deesquared

Mr WorldWide,

Thank you!! I have often wondered why so many people on TV are so jaded. If they hate Thais and Thailand so much, why are they here. I happen to love this place, and it's people. Sure, I get frustrated sometimes. But that is because I am living in THEIR culture. It is not wrong, it is different. Now, three years on, it's amazing how much easier to live here it now that I have learned to read, write and speak the language. It has opened my eyes to things I would have never seen and helped me to understand the things that frustrated me.

Don't worry, once your gf does you over, you will feel the same as all the other jaded guys.

I am married to an American girl. So it's not going to happen. Entering into marriage is hard enough without the cross-cultural aspect. I think that a lot of guys are just not prepared to handle the culture shock that comes from inter-cultural marriage. I for one knew I would never be able to handle it so I never "went there." I was here for 3 years as a single. 1 in Isaan and 2 in CM. Then I met my wife and we've been back now 2 years. At this point I have nothing but love for this great country I am now blessed to call home. I honestly think it has a LOT to do with studying Thai 3 hours a week for a couple years. I'm no linguist but even that was enough to help me get proficient in the language which made it IMMENSELY easier to live here.

Mr WorldWide,
Thank you!! I have often wondered why so many people on TV are so jaded. If they hate Thais and Thailand so much, why are they here. I happen to love this place, and it's people. Sure, I get frustrated sometimes. But that is because I am living in THEIR culture. It is not wrong, it is different. Now, three years on, it's amazing how much easier to live here it now that I have learned to read, write and speak the language. It has opened my eyes to things I would have never seen and helped me to understand the things that frustrated me.

It's in Thai. Even when I change the lanugage at the top, the bulk of the info is in only Thai.

How long have you lived here?

I never claimed anything. I just mentioned that I witnessed buses, with various beach names, picking people up in Kata. Then I was told I was a liar and that it was impossible that I could have seen such a thing. And I never made a claim over the price. I said they were either free or very cheap but that I wasn't sure.

I just read through all the posts. Not one poster called you a 'liar'. The posters stated that your observations were not correct. Yes, there are public buses where you stated, and there are lots of tourists hopping on and off, and there is no violence - all agreed. Where we disagree is the idea that this bus goes to 'other beaches' such as Patong. This topic was about the Airport bus running to Patong and on to Kata with the possibility of the public being able to board at Patong and on to Kata. This will not be allowed by the Tuk Tuks and violence was threatened, and reported in the news.

I guess you didn't view the picture which shows the buses clearing marked as going to the other beaches.

Wasting your time KB. Deesquared has made up mind that the buses run 'beach to beach' and it's free. The image clearly shows where this bus service goes KATA - KARON - PHUKET TOWN with fare 30 baht, but you cannot get on at Kata and get off at Karon. Bus will not even stop to pick up from Karon to Kata. Nothing else for me to post.

I never claimed anything. I just mentioned that I witnessed buses, with various beach names, picking people up in Kata. Then I was told I was a liar and that it was impossible that I could have seen such a thing. And I never made a claim over the price. I said they were either free or very cheap but that I wasn't sure.

Then do me a favor. Walk down in front of the Tsunami evacuation building and take a picture. If there aren't two or three buses parked right there then I will extol your greatness. I was there not 4 weeks ago so my information is current and not erroneous.

By Tsunami evacuation centre, I assume you mean the Tesibaan building (the district governement/town hall ) and the Tsunami tower is just behind. Sure, there are buses lined up there, all going to Phuket Town. I'll post a photo first thing tomorrow morning.

Edit// just had a google walk and found the bus parked there . note the sign - Phuket - Kata - Karon (no Patong)

https://maps.google.com/?ll=7.816268,98.299994&spn=0.001555,0.001725&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=7.816268,98.299905&panoid=zAIj1iZTw0348rMIeSnpjQ&cbp=12,23.3,,0,0

Ha! Thank you for posting the picture. It shows the exact buses I was talking about. The buses are clearly marked to be going to other beaches.

Perhaps you spend more time in soi bars than on tourist beaches? I was there as a tourist (I live up north) and I can promise you that there were buses there, every day, advertising routes to the other beaches. Why would I lie about this? You might just have to come to terms with the fact that you may not know everything about everything. If someone shares on here something they experienced as some helpful info to the discussion it is not right to call them a liar.

I never go into bars and I am down at Kata Beach every day where the city buses line up. You are completely wrong and it's unfortunate that you are giving this erroneous information to other potential tourists who might read this forum and accept your observations as true fact. The bus leaving Kata goes directly to Phuket Town. That is the only route operated. You might be confused as there are often as many as 5 buses sitting in the line. I'll take a photo next time I pass.

Then do me a favor. Walk down in front of the Tsunami evacuation building and take a picture. If there aren't two or three buses parked right there then I will extol your greatness. I was there not 4 weeks ago so my information is current and not erroneous.

Madmitch. These went to all the other beaches in the area. Karon, Patong, etc.. And, again, I believe they were free. They were parked there everyday and tourists were always hoping on and off.

I'm sorry, but you haven't a clue what you are talking about.

I think those of us that have lived here for several years might have a better idea of local public transport than someone who came for a long weekend, don't you?

Did you actually get on one of these imaginary buses?

Perhaps you spend more time in soi bars than on tourist beaches? I was there as a tourist (I live up north) and I can promise you that there were buses there, every day, advertising routes to the other beaches. Why would I lie about this? You might just have to come to terms with the fact that you may not know everything about everything. If someone shares on here something they experienced as some helpful info to the discussion it is not right to call them a liar.

Note to self: look under bed ...

Hopefully there are a few notes to yourself prior to that point in the story!

Madmitch. These went to all the other beaches in the area. Karon, Patong, etc.. And, again, I believe they were free. They were parked there everyday and tourists were always hoping on and off.

@ deesquared

Unless it's from the Phuket Airport to Patong, the Phuket Airport to Kata, the Phuket Airport to Karon - but never between the beaches.

If they went between the beaches, then for sure, we will see some violence.

I was just down there last month and I saw city buses running between those beaches. For free I believe. Loads of tourists were hoping on and off. No violence witnessed.

They are call tuk-tuks, not buses.

Nope. They were buses. They were parked on the street in front of Kata beach every day. Open air type buses.

Ozzydom, where abouts are you located?

What is LOS?

Really? Land Of Smiles

Thanks. I've lived here for 5 years, been coming here for 10 years, and that one escaped me. I know the phrase but didn't catch the acronym. Thanks for humoring me.

What is LOS?

You guys didn't "wai" your hosts before OR after!! Oops!

@ deesquared

Unless it's from the Phuket Airport to Patong, the Phuket Airport to Kata, the Phuket Airport to Karon - but never between the beaches.

If they went between the beaches, then for sure, we will see some violence.

I was just down there last month and I saw city buses running between those beaches. For free I believe. Loads of tourists were hoping on and off. No violence witnessed.

This is a "dead-in-the-water" bus service and the tuk-tuk brigade know it.

There won't be any trouble because it creates one more lucrative pick-up spot in Patong.

Unless the bus routes are extended so that they are beach to beach, they'll go broke eventually.

I agree KB. Unless the buses run between the beaches, it achieves little by way of transport for tourists.

The sign on the bus window says "Patong - Karon - Kata."

Great. Your point is????

Those are names of beaches. So it appears as though it will be a beach to beach service.

This is a "dead-in-the-water" bus service and the tuk-tuk brigade know it.

There won't be any trouble because it creates one more lucrative pick-up spot in Patong.

Unless the bus routes are extended so that they are beach to beach, they'll go broke eventually.

I agree KB. Unless the buses run between the beaches, it achieves little by way of transport for tourists.

The sign on the bus window says "Patong - Karon - Kata."

This is a "dead-in-the-water" bus service and the tuk-tuk brigade know it.

There won't be any trouble because it creates one more lucrative pick-up spot in Patong.

Unless the bus routes are extended so that they are beach to beach, they'll go broke eventually.

Maybe so. The sign on the bus window says "Patong - Karon - Kata." I'm excited about this possibility. Every time we go down to Phuket for Vacation from the Northern smog I dread dealing with the taxi mafia at the airport.

2nd Class Aircon Sleeper is the way to go. It's a good price, comfortable and fun! But, in my experience, you need to book your tickets way in advance! Otherwise they won't have many of those left. They go fast. I would say 1 month early minimum.

More wreck diving? How deep is the water off kai island?

I've snorkeled 5-6 times right where the ferry is beached against the rocks. The water is about 10-15 feet deep there with some great coral.

How do you get a car off of Samui? Is there a ferry?

No, we live on coconuts and drink home-made beer.

Sounds like a good life to me!

How do you get a car off of Samui? Is there a ferry?

Thanks. I live in Chiang Mai. My guests would rather be all together in one bus. Last year their vans got separated and one showed up to the airport an hour late almost missing their flight.

I need to book a bus for 30 passengers from the Cambodia border crossing at PoiPet/Aranyaprathet to Bangkok. Does anyone know of a company I could contact for that service?