garysdth

The big problem is the debris getting sucked into the airplane engines and possible damage.

Thai Nan Restaurant on the Central Corner could handle a party like this. Parking. Mid Island. Beer. Great Thai Buffet makes it easy.

Party is a good idea. Phuket is about the beach so on the beach would be great. Friendship Beach did work well. Another option would be Nikita Bar in Rawai, very popular with expats, on the water. Expat in Patong could handle an event like this one. Would vote against any venue that even resembles a shophouse.

This all adds up to being responsible for your own safety while in Thailand.

When you go into a Thai disco or club look for what you need to survive and how to get out. Have a plan. If there is only one exit, leave.

When you check into a Thai hotel look for the exit routes, look to see if they have sprinklers in the room, look for emergency lighting and surveillance cameras.

When you get on a Thai boat look at the condition of the boat and the crew and for life saving gear.

When you are walking or driving pay attention, be careful.

If there was a better place to live I would probably move there. But the truth is this, Thailand is what works for me. I just had to learn a new operating system to fit in with the way the Thai people choose to live and do things.

a little bit more west is another bordercrossing, closer to Satun.

It's called Khuan Don (Thaiside) or Wang Kelian (Malayside)

Drove through Khuan Don a few months ago enroute to Malaysia. Definitely open only daytime, can get visa stamps if you walk in and out of Malaysia, pretty place too. Sign marker for turn off route 406.

I was on the 29 January trip and the food was horrible and not enough of it. Heard lots of complaints. On return I contacted Ulf and he said he had not been paying attention, and would deal with it before the next trip. I believe him. Anyone been on a recent trip? How has the food been lately?

Thanks in advance George. I will be there bringing one friend.

Gary

Anyone have information on the golf course at Chumpon?

I saw it on my last drive south, just off the big road on the road to Ranong.

Re: Hotels

Can recommend several comfortable accomodations that are in the B1500 - 2000 range.

Friendship Beach nearby on Chalong Bay <http://friendshipbeach.com/>

Rawai Beach Resort in Rawai <http://www.rawaibeachresort.com/>

KN Guesthouse in Patong <http://www.knphuket.com>

Sign me up - 2 pax.

Garysdth

PhilHarries said "I can forsee domestic and low cost carriers transferring plus maybe a few smaller international airlines but not the majors. This would take some pressure off Suvarnabhumi and allow time for properly engineered repairs not just cut and paste patches."

But it is the majors flights that are causing the rapid breakup of the runway.

Smaller planes might be ok. at SWB, Don Muang we know can take the majors, SWB can't.

Or U Ta Pao.

'Properly engineered repairs' means completely rebuilding runways and taxiways & god knows what else.

Perhaps SWB could be one of the nicest domestic airports around?

"Screws" might just have it right. Move the majors, they fly the heavy planes. 747's weigh more than 737's. Don Muang is built on bed rock, that is one of the reasons it is there. Years ago that site was selected for an airport because it would be usable even when other areas flood and it had the right geology for stability.

An unmentioned problem at Suvarnapum is the fact that it has only two runways. The congestion at Don Muang when it was operating was at the end of the runway. Airplanes backed up in the sky and on the ground waiting for clearance to land or takeoff because there were too many planes trying to use only two runways.

With the same amount of traffic using only two runways at Suvarnapum it is only natural that you would also have the same congestion. Major design flaw for the move to Suvarnapum is not having 3 or 4 runways when it opened. the two runway situation is what actually limits the number of passengers that can move through the airport, not the terminal or gates that are still useable.

If the majors and the connecting flights were moved to Don Muang perhaps Suvarnapum could operate with one runway while the other is repaired. Don Muang could be the alternate if there is a runway incident closing the operating runway. Also the 737's and 320's should not be a weight factor using the taxi ways and gates, and the gates could be used for all the discount airlines as there would be enough gates for the convenience of the passengers not having to deal with the bus rides.

PHUKET INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL-

I was at PIH Thursday when an ambulance arrived with a farang from Wachira Hospital. He was a mess. Face looked like hamburger. He was accompanied by friends who told me that this was the result of an altercation with a tuk tuk driver. They did not know where it had happened as they were contacted by police to come get him from the hospital. They chose to move him to PIH to intensive care for restoration surgery. I saw nothing about this incident in the Phuket Gazette. I am wondering how often this happens.