Squirt63

Ultrasonic dog repellers DO work, and are available at very reasonable prices from Lazada... Cash on delivery, no payment hassles! They are humane and even very large dogs take off like someone stuck a needle in their butt! I've never had to use anything to help make my way through dog packs in eight years but my wife is much smaller and more nervous and the ultrasonic zapper gives her a greater confidence when she comes upon a pack... So much so she rarely even takes it out now!

We met a guy between Sichon and Ta Sala who would make the trip for a good BBQ too! Thinking sometime I'm September...

Nice one Mike, looking fwd to the house warming BBQ

Sounds like a plan - how better to get to meet the new neighbors! (I'm Ms. Mikebike!).

I took a party of Australians from Phuket to the Simillan Islands and around Phang Na Bay, last February by yacht.

They won't be coming back to Phuket because of:

1. Exorbitant National park fees at both places. Up to ฿400 per person per day, on top of their holiday costs.

2. Dreadful pollution on every beach we stopped at over a two week period

3. A constant stream of plastic waste in a direct line, returning from Simillan islands. Not just on the surface but as deep down as one could see.

4. Unpleasant, mafia like checks that they had paid the NP fee by rude thugs.

5. Far too many tourists at the normal beauty spots like Koh Hong and other islands.

From now on we will only consider cruising in Burmese and Vietnamese waters.

1. A quick perusal of Aussie Nat Parks shows an average 'park fee' of $25AUS (roughly 750 baht) for entrance of one hour or three days, on top of the cost of a vacay in Aus.

2. & 3. Fair enough but I've seen beaches in Cambodia, Vietnam, the Caribbean and Central/South America which are far worse than anything in Phang Nga or Simillans...

4. No experience in Nat Parks in Aus, but in Canada the park nazis check your fees/papers rudely at every opportunity.

5. Funny how people congregate at beautiful spots, no? Where they not there for exactly the same reason YOU were?

6. Good luck cruising Myanmar and Vietnam, with paying customers, LEGALLY!!

My husband and I have lived in Phuket for the last 7 years and now find it's just too busy. We are both Canadian and recently visited Khanom and quite liked it but I'm worrying it's too quiet. We do enjoy dinner from our local market, going for a sundowner on the beach, quite simple really, but I was wondering about clubs, yoga, other types of fitness geared for women. Also we would like to rent a house on the beach in Khanom or nearby beach. Any help would be great. Cheers!

I've been rooting my own avocado seeds here in Rawai and planting in my yard....