sambum

The reason they want to clamp down on that and the electronic cigarettes is they are missing out on collecting the tax

Rubbish: Both E-Cigarettes AND the Shisha Tobacco are extremely hazardous to one's health ! ! ! End of argument.

So YOU decide to make a statement and then declare "End of argument" I bet you have a wonderful home life! And by the way, I agree that E-Cigarettes and Shisha may be "hazardous" to your health, but I would save the "extremely" word for "ordinary" cigarettes!

The reason they want to clamp down on that and the electronic cigarettes is they are missing out on collecting the tax

Correct Canopus! It doesn't seem to matter about the health issue!

Well said "cooked"! It is also a warning to the driver behind YOU that you are about to pull out in order to overtake the vehicle in front of you/ change lanes/turn. The best one that I have seen many times is the indicator flashing to turn left, and then the "offender" turns right. I think that this is mainly on motor bikes when the rider has indicated a left turn previously, but then forgotten to cancel the indicator, and then decides to turn right without indicating!!! On most cars the indicator is cancelled automatically when the car straightens up, but for some (economic?) reason on motor bikes it isn't. Damn dangerous!!!

What really cracks me up is the use of the turn signal to indicate a lane change. That is a good one.

In civilised countries that's what you learn to do. Maybe you missed that.Or do you prefer them to just swerve out into your path as one guy did to me today?
It's 'manoeuvre, mirror, signal' here.
Flashing headlights means 'get out of my way or we both die, dog'.

I specifically meant when they are passing you. I find this odd.

Same as in continental Europe:
Wake up, you old geezer driving like a snail - I am overtaking, do not even think about changing the lane!

Only Jor Sor's word to take for it then? No photos or reporters to verify that it was actually Yingluck - not even an Immigration Officer to give tea money for info?

Couldn't agree more - something needs to be done about Bangkok "Rip Off" Air - maybe the same kind of action meted out to the "Taxi Mafia"!!!

AND a connecting flight through SAMUI -

to give Bangkok airways a shock!

 

WHY is there a Monopoly for Samui anyway - who paid who...?

 

There must be enough numbers in high season...

 

But then again, forget it - the place would be over run with "jet skies"

 

We've used them several times on CNX-DMK, they're good so far.

 

Hopefully once they have routes from DMK to places like Phuket & Krabi, they may then start to link direct between Thailand's major secondary-cities ?

 

THAI used to force us to go via Bangkok, then Thai Air Asia demonstrated that routes bypassing there could work, now the newbie can help push that trend.

 

It will also be interesting to see how quickly they start international-links from Phuket or Chiang Mai, to their traditional bases, or the growing market to China ?

 

And their business-model, ultra-low-cost with-basic-luggage, can they undercut Air Asia and still make money ?

 

Happy times for consumers !

 

Good. There's way too many people down there anyway. The island could use a breather.

Not too many people - too many bars!

Clarification will come after the August 12th deadline.

Yes - I believe you are correct. However, it will take some time for that after the chaos sets in. Lines (queues) stacking up a obscure (in comparison) land border checkpoints is a far different thing than lines stacking up at an International Airport. Passengers who have flown 15,000 K. will not be in a mood to take being turned away lightly and when in large numbers - the noise will be loud. Then there is the factor of airlines being made responsible to pay for the flight back for those turned completely turned away. It will be a mess.

Even though people know that Thai Immigration Authorities are a no nonsense group of people - passengers trying to gain entry and denied after just getting a new visa in their home country will be incensed and will forget the risks they are taking.

Failure to a least give passengers who are set to fly up to 15,000 - 18000 kilometers a special case leaflet warning them that a newly issued tourist visas are going to be heavily scrutinized and does not guarantee entry and a similar warning for those going without a visa relying on an Exemption would be unconscionable. But I think it is going to happen.with many stamps in their passport.

I think it would be quite entertaining to sit near the immigration stations and watch the show that is going to happen - popcorn in hand.

I thought that Thailand was trying to attract tourists, as tourism accounts for a significant part of the economy? On top of the current "political" situation, this can only drive potential visitors away to Cambodia, Vietnam etc

I predicted this reactionary response, millions of uneventful trips completed by passengers on the rail, millions of beers consumed. An awful, tragic event...reaction? no more beer sales or consumption. So now instead of one unfortunate victim, all those travelers that enjoy a drink on board the train are victims also.

Perhaps you didn't read the article.

Alcohol consumption will still be allowed...discreetly.

I would consider the victim to be more than unfortunate and I would suggest you reconsider your idea that not being able to buy alcohol on the train is even remotely similar to her fate.

You read more into the article than I do - you can bring your own alcohol on board, but if you are seen drinking it you will be "invited" to leave the train. I see it as being able to bring your "Duty Free" or other booze on board, but according to the "rules" you can not drink it. However, as all other rules or laws here in Thailand, there will be ways round it, and probably a glass or 2 given to the uniforms on the train will solve the problem!

I can see it now.....

"Don't you know who I am???"

I heard the perect answer to that one a few years ago - a guy at a check in desk tried the same stunt trying to jump the queue. The check in girl smiled sweetly and announced over the Tannoy to announce to everyone "Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a gentleman at Gate xx who seems to have forgotten who he is. If anyone knows of a gentleman with amnesia, please come to Gate xx" The "gentleman" in question shouted "F*** you" at the check in girl who, quite unabashed replied "I'm afraid you'll have to take your place in the queue for that as well, sir!"

The smokers here are complete a--holes same as everywhere else and think it is their god given right to poison everyone any time any place because their crapped out bodies 'need a drag right now'. Drives me mad ! I cough on every single one of them who blows his poison in my direction.

Wouldn't be an ex smoker by any chance?

Twenty years with no probation for fraud. That's a tough deal.

Now I wonder if he might be interested in being given a whistle to blow......?

I suspect that this is exactly how the sh1t is going to start going uphill...!

Give a guy 20 years and I suspect he is going to be pretty keen to start naming those further up the chain. Jail the next guy up, and so on it goes, until they get right to the very top, yes, you guessed it, KhunT...!!

And then - catch me if you can! You ain't done it yet!

Personally I would not expect it to change

If people with private taxis don't charge much cheaper

Remember on an island everything is more expensive

The cost of living is higher

The cost of gasoline is higher

Cost of eating is higher

Cost of rent is higher

Which filters down to the street these drivers, owners and so on still have to live here supper families and so on

If you stand around watching the taxi drivers they always get customers depending which stand by they have chosen

Be it green mango on a Saturday night or tescos

So the myth that they don't get business is a myth

They get paid the as if they did it cheaper and if they so a short run that means they go to the back of the cue so they miss the bigger job behind them. The only way round it is to charge a fare price from example from tescos to Chaweng can be 250 or 300 baht as it is short so they can her back to the cue quicker

Then from Tesco to Nathong 500 baht is not too bad considering the distance and they have to drive back then back to the end of the cue

So it is what it is and it is very competitive mainly probably to probably not having restrictions as to how many taxis are aloud on the island

They do make money so why would they change

Would you offer a discount to people to someone who was renting your house for a year and already paying 100 k per month anyway and were due to carry on paying

What would be the point

The point of business is to make money

And with allot of 5 star hotels there is allot of demand for taxis and the customers don't find 500 baht too much

They are mainly for tourists

As most expats either rent a motor bike or buy one or a car

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Good post and many valid points! However, the actual fact that the majority of these vehicles have "Meter Taxi" on a box on the roof is surely flouting the law (OK - I can hear it now "Which law?" "Thai law?" so don't bother!) but once again there seems to be no one to enforce it. (Bring in the Phuket "Untouchables"?) Actually, I remember 1 taxi that had a sign saying "Meter 50 baht surcharge", which at least was a step in the right direction, but didn't last too long - obviously "The Family" advised him against it!!!

You stop it by pushing the white bottom above you

I love it Birdman.

Wonderful - I didn't realise they got THAT crowded!!!

Gary sure does have a difficult time controlling his libido.

Well he and Rolf Harris can entertain the rock spiders in the clink, he has been convicted for the same offence a few times and has not learned a thing, lock him up for the rest of his life.

Not the same offence - a similar offence, and don't forget that these offences happened more than 3 decades ago - not defending his actions, but that's an awful long time ago, and a lot of people seem to be jumping on this "nail a celebrity for sex charges" bandwagon!

So far in Samui, it's been same same.

Doubt it's gonna change much considering there's very well connected families on this island with good ties to the people who took over the reign of the country.

small island too many taxis. makes it not worth doing short runs for small money. Also they are not aloud to under charge if they want to stay in their group

Short runs for small money better than no runs at all! Some taxis sit in the same place for hour upon hour with no fares rather than "undercharge" and fall out with their "family" " Don" group. (Hence the term "Mafia"!)

Ok imagine you are on standby outside a club and you have waited all night for. Customer

They want to go from banrak to Chaweng

You quote then 300 baht or 400 baht

The customer wants to get he price down to 150

Could you really be bothered to drive someone to Chaweng for 3 pounds

Maybe it is an assumption that these people are desperate and need the money and they are ripping themselves off

This is not really he case

Allot of drivers own taxis have their own businesses and standby in their spare time

So they are not really interested in cheap runs

Yes some of them rent them out but if that is he case then the leasee is bound by samui rules and normally throws in the towl after a few weeks or months

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

"bound by samui "mafia" rules? 300 or 400 baht from outside a nightclub where you have "waited all night"? (implying that this is the "early hours, you must know some cheap taxi drivers!)

So far in Samui, it's been same same.

Doubt it's gonna change much considering there's very well connected families on this island with good ties to the people who took over the reign of the country.

small island too many taxis. makes it not worth doing short runs for small money. Also they are not aloud to under charge if they want to stay in their group

Short runs for small money better than no runs at all! Some taxis sit in the same place for hour upon hour with no fares rather than "undercharge" and fall out with their "family" " Don" group. (Hence the term "Mafia"!)

Understood it is madness but that's just the way it is

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Unfortunately, you are right with "that's just the way that it is", but if things can change in Phuket (which they seem to be doing rather quickly!) then surely the same could apply to Samui?

So far in Samui, it's been same same.

Doubt it's gonna change much considering there's very well connected families on this island with good ties to the people who took over the reign of the country.

small island too many taxis. makes it not worth doing short runs for small money. Also they are not aloud to under charge if they want to stay in their group

Short runs for small money better than no runs at all! Some taxis sit in the same place for hour upon hour with no fares rather than "undercharge" and fall out with their "family" " Don" group. (Hence the term "Mafia"!)

Probably been covered before, but with the "new regime" taking positive steps to curb the taxi and tuk tuk
"Mafia" in Phuket, what are the chances of a similar operation being undertaken in Samui? Extortionate prices for Airport/Ferry runs, and "meter no work" are just a couple of the main complaints I hear from visitors.

Bravo! And how about next stop Samui - extortionate prices for Airport/Ferry runs, and the old chestnut about "meter not work"

What about samui the tropical island on the east cost ????

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Yes, it does! (Cost!)

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

What a cheapskate. Found money reward should be a minimum of 5%.

Even if this guy cut it down to 2.5% it wouldn't be that bad.

And the police should investigate why he was carrying all that money around even Thai property deals these days take bank cashier cheques.

10,000 Baht is just a slap in the face.

I hope some of this guys buddies take him aside and talk some sense into him.

He is doing a disservice to all who may lose money in the future.

What on earth has it got to do with you how much money he has and how he decides to carry it around?

I agree with Wiceman - anybody carrying that amount of money round in a brown bag (especially a "scruffy" teacher) is either stupid or bent. And the 10,000 baht reward is peanuts compared to the amount found.

Yady Yady Yady Ya, don't know anything about it but judge. Could well be that it was not his money. Is the lady complaining about $300? No. So why do you? And like one poster said "What on earth has it got to do with you how much money he has and how he decides to carry it around?"

I repeat - "anybody carrying that amount of money round in brown bag is either stupid or bent"

1. Stupid - no explanation should be necessary, but I am entitled to my opinion, and I am sure the same opinion held my many others that to carry 2.2 MILLION BAHT around anywhere in a brown bag, never mind Pattaya, is STUPID.

2. Bent - It may well be that it was not his money, but to carry 2.2 MILLION BAHT of someone else's money around in a brown bag "suggests" that the money is a bit "dodgy" does it not? But surely a teacher would not be walking round with 2.2 MILLION BAHT of dodgy money in a brown bag, would he?

What a cheapskate. Found money reward should be a minimum of 5%.

Even if this guy cut it down to 2.5% it wouldn't be that bad.

And the police should investigate why he was carrying all that money around even Thai property deals these days take bank cashier cheques.

10,000 Baht is just a slap in the face.

I hope some of this guys buddies take him aside and talk some sense into him.

He is doing a disservice to all who may lose money in the future.

What on earth has it got to do with you how much money he has and how he decides to carry it around?

I agree with Wiceman - anybody carrying that amount of money round in a brown bag (especially a "scruffy" teacher) is either stupid or bent. And the 10,000 baht reward is peanuts compared to the amount found.

What a good advert for upstanding American males! Can he not afford a shirt and a pair of trousers for a photocall? I would have thought with just having recovered his missing 2 million baht, he would have made an effort to look more presentable, or maybe the money wasn't actually his, and he was just "keeping it for a friend"! In any case, the lady's conscience is clear, and hope that she gets good luck in return. Not so his - to give her such a paltry amount as a reward is insulting, and going by the opinions of other posters, I hope he has a rethink - after all 10% tip in a restaurant is the norm for average service - more if you are extremely satisfied. I would have been extremely satisfied!

The banner should read "Thaksin and Yingluck the comedy duo appearing daily".

With police/security chiefs threatening to sneak into opposition camps in disguise, opposition leaders threatening retaliation by means of a fist fight, this latest scenario is only the latest in a comedy of errors that is fast making Thailand the laughing stock of the world.This is only one reason why Thailand will always be a "3rd world country"

Yes, the curfew is permanent. And there will be no more alcohol sales or consumption between the hours of 05:00 and 22:00. Tourists will only be affected if they drink, or come seeking the nightlife here.

And there will be no more alcohol sales or consumption between the hours of 05:00 and 22:00., food may be served only.

Otherwise business is as usual.

Think you got your times mixed up there, mate!

" And there will be no more alcohol sales or consumption between the hours of 05:00 and 22:00." ?