PhuketAmerican

Another shot...

This is a photo I took of a boat from the same company (maybe the same, they have only 2 or 3 like it) sunk at the A dock of Yacht Haven Marina in Ban Kho En. Photo taken in Fall 2012. The resort is nice, the food is amazing, great location in the secluded NE of the island facing Ko Pak Bia and Krabi Province. Too bad they seem to have trouble with their boats.

What a sociopath topic!

Lots of replies from all over the spectrum. I have my own plan for surviving here, but some good points have been made about being prepared for everyday disasters like floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes. If I wasn't well prepared and this went down, I'd feel pretty bad if unable to take care of my family. Good to have a few days food, a few weeks water, and some basic medical supplies. To each their own if they want to store gas, build water towers (like my Thai neighbor) and have home electric generation.

When the southern power outage hit for 9+ hours last year I was pretty popular in my soi for being able to pass out cheap candles to everyone eating dinner outside in the dark. Nothing wrong with being prepared.

Its a loaded term but I am interested in hearing from other farang Survalists/Disaster Prep folks in Thailand. If things ever break bad in USA or Europe, disease, nuclear war/disaster, etc. I have a plan in place for protecting myself and my family here just as I had a plan when I lived in the USA. Surely other guests here whether working farangs or retirees have some plan for themselves? I tried to do a fire drill with my Thai wife and kid and they thought it was a joke.

Anyone interested in endurance hiking, camping, practicing wilderness survival skills in the local national parks? Kayaking, sailing, fishing, etc.

Id like to compare set ups, water tanks, food supplies, electrical solutions like solar or water turbine power.

Wheres it at? I never see it in Phuket, but I guess the Africans in BKK would know where a few Gs are at.

Of course the hotel shouldnt have rent them the room- I remember getting 21+ year old sleazebag boyfriends of our slutty girls to rent rooms for us to rage in back in high school. One of the first times I got laid was at 16 in a red roof inn with a 15 year old freshman and some 40 oz beers and pot. Same things the world over. Hope the kids werent on hard drugs, but boys will be boys. Skeet Skeet Skee

what the <deleted> is all of this

blathering

I worked 2 years for one yacht company and now switched to another. While getting that original WP in 2012 however, I did two Burmese visa runs and got a Non Imm B at Penang to extend for my work permit so even though my passport is 100% correct it is covered in stamps so it raises alarms every time, especially since I've had multi entry stamps put in for work travel to India, Singapore, and Malaysia, which makes it look even more confusing.

Later next week around Sept. 9 I need to fly out for a Non Imm B. I had about 18 months of visa extension based on work permit renewed twice by my prior employer.

Where is the best place currently working (from recent travelers knowledge) to just stay in a good hotel near the embassy area and pay the agent there a fee to handle it for me? Id like to go to KL or Singapore with my girlfriend instead of Penang, but if it is currently easier in Laos or HK then I am willing to travel because I'd like to have an excuse anyway since my work is paying the ticket.

Whose recently changed work and WP Non Imm B extensions? How is Laos looking? Cambodia? Anywhere but Penang.

Stratton Oakmont was real, boiler rooms and pump + dump schemes are still thriving today. movie was ok

Also for a few baht cheaper than the beach can go to the shop beside Heng Heng in Nai Yang on the main strip south of the airport. Its beside the airport and they can do large pies too.

Pizza Lee on the beach hands down. try the original "Pizza Lee" I also like pineapple and salami but I know not everyone is into that. But great pizza. Thai food is so so.

I like Thai dried pork alot. Where are your favorite places to buy this? I like the old woman at the North End of the Nai Yang Saturday market.

Maybe Bird Flu? Very close to Lao Border...

Ive lived in Phuket for a bit and live in a mostly Thai area near Nai Yang Beach. I hear of little crime in the area, purse snatchings, burglary, simple assaults usually brought on by drink or misunderstanding, but I will tell you its way less tlhan I was used to in a relatively calm city in the USA where I used to live. This type of thing happens everywhere, unfortunately. Just be aware of your situation and don't make yourself a target, ladies be especially careful if your alone at night.

I like the southern thai roti nam gang, the flat pancakes served with a bowl of yellow gang gai or nua. Its similar to matsaman. Where are you favorite stalls for this? I ive near the mosque on Bangmalauw road south of the airport and they have a great roti stall there. Another is a kow tum soup and roti shop near the small supercheap on the east side of the airport road, staffed by fine young Muslim Thai girls. So where do you think the cheapest or best curry is? Ban Kho En has a good one as well.

Let's not carry it too far into philosophical territory. The reasons a Farang "Escapes" from the west, is (most of the time) very "down to earth":

- Beer is cheap

- P*ssy is cheap

- Housing is cheap

- Everything cheap

Let's keep it simple and honest.

Of course, the 0,1% of Farangs coming here because of the Temples, the Culture, the stable political system, and the Farang-investor-friendly legislation, will start to howl at this point...................

Cheers.

Well, not all of us come here to booze it up, whoremonger, and pinch pennies. Im a young American and I left a stressful finance career to spend time working teaching sailing for a yachting company and improve my sailing skills while seeing a different part of the world and learn about a new culture and learn a new language. And I dont pay for "p*ssy" I found a nice local Phuket girl to live with and have a normal relationship with who Ill probably take to the states so she can get a masters in business management there in the next few years

You're correct about housing though, living by the beach for 1/8th of my Charlotte, NC uptown apartment rent is an added benefit.

I just hope that neither faction deems it necessary to shutdown the airports, that would kill tourism and especially affect my work here in the sailing tourism industry not to mention all Thais and farangs with vested business interests. I wasnt here yet when this occurred previously but it would be negative for everyone, Ive been stuck in Athern airport for 2 days from strikes.

Thanks for the advice from the reasonable people on here, some people are just rude here though. I wouldnt attend again but to support my girlfriend and have a look I thought was fine. I hope some stupid <deleted> tingtong farangs in BKK (or anywhere) dont go out and get caught up in any trouble. Like one poster said about the early 1990s, if I see troops out I am in my house just minding my business. Not my fight.

Well after sussing it out I went out to dinner with my girlfriend and 5 of her uni friends, and we walked to the city hall. It isn't even really a protest. The Thais I went with all had whistles, Thai Flag hair clips, stickers, and flags but none wore yellow and I of course didn't wear anything protest related just nice clothes. The atmosphere was polite and calm, a few hundred locals of all ages (even skewed toward 40+ i would say) including the elderly, many sitting on the pavement (incl. us) and watching BlueSky footage of BKK. It was even quiet, with some whistles following applause from the crowd on TV. Vendor's sold snacks and icecream. We stayed about 830-1000 PM before leaving. I think alot of replies here on TV are from guys in BKK where it is pretty serious. Last night was clear that the police had no interest or reason for confrontation in Phuket. I made sure not to be in any photos and politely the group I was with understood. I did snap a few of my friends and the crowd. I think anyone what is curious could stroll up for a few minutes and take photos without trouble. Just dont be like that douche daddy in the photo waving the flag with a shit eating goofy grin on his face attracting attention. It was pretty boring though, we have BlueSky on TV at home while the Mrs. does ironing. Still not my fight but I think the danger is quite exaggerated in Phuket, though BKK is another story and I wouldnt be near protest there. Phuket is a yellow stronghold and I think things wont be dangerous for expats here- give it a miss though,super boring.

if immigration comes they will have you deported and blacklisted, please keep going to the meeting and you will be back in janky-land asap!

What is janky-land some slur for america? Why do you encourage that I would "keep going to those meetings" and lose my work permit and get deported? That is a hateful and spiteful completely uncalled for personal attack, what is your problem falkan?

Well after sussing it out I went out to dinner with my girlfriend and 5 of her uni friends, and we walked to the city hall. It isn't even really a protest. The Thais I went with all had whistles, Thai Flag hair clips, stickers, and flags but none wore yellow and I of course didn't wear anything protest related just nice clothes. The atmosphere was polite and calm, a few hundred locals of all ages (even skewed toward 40+ i would say) including the elderly, many sitting on the pavement (incl. us) and watching BlueSky footage of BKK. It was even quiet, with some whistles following applause from the crowd on TV. Vendor's sold snacks and icecream. We stayed about 830-1000 PM before leaving. I think alot of replies here on TV are from guys in BKK where it is pretty serious. Last night was clear that the police had no interest or reason for confrontation in Phuket. I made sure not to be in any photos and politely the group I was with understood. I did snap a few of my friends and the crowd. I think anyone what is curious could stroll up for a few minutes and take photos without trouble. Just dont be like that douche daddy in the photo waving the flag with a shit eating goofy grin on his face attracting attention. It was pretty boring though, we have BlueSky on TV at home while the Mrs. does ironing. Still not my fight but I think the danger is quite exaggerated in Phuket, though BKK is another story and I wouldnt be near protest there. Phuket is a yellow stronghold and I think things wont be dangerous for expats here- give it a miss though,super boring.

As many of you know, there have been protests on and off again drawing small numbers in Phuket Town related to unrest in Bangkok. Tonight my girl is pestering me to accompany her and some university friends to the "BKK Shutdown" as she is calling it. Reluctant since I only partially understand the basics of all this ruckus to go, anyone else been dragged to this? Please dont devolve this into a bunch of pompous self proclaimed expert <deleted> typing in all caps about "how much they hate or love PAD/Suthep/Taksin/Red/Yellow/ Other". I am withdrawing cash already in case the banks close- for first time guys like me (coup virgins) what are 5-10 simple precautions. Im already avoiding red/yellow clothes, just dont want to end up harrassed by either side cause this isnt my political fight.

Getting dragged to the Phuket "Shutdown BKK" protest this evening by girlfriend will post pictures and what roads are blocked/jammed if any.

Looking for other people interested in meeting up for some friendly doubles and singles matches, all skill levels welcome, even if you just want to learn and have a racket. I'm trying to get more exercise and because of my schedule have trouble organizing play, thought it would be cool to come up with a group that can meet twice a month or so. Just post what days in January and Feb you could play and times if you're interested, and we can figure out a time and place for our first meet up. If anyone knows of good courts post the location, Ive only played at school in Nai Yang. Whose up to hit a few tennis balls around?

Hello! I'd like to get some feedback and discussion about Thai coinage of all eras, good sources for quality old Thai coins, scams to look out for, local auctions, and history of Thai coinage. What do you collect? Do you have local sources like old people in villages, or actual shops/ auctions? Some of the best coins I have been able to get I bought from older Thai's in my Amphur here in Phuket, and I even bought some very old ones from the Big Buddha after seeing them in a donation jar.Local market amulet sellers usually have a small box of them as well, though sometimes they are reluctant to sell . I am interested in Pod Duang but have yet to buy any due to fear of copies and fakes. Where are the best places to find very very old authentic silver and gold Thai coinage?

Thai muslims I know are horrified to hear this kind of thing and ask me why "Muslim too crazy sometime" in other countries, genuinely embarrassed and stress that "Muslim in Thai not same". Before anyone starts off about the situation in the Deep South those people are not even ethnically or linguistically Thai.