dive_mistress

After the restaraunt thread I was wondering where people go to get massages, as there are always many complaints by farangs as well. I only mean a non sexual massage and dont want to hear where you go to get a happy ending. yawn yawn.

My favorite place is in Kata, Sawadee Massage a few meters north of the kata Post office. SUper Clean! the Manager speaks Great English, the girls give a good firm massage!! Ive been going for 2 years. I am quite particular about massage as well. Also food massage is only 200 baht and after 10 times ( i go once a week) I get one free.

However the other day i walked into a little convience store that had a massage/manicure/pedicaure place connected. They tried to give this tourist a pedicure on one foot while massaging the other foot!!haha Oh relaxing. IT took her a while to get the point across that she couldnt enjoy the massge while they were doing the pedicure at the same time. THey kept telling her "NO problem".clueless.

Can I add a little twist to this?

If I go to a friends house and he shows me a DVD. This is leangle and proper.

If I go on to my computer, to a file sharing site like, Lime wire etc. and then connect to someone that has the film {purchased perhaps legally, I don’t know } and I down load it onto my hard drive in order to watch it in just the same way as I did in my friends house, with of course, the full intension of wiping it later.

Why is this illegal?

And not if I borrow the film and watch it at home or watch with him at his home.

Oh!!! I like this, feel better already!! Good point, thanks Edd. I admit

I buy copy dvd and I download from Bittorent and I Just cant stop. I am so addicted to bit torrent! But I always feel badly. I do consider that someone did work very hard to develop the software that I am enjoying. HOwever like mentioned previously I probably wouldnt buy it if i had to pay full retail. If i wanted it badly enough I would find somenoe who had it and load their copy. However for now I love the tutorials from P2P (file sharing) and I tell myself that when i learn the programs then i can make more money and afford to pay for them. Occasionally i have paid for music to support the artist or software from small small companies, and i feel good about it.

I have heard the argument too that if everyoe in developing countries had to pay full retail for software they would never learn it.

However how hard would it be to really keep pirated software out of pantip?

With file sharing programs though it should be mentioned that no one is doing it for profit. it is not like i get a copy of software and try to sell it for profit, i just lend it to a friend

I do still worry about bad karma though.

This film was recomended to me and It has been impossible to find. I was in USA and found it at one Library but didnt get to the library to rent it. To order it from the website is like $300!! Or some outrageous price. iT is not in local video stores and i have not found it on p2p/torrent sights, yet.

WHere can i see it? My friend said in his film class they watched it as an example of a very good documentary.

---------

Just curious about this "she was given an opportunity to be "rescued" by a foreigner and ran with it. Her saviour and friend paid her training as a dive instructor, which she loved, and worked hard for the company who hired her. She did, however - to our horror -slip back into the bar scene. So my friend once again rescued her - for he had faith, he really believed in her."

My Thai friends earn 30,000-40,000 baht a month as dive instructors. why would she SLIP back into that industry? Was it becasue the diving industry was to much work? Seems a bit hard to understand why she had to be rescued 2 times, if she loved her diving job. LUcky girl to be given 2 chances.

For great Thai food if you are in the Kata area, go to Mama Daeng. Everything is 30 baht, you get a fried egg for an extra 5 baht and that includes a bowl of soup too. The green curry is great! The owners are very nice and the water is free (see other thread).

Its next to the little diving equiptment shop, next to the Post office in Kata and opposite the petrol station. Ive eaten here almost daily for about 2 years.

So what is the correct way to ask for the water that comes from the big white jugs? LIke the kind the employees drink? In thai what can we day if we dont want bottled water. ANyone?

Dolphins, I mean dolphins not whales. Oops.

yeah yeah yeah yeah!!!!!!!!!!! There is hope in Phuket!!! I was just about to launch a campaign requesting anyone i know who cares to email the Good Governor of Phuket and the TAT to not let this crazy woman capture beached whales!!!! YEah Yeah Yeah!!!!!!

wHAT DOES SHE mean by sometimes people bother them in the wild? In over 1500 dives in Similans i have only seen them swiming and playing along side the boat, but they never come close enough to us underwater so that divers can bother them! And initially she wanted to jail them to study them now it is all about people comming to swim with them.

Another certified Nut in Phuket. Has anybody check out her credentials? Hopefully her visa expires soon and she can go back to Denmark!

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Disinterest sinks ‘swimming with dolphins’ plan

PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) and Danish marine biologist Judith Kongsted have announced that plans for a dolphin center at Cape Panwa have fallen through due to the lack of participants in a proposed fund-raising committee.

Ms Kongsted had invited PMBC Director Wannakiat Thapthimsang and other potential committee members to attend a meeting at the Pearl Hotel on Saturday to form a working committee and discuss raising funds for the project. Only about 15 people attended.

Ms Kongsted commented: “It turns out that this project is not going to work because we do not have a committee to work with. But I’m still enthusiastic about the idea.

“People are fascinated by dolphins but sometimes they bother the creatures in the wild. If we had a dolphin center, people could come and swim with them and I think that it would be an extremely beautiful experience.”

The concept was opposed by Dr Roy Jones, Wildlife Coordinator, Asia, of the World Society for Protection of Animals, a UN-affiliated organization.

“I disagree with dolphins being held in captivity,” he said. “Granted, research has been conducted on dolphins in captivity, but the actual scientific body of evidence that we have comes predominantly from dolphins in the wild. This is where they display their natural behavior.”

He added: “Swimming with dolphins is no more than a business, and captivity with constant intimacy with humans would prevent them from living a normal life.”

K. Wannakiat said “I have discussed this topic with Ms Kongsted and I told her that the dolphin center could possibly be associated with Phuket Aquarium because the aquarium would be allowed to make a profit from it.

“The PMBC is not allowed to affiliate with an independent institution such as the proposed dolphin center, but the aquarium is. The objective of the dolphin center should be [medical] research and if there is any swimming with dolphins it should be for patients, not tourists or visitors.”

[/u][/u]

I am VERY GLAD there are other restaurant owners who also have similar problems.

DIVE Misstress you should have come to me not put it out on the "Public Forum".

What you choose to do shows what kind of a person you are.

Someone did not have a good time at one of 'your' restaurants

I suggest you get a life, considering that you are in the Dive industry.....

Don't worry Capannina there will always be some one who complains and we are NOT in the bizz

of making ALL people happy.

I didn't know that my dininig experiences and opinions had to be a secret.

After all this is a Phuket forum and this was simply my experience that I wrote about in a Phuket Dining Thread about Indian restaurants.

What should I have come to you and said? We complained to you when we were there!

Should we all keep experiences that are unagreeable from each other?

I did say good things as well about Capanina, and only complained about the service. Capanina has great food and I will give credit where credit is due. But I will not keep it a secret between you and I if the service is bad.

I do have alife and sometimes I work hard and want to have a nice meal with a friend. I dont want to spend my money on a meal and end up apologizing after a meal because I picked the place.

You ARE in HOSPITALITY business are you not? Isnt that what F&B is?

IF this shows what kind of person I am then what do the following comments YOU made in the Indian Food thread show about what kind of person you are? Slagging the competition in a public forum!!! Bad taste Billy and very unprofessional!

I also find it quite strange when people speak about themselves in the 3rd person!

An Indian restaurant which has any tandoor items on its menu ie Nans, Sheek kebabs, tandoori Chicken etc SHOULD have a Tandoor oven on its premisis.

Otherwise you are being ripped OFF. Sort of like Kashmir restaurant in Lagoona.

His Tandoor sits outside the restaurant collecting cobwebs BUT he has Tandoor items on his menu. That nasty word 'Grill' keeps popping up.

___

Must appoligise, raju does have a tandoor oven..... rolleyes.gif BUT a very small one. Its an open ended homemade oven. Tandoor Ovens are powered / heated by charcoal. There was an earlier posting I had made about ovens.

kashmir next door seems to be going in the direction of getting a Tandoor so hopefull the food improves, especially after the new chef settles in.

Can anyone confirm that Kashmir at lagoona entrance is closed due to rent increase..... .

___________

Can't speak for Billy (owner of Khanasutra) but have to beg to differ, Baluchi ok, Khanasutra BETTER.

Khanasutra is in the Lonley Planet, is Baluchi????

Curry all around ;-)

For someone who works in the least proffesional industry U are funny.

Go back a few threads and all was explained.......can u read???

Stating F A C T S is not slagging.

The Church on Cha Fa road does a free Sunday Kitchen, U should try it sometime.

U won't have to pay, perhaps this is the type of "Restaurant" U R looking for.

Yes you explained that 2 of your friends used your log in name and password to log in and post and that it wasnt really YOu. Uh , ok , yeah , right.

I know many people come to Thailand and re-invent themselves but posing as Billy seems a bit far fetched.

I never said I was looking for a free meal. I am willing to pay for a nice dinning experience, which I didnt have one night at your restaraunt, and now you attack me personally for posting about it.

Oddly enough while writing this my friend just phoned and she said she was there last week and had a perfect meal and a great time. Lucky her!

exactly why thailand is getting like spain.

with the help of u americians its great, flash ur money ect and then the mild stone is set. oh so what there has been a tsunami, but do u understand how much money has been pumped into that, from donations. well thanku what a stupid post, i hope other people will catch my drift on this, infact i no they will.

thanks to folk like u they will be a mc donalds on every island soon.

its true about u yanks

u are so thick

tom ENGLAND

Why has Spain gotten like SPain? I never knew Spain was a popular destination for Americans. They say only like 8% or 19% of us even have passports!

I am VERY GLAD there are other restaurant owners who also have similar problems.

DIVE Misstress you should have come to me not put it out on the "Public Forum".

What you choose to do shows what kind of a person you are.

Someone did not have a good time at one of 'your' restaurants

I suggest you get a life, considering that you are in the Dive industry.....

Don't worry Capannina there will always be some one who complains and we are NOT in the bizz

of making ALL people happy.

I didn't know that my dininig experiences and opinions had to be a secret.

After all this is a Phuket forum and this was simply my experience that I wrote about in a Phuket Dining Thread about Indian restaurants.

What should I have come to you and said? We complained to you when we were there!

Should we all keep experiences that are unagreeable from each other?

I did say good things as well about Capanina, and only complained about the service. Capanina has great food and I will give credit where credit is due. But I will not keep it a secret between you and I if the service is bad.

I do have alife and sometimes I work hard and want to have a nice meal with a friend. I dont want to spend my money on a meal and end up apologizing after a meal because I picked the place.

You ARE in HOSPITALITY business are you not? Isnt that what F&B is?

IF this shows what kind of person I am then what do the following comments YOU made in the Indian Food thread show about what kind of person you are? Slagging the competition in a public forum!!! Bad taste Billy and very unprofessional!

I also find it quite strange when people speak about themselves in the 3rd person!

An Indian restaurant which has any tandoor items on its menu ie Nans, Sheek kebabs, tandoori Chicken etc SHOULD have a Tandoor oven on its premisis.

Otherwise you are being ripped OFF. Sort of like Kashmir restaurant in Lagoona.

His Tandoor sits outside the restaurant collecting cobwebs BUT he has Tandoor items on his menu. That nasty word 'Grill' keeps popping up.

___

Must appoligise, raju does have a tandoor oven..... rolleyes.gif BUT a very small one. Its an open ended homemade oven. Tandoor Ovens are powered / heated by charcoal. There was an earlier posting I had made about ovens.

kashmir next door seems to be going in the direction of getting a Tandoor so hopefull the food improves, especially after the new chef settles in.

Can anyone confirm that Kashmir at lagoona entrance is closed due to rent increase..... .

___________

Can't speak for Billy (owner of Khanasutra) but have to beg to differ, Baluchi ok, Khanasutra BETTER.

Khanasutra is in the Lonley Planet, is Baluchi????

Curry all around ;-)

to see or download mini-video of whale shark report, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=169751

from Andaman News TV11 Phuket City, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 10.05am Tuesday 18 April 2006 & www.Thaisnews.com

Five beautiful whale sharks about 8 metres long were just seen again at the famous diving point of Richelieu Rocks near Surin Islands by divers during March to this April. It is believed that the creatures came out looking for plankton near the islands as there are rich sources here, and this is a favourite place for divers although whale sightings are not always guaranteed. The information was given to press members during a governor meets the press conference yesterday at the provincial hall. Whale sharks are reported to be the world’s largest cool blooded animals and like to live in 21 – 26 centigrade sea water. In Thailand they are mostly found near the Richelieu, Purple and Red rocks in the Andaman Sea.

Its a mystery then why Richelieu is not protected under the jurisdiction of a National Park. The Boundry ends somewhere south of it. Strange really.

A marine Biologist from Denmark, Judith Kongsted, together with Phuket Marine Biological Centre, Director, Wannakiat Thubthimsang, recently proposed to the Phuket Governor, to build a new dolphin park project at Cape Panwa, near the Aquarium, for research on dolphin behaviour, therapy for ill patients and swimming with dolphins for visitors. The dolphins would come from those found stranded on beaches, and willing to interact with humans. Some of the building funds may come from Denmark and donations.

Judith told Andaman News she is now inviting anybody interested in this project, who would like to participate in a Founding committee meeting, to come to the Pearl Hotel on Saturday 29 April from 3-6pm. All speeches and papers will be in both English and Thai.

Please confirm in writing by Friday 21 April to Judith Kongsted, at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, PO Box 60, or email [email protected]

to see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=169876

Andaman News TV11 Phuket City, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 10.05am Wednesday 19 April 2006 & www.Thaisnews.com

So she is going to Capture them and kidnap them with the help of PMBC instead of helping them back into the ocean??????? IS it to help people who are sick ore "For visitors" to make money??? <deleted>!!!!!!!!! LEAVE THE MARINE LIFE ALONE!

tanks for everiting , but hi don no , you living in bangkok?

hif you living in phuket and working in phuket you understent y. if you ungree for the price hi understen you not goo in market no 1 time in you life. the salad hi server in my restaurant now cost 120 bath for kg and 1 kg if you clean the salad is 2 salad . and the cost for rent an d for elettric is very espensiv now hi paid 7.5 bath for unit. if you ungree for the waitrees ,olso hi and ungree every day. but the quality of staff in phuket is vary low and if you have 1 or 10 staff good can you send to mee, hi very happy. and sorry for you latte and hi make for you way today the staff" kikiat "pigro

and can not make a latte for you .

sam time hi like have a friand for spike everityng , for speke to my wot is better , but you not spike to my for a problem ,you spike a forum . vary sorry for you inconvenient and many time hi try to make a smile mystaff. tanks for lissen my and hi like to see you next time.by mario

Mario! First of all I think you must be one of the harderst working farangs in Phuket and I see you kitchen every time I have been there. YOur food is amazing. The Feta is generous in teh greek salad, there is real olive oil, balsamic viniger and paremesan cheese. YOu stay open late late and never ask anyone to leave.

I understand it is hard to find good staff. However they are food servers and they should know they work in a service industry dealing with hungry farangs. Maybe they should work at Boktor instead, or Mama Nois or some place where no one expects common politeness.

What amazes me is that they havnt figured out that if they would just have a decent attitude, mabye say thank you when they collect the money, not give dirty looks when we ask for a sugar they would make so much more money in tips. Many times when it comes to paying the bill over the few years I have been going there we say LEave a SMALL tip the service was bad. They had the option to make much more. I have been a waitress I know its is exhausting.

But No one wants a bad attitude with a terrific meal. For sure now I will be on the lookout for good waitresses and send them to you! Im sure it must have a good potential to make decent tips!

I dont expect the impossible. It is not like we ask the waitresses to to list all the ingredients or memeorize specials! The food servers in Nepal were better then in Phuket.

Unfortanetly for me I am hopelessly addicted to the buttered spinach and will tolerate the uncomfortable feeling in your beautiful restaraunt just to have some. Maybe I will start getting take away better.

And for Kasi obviously your choice in good places to eat are those catering to the heavy meat eater!!! How about places that have more vegetarian options?

Khall64au. Sorry for the recomendation, and that your salad was mediocre, i have never had that one.

I was just there today for lunch. I just love the spinach and eggplan (aubergine).

However I was again greeted with the look of imposing on somone who was not happy to see me.

We ordered our food and everytime we asked for something we were given dirty looks it almost seemed as though they made the effort to give the looks.

The owner did appear when my friend ordered a cafe latte and he he was needed at the coffee machine

We paid our bill and after much much much discussion about their attitude (yes our fault for obsessing on it, and continuing to patronize it) i asked one of hte waitresses if ther was a problem . I do know one of my friends can be a bit.. curt. I asked her if one of my friends was rude ? Or if there was a problem because her nor the other waitress ever smiled. I tried to also explain that the tip was small but could have been bigger if they were friendlier. I Think it was all lost in translation.

I did mention that my friend alwasy request her and really likes her because she is so good. She smiled then for first time and I think understood the compliment.

WE were a group of 4, 3 americans who would have been happy to tip well for good friendly service. Also we meet weekly for lunch and now no one wants to go back.

Is it so much for the owner to explain that they must be friendly to the customers. Order screw ups i can handle............

I hate to be the complaining farang demanding that Thais do things a western way but the rudeness was ..severe. At least Billy at Kanasutra was very friendly.

on a positive note............. I did have a great dining experience the other night in kata

I went to La Trattoria. Its on the curvey road heading down to Kata Beach, beach.

The waitresses were so friendly, the setting is nice, open and cozy and teh food very good. I did go with a regular but the waitress seemed to treat everyone with a friendly smile.

I also heard but have not gone myslef, a place in Patong on the Sabai Sabai close the Mcdonalds road, of a place called Maccaroni. Awful name I know but heard its better then Crapaninans.

Big Boy is back

PHANG NGA: A popular whale shark nicknamed “Big Boy” has been spotted off Koh Surin, and around Richelieu Rock, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, Pakdee Khruthanang of the Phuket Eco-Tourism Association told the Gazette today.

-Phuket Gazette

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Obviously one reason for hte3 lack of Eco Tourism. Its the first time i have even heard of them.

I did find their website http://phuketeco.com/ (also old links for www.phuketeco.org that didnt work).

There are 5 members . Probably just an orgainization trying to get money from tour operators fro their lame endoresement. Clearly clueless. COuld be why the Gazette printed the quoate, because it does sound sort of ..stupid.

Well my apologies. I have heard this term used by people in teh dive industry who have diving businesses and go on scuba forums shamelessly plugging their business as if they were satisfied customers when they are just ruthlessly trying to get a customer away from the other dive shops. So what would the correct word be?

And yes I konw no one is perfect but you choose to be open when you were understaffed (?) at our expense. Of course I will never go back. It seems to be an issue. In a small village like this one I would think reputaion is of the utmost importance.

......................................

Thats ok Dive Mistress everyone makes mistakes,....and anyone can mistake the dive industry for the food and beverage industry weather you learn from them is another thing altogether.

I choose to be open when I am understaffed is because I need to pay my rent,

pay my staff, pay my suppliers etc etc....Its called running a bussiness, try it sometime

"shamelessly plugging their business" and "ruthlessly trying to get a customer"

I have no idea what you are talking about when you say / print those things.

Thats how people get their reputations tainted.......more by other people then by circumstances.

Try to learn from Kasi the older wiser gentleman.

It seems an issue with you but NOT with me and I feel comfortable knowing I have a good reputation.

Even with your comments....try read some of the others (old thread)

Rgds

Billy

ps Apologies NOT excepted

i refered to my reference of the term trolling and referred to the specifically to the dive industry. Not you. However you did plug your restuarunt before defending your good name. But fair enough . At least you care.

However im glad you stayed open so that you may pay your bills. that Honeralbe billy but what should have been a nice evening for me was truely a frustrating one and embarrasing as I told my house guest i was excited to go to Phuket town and try the Indian restaurant. I was completely embarrased when we left, we were frustrated during the meal and it was just not such a nice evening that ended with disapointment as i expected something better from a nice restaurnat in PTown.

A very good Thai friend of mine recently went to Wachira hospital. The doctor looked at him for 5 minutes and prescribed him who knows what, and sent him on his way. He recently had a mototbike accident and is complaining of pain on his left side under his rib cage and serperately stomach problems.

He is still in a lot of pain but said yes he thinks the doctor was bad but will not go back untill he finishes the medicine.

Anyone wiht similar experiences? Does this belong in the health forum? It is Phuket related.

I also have a friend whose thai husband was diagnosed with a mucus infection in his stomach. After going to Wachira, mission, PI, and BP hospitals a friend of hers told her he sounds like he has stones. (kidney?). They went back, insisted on ultrasound and operated the next days.

Another friend of mine went to a femaile OBGYN for female problems. She was prescribed prozac with no discussion about it.

AMazing!

Any recomendations? Shall I insist or try to insist he see another doctor?

I've been to capaninna twice in the past 3 weeks and each time found the service to be bordering on the excellent.(admittedly it's a slower time of year) The food is so good and reasonably priced that I would go back even if the service was erratic.

But back to Billy and Karnasutra: His location mandates having a local client base. If he doesn't get it, it wont fly. I gave him a fair chance too because I like Indian food (I went there 4-5 times). Billy I think if you managed the restaurant yourself for a while you might be able to turn it around because you are clearly a very well educated and well spoken man.

Your food is good and if the client perception of getting a good deal existed you would have more returning business. Getting people to return to your restaurant is key. Are the local tailors patronizing your restaurant? If they aren't perhaps the answer as to why not might be of importance for you.

regards.K

Regarding Capanina too, I tolerate the chance of bad servcie because like you mentioned the food is So good, where else in Phuket can you get such amazing spinach? Or a proper greek salad with generous helping of feta??? Needless to say the prices are worth it as well. I never spend over 300. Last tie I went my bill was only for 130. When i went to Kanasutra it was 800baht for the 2 of us and we didnt even drink!!!!!

At Capanina sometiems the waiterss can be good. My friend Always ask for one named Elle. However if they do get yoru order right then the food usually doesnt take to long. i swear the cook, Mario and part owner, must be one of the hardest working men in High season!!!!!

I heard that the owner knew there was a problem with his waitresses but he simply couldnt find any more staff but will have more next season. they were simply over worked. There is a new one now.

How much do you tip? I have tipped really wel before and sometimes only leaving 60 baht for the 3 of us. I want to tell her, if you just smiled more the tip would be higher!!!!! But when it seems like i inconvenience you then it droppes dramatically.

Also isnt it called trolling wheyou write good things about your business pretending to be an objective critic?

Bill I am glad to know that you are trolling aroud in here.

Its called trolling when you do that.

Are you new to the intertron? That is not trolling at all....

From Wikipedia (bold by me):

In Internet terminology, a troll is someone who comes into an established community such as an online discussion forum, and posts inflammatory, rude or offensive messages designed to annoy and antagonize the existing members or disrupt the flow of discussion.

Although this is rather amusing:

On page 4:

Original: thesikh

Can't speak for Billy (owner of Khanasutra) but have to beg to differ, Baluchi ok, Khanasutra BETTER.

Khanasutra is in the Lonley Planet, is Baluchi????

Curry all around ;-)

On page 5:

Original: thesikh

Hello Everyone,

My Name is Billy Chima and I am the Owner of KHANASUTRA the

Indian Restaurant in Phuket Town / City.

Tsk tsk Billy!

Well my apologies. I have heard this term used by people in teh dive industry who have diving businesses and go on scuba forums shamelessly plugging their business as if they were satisfied customers when they are just ruthlessly trying to get a customer away from the other dive shops. So what would the correct word be?

And yes I konw no one is perfect but you choose to be open when you were understaffed (?) at our expense. Of course I will never go back. It seems to be an issue. In a small village like this one I would think reputaion is of the utmost importance.

HOwever Capanina surely has staffing issues however the food is reasonably priced and is amazing. its worth the unfriendly looks from the moody waitresses who are still adapting to the learning curve of good service.

I have sympathy for the OP. Maybe you can learn from this and be extra careful next time.

In last 6 months I have walked from a number Thai business based on past experience both in Thailand and from home and because of the initial incompetent impression they gave. In a couple of cases my “6th sense” has been confirmed by other people I have talked to subsequently.

Now if I have a shadow of a doubt about ANYTHING I walk away, no second chances. It can be hard but believe me it is worth it.

Good luck

I totally agree. I m tired of ignoring that nagging feeling and throwing caution to the wind when I go somewhere and know the staff is clueless. (It took me 3 years to grow a very bad highlight job cause I ignored this feeling).

one of the more recent times was walking into an Accounting Office on that road between the circle and PTown and seeing the crusty, smug farang behind the desk. Scarry.

HOwever I found another accountant, Female, on that same road but furhter East towards PTown past the Aquarium Road.

So far so good. 2x I was running late and she was incredibly prompt, even calling me to make sure I was till comming because I was 10 minutes late.

She has followed up and contacted me when i have not contacted her in time.

4 Friends. So far so good but i have only registered the company as I stil have a work permit from my Employer. Her English is very clear and she is easy to speak with even on the phone.

I know an old thread but I feel compelled to reply!

I also heard that Mr. India charged 99 baht for Thai rice. My friend was given the choice of INdian or Thai. She choose thai. when the bill came she complained a bit and the owner told her "well now you know". Its little things like this that will keep me from ever trying it. Not to mention I am always happy to relay her story.

Regarding Kanasutra, I had one of my worst dining experiences ever. I had wanted to try the place for a long time .Its very well decorated and has a nice ambiance.

There was only a few other patrons in there and we ordered and the food took FOREVER. Over 30 minutes for the first course. My dinning companions food came about 15 minutes before my main course. He apologized for the delay. He said he would give us a nice desert. Having a sweet tooth I expected something wonderful.

What I got was deep fried dough in syrup. Not even realy honey.

Mabye he mistook up for backpackers who wouldnt know the difference.

Also isnt it called trolling wheyou write good things about your business pretending to be an objective critic?

Bill I am glad to know that you are trolling aroud in here.

Its called trolling when you do that.

IF you really really NEEd them then I recommend maybe checking out the Narcotics Anonymous fellowship in Bangkok, Samui, Chang Mai, Pattaya or Phuket.

For info

http://www.na-thailand.org/

Its free and there are NO rules.

Yeah!! IM not the only one !!! IM not the only one!!!

I didnt read this post. I was feelinb completely abnormal for wanting to stay in. It is my one day a week off anyways and I had NO desire to go out and get doused.

HOwever I starting thinking i was the only person staying in!!!

Thanks for the post from all the other sonkran scrooges!

Please tell me I am not the only person who wishes to remain inside and hide, far from the madness of Songkran????

I ride a little motorbike and spend enough days of the year driving around soaked from the rain trying to avoid an accident because the streets are soaked and slippery.

I feel as though I am so boring!!! haha and maybe I "should" go out an partake in the fun. However I konw that ANYTIME i do something cause I "should" it usually a bad idea as I have come to realize "should" is a bad word.

Its my only day off and I just want to work at home today, lay out , hang out, enjoy quiet!

Im 37 and feel like im acting like a .............. much much older person!

Yeah, please don't bring your Yankee-style tipping percentage here as, god forbid, we don't want it to end up like the system over there. The tip for caddy is appropriate though, but only if the caddy was on the ball...no pun intended.

Dont worry about our generous Yankee-style tipping. Most Thais know that Yankee style tipping is done only by Yankees, Canucks and Brits and they know not to expect it from Australians or Europeans. Its a known fact that if you want a good bargain when shopping in tourist area its better to say that you are from Australia then America.

While working as a dive master I always made sure I put the American customers in my group. Being American I like them and I knew I had a good chance to supplement my not so ample wages with a tip. However should i have customers from Australia or Europe I didnt expect a tip as I know it just cultural. Americans tip and we are happy to tip for good service, not bad service.

Having worked as a waitress before I appreciated a nice tip, just like when i was a dive master. I didnt feel spoiled by it. IF i came off the boat with good tips then I wold certainly be more generous that week with my tipping as well just to keep it flowing.

I too tip my massage girls 100 baht. this was a conscious decision that my friend and I made. Should we regularily tip 50 or 100. We go there weekly and knew that once we tipped 100 we couldnt go back to 50. She is Brittish.

We liked the place so much, clean, good massages and the manager is great, so we decided on a 100 baht tip.

Do the girls expect al customers to give them 100 baht? NO. do they complain when they get no tip? No. i have seen Thai customers tip 40 baht as well. I tip 100 bhat becaseu I understand what it is like to get a good tip!!! Obviously some people dont.

In the low season surely I have less income but I still tip the same asi know they have even less income as this is in Phuket and touristy.

I think it is nice to see that a lot of peope here tip their massage girls or boys well instead of subscribing to the FEAR (oh the FEAR!!) that we are going to "Spoil <i>THEM</i>". Its just showing appreciation. Who doesnt like a little bonus?

Im sure there are enough pepopel Like Jackr to keep that from happening anyways.

Im sorry I didnt just come to Thailand and forget about tipping.

I cant imagine that my presence and western ways make Phuket or Thailand a better place. The least I can do is show some appreciation for the cheap massages that I could NEVER afford in America. And if Thais in the serivce industry expect me to tip becasue im a farang then so be it.

However I too would be pissed off if somone asked for a tip!!!!

Being a farang female its one of the reasons <b>I</b> live here, inexpensive massages I love a good hard foot massage! (and the fruit man!!!! Nothing like somoe having already cut the pineapple for you).

For people worried about the being twisted or injured then i reccomend shelling out the extra 100 bhat and getting an Oil massage. There is no wierd back cracking or yoga postures. hOweer a foot massage will also include about 10 minutes of neck and shoulders.

Yes I agree the STICK is cheating and I dont like props!

I have a thai friend who was a waitress.she said that extra 10 or 20 baht does help and is appreciated. Sure she was alwasy surprised if she gave a great service and people didnt even leave a measly 10baht. Who can fault her? (Do i dare ask?)