junk1e

As usual nearly 100% negative comments to what is a positive announcement. Give it a chance for Gods sake. Am sure that if announcement such as no visas required for over 65s, would still get nothing but negativity on these pages. Unless locked up in jail to my knowledge no Westerner is being forced to live here against their will.

In reality I don't see much change. Along Laypang Layan beaches in Bang Tao bay there are as many sunbeds as ever, just not actually on the beach itself which is much the same as before.

Restaurants are being rebuilt a few yards further back, but have to say most of the area behind the beaches now resembles a series of rubbish tips and shanty towns.

Re. Ivory must be heavy. No it is quite light and this amount equates to hundreds of elephants slaughtered. I have no idea if possible but would have thought in this day and age there must be tests that can be performed on tusks to check age.

Re. Mr Zhang (left) sits beside former president of the Phuket Jet-ski Association, Anuson Saley.

Nice to see that Khun Anuson helped in this case. Appears that some operators want to clean up the business as well.

Not before time. That the monk has his own large mercedes was a giveaway.

In reality a similar system occurs in many national parks and historical attractions in the west. In the UK it is very common for pensioners and local people to get reduced or often free admission to attractions owned by local authorities and for others to have to pay more. 200-400 thb to spend a day in a national park does not sound a huge amount but too much for many local Thais to be able to appreciate their own natural resources.

Get a dog or two from Soi Dog. Best deterrent there is. In my own street have been several burglaries but none where the owners have dogs.

Much better before they put up barriers at departure level. Could just get taxi without queue and pay the meter charge. Passengers happy taxis happy.

A positive step noting that even where there are elevators they are frequently unmanned and locked and have to find somebody to unlock it. Just getting to the stations is a nightmare and probably impossible for somebody on their own who is wheelchair bound. The size of some of the kerbs are difficult to negotiate even with assistance, which is why wheelchair users are forced to use the road.

Sunbeds and restaurants are reappearing along many beaches. Parts of Bang Tao bay are almost walk to wall and being left overnight and restaurants being reconstructed. Can't blame the locals for making a living but appears to be a matter of luck in regards to being allowed to stay or not.

Pity people who arrive at Phuket Airport. Friend arrived at midnight and spent 2 and a half hours queueing at immigration last week!

Received just now from Dusit Thani Phuket.

Please find attached the upcoming event "Orthodox Christmas Eve Celebration" at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket on January 6, 2015 for your consideration.

Sharks belong in the wild not in shopping malls!

Excellent news!!!

Got it in a nutshell. However president of the Medical Council Prof Dr Sonsaj Loleka said no countries has ever come out with such proposal, no matter they be the United States or Japan.

They seriously tackle drunk drivers with heavy punishment outright and booking their records for life, he said.

For Thailand, he said it was the matter of no serious enforcement of laws that resulted in all measures becoming ineffective.

In reality there is a huge business opportunity here for local Thais. At the weekend I purchased some collapsible lightweight loungers from a guy selling them on the main highway near Talang. Tourists do not want to buy, so renting such chairs and umbrellas close to the beach which tourists then take to the beach themselves would seem a good business opportunity to me.

Mr. Street is just the latest in a long line of Western property developers and time share operators who have come to Phuket, made a personal fortune and then fled leaving their victims up the creek without a paddle. What amazes me is that so many foreigners are willing to part with hard earned cash in deals they would not even consider in their home countries. It is almost as if they leave their brains behind. I also feel sorry for the few genuine developers out there as trust in the Phuket property market quite rightly is non existent.

The longer the better in my opinion. I find it amazing that many people on this forum who were calling for the removal of Thaksin and Yingluk are now bemoaning the fact that elections are being delayed, which at this time would definitely see Thaksin's cronies buy their way back in. A democratic election? Come on. Current administration is doing more to clean up the country than any in living memory. Will take many years to do properly and foreign governments should look to put their own houses in order before they start attacking Thailand.