Kimera

Hi guys arriving in Patong 24Dec around 10.30pm Xmas eve,hotel where myself -wife-2 daughters

are staying have a gala dinner organised-any idea what this entails,her indoors thinks we might have to dress up for the occassion,i believe from the forum this is the norm ,dinner etc

Since you are checking in so late it would be worth contacting the hotel and asking if they will waive some or all of the charge for the compulsory dinner because you will have missed a large chunk of the evening.

If they will not then get it in writing that the full menu will be available to you either via room service or in the restaurant - a lot of hotel restaurants have last (food) orders around 10:30/11 pm.

Do it sooner rather than later to give them a chance to re-sell the table to somebody else.

Funny enough Slackula that thought did cross my mind,as stated i think we will not be arriving until 10-1030pm after 24 hours of travelling the last thing you need is a massive dinner,i will look into tat -cheers

Murphys Irish pub on soi bangla try a Large draught Tiger

Hi guys arriving in Patong 24Dec around 10.30pm Xmas eve,hotel where myself -wife-2 daughters

are staying have a gala dinner organised-any idea what this entails,her indoors thinks we might have to dress up for the occassion,i believe from the forum this is the norm ,dinner etc

Since you are checking in so late it would be worth contacting the hotel and asking if they will waive some or all of the charge for the compulsory dinner because you will have missed a large chunk of the evening.

If they will not then get it in writing that the full menu will be available to you either via room service or in the restaurant - a lot of hotel restaurants have last (food) orders around 10:30/11 pm.

Do it sooner rather than later to give them a chance to re-sell the table to somebody else.

Funny enough Slackula that thought did cross my mind,as stated i think we will not be arriving until 10-1030pm after 24 hours of travelling the last thing you need is a massive dinner,i will look into tat -cheers

Murphys Irish pub on soi bangla try a Large draught Tiger

Hey all!

Looking to visit an orphange in Phuket and just don't know where to go.

If you have the names and address of some that would be great.

Whilst in Chiang Mai went to one just for children with aids or with parents that had aids, if you could tell me if the one you sugest is for just kids, older children or children with aids that would be great!

Thanks

Ash

Can I ask why you would like to visit ?

I see a lot of places open late at night and wondered if hairdressing salons are open late also in Phuket? Say until about 1 or 2 a.m.

Im not sure you will be able to find a hairdressing salon open, but other places are open if you really insist on a hair cut then you will get one, can I ask why you need a hairdressers at that time ? do you work difficult hours?

what are the options for getting to the airport from Kathu? Where does the airport bus stop? is there a schedule?

Just get a taxi, cheap enough !

AFAIK most motorcycle showrooms are about the same size. Have a drive around the center of Phuket Town, there's practically one on every street corner.

We bought one from the Honda dealer opposite Timber Hut on Yaowaraj road, but they all look the same to me.

Used? There's quite a few small shops around. The only one i can remember is the one at the Khao Rang intersection. They want silly money though. I think a 3year old Honda Wave 125 with more than 30,000 km on the clock is around 25,000 baht.

Why bother when you can get a new one for about 40,000 baht?

Thanks I understand what you say about new. It makes sense

Would it not be much cheaper to get a GF for a few days and let her haggle for everything.

There is a two tier system of priceing.

Think of the fun you would have as well as saving money.

easy come easy go.

You are surely not suggesting people are not equal here, like the fun bit tho, think we could haggle there !

Info please, where are the largest motorcycle (new and used) showrooms on the island

Yes. You can register a lease over a house or even vacant land, 30 years with a 30 year option, which will probably see you out . Another way is to lend your wife the money to buy the land with a registered mortgage held over it .Either way you will be fairly secure.

You could try a legal agreement at the time of purchase between yourself and the wife giving you rights to exchange the Thai owner (ie wife) if there are problems, but leaving it to her on your death and on your children etc This can be registered with the land office at the time of purchase. HOWEVER im not sure how it would work out if it came to the crunch

made it to Phuket town today to buy my bus ticket and thought I'd let you know how much they are.

Government bus (999) are 970 bt, and private co. 1045 bt, both 24 seat VIP.

I'll definitely be back soon, Phuket has grown on me.

Cheers

Maybe I was to harsh on my first reply, Phuket does grow on people. maybe YOU can fit in

I need to buy a new Honda or Susuki motor bike, any recomendations regarding the dealers?

ok the last question who and where are the largest motorbike/scooter agents on the island

Hi bino,

Hmmm...A difficult one at this time of the year, most of the beaches that have chairs, umbrellas and service, also have the large waves and currents that you don't want. Much depends on whether you’ve got transport and can get about.

One of the best beaches can be found at Nai yang near the airport, an offshore reef stops the breakers from reaching the beach. However, there are no chairs – or much else for that matter!!

Forget Karon, Kata, or Nai Harn, great beaches and again big waves etc. So, that leaves Patong beach – and its neighbor over the bridge, where the ‘Phuket Merlin Beach Resort’ is situated. It’s got everything and isn’t too bad at the moment.

Sorry if this all sounds a bit negative, but the monsoon season is well and truly upon us right now so it’s very difficult. Mid December onwards would have been much easier.

Hope this helps

geoffphuket

Now theres a photo from the end of the road !! the foods good and the people are Thailands best.

I bought mine down in the village but I live in central Thailand near Khampaeng Phet. The should be a Yamaha dealer or a motorcycle dealer that sells 3 or 4 manufacturers bikes near you.

My wife liked the Honda blade which is also auto and looks much nicer but is around 54,000 baht and only does about 45 km/ltr.

We have a limpet problem with the scooter because as soon as our son sees me with a shirt on or his mum near the scooter he is thre standing on the platform and holding the mirror stalks in a death grip. We have to pry him off with a crowbar and then we get floods of tears so it is easier to bring him along to wherever we are going.

What I need now is a black leather jacket, jeans, a stormtroopers helmet and and invitation to join the local chapter of He**s Angels (kiddie bike division).

Thanks again I will be buying a scooter next week ! Hey I have the leather gear just sold a 1200 Susuki, guess Im to old it was great on the move but when it stopped, god it was heavy

I need to buy a new Honda or Susuki motor bike, any recomendations regarding the dealers?

I have a very old Kawasaki Boss I bought in Pattaya and rode down here, its about 9 years old never had a bit of trouble with it after 69,000km..

Point I'm making is Kawasaki in Phuket town not far feom the Prison have given me excellent service, and I only pay for any Oils or parts, there is never a labor charge..

I know you ask about Suzuki or Honda, I believe Honda give the same service, just ask where you buy the bike..

Thank you for the reply, this post is one month old and you are the first to reply, it would seem that motor bikes have a low priority in Thailand . Strange as there are so many! Thank you again

I suppose it all depends on what you need a motorbike for.

I just bought my wife (and me) a Yamaha Mio Fino motor scooter for knocking about and going 6 km to the village etc.

42,000 baht, electric starter, auto gearbox and it looks a bit like the Vespa.

I filled the tank on Wednesday (3.5 litres-90 baht) and we have done 38km and the fuel guage is just off the full mark.

I think it is great and mt wife has a problem keeping me off it. We still take the pickup to the village if there is a lot to carry bu it will use more than a litre and cost about 40 baht a trip.

When our son goes to school soon we wil use that twice a day unless it rains and save a fair amount every week.

Thanks for the reply, it will only be used for local work down to the shops etc and the local school 2k the TGF favours the Honda wave 125 but I favour the autos, where did you buy the bike?

Will be heading to Phuket soon and would appreciate an update weather wise!

Check out the BBC weather site for the 5 day forecast Bet its rain

Hi guys,i arrive around 6 30 pm on 22nd dec.from england via dubai

basically i am wanting a flight straight to chiang mai that evening 8pm onwards

whats the situation regarding domestic departures? is it similar to don muang,where as you can just purchase a ticket on one of the floors from one of airline counters(air asia,one to go etc)

are the ticket offices still close to the domestic check ins ?

btw i am also looking forward to not having the long walk that was at don muang

thanks in advance

Prior book the flight if you can with the flood situation in the country many ofthe buses are not running, the flights are likely to be busy

i think most of the ones mentioned above are in Phuket Town.

Central Festival - Zen (ground floor), Fuji (top floor)

Index Living Mall - Oishi

Yakiniku Koku (near Lotus)

not sure if there are anymore.

p.s. Zen in Patong is more expensive than the one in Central.

Thanks again, I will check them all out...

Well I made it to Phuket finally, and I have mixed feelings, obviously with the rain and all I haven't seen Phuket at its best, but I do like it, well parts of it anyway. I stayed in Patong, and had no idea just how popular the place is, everything is overpriced, but managed to find a great AC room for 400 baht, and a couple of nice places to eat that cook real Thai food and don't charge you 20 bt for plain rice!!!

The one thing that is certain beyond any doubt however, is that I could never, ever deal with Phuket without a car. It's just impossible to get around without being ripped off, and I though Samui was bad, I cannot believe people can put up with it. 300 baht to go to Phuket town 10km away is abhorrent.

I can't even leave the place without feeling ripped off..... so I know, can anyone tell me how much the 24 seat VIP bus to Bangkok should be, on the net it's 750 baht from Official phuket sites, yet I cannot find it for less than 1200 baht anywhere in Patong. I really hate being screwed over by the transport mafia, and I've never been anywhere in the world that was as bad as Patong for ripping people off.

You might tell me that I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. Really surprised!!!

Kimera

Well my friend I'm sorry you dont like Phuket but I hear the roads are bad (flooded even) to BKK maybe you could spend a little more time with us. That would be nice

Transgender trauma

While some tourists jet in from around the globe specifically to enjoy the androgynous charms of Patong’s legion of ladyboy prostitutes, there are still cases cases where off-guard male tourists end up with a ladyboy under the misunderstanding that he is a real woman.

Such misunderstandings can – and often do – result in disaster, as two recent reports in the local press have shown.

Green season: The first case happened on September 9, at about 3:30 am, when Pol Col Prasit Yodthong received a report from staff at the Thara Patong Hotel that outside the hotel a group of enraged ladyboys were beating senseless two Saudi tourists.

Col Prasit and eight motorcycle patrol policemen were soon at the scene, pulling the furious ladyboys off the Saudi men and taking them into custody.

Off to Kathu Police Station went the ladyboys, while their victims, with gashes on their heads and wrists from being slashed with knives, were rushed to Patong Hospital, conveniently located right across the street from the scene of the fight.

From their investigation, police learned that the group of five ladyboys had been prowling for customers in front of Tiger Entertainment Complex, on Soi Bangla, when they happened upon two drunken young Saudis, both named Mohamad, aged 24 and 25.

As is the common practice along the walking street around bar-closing time, the boys-turned-girls used a series of somewhat-less-than-coy gestures to attract the attention of the two Arab travelers.

The heaving breasts having led them into thinking their accosters were actually attractive young females, the Saudis negotiated a price of 2,000 baht each for the two ladyboys, named Nong Suzee and Nong Som-O, from Nong Khai and Chiang Rai Provinces, respectively.

Taking the ladyboys back to their room at the Thara Patong Hotel, however, they soon learned the truth: down below they were still wholly male.

Thinking they had been tricked, the two men refused to pay and contacted the hotel staff for help to get rid of Suzee and Som-O.

But as they were doing so, the two “girls” called their friends by mobile phone for back-up and a melée ensued outside the hotel.

Police arrested the five ladyboys to charge them with assault, but the two Saudis decided not to press charges, flying back to the relative sanity and tranquility of their home country the following day.

Faux pas: In the second case, at about 5 am on September 12, a 23-year-old Frenchman named Simon freaked out in the rented room of 24-year-old Nong Ple, a ladyboy who had not yet undergone the final step in gender-reassignment surgery.

When he learned that the bargirl he had gone home with was really a barboy, Monsieur Simon frantically tried to grab his clothes and bid the ladyboy adieu.

But the crafty Nong Ple locked the door to his room, blocking the Frenchman’s most logical route of escape. In his desperate bid for freedom, Simon went to the third-floor balcony – and jumped.

He was last reported to be in a grave condition at Patong Hospital, where he was being treated for a head wound requiring 50 stitches and a fractured vertebra.

-Phuket Gazette

Friday, September 29, 2006

This is all very scary, does this mean there are boys out there pretending to be girls ??

I need to buy a new Honda or Susuki motor bike, any recomendations regarding the dealers?

I have a very old Kawasaki Boss I bought in Pattaya and rode down here, its about 9 years old never had a bit of trouble with it after 69,000km..

Point I'm making is Kawasaki in Phuket town not far feom the Prison have given me excellent service, and I only pay for any Oils or parts, there is never a labor charge..

I know you ask about Suzuki or Honda, I believe Honda give the same service, just ask where you buy the bike..

Thank you for the reply, this post is one month old and you are the first to reply, it would seem that motor bikes have a low priority in Thailand . Strange as there are so many! Thank you again

tell you what then , you buy me a set of yoko's and i will let you know how good they are

no charge

You are Scottish then

Thanks people, for your replies, are there any in Phuket town ?

Can anyone recommend a Japanese resturant on Phuket, I have been to the Zen on Beach Road, Patong, are there any more on the island ?

Glad I can't read Thai.

What is not said and could have been said :

Rathchada Pisek was given as a flooded, it was not, at least the Huay Kwang part.

The rain were very localised : I was near Sathorn yesterday night, in some place it was heavily raining, and let say 1 km east of those place (or 1 km west) it was dry ...

The flood I witnessed were also localise and were more related on how the water was evacuated (more accuratly how it was NOT evacuated) rather than on how many centimeter was coming from the sky. Places that were cleaned recently were not flooded, that is for sure.

So one more time hard to generalise on it

Yesterday Wireless was flooded (near All Seasons Place). With the grounds already saturated, the heavens have just opened up again. I can't see if Wireless is again flooded because I can't see that far out of my window, but I know it isn't good.

There you go this is what happens when you build a city on a swamp! next time your on the sky train take a look at the tracks, when they were built they were level, I Hope