jamie obda

I often find it amusing that BMs begrudge the lack of infrastructure in certain SEA countries. And at the same time, in other forums regret the development in Thailand. Phuket, specifically floods during downpours with sewers overflowing for a brackish, fecund soup. And while power is fairly consistent there, transportation infrastructure is nonexistent, the fresh water supply is dubious, and raw sewage often plumes untreated into the sea. Maybe Udon Thani is better, I don't know.

Korean Air and Asiana will pick up the slack, at a substantially higher cost, hmmmmm. And its not like THEY have a stellar record.

Or is it really about competition?

Get out NOW. With or without child you will bleed.

I saw a listing on facebook for a pub for sale (Boar's Head, or something) on Samui for a really low price. Is this merely part and parcel of the trade, or are people dumping and cashing out?

Any thoughts?

It was the naga, come to warn tuk-tuks about their evil ways. Or, OTOH, it was Phosop to warn of shitty rice harvest.

Baht should crash. Only US dollar strong now.

coming in August, looking for good breakfast, and late night food, open to any cuisine. Maybe someone knows of a special brunch or buffet within walking distance - and I don't mind walking as far as soi kesab or soi whiskey.

Thanks in advance

I was hoping SteveNL would chime in, as he is always a great source of on the ground info.

Yet that being said, I look to try to cast a wide net when there is no reliable data - to an extent run a scatter chart and eliminate the outliers. True, one could get a fan room at the Lamplighter in soi paradise for the price of a set meal at Burger King in Jungceylon. And at the other end of the spectrum is a sky villa (cheapest) at Kata Rocks for US$900.

The US$ is about 6% up on the baht. I don't know why. Maybe are currencies are tanking and the Thai economy is actually quite strong.

Foolishly, my supposition was that TAT banked on the Russians and Chinese, which scoured out many of the europeans, and as the ruble tanked, vacancies rates would be higher. I suppose I should include the AUS$ in that mix. In a normal economy, hotel prices should drop.

Maybe a better question might be how far out do most hotels book in terms of price points? And when do the discounts arrive?

I ask this question every three or four months, not as a troll post, but to get a more accurate measure of how things look from a locals point of view. I'm pretty sure TAT and AOT numbers are skewed and/or unreliable. I try to get a sense of things from PG, and mostly it seems like people bitching about beach chairs and swearing to never come back. I don't even read PW anymore as AM seems mad.

I like Phuket. I like it a lot. I usually come during the low season, but last year I came in December and it was noticeably more quiet. Although there were a fair amount of Russians and Midle Easterners. More often than not I stay in the Kata area, and spend some time with an old friend who lives in Chalong. So my question is, how are occupancy rates doing now (excepting the Lunar New Year) and how are future bookings?

Thanks in advance

I have an Ed.M., as well as a B.A. in English from legit universities, with ESL and 20+ years experience, but I'm 55. Can I get a job.

As one ages, health care is the game changer.

strolling along Patong beach 10AM this morning lots of thai nationals unloading chairs - not loungers, but suppose won't be far off. Massage lady every 20 meters. Could not determine where the "zones" are.