andreandre

If Chalong circle has to be done ,an overpass,not an underpass would make much more sense..[and yes,i realise that in LOS making sense isn't a big consideration]

There is much less traffic disruption during construction,a few detours whilst support columns are built and then when pre-cast beams are lifted into place, but after this the work can be completed above with minimal traffic disruption below [compared to an underpass, that is]

Move along folks, nothing to see here, just another suicide.

No evidence at all of suicide. In fact the news report seems to be pointing at a medical condion. Have a bit of respect for family & friends.

Exactly right about respect...jeez some on here just dont understand the word!!

Many posters just can't accept the fact that there are many happy marriages in LOS,and always look for the ''angle where the wife HAD to be involved'' True it does happen at times but not everytime.

As for medical condition..i think the fact that he was due for major surgery soon tells the story.

Phuket Tourist Police Superintendent Capt Urumporn Koondejsumrit told The Phuket News that Mr Bamford had been living in Thailand for about 10 years, and had a history of heart trouble.

He had been treated at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, was on medication, and was scheduled to have a bypass operation soon.

Move along folks, nothing to see here, just another suicide.

No evidence at all of suicide. In fact the news report seems to be pointing at a medical condion. Have a bit of respect for family & friends.

or an accident - slipped on the edge of the pool, hurt his head and beer and glasses fell into the pool.

I wonder why the fact that he was a former Microsoft engineer is important enough to be reported?

Microsoft is a software company, not much use for Engineers there

So who do you think does all the development and research etc at microsoft and other software companies?

Engineer

@ andreandre

Interesting post. To my knowledge, there is no dual-pricing for the tuk-tuks here. The driver will rip off the foreigners, and the Thai's. This is the reason that most people own, or have access to, a vehicle on Phuket.

The flow on effect from maintaining all these vehicle must be huge for this island.

Gasoline consumption, tyres, brakes, accident repairs, motorbike mechanics and repair shops everywhere, spare parts, oil, new car/motorbike showrooms, road tax, car/bike wash shops, helmet sales, police fines, hospital bills, funeral expenses, insurance etc.

A huge industry survives here on the tuk-tuk problem.

The driver will rip off the foreigners, and the Thai's.

Yes i believe that is what i also said.

And no insinuation about dual pricing..

Don't get me wrong, I am not "Muslim Bashing", but just out of curiosity, what percentage of the population of Phuket is Muslim? And where did the Muslim influences come from and how long ago?

Most of what you ask is right there in the OP.

Dunno what they're complaining about, they're getting 300 baht, its the minimum wage, no one with any balls big enough down there to really deal with this...........just like the rest of Thailand

How elitist of you! have you tried living on 300thb a day? Thaivisa members do not dictate the salaries of occupations, the markets dictate it.

I would like to know what the honda dream driving gang cheapskates of Phuket think that public transport professionals should receive in salary? I mean because these Farang expats contribute so much to the tourism industry. Just because you eat a few Pad Krapows at a local shop and drink a few big Leo bottles out the front of 7-11, and give your wife a 5000thb a month salary doesnt make you some sort of salary dictator! The contributions that these types of expats make is less than the Russians and Chinese tour groups that they constantly complain about.

Its simple. A group of 4 Australian guys coming over to Phuket think its great that they can all throw in 200thb each and drive down to Nai Harn for the day from Patong and their freindly tuk tuk driver will wait for them and drive them back to the hotel. The tuk tuks come with booming stereos so its a mobile party, the guys can drink whiskey or beer and party on, the tourists actually LIKE IT!!!! Its only the old sexpats living on pensions and praying about exchange rates that complain about prices.

Wake up, if tourists dont like the prices they wont use them, each day I see thousands of tourists cruising around Phuket enjoying themselves. The tuk tuks add to the character of Thailand. Their prices are posted up next to the taxi stands, If you cant afford them then dont use them. Taxis all around the world are more expensive than hiring a car, thats life get used to it

How elitist of you! have you tried living on 300thb a day.....

Exactly.but the fact is that a huge amount of Thaisdo have to live on that amount, So why should they not be able to have affordable taxi transport also?

To have to pay a days wages to travel from one side of Patong to the other is laughable, but thats the fact.

Equivilent to an aussie paying $A100-150 to travel 5klms in Australia.and saying that that is fair..

What cashed up tourists can afford to pay compared to what the locals can afford is not the point at all, no matter where this is..

Well if they only got one fare and had to split it 50/50 with the company he works for it isnt that much, I wouldnt get out of bed for that sort of money

You didn't/couldn't reply in context to what i posted...Why?

All your ranting and raving against and about expats on honda dreams etc is crap and you know it.

The local Thai populace has a right to travel by taxi without being forced to pay the equivalent of a days wages to travel a short distance.

These drivers are no more entitled to rip off their own countrymen,than they are to rip off expats.but do so with impunity and no conscience.

Dunno what they're complaining about, they're getting 300 baht, its the minimum wage, no one with any balls big enough down there to really deal with this...........just like the rest of Thailand

How elitist of you! have you tried living on 300thb a day? Thaivisa members do not dictate the salaries of occupations, the markets dictate it.

I would like to know what the honda dream driving gang cheapskates of Phuket think that public transport professionals should receive in salary? I mean because these Farang expats contribute so much to the tourism industry. Just because you eat a few Pad Krapows at a local shop and drink a few big Leo bottles out the front of 7-11, and give your wife a 5000thb a month salary doesnt make you some sort of salary dictator! The contributions that these types of expats make is less than the Russians and Chinese tour groups that they constantly complain about.

Its simple. A group of 4 Australian guys coming over to Phuket think its great that they can all throw in 200thb each and drive down to Nai Harn for the day from Patong and their freindly tuk tuk driver will wait for them and drive them back to the hotel. The tuk tuks come with booming stereos so its a mobile party, the guys can drink whiskey or beer and party on, the tourists actually LIKE IT!!!! Its only the old sexpats living on pensions and praying about exchange rates that complain about prices.

Wake up, if tourists dont like the prices they wont use them, each day I see thousands of tourists cruising around Phuket enjoying themselves. The tuk tuks add to the character of Thailand. Their prices are posted up next to the taxi stands, If you cant afford them then dont use them. Taxis all around the world are more expensive than hiring a car, thats life get used to it

How elitist of you! have you tried living on 300thb a day.....

Exactly.but the fact is that a huge amount of Thaisdo have to live on that amount, So why should they not be able to have affordable taxi transport also?

To have to pay a days wages to travel from one side of Patong to the other is laughable, but thats the fact.

Equivilent to an aussie paying $A100-150 to travel 5klms in Australia.and saying that that is fair..

What cashed up tourists can afford to pay compared to what the locals can afford is not the point at all, no matter where this is..

Don't know if it just occurred in translation or possibly that someone really does have a sense of humour at PG ..

Wouldn't the underpass be near completion by the time the 150days is over to open up the detour? I already take the shortcut road that goes behind Index, Hospital, Big C on my way to Central to avoid sitting in traffic. This seems like something they should have started or thought about before beginning the construction in the first place.

Either way its always good to have more roads and shortcuts to cut through the island though.

Agree..the underpass is meant to open early next year, a few months after the detour is opened...strange, but not uncommon to be reactive, not proactive.....could have had this detour open about the same time as the major underpass works started...maybe a hint of delays ahead?

As you say ,also good to have shortcuts available if/when needed in the future.

Keyboard warriors the lot of you, I bet you have never let a tuk tuk or taxi driver know to his face how you feel.

They are just decent workers trying to earn a living. Phuket is expensive so they need to charge more

Pot,kettle,black....

As for the rest of your post...its comeon get real man

Before, we could earn about B500 a day but after they came our income has fallen to only B300.”

I find that bit laughable, is it possible to go anywhere in Phuket by tuk tuk for 300 Baht? Last time I was there some comedian wanted 400 Baht to take me from the 9th floor restaurant to Sea Pearl.

Karma somchai, karma.

Im not backing these guys at all, but logically,any vehical has ''running costs"' yes?

Apart from the real running costs there is also the payments that MUST be made to those in charge.[ i believe at about 500baht per day]..and they are the real villains here IMO.

@ andreandre

Check the photos on the PG website.

Sure do look like cuffs...

^^^^ ^^^^

Not neccessarily, poor guy could have been suffering from depression..R.I.P what ever the cause.

It does state he was in a "manic condition."

Depressed people are usually withdrawn.

Yes, very tragic, too young to die. R.I.P.

"Depressed people are usually withdrawn."

not always..in fact the old name for bi-polar was manic depression and by the name alone tells you a sufferer can experience extreme highs and extreme lows and in the low stage, sure they can be withdrawn, but in high stage can be well over the top.. over exuberant and experience episodes of a frenzied state known as ''mania''

The only indicator of mania is from a BIB and as Grant Smith posted above,Didn't realise the good Colonel or is that Lt Colonel or is it Dr Lt. Col or Dr. Colonel is also the resident psychiatrist...

Like I said, it appears in one photo, whilst he is still alive, he is handcuffed, and that's after the fall, when he was severely injured. I think that gives a good indication as to his behaviour before he jumped.

I accept what you say, but I wouldn't mind seeing the toxicology report.

I haven't seen the handcuffed photo, but for sure that could put the incident in a different light

^^^^ ^^^^

Not neccessarily, poor guy could have been suffering from depression..R.I.P what ever the cause.

It does state he was in a "manic condition."

Depressed people are usually withdrawn.

Yes, very tragic, too young to die. R.I.P.

"Depressed people are usually withdrawn."

not always..in fact the old name for bi-polar was manic depression and by the name alone tells you a sufferer can experience extreme highs and extreme lows and in the low stage, sure they can be withdrawn, but in high stage can be well over the top.. over exuberant and experience episodes of a frenzied state known as ''mania''

The only indicator of mania is from a BIB and as Grant Smith posted above,Didn't realise the good Colonel or is that Lt Colonel or is it Dr Lt. Col or Dr. Colonel is also the resident psychiatrist...

^^^^ ^^^^

Not neccessarily, poor guy could have been suffering from depression..R.I.P what ever the cause.

At the young age of 24 - what could be so bad for one to see no other option than to take their own life. RIP.

I believe there is no evidence to suggest he jumped and at 24 hard to believe he would, sounds more like he was pissed and playing around bad accident. So young, God bless him.

So sorry for the family.

There is reason to believe he jumped. Do a search for Phuket news and you'll find another news source with the complete story.

Could be, could also not be.

One person says he, the victim, has jumped You believe that, I don't. Sometimes I believe written information, sometimes I don't.

Everyones circumstances are different and this reflects in how they see and feel and talk about this place..what's the problem with that?

Someones 'milk and honey' vision isn't neccessarily the same as his neighbours is it?

Also at times relates directly to just how rose coloured the observer/commenters specs are.

I don't think expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey." They just want what everywhere else in Thailand has, nothing more, nothing less.

We are all being held to ransom here by the "influential people."

You got it wrong... I never said that expats, tourists and locals want "milk and honey." i was saying that peoples interpretation of their lifestyle/surroundings can vary immensely..in that, say for eg, GOM may interpret his lifestyle/surroundings as being great ie ''milk and honey'' but his neighbour for example may hate his own lifestyle/surroundings.

Nothing at all to do with how you replied.

If you read some of the posts you will see that some people are perfectly happy with their lot here., which i feel is what GOM was saying in #70.....

Everyones circumstances are different and this reflects in how they see and feel and talk about this place..what's the problem with that?

Someones 'milk and honey' vision isn't neccessarily the same as his neighbours is it?

Also at times relates directly to just how rose coloured the observer/commenters specs are.

Cheers fellas. Good to get your feedback. It's not nice hearing about the number of bad Journeys but good to understand where Phuket stands with its loyalty to womens safety. I honestly thought it was much better now - and i was just worrying about lame conversation. Now all we need is SuperWoman to clear this mess up.

Whether you go by taxi or not I would strongly suggest that you carry a taser and a switchblade. Both can be bought cheaply up in Phuket town. There is a taser currently on sale now that knocks people flat for around 1000 baht. It plugs into your wall directly. Its about the size of a mobile phone, I used it on my Thai neighbour (after paying him 500 baht and a few Sang Soms together). He dropped like a sack of potatoes and was incapacitated for 4mins and 20 seconds. He was so impressed by it he went and bought one for his wife. The switchblade is in case you forget to charge the taser. A good switchblade will cost around 400 baht.

I have never heard of anyone I know getting raped in a taxi though, but male hormones and a farang women can put some Thai men into a radical mental state, its good for your own piece of mind to have protection.

If taxi drivers worry you then get a recommendation from one of your friends, lots of people tend to use the same drivers. Or you could choose a female cab driver

Strongly suggest a switchblade and taser to go to the airport in a taxi? Get real..would you suggest the same in ireland or oz, because its just as unlikely a requirement there as it is here

What on earth are you on about? man you are paranoid ..you appear to be a very insecure guy..all the weapons you want/recommend on TV.

I understand the OP's concerns, but jeez, anywhere in the world there is a possibility [tho very small] of some desperate punk guy wanting to take advantage of a female whether in a taxi or not but in all the thousands of taxi rides to and from the airport here how many assaults/rapes have occured? [yes i agree ,even one is one too many] but your suggestion just beggars belief.

OP its easy..just go to a tour desk that a lady working, ask her to organise a taxi for you and point out that you are a little nervous and i'm sure she will get you one of the many good guys or possibly a female who have a taxi to take you.

Second choice would be the 150baht van ..door to door and this time of year, not too many pick ups on the way..

Its not as tho you are travelling in Afghanistan or even India, tho i/ivan suggestion may give you that impression.

Relax, be aware a little as always [anywhere] and go enjoy your travels..

He has also shown that he didn't know that brandishing a fake firearm was illegal and has proudly admitted to brandishing his baseball bat at a motorbike driver causing them to crash, also illegal. An arsenal of weapons coupled with ignorance of the law is a scary combination.

''Madder than a cut snake'' is the appropriate aussie expression for this guy.

Cheers fellas. Good to get your feedback. It's not nice hearing about the number of bad Journeys but good to understand where Phuket stands with its loyalty to womens safety. I honestly thought it was much better now - and i was just worrying about lame conversation. Now all we need is SuperWoman to clear this mess up.

Whether you go by taxi or not I would strongly suggest that you carry a taser and a switchblade. Both can be bought cheaply up in Phuket town. There is a taser currently on sale now that knocks people flat for around 1000 baht. It plugs into your wall directly. Its about the size of a mobile phone, I used it on my Thai neighbour (after paying him 500 baht and a few Sang Soms together). He dropped like a sack of potatoes and was incapacitated for 4mins and 20 seconds. He was so impressed by it he went and bought one for his wife. The switchblade is in case you forget to charge the taser. A good switchblade will cost around 400 baht.

I have never heard of anyone I know getting raped in a taxi though, but male hormones and a farang women can put some Thai men into a radical mental state, its good for your own piece of mind to have protection.

If taxi drivers worry you then get a recommendation from one of your friends, lots of people tend to use the same drivers. Or you could choose a female cab driver

Strongly suggest a switchblade and taser to go to the airport in a taxi? Get real..would you suggest the same in ireland or oz, because its just as unlikely a requirement there as it is here

What on earth are you on about? man you are paranoid ..you appear to be a very insecure guy..all the weapons you want/recommend on TV.

I understand the OP's concerns, but jeez, anywhere in the world there is a possibility [tho very small] of some desperate punk guy wanting to take advantage of a female whether in a taxi or not but in all the thousands of taxi rides to and from the airport here how many assaults/rapes have occured? [yes i agree ,even one is one too many] but your suggestion just beggars belief.

OP its easy..just go to a tour desk that a lady working, ask her to organise a taxi for you and point out that you are a little nervous and i'm sure she will get you one of the many good guys or possibly a female who have a taxi to take you.

Second choice would be the 150baht van ..door to door and this time of year, not too many pick ups on the way..

Its not as tho you are travelling in Afghanistan or even India, tho i/ivan suggestion may give you that impression.

Relax, be aware a little as always [anywhere] and go enjoy your travels..

Your signature says it all buddy. "we live in a society where a pizza gets to your house before the police", no I wouldnt bother with tasersin Australia all though I do carry a baseball bat there. In farangland the police will be there in 2mins. What is the response time for the BIB in LOS?

Buddy?? You carry a baseball bat in oz? where , how , why [unless of course you play the game] but confirms what i said.above..and nothing at all to do with your misguided paranoid response to the OP.

Cheers fellas. Good to get your feedback. It's not nice hearing about the number of bad Journeys but good to understand where Phuket stands with its loyalty to womens safety. I honestly thought it was much better now - and i was just worrying about lame conversation. Now all we need is SuperWoman to clear this mess up.

Whether you go by taxi or not I would strongly suggest that you carry a taser and a switchblade. Both can be bought cheaply up in Phuket town. There is a taser currently on sale now that knocks people flat for around 1000 baht. It plugs into your wall directly. Its about the size of a mobile phone, I used it on my Thai neighbour (after paying him 500 baht and a few Sang Soms together). He dropped like a sack of potatoes and was incapacitated for 4mins and 20 seconds. He was so impressed by it he went and bought one for his wife. The switchblade is in case you forget to charge the taser. A good switchblade will cost around 400 baht.

I have never heard of anyone I know getting raped in a taxi though, but male hormones and a farang women can put some Thai men into a radical mental state, its good for your own piece of mind to have protection.

If taxi drivers worry you then get a recommendation from one of your friends, lots of people tend to use the same drivers. Or you could choose a female cab driver

Strongly suggest a switchblade and taser to go to the airport in a taxi? Get real..would you suggest the same in ireland or oz, because its just as unlikely a requirement there as it is here

What on earth are you on about? man you are paranoid ..you appear to be a very insecure guy..all the weapons you want/recommend on TV.

I understand the OP's concerns, but jeez, anywhere in the world there is a possibility [tho very small] of some desperate punk guy wanting to take advantage of a female whether in a taxi or not but in all the thousands of taxi rides to and from the airport here how many assaults/rapes have occured? [yes i agree ,even one is one too many] but your suggestion just beggars belief.

OP its easy..just go to a tour desk that a lady working, ask her to organise a taxi for you and point out that you are a little nervous and i'm sure she will get you one of the many good guys or possibly a female who have a taxi to take you.

Second choice would be the 150baht van ..door to door and this time of year, not too many pick ups on the way..

Its not as tho you are travelling in Afghanistan or even India, tho i/ivan suggestion may give you that impression.

Relax, be aware a little as always [anywhere] and go enjoy your travels..

With the son of the Mayor of Phuket being the taxi boss in Phuket, and the police in cohorts with the Jet Ski industry. Who in the hell expects anything to change.

Actually.......only the editor of the news source that cannot be mentioned.

he is dead set crazy!

He actually believes that his persistent ravings will be the cause of the changes, if/when the changes happen,which is very unlikely anyway.

Seeing as how this story is already reaching into every possible angle, how about this one..just a theory

Due to the ongoing ''harrassment'' of Russians trying to get into Thai only business dealings, whether legal or not,here, it has been suggested that the two guys involved in this ''production'' were paid actors indeed and that it was made and uploaded by a certain editor of a local newspaper and downloaded to you tube as some sort of attempt to show Phuket in bad light.[not that it needs much more to do that anyway]

IMO, If so was a rather amateurish attempt at best..but is possible...

I am thinking that the Thai man was set up and manipulated into this situation by the Russians, as a stooge.

Firstly, it appears that the Russian was expecting this guy because he had his video already primed in the right position and running. And the Russian appeared to be almost waiting near the door as if he was expecting the Thai man.

Plus what normal person would open a door without first inquiring who it is and so quickly without hesitation?

Also the Russian was too cool, calm and collected. He just knelled there and let the Thai man do his stuff. Even after the incident he just got up and calmly walked away.

Looks like an elaborate set up to me, for reasons yet we do not know.

hansgruber..whats the dismay?

do you think that this is really not a possibilty ? curious thats all..

Seeing as how this story is already reaching into every possible angle, how about this one..just a theory

IMO, If so was a rather amateurish attempt at best..but is possible...