Flying Clog

Hello all,

We've got some guests coming over for Christmas who require Halal meat for the Xmas dinner!

Anyone know of a good halal butcher in the Thalang/Laguna/Chergntalay/Bang Tao/Surin area? Maybe even one that could cook up a small turkey or chicken on their premises!

I know there's probably plenty of roadside stalls, particularly in the Bang Tao area, but I'm after a proper butcher...

Thanks,

FC

OK, any Honda dealers north of Chalong? Ie. around Thalang?

Or anywhere north of Heroine's monument that anyone has used before that are handy with steering and suspension? Don't mind paying for it...

Hello,

I would be really grateful if anyone could point me in the right direction to a garage that might be able to replace/repair a CV joint?

I've got a four year old Honda CRV, and for the last few weeks there's been a knocking at near full steering lock at low speeds. Did some googling and it sounds like it's most likely the CV joint. Or maybe ball joints, tie rod ends or control arm bushings. Or maybe suspension drop links.

My understanding is it could be quite dangerous...

Any suggestions on places in central/northern Phuket? Preferably north of the bypass as we're near Chergntalay.

Went to B-Quik at Tesco in Thalang, but they struggled to communicate with me in English, but I got the impression they were suggesting the Honda dealer. Unfortunately that's all the way down south, and the new Honda dealer west of Heroine's doesn't seem to be open yet...

Appreciate your help in advance,

FC

Hello All,

I'm a euro expat who works in a large SE asian city (hint - it's polluted as hell), but spends as much of my days off as possible in Phuket, renting a place here and all the strings that come with it.

Obviously, I very much fall into a grey area - too young for a retirement visa, child too young for a guardian visa, not interested in setting up a 'business' here, but earn enough to support me and my kin in Phuket without a problem.

Lately I've been getting more and more grief from immigration at the airport. Up until now I've always been able to blag my way in/out. After all, I'm not taking any Thai jobs, and spending plenty of money on this island.

I've heard about the Thailand Elite membership card in the past, but I've also heard rumours of small print etc.

My understanding is with the basic package you end up paying 500,000 thb for 5 years of being left alone, an appreciated guest of Thailand as it were. Plus plenty of other perks, but the main concern here is being able to come and go as I please.

Any pros/cons very much appreciated!

All the best, FC

You want some good news?

You haven't got Ebola.

Yet.

Who cares about property prices in Phuket. Be smart - rent.

Hello,

Does anyone know of a place in Phuket that repairs vacuum cleaners? (preferably central phuket, thalang, cherngtalay etc)

Our fancy stand up and handheld dyson vacs are developing various issues. So much for getting what you pay for!

They're both less than 2 years old and still in warranty, but in order to get them fixed they need to go to the Dyson repair shop in Hong Kong.... that falls into the FAR too difficult category.

Thanks in advance,

FC

The best burger, albeit overpriced, I've had on Phuket was at Bangkok Burger on the road into Laguna, Cherngtalay.

It became Flip Side burger, where the burgers were almost as good, and then shut down about 4-6 months ago.

Word on the street is that the place is being resurrected for the high season and will be reopening again soon. Hopefully as BKK burger as it was slightly better than Flip Side.

Does anyone know when/where it will be reopening? Can't wait!

Because often the Priority Pass people renege on their duty (as they're too lazy) and won't assist you through the VIP to channel to the lounge.

I've had to kick up a fuss in the past in order for them to assist me through when there's been a long line at security.

But now with the 50 baht fast track line, I don't even bother.

Happy to part with 50 baht. And the immigration guys are genuinely pleased to see you! It's one of the few times you'll get a smile out of Phuket immigration!

Absolutely agree - as a regular commuter through Phuket airport (every week), I absolutely LOVE the 100 baht fast track line!

Leave the Chinese and Russians to their chaos and misery in the 'plebs' line. I couldn't feel less sorry for them to be honest!

Do yourself a favour and fly with Dragonair or Thai instead of the other 3 or 4 crap airlines that fly this route.

Mainly due to the timing of the flights, terminals used, extras included and the 'type' of person that will be sitting next to you (unless you're a fan of Mainland Chinese with ZERO social skills).

And stay on Hong Kong Island.

I fly to Hong Kong about 4 times a month. Trust me.

You would be pretty daft to use the bypass these days.

If I need to get from Heroine's to Central or vice versa, it's MUCH quicker to go through the centre of Phuket Town.

Oh, and less chance of having an unfinished underpass collapse onto your head. TIT!

@ GiantFan

If the highly irritating radio jingle is anything to go by then, yes, PUSCO is still up and running, Peter and all.

Slightly off topic - none of the usual radio stations in my car seem to work anymore - just static, what gives!

Used PUSCO from Hong Kong to Phuket a couple of years back, and they were excellent.

The 4usd/100 baht express line at immigration is indeed a scam.

But a VERY VERY good one!

Arrived at midnight last Saturday night, at the same time as 5 planes full of Chinese hoi poloi. So about 1000 passengers in the immigration hall. I paid 100 baht and instead of spending 1-2 hours pushing and shoving with these clowns I got in line behind about 5 other like minded individuals and was out within 10 minutes.

Every single immigration desk was manned, and the immigration officers even seemed to be processing each passenger in about 20-30 seconds instead of the usual 1 minute.

I commute from Hong Kong, so pass through HKT airport 4-6 times a month. THIS IS A GODSEND.

Let the Russians and Chinese line up, pushing and shoving for over an hour. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN STANDING WITH THEM. They're welcome to it. Hopefully it will put them off coming to Phuket - let's admit it - they're not wanted here anyway.

For the rest of us regulars, pay the 100 baht. Excellent.

I know it's a scam, but the alternative is unbearable. There's nothing you can do to fix that. Nothing.

simon43 - agreed, deliberately slowing down the normal lines is not cricket. Maybe someone needs to have a quiet word with them regarding the golden goose and it's imminent demise if they take it too far. Hey, I would even volunteer for this! I mean, surely they're not THAT stupid?

lowprofile - yes.

OK everyone, I think this is what it boils down to:

A. Thailand as a country, and large swathes of SE Asia are quite corrupt. Some more than others.

B. Point 'A' above is not going to change. Anyone who thinks it is, is EXTREMELY delusional. You're going to be miserable in Asia, so go back to Europe or the USA.

Given point's 'A' and 'B' above, people who choose to live, work, visit or spend a large amount of their days off in Thailand have to accept many negative sides of this corruption.

HOWEVER, along with many negative things, there are a few little nuggets of good corruption that, in fact, make life a little bit easier in many ways.

Paying the price of a beer at a beach bar to pass through immigration both on the way out, and on the way in to Phuket airport in 1 minute instead of 30 minutes is one of those little niceties of corruption.

Let's make it clear, I do not want it to go back to what it was a year or two ago, when there was definitely not a 50 baht fast track, and every time I arrived at the airport I would dread landing behind a Chinese or Russian airplane. Back in those days I would occasionally have to wait for 30-60 minutes to get through immigration. For someone who travels through Phuket airport more than once a week on average, this is a show stopper, and a serious cause of stress in one's life.

It wasn't that the immigration staff were working on a 'go slow' to encourage people to use the 'fast track' lane... there WAS NO fast track lane back then. That is a fact. What there was was an immigration hall that was too small to handle the amount of flights, and not enough immigration staff. Neither of these things is going to change without tearing down the entire airport and building again. Ain't gonna happen sunshine.

(Incidentally, yes, what I'm almost implying is that for visitors who come once a year or once in their lifetime to Phuket, having to wait 30 minutes for immigration actually is not a big deal... it's part of the holiday! And even I am used to that going into the USA, or even the UK occasionally for example. But going through that once a week.... that's a major source of stress)

So. Enjoy this small little perk of living in a corrupt country.

I just wish someone would shut this thread down so the word doesn't get out...

lowprofile - you want to improve the process for all? No, it can't be improved. The airport simply isn't big enough and there's no room for expanding the size of the immigration area. So that's a non starter. Ain't going to happen.

simon43 - that's actually a good thing that they don't accept anything but THB, that means all the people not in the know, i.e. non-frequent fliers will be forced to use the normal system, and leave the fast track for the regulars. Only accepting THB acts as a control, and will stop the system getting out of hand.

I've got an idea simon43, tell your hotel guests to have 50 baht ready on arrival, and they'll have a most pleasant arrival through Phuket airport! Brilliant, they'll probably even thank you for it! I know my visitors have.

Leave the slow line for all the Russians and Chinese. They're welcome to it. If they have a bad experience with Phuket airport arrivals and are such muppets that they get ripped off by the taxi mafia afterwards to boot, then GOOD! Maybe that will keep them away from Phuket in future! Don't tell me you don't secretly wish they would stay away from Phuket as well?

Look at it in those terms then if it makes you feel better - a bad experience for these types of tourists is a good thing for all of us, and Phuket in general. Bring it on!

Sorry, anyone who thinks that if there wasn't a fast lane, and just 10 or so normal lanes that those 'slow' lanes would move significantly faster is deluding themselves. Sure, it might move 10-20% faster. But that's still way too bloody slow as far as I'm concerned.

ie. I will get through in 15-18 minutes instead of 20... Oh great, thanks. I would rather get trough in 30-60 seconds as I do now.

You want to fix the problem? OK, double or triple the size of the immigration hall, and at least double the amount of immigration staff. Then it will be like Bangkok.

Somehow... I don't think that's gonna happen chaps.

So Bulldozer Dawn, you're saying this doesn't benefit me? Or any other frequent flyers 'in the know'?

You could have fooled me.

Flip Side burger joint, which used to be Bangkok Burger, on the road into Laguna has the best burgers I've had in years. Certainly the best I've ever had in Asia.

Put a sock in it lowprofile. You're going to spoil it for all of us at this rate...

How often do you use the airport? It sounds like you were very unfortunate, and I'm sorry to hear it. I've never seen the situation you describe and I've been going through the airport once a week for the last 2 years. So that's a 100 times plus, and NEVER seen the situation that you are describing.

Maybe the immigration officers have wound their necks in since this happened to you. Surely even they don't want to kill the golden goose by taking the piss, so they will wind back their little scam if and when necessary. I went through yesterday and it was perfect. One line for fast track and about 10 lines for the three planes that had just disgorged about 600 Russians and Chinese, who were, incidentally, running around like headless chickens in the immigration hall.

So, NO THANK YOU, I don't want to get in line with them. I'll spend 50 baht and be in my car within 5 minutes of stepping off the airplane.

Yes falkan, I fully support this form of corruption. 100%

No, I would never be stupid enough to be scammed by a Phuket taxi. Anyone who does has it coming due lack of due diligence and/or street smarts.

I work abroad but spend all my days off here, hence I have a car etc. So I'm neither a year round resident nor a tourist.

Steelepulse -

There are already a few 'legal and legit' ways to get the fast track treatment through Phuket immigration. Firstly, there's the APEC card, not too sure how that works, but I believe it would require the sale of a house, vehicle or vital organ for most people to acquire one.

And then there's the Coral lounge VIP method, but that's 2000 baht a pop I believe!

Me, I'd rather contribute 50 baht to the Phuket immigration Christmas fund than 2000 baht to Coral inc.

Again, please let's not spoil this little known method of making airport transits, for once, a relatively straight forward affair.

Please, please, please CLOSE THIS THREAD!

This 50 baht 'fast track' payment is the best thing that's happened to Phuket airport in years, and as someone who flies in and out 3-5 times per month due to working overseas, it's an ABSOLUTE GODSEND...

No more worrying about an entire arrival hall (or departure hall for that matter) full of Russians, Chinese and Koreans who haven't even filled out their arrival forms correctly and therefore take FOREVER to get through immigration.

I used to dread arriving or departing HKT, now it's no worries at all. In fact, it's a pleasure.

This doesn't affect the local Thai population as they go through the Thai line, and the frequent fliers who are 'in the know' go through the 50 baht line. Perfect.

I went through arrivals this afternoon and there were about 10 desks open with about 40 people in each line. And the 'fast track' lane on the left was empty, manned by one immigration officer, and I was through in less than 1 minute for the price of a Chang at a beach bar.

I've never seen it before, as a poster mentioned above, that there were several fast track lanes open and immigration were clearly taking the piss.

Now, if you want to sort it properly, have a business class express lane a la Bangkok, Heathrow etc. But failing that, leave this little system alone.

Please.

Valentine -

Are you familiar with 'Darwin's Theory'?

Just drive defensively, preferably NOT at night, and let all the other numpties take each other out. That ought to thin the heard a bit. Eventually the situation will fix itself.