Bulldozer Dawn

On 5/6/2017 at 9:41 AM, Old Croc said:

Some of us old guys, instead of falling off our pot (?)  are just sick of the off-Island trolls banging on with the same old tired rubbish, seemingly with impunity..

On the contrary, former long term residents of Phuket like myself are very well placed to provided comment in the wake of a recent visit.

We no longer sit in the pot as it is slowly being brought to the boil.

Our insights are based on reality.

16 hours ago, Stevemercer said:

I've managed to kick start mine, both hot and cold, but I'm still to master the technique. The trick, as mentioned above, is to use the kick start to get the motor past TDC, and then kick. Unfortunately, there is not quite enough travel in the kick lever to get it going fast enough to the next TDC. The kick start does not quite engage again at the top of its stroke and you loose a good 25% of the travel. However, if you go a little beyond TDC, so the lever fully engages at the top of its travel, then there is a chance it will start.

 

Wearing shoes/boots with hard soles (not rubber) and putting a rubber grip on the bar metal kick lever also helps. I think it might also get a little easier as the motor wears in.

Or you could date a girl with strong legs...

On 5/7/2017 at 7:59 AM, newnative said:

I think if you read my earlier postings I always have said there  is not a glut of highrise seaview condos in good locations. Re-read what I have written. I have also said several times that in my opinion there are too many of the 'theme park' lowrise condos in out of the way locations.  One of the problems with TV is people often don't read postings very carefully or pull out one tidbit to focus on and miss the whole point of the posting.  That was evident with one of the responses I got to the posting I did on renting for 12 years vs buying.  I picked 10,000 Baht as my monthly rental figure, thinking not too high or too low for a 12 year period, and, of course, got a response that rents weren't 10,000 Baht in 2004 and it was 'bulls**t" to expect a 17% return on a rental--something I wasn't even writing about. 

Nothing wrong with my reading skills.  You need to work on your story telling.

22 hours ago, NamKangMan said:

 

How long before the package holiday Chinese mass tourism starts to repel what is left of the western tourist market????

Chinese mass tourism is ugly, but it is not malevolent.

The rise in hiphopslims in Phuket will result in the collapse of the western tourist market.

Something perhaps worth mentioning, upon looking at agoda and other sites for potential hotels to stay in in Vietnam, I noticed that a good portion of the online reviews are left by Thai travelers.  It would seem that even the Thais are ditching Thailand as a travel destination.

3 hours ago, simon43 said:

 

I drink 1 glass of red wine every evening because there is reasonably good medical evidence that it is good for your heart.  I don't drink any other alcohol.

 

Now, as to whether drinking alone is healthy, that's another issue.  Naypyidaw can be a difficult place to socialise, due to the lack of expats, lack of entertainment facilities, lack of group sports facilities, police concerns about locals fraternising with foreigners etc.

 

The Hilton Hotel in town apparently had 3 guests during the water festival.... (my hotel had only me).

 

But I knew this when I took my current job and I can honestly say that staying in Naypyidaw, away from my ex-wives and dysfunctional family members and 'problems' in Phuket, my stress levels are non-existant.  I'm VERY happy with my job, social life, exercise and diet regime, bank balance.....

 

Just need to add a corkscrew to my next shopping list :)

Well of course you are content...you are living the high life there.  How many Burmese have a pair of shoes, a steel tipped umbrella, and a bottle of merlot in their room...

1 hour ago, SiamBeast said:

Let me help you.

 

1) Call the following countries, and ask if Vorayuth Yoovidhya or someone with a very similar name has a passport: Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Austria, Malta, Cyprus, Russia, St. Lucia, Dominica (all countries where you can buy a second passport with a significant investment).

 

2) If any country in the above list returns a positive match, ask for the passport's travel history.

 

3) Get the last entry he made on that passport.

 

4) Call the authority of the country in #3 above, and ask them to arrest this person. Ask immigration to block exit for this person.

 

5) Collect "Boss" at Suvarnabhumi airport, and bring him to jail.

 

No need to thank me, you're welcome.

Why would his new passport use his old name?

So now it is up to Anonymous and CSI LA to bring him to justice.

This iceberg is just the tip of the iceberg.

22 hours ago, newnative said:

So, bought for 400,000B in 2004 and 300,000B spent to renovate it.  In for 700,000B.  Now it's worth around 1,400,000B.  12+ years of rent payments not thrown out the window.  At 10,000B a month that's around 1,440,000B saved--and the buyer's been able to live in his own space those years and do what he wants with it.  At this point he still has an asset he can continue to live in, rent it out to someone else, or sell it.  Can't see how that ends up being a 'very poor performer'.  Renting is often the best choice for short-terms but buying isn't always a bad decision if you are going to be some place for a number of years and like to own your space.

Bulls**t

Units were not renting for 10K per month back in 2004.  If they were your condo would of been realizing a return of over 17%.  

10K x 12months = 120K /700K = 17.142%

10 hours ago, simon43 said:

LoL, if you check on the other forum, there's a recent post about me trying to open a bottle of corked wine without a corkscrew.  It all ended in tears...

 

Someone pointed me to a YT video that showed a guy opening a bottle of wine by using a shoe.  So I thought I'd try the same method.

 

Don't worry - I'm not going crazy :)  I might make some more videos about living in Naypyidaw.

 

As for a new GF, I have no plans for that.  In any case, there is no way that the police/military here would let me entertain a woman in my hotel room or shack up with her - this is a military city and the only banging that I'm allowed is with my bottle of Merlot, (which tastes very nice BTW).

Not sure it is healthy drinking alone either...regardless of the quality of your wine...

Simon...

The fact you are creating videos about banging a shoe against a wall in your hotel room would suggest to me that you are well overdue to find a new girlfriend.

There is acceptable banging and there is I am a bit crazy after being alone to long banging.

You're a smart guy, I will leave you to figure out which is which.

Had to visit specialist doctor at Phuket International last week.  After I was finished I caught up with an ex girlfriend who had a day off.  We were riding into town on separate bikes to have lunch and she pulled in to get some gas at a service station on Chaofa east.  I parked off to the side.  A group of 8 twenty something hiphopslims in muay thai gear (3 with no shirts on) rode in and started hassling her.  One of them grabbed her arm.  I rode up and told them to f88k off.  Had it not been for the Thai gas attendants (one of whom pointed out the CCTV to the lads) I would have no doubt received a kicking.

Yes the Chinese are loud, dirty and devoid of social etiquette.  But, as I have already posted previously on this thread, it is the growing presence of hiphopslims in Phuket that adumbrates the island's inevitable demise.

On 4/26/2017 at 10:57 PM, NamKangMan said:

 

I didn't go much on Hanoi.  The south of Vietnam is very different to the north, in my opinion.  A lot like Thailand, I suppose.

 

Do yourself a favor and get to Ha Long Bay out of Hanoi.  You will not regret it.  It really is something.   

Yep probably head out to Ha Long.  I note that it is similar to Phang Nga with it limestone islands....why do you think it is really something.  I also plan to get a soft sleeper train up to Sapa.  I read that May is a good month (nice weather) but not yet too crowded as it is on the front shoulder of high season.  I have had a good look around on agoda and booking.com and there are some very nice rooms available circa 500THB.  I plan on renting a bike in Hanoi, could well end up riding it all the way to the south.  We will see.  Did you rent a bike while you were there...and did you bother getting an international licence.   

Looks like the OP Phuket Greg is just another in the long line of new TV members created to make click bait posts.  The handful of real posters on this site is growing smaller by the day.

On 1/1/2017 at 3:28 PM, NamKangMan said:

 

 

"Could it take 10-20 years for any real competitor to emerge/develop and threaten Phuket?" - ahhhh, where do you think all the western tourists that Phuket has lost over the last 2 years are going????

 

In my opinion, Phuket's biggest competitor will come from Vietnam.  (tourist numbers up 26% - and I would suggest, that's tourist with money, not "zero baht" Chinese package holiday tourists)

 

I also notice Vietnam's budget airline, Vietjet, is gaining more and more international routes, and frequency of flights.

 

While Phuket refuses to change, their competition has been developing their tourism industry, rapidly.

 

This is the type of places being built, particularly in Vietnam, whilst Phuket still allows its same old scams and extortion, with higher prices for poorer service.

 

http://www.thegrandhotram.com/

 

By not moving forward, Phuket is actually slipping backwards. 

On 1/1/2017 at 3:28 PM, NamKangMan said:

 

 

"Could it take 10-20 years for any real competitor to emerge/develop and threaten Phuket?" - ahhhh, where do you think all the western tourists that Phuket has lost over the last 2 years are going????

 

In my opinion, Phuket's biggest competitor will come from Vietnam.  (tourist numbers up 26% - and I would suggest, that's tourist with money, not "zero baht" Chinese package holiday tourists)

 

I also notice Vietnam's budget airline, Vietjet, is gaining more and more international routes, and frequency of flights.

 

While Phuket refuses to change, their competition has been developing their tourism industry, rapidly.

 

This is the type of places being built, particularly in Vietnam, whilst Phuket still allows its same old scams and extortion, with higher prices for poorer service.

 

http://www.thegrandhotram.com/

 

By not moving forward, Phuket is actually slipping backwards. 

Just thought I would pop back in to let you know that a couple of weeks ago I booked Vietjet flights for a holiday for me and my girl from Bangkok to Hanoi.  The ticket cost was 106 Baht.  No not a typo.... One hundred and Six Baht.  Local brewed beers in Hanoi are 20 baht a bottle.  Looking forward to the trip.

The handsomeness of foreign males increases significantly during low season.

This enables you to negotiate discount rates on the only worthwhile activities in Phuket.

Kenny 202

I thought I would bump this thread.  I am currently researching a strategy similar to yours.  However, there appears to be one significant flaw in your calculations.  Let me elaborate.  Upon studying the fees and charges for Krungsri FCD accounts, there is a charge of 0.5 percent when withdrawing by way of electronic transfer.  Where is that factored into your equations?

Just now, Yisheng said:

Yes, this is why I mentioned it. Prices in Pattaya are extortionate. The clinic is next to Lotus. Dr. Suganyaa, nice Lady.  For 1 spot she chares 500 THB, 2 Spots 700. 3rd spot free :-)  Phone: 042 413 377

Yes.  I was charged 4,000 baht at Bangkok international.

Just now, Yisheng said:

Yes, this is why I mentioned it. Prices in Pattaya are extortionate. The clinic is next to Lotus. Dr. Suganyaa, nice Lady.  For 1 spot she chares 500 THB, 2 Spots 700. 3rd spot free :-)  Phone: 042 413 377

Is that the big Lotus on the main road down to Udon Thani.  And is it on the North or South side.

I had the unfortunate circumstances of having to go to the Phuket airport this week to pick up some cargo.  I was also going to spend a night or two in Phuket town and Patong.  However the irrefutable sh**fight that now constitutes the airport and the horror of the new tunnel works cured me of that inclination.  Witnessing a motorbike road death was the straw that broke the camel's back.  As soon as I had my cargo in hand I hightailed back off the island of death.

Highlights of my trip:

1. Vehicle searched at Sarasin checkpoint
2. Witnessed horrible accident just on the island.  Old muslim man riding honda hit by white vios.
3. 1 hour traffic jam because of another accident at new orange cone u-turn set up north of airport turnoff.
4. Had to park outside the airport because not sure where cargo was to be picked up.  Parked in designated zone way south of Airport entrance.  Approached by three minvan drivers and told I could not park there.
5. Walked back to front of airport.  Stopped by military guys and asked why I was walking and not in a taxi.
6. Saw staff member from aviation company that was delivering my cargo.  Asked where the collection point was and told (100% sure) that it was inside domestic terminal.
7. Navigated the temporary steel steps up and over the front fence to get into terminal.
8. Outside the domestic terminal overheard a very attractive late twenty something girl asking a tout how much for a cab to Karon.  The guy told her it was 2,000 baht.
9. Had to take off my belt, glasses, car keys, wallet, phone, and steel caps to make my way through the x-ray.  Noticed that all of the security staff were female and wearing hijabs.
10. Went to the office of the aviation company inside the terminal and showed a copy of my cargo ticket.  Told that the collection point was not in the airport but back out on the main road (100% sure).
11. Walked back out to my car and on the way stopped by the Military again.
12. More death stares from minivan drivers but pleasantly surprised no flat tyres or other damage inflicted on my car.
13. Drove to the cargo office and parked outside.
14. Staff inside cargo office advised that plane 1.5 hours late (fortunately I did not have to wait too long because I was running late also because of aformentioned adventures)
15. While waiting in cargo office minivan guy came in and told me I was parked in his spot.  Girls in office told me to ignore him.
16. Cargo arrived and put in my truck.  Minivan had parked me in, so had to get one of the girls from the office to watch me so that I could reverse out via a small gap.
17. Stopped at 7 eleven to buy a coke and cashier tried to short change me 200baht from 1,000 baht note.

What a horrendous scene the tunnel works are for new tourists arriving in Phuket.  The giant rusting old pile drivers are like a scene out of a mad max movie. 

On 3/12/2017 at 7:51 AM, Old Croc said:

Many believe there is a casino in Phuket, already built, waiting for the go ahead.

http://www.thephuketnews.com/police-raid-casino-island-32332.php

Excuse the pun, but my money is on the yatch club at Nai Harn being converted into a casino.

Great shots.  But my preference is of young ladies rather than pagodas...

Hey Yisheng

I will be visiting Nong Khai next month.

Any chance you can provide me with the details of the dermatologist you visited.

Hey

Can anyone recommend a Nikon DSLR repair shop in Phuket town.

I have a D90 with a persistant ERR message.  

It is not the shutter as it works fine.

Err remains even with no lens attached.

Have tried all the usual stuff.  Reset, hard reset, change battery, change SD card, clean lens contacts.  But error message persists.

Phuket Richard have you used the shop in Phuket town for repairs ( I remember seeing one at the very western end of Dibuk street I think) with Nikon signs up.

Is a service/repair in Thailand affordable.  Or is it going to cost me 5,000 THB or more (in which case I might as well buy a new body.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.