Patong2

I'm taking a friend from Patong to Bangkok Int Hospital Friday so any suugestions for what's the best route and how long should I allow for travel?

Big problem for everyone, sorry I do not have any answers for you. Flooding in Patong has been bad for the second night in a row and seemed to peak at around 4am this morning. People crossing Sai Kor 3 Rd (the "new" road that runs behind Jung Ceylon) were up to their thighs in water at one stage. Too deep for motorbikes and quite a few cars stranded. Lets hope the rain eases and the water goes down quickly for everyone. People trying to get home from Bangla Rd clubs etc could not get a motorbike taxi or car it appears.

Yes it looks to be that. Ugly colour scheme that we see when we eat at Chez Nous. Have you been down to Nai Harn and looked around that area?

Trekking in Nepal at 73? and taking sensible precautions before you go! Really admire your drive to keep enjoying yourself, hope you have a great trip. At 72 I spent quite a bit of time at 10,000' & 11,000' and we just take things quietly for the first 2 days but people have different tolerances. Up at 14,000' makes you a bit breathless and I don't think I could have carried even a small back pack but I was only there for the afternoon to spot animals. Like to see a report when you get back.

Imagine, at 85, getting back to the retirement village and being asked "How did you break your hip?" "Fell off an elephant!" Bit more exciting than the usual "fell out of bed" Hope they all recover well, and good on the ladies for being so adventurous.

Have seen and been amused by the chaos of overhead wiring around Phuket. Multiple wires all in a tangled birds nest and I wonder how the poor technician could ever work out which wire to work on. Love the sparking in wet weather and make sure I keep clear. But what puzzles me is why unused wires are not removed? Do they not have a copper content now? If they do, how come they aren't stolen and melted down for scrap as happens in other countries

Spent the time in Auckland with trips to the farm and also Waikato. The weather was absolutely rubbish with sinking the red bands over the heels in sodden paddocks. Cold and strong winds the whole time. Yes, Queenstown and areas are beautiful on a good day and I have hunted and hiked over most of NZ but I find Utah, Arizona, Wyoming and Montana more scenic and certainly more consistent weather. The friends and people we met up with seemed beaten and resigned with none of the drive that NZ is known for. Time is dragging on for them. After running businesses in NZ for 40+ years I was shocked by the attitude of people I had worked and dealt with over many years. Different for one relative in Wellington who works for the government. She thinks the country is doing well.

Just spent 2 months in New Zealand (where we have a permanent home) and found it so boring and depressing. People seem cowed, not much patronage at the restaurants we went to and it hasn't really moved on since the big lockdowns for Covid. Some people said they are scared to go out in case they caught Covid. i could understand that with elderly and vulnerable but these were people in their 40's & 50's. It is rife and inevitable most people will catch it by the look of things. Most people very critical of the mismanagement by the government and Ardern as the messiah seems to have lost her glow. Glad to be back in Thailand and we are certainly happier here although it is not perfect either.

I was surprised to see the posted fare to Patong still at B800 when we arrived a couple of weeks ago With the price of gas up so much and the exorbitant price of new vehicles in Thailand I don't think that is unreasonable. We had 5 luggage bags and delivered to our underground carpark lift entrance. I am happy with that service for that price.

The 25 years referred to the time I had been seeing street dogs around Patong but longer actually. I have no connection with Soi Dog Foundation nor have ever contributed but perhaps I should. I became aware of them due to a loud conversation that took place at the Surin Bay Inn (I think) restaurant about 2 weeks after the Tsunami and a loud Australian woman was sounding off about dogs in Bali or somewhere and saying these people at the table should be doing this and that etc. Being as cynical as I am, I said to my wife what a bunch of tossers, we have 1000's of people homeless, injured and many dead and they are worrying about a few stray dogs. Over time, on various visits to Patong, I gradually noticed the packs of dogs which were around and on the beach and were scabby, with hair falling out, some crippled and scarred and generally in an appalling condition and a few quite aggressive, they were diminishing in numbers. Prior to Covid there were few dogs around and most appeared in reasonable condition. Earlier this year there were a couple of packs on Patong Beach in the morning but they were not a problem but certainly more than prior to Covid. The reduction in number and the better health of dogs I have put down to the the reduction of breeding stock due to the intervention of Soi Dog Foundation. I do agree with mass culling of homeless dogs but that is not going to get traction in Thailand.

Great to see all these solutions expounded. But the reality is Soi Dog Foundation is actually doing and achieving something. The improvement in Patong and even surrounding areas over 25 years is astounding and impossible to deny. Other methods might work or be a lot better so if you think you can do better start now and tell us your action plan.

Despite being very cynical initially about Soi Dog's efforts I have been amazed at the difference they have made to the dog problem around Patong and Phuket especially since the Tsunami. Dogs were a problem and everywhere in Patong in the early 2000's and that has noticeably improved year on year until they were hardly noticeable on my early morning walks. Some were aggressive and it detracted from the ambience of the beautiful beach. I do note that there has been an increase in dog numbers the last year or so during Covid but I have not seen any problems. The beach dogs seem to treat lowly foreigners with disdain and are not a nuisance at the moment. Soi Dog has certainly helped in Patong and are worthy of support.

Because we were on tourist visas for about 20 years and were visiting sporadically. Now just use it for day to day stuff because we have cards and haven't bothered to close it. Transfers & Visa funds are in BKK Great believer in using more than one bank, if you have a problem with one you still have access to funds.

Kasikorn bank allow a joint account but would not let us have internet banking on it??? If we want internet banking it has to be an individual account according to the main branch here.

Had exact same problem with a hearing aid repair and DHL in New Zealand Except they demanded the equivalent of B9,900. Just their error inputting it into the NZ customs classification Your problem is probably the same, input error. DHL refused to correct, I refused to pay, we already had the repaired aid so we left it up to DHL to sort.

Beechbums right Rawai Seafood market is excellent and places upgraded Better if you take a Thai lady with you and get her to buy the food (with the farangs distancing themselves). You will get fresher and far cheaper prices and just take it to one of the several restaurants for cooking. Always look forward to it

Yes we got asked for a medical certificate and luckily we had brought all our papers for a visa app including the medical certificate. The 500 baht was annoying but we wanted it on the day and we were able to use the same cert for a bank account as well.

In Patong, I had to go over to Phuket town to the DL office renewed in January and was about 7 months after it expired. I had to produce evidence of place of residence ( from immigration and cost B500) and be there in person with passport. At that stage I was on a 60 day tourist visa. Simple enough once I went back to Immigration and got my proof of residence.

Just noticed an "Otto Steak & Seafood" while wandering around today. Above Rawai on the road to Promthep Cape there is the "Gold Shooting Range" Opposite that is a road that runs back down to Rawai. This place was 103/43 on that road.

Thanks Timbob We have tried it after your recommendation and found it excellent. The English breakfasts with additional black pudding are excellent as is the chilli con carne and the owner is very friendly and personable. Just trying really hard to succeed and doing it right.

Z? Z? Surely that means they support Zelensky and the Ukraine or have they cocked that up too?

The "mag" and "gold" wheels on some of the delapidated vehicles do surprise me. What does puzzle me is why does anyone around my area (Phuket) drive on low profile tires when the roads are so poor and when the vehicle is lowered how do they get in and out of many driveways?

The stupid prices of Tuk Tuks have meant we never use them with about 4 exceptions in more than 20 years. Drove down Rat-U-Chit Sunday night and from before Bangla till well after Jung Ceylon there was wall to wall Tuk Tuks waiting for fares. Had to be 50+ lined up. How do they make a living? Swung into Beach Rd and as well as the Tuk Tuks on the way there was another huge queue at the beach end of Bangla. There are a few more tourists but can't imagine there is a living to be made driving Tuk Tuks in Patong.

Agree entirely People who go to Thailand or another country or keep getting out of their comfort zone have a good chance of not only living longer but enjoying life more, in my opinion. seems to be working for both of us.

Good attitude and as we get older and look around us it is amazing how many people are waiting to die. To heck with that. Stay reasonably fit, eat reasonably healthy and above all have something to look forward to when you wake up tomorrow. Still too much to enjoy on this lovely planet