believe everything happened as he said in less than <18 seconds? (based on 300m @ 60km/hr) mmm...do the math

What usually happens in Phuket, is that unconscious foreigner are brought to one of the two private hospitals where staff can speak english.

Depends on which ambulance is there first. If the Vachira is first the victim is taken there, irrespective of if it is a foreigner or Thai. I would guess that about 50% of foreigners is first taken to Vachira, the others to International and Bangkok Phuket. Also Mission Hospital is private BTW, so there are 3 private hospitals on the island.

That's correct. But I am not sure Mission deals much with foreigners, as last time I went there I couldn't find anybody speaking english. It has been renovated recently, so it may "compete" now with the two others..

True also that that it depends who arrives on the scene first. If it's a Rescue Association team called by a local, they may take you directly to Vachira, if it's one of the tourist emergency vans parked in Chalong, only a few minutes away from the "accident" scene, they will take you to Phuket International or Bangkok Phuket. But people can also call directly one of the short numbers of a specific hospital, which will then send his own ambulance.his people may or may

Anyway, It's not really relevant, was just pointing out that in a situation like this people may or may not have the choice of the hospital they will be treated at first...

Cancelled (was responding to something that has just been rightly removed)

RIP, murdered 60 years old Perth Travel Agent.

Its all over the ABC news here. A Perth travel agents are shocked as Phuket is the safest place to travel and this is the first attack in that area.

Safetest place to travel, the first attack in this area.....................Utter bull shit !

Supported by the hotel having hundreds of security cameras including 8 on that very road

Not fishy, Slum and drug peaple all over the places. Also here in Pattaya. They are lazy to work, just stealing is easy. I got my own lesson. I got surRouded by 5 locals last Octobre. What chance do you hace without weapon? The problem is that we foreigners can't carry guns. In my home country i can do that. So we are just victims in this country. In my case police was useless.

Not even regular Thais can walk around with a gun, but they do... and plenty people back home do as well, so just because you live here, you wont break the law? Shit, im well qualified to handle myself but if your surrounded or up against weapons, it doesnt seem all that bad idea to break the law and carry a pistol.

I looked it up on http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/thailand It estimates10,000,000 civilian Thais are licensed for guns. It says 15.6% civilians but presume multiple gun ownership per person has blown out the data integrity. Am waiting for clarification re stun guns.

Other info is:

In Thailand, only licensed gun owners may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in Thailand are required to prove genuine reason to possess a firearm, for example, hunting, sports shooting, collection, self defense

The minimum age for gun ownership in Thailand is 20 years

An applicant for a firearm licence in Thailand must pass background checks which consider personal conduct, living condition, income and criminal records

Where a past history, or apprehended likelihood of family violence exists, the law in Thailand stipulates that a gun licence should be denied or revoked

Just get a stun gun or taser. It is even good for scaring off wild dogs!

Not a bad idea! what are the public in Thailand allowed to carry for self defense purposes, IE; pepper spray, taser

I was wondering this myself today - does anyone know ?

I find Mohamad's story very strange, seems something fishy about it.

Maybe you would find it less fishy if he was called Colin or Dave?

Up to you to think that way, I don't.

Just fishy that people approach him on a motorbike selling drugs, and they get aggressive when he drives off? Strange sales techniques. He claimed to be going home, 300 meters from the circle he gets stabbed after the road was blocked, very wide road there. I have no doubt he was stabbed, but would guess there is more to it than he telling at the moment. We'll have to wait and see though.

That's what I thought . No motive, they can pull up beside him, talking so he can hear then he accelerates away from them , they (3- "somehow") get far enough ahead to stop, get off a bike, him sees them ahead waiting for him (wide road blocked with a moped) doesnt turn around and get out of there when 3 he presumes dealers are waiting for him ...AND All within 300meters of near where he started, (didnt say where they oulled up beside him - they had speed?

I was just calculating it - he doesn't say if it happened before or past the roundabout, but he didn't say I'was leaving, but he was on his way home. but within 300m this all happened now if he was trying to accelerate away he is going at least 60km I would think ; that's 1km a minute, 300meters in 18 seconds, so all this happened in < 18 seconds? And contributors are getting angry at us who thinks it doesn't add up!

I find Mohamad's story very strange, seems something fishy about it.

Maybe you would find it less fishy if he was called Colin or Dave?

Up to you to think that way, I don't.

Just fishy that people approach him on a motorbike selling drugs, and they get aggressive when he drives off? Strange sales techniques. He claimed to be going home, 300 meters from the circle he gets stabbed after the road was blocked, very wide road there. I have no doubt he was stabbed, but would guess there is more to it than he telling at the moment. We'll have to wait and see though.

That's what I thought . No motive, they can pull up beside him, talking so he can hear then he accelerates away from them , they (3- "somehow") get far enough ahead to stop, get off a bike, him sees them ahead waiting for him (wide road blocked with a moped) doesnt turn around and get out of there when 3 he presumes dealers are waiting for him ...AND All within 300meters of near where he started, (didnt say where they oulled up beside him - they had speed?

We were discussing this incident this morning in another area here and all the comments were directed to the support of the victim.

There are times and places to vilify Phuket and all that has tragically gone wrong there ... but maybe not this time, not this day and not this thread.

Stop talking rubbish.

There is no-one on here that does not feel sympathy for the victims, and in so doing are right to highlight their own personal opinions regarding the safety or otherwise of Phuket which is the topic of the thread.

Stop trying to censor people or stopping them from their right to free speech on this board, of you don't like it - find another board.

Crobe

Umm Crobe, you just censored David's opinion

But my view is instead of focussing that this was a Phuket crime and warning against it etc as has been mentioned I think education on Travel safety would be time better spent. Bag snatchers on bikes occur in many countries.

I was taught many things to avoid being chosen as a "target"; carry your bag over the shoulder with the bag on your side away from the street. Walk as far from the kerb as possible, ideally under clothing etc (or one visible and valuables that are ESSENTIAL be in a hidden one if you are really concerned). But paramount is the rule the same as if you are mugged - give up your bag, jewellery etc - dont fight them it isn't worth your life.

These ladies were walking on a quiet street , late at night and were worried that this motorcycle had driven up and down past them a number of times - if this happens run into a safe area!

I think it's about time, Thai authorities look into, what kind of chemicals are used to spray hotel rooms to get rid of bugs and rats.

This story sounds like the one from Chiang Mai, i hardly think you crap/vomit yourself to death from a mix of brufen and vodkashots, I guess it would also take a rather nasty Tom Yum Goong, to do the same

Good that the bodies, has not been removed from the room, but someone should lockdown the whole hotel - so that no chemicals stored there goes "missing". Also the booze from the bar they frequented, should be locked down until the source of their death is found...

I think it's a bit late mate. I read somewhere that within a few hours of the bodies being removed, the cleaners were in with buckets of bleach, all spic and span, smelling like a rose, for the next unsuspecting guests. If illicit booze was the culprit I'm sure it's already down the gurgle.

"Thai toxicologists were returning to Phi Phi today to more closely examine the room at the Palms Residence Phi Phi, although other sources said it had been thoroughly cleaned.

It is believed the same team who closely examined the Downtown Inn in Chiang Mai after the deaths of Sarah Carter and several other tourists last year in mysterious, undetermined circumstances are now involved in the latest investigation. "

If they are bringing the team from Chiang Mai Sounds like they do suspect a link.

They cleaned a crime (not natural causes) scene? Unvelievable!! Hotel could do that if they wanted to remove traces of chemical evidence- but how we're they allowed to do this.? Also wonder if this is the same team that "lost" the blood samples last time.

If it is the same bed bug killing chemical they suspect killed at least some of the others in Chiangmai Mai I read it doesn't stay in the body long enough to be detected. It said the symptoms were unmistakable as this. Vommitting then fainting symptoms of it does sound plausible as to why 2 people couold be that sick and not get help in time. If the Scottish friend was also ill "shortly"? before they were found, as she in their room or staying in same hotel?

(To the person who said no one ever died of a poisionous mushroom someone in Australia did in the last week- I'm not suggesting this only saying that they are that dangerous)

Being Scottish, as I am!!!

I'm sorry for the situation she has found herself in however she's a rocket if she thinks we're falling for this small print patter. The length of coverage is clearly stated on any travel insurance document I have ever had. She has seen the cost difference between 90 days and full year and brassed her case.

Just a normal eejit chancer then, but hey we have loads of them.......in fact being a chancer is our national sport.

I've always had to fill in a form and sign it for insurance cover. It always asks for the dates of your travel and you are quoted based on the length of your stay

Did she have to pay the bill first then have it reimbursed like she said, or not even be covered after 90days as her father said.

Shame in her for slinging mud at the hospital and trying to bring them into disrepute when she has been treated and left healthy.. if they " prevented" her leaving, it infers she isn't happy she couldn't leave (without paying her bill) and hasn't shown herself to be someone of character working illegally.

Therefore, from what I am reading I never would travel to Thailand again and will lobby all countries to post warnings about travel to Thailand. Sorry, but that's what it has come to.

I feel the same way but with the eu euro crisis and on top of that the cost of living in the Uk and no work there i'm stay here once things have changed .. I will think about going back ..

If you would never go to Thailand again why are you a ThaiVisa member reading posts here and basing your travel on such posts which are speculative?

Phi Phi police say it is too early to determine how the sisters died but ruled out foul play.

What a joke. Can't determine how they died, but it wasn't foul play. Unreal.

I was just thinking yesterday we never seem to hear about these kinds of stories

happening in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia etc?

How come these mysterious deaths including the ones in Chiang Mai

last year only seem to happen in this country?

They happen all over the world and are mentioned in news papers generally buried in a small article. Here in Thailand we have The Nation to sensationalize it and make it seem like a ongoing routine thing.

Thai Visa then picks it up and people who know nothing about the world but what they read in The Nation Blow it all out of proportion.

Here in Chiang Mai we had four mysterious death's in one hotel last year. The talk on Thai Visa had it up to seven. The WHO was involved and the official verdict was we don't know. People on Thai Visa said what do you expect TIT just over looking the fact that the World Health Organization had been involved people had got sick and lived through what ever it was.

As a follow up on that one that particular hotel the Downtown Inn in the last week has been 80% torn down and they are continuing with the work as I write.

If you follow this link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1385379/British-couple-tourists-die-Thailand-bed-bug-pesticide-poisoning.html. I got the following information: There were at least 8 deaths and others ill in Chiang Mai. US authorities say based on the symptoms/cause of death it was definitely chemical poisoning. They named the chemical and saiid it is used to spray bed bugs (banned in many countries) and If there was over zealous spraying by a cleaner this would occur.

The Chiang Mai Govenor said it was coincidence and, the blood samples were "lost". People in adjoining rooms were affected (which would have been cleaned/ sprayed by one person)- was the Scott staying in the same hotel as the girls, or had she been in their room recently? Does the PhiPhi hotel bed bug spray/use this chemical?

How pathetic; of all the real problems he could have chosen. He should be replaced with a person willing to make a difference, not make things up in an effort to appear he is actually doing something beneficial.

He says flower vendors "negatively affect Phuket’s image". Where did he pull this nonsense from. Every tourist myself included are charmed by the flower sellers. As I understand it is a spiritual/ religious belief for good luck, why on earth would you take easy access to this beautiful custom away? Phuket would actually suffer for having them removed.

Hi,

Is there a daily TV guide I can find on line or a weekly/monthly I can buy? I've got KPP cable. Thank you!

If you find one, please let me know if they do a good job

Thanks!

Hi, if you find a good one I am looking for one

If you google Thailand immigration translate http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=th&u=http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php&ei=Dwu-T_mLJsqtiQeytM3WDw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CGYQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dthailand%2Bimmigration%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26tbo%3Dd

On the right under featured service it currently states a 7 day extension is possible but not at intl airport. It wasnt a good translation but I think if the officials at the airport wanted to then they could - probably too busy to want to be hit with requests regularly. Sounded like you fill in a form and email it for the 7 day extension, it said one day prior and pay a fee.

Elsewhere it said a one day overstay was free and extra days charged at 500bht per day to max of 20000 which can be prepaid. There is also a 1111 phone number to ring apparently.

Hope this helps.