stevenl

Should've elaborated a bit. The moans I've heard have basically been prostitution visible, taxi fares and scams. They invariably start with the bargirl rants and mostly come from middle aged women. The sort that would never venture to Pattaya, but for some reason thinks Phuket is different. Didn't look all that different to me, so I guess the moaning is legit and due to misinformation.

Samui, on the other hand has the scene a bit more hidden and I haven't heard much moaning about the island. The broschure and reality match a bit better.

So I presume most of the moanings are due to wrong presumptions. Just think of Phuket as Pattaya with mountains and it'll be more close than the marketing images of pure clean white beaches with just a couple of tourists sipping coctails under an umbrella.

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Since the moaners are living here or used to live here I doubt that.

The constant moaners enjoy it, whatever makes you happy!! constant moaning can become very boring!!

Well, at least this and other threads give them another opportunity to moan, so that should make them happy. Another good deed done, gave the moaners a chance to get happy

<snip> it's human nature to complain or to have a moan!!!

At last... the actual true reason to the OP's question.

While I agree it is human nature, and a lot of the moaning seems to be very much at the surface, this really does not answer the OP's question: why do some people moan here and others don't. Especially since with some of the moaners the moaning about Phuket seems to be really rooted in their veins.

Everyone moans or complains without exception, everyone has moaned at some point in there lives, to say you haven't is just not true. my opinion!!

My answer to the op's question is: when you come from a different country to live here there will be vast differences to where you come from, so obviously there will be complaints and moans from time to time, I believe every ex-pat has complained or moaned at some point, some more than others and some seem to enjoy it!!

As I tried to indicate in my earlier post, there is a big difference between the occasional complain, or venting some frustrations, and the constant moaning done here by some forum members.

A bike is a bike here, no matter the size. All bikes go to bike parking just outside the airport.

Just take it for repairs to a bikeshop closeby the airport.

<snip> it's human nature to complain or to have a moan!!!

At last... the actual true reason to the OP's question.

While I agree it is human nature, and a lot of the moaning seems to be very much at the surface, this really does not answer the OP's question: why do some people moan here and others don't. Especially since with some of the moaners the moaning about Phuket seems to be really rooted in their veins.

If mu numbers are correct the amount of alcohol measured is very little though, not even one glass of beer or wine, and an amount with with many people drive, legally also in many countries.

Actually a BAC of .17 is around 7 or 8 drinks assuming a weight of 160 pounds.

BAC Calculator/Charts

Yes, did have my numbers wrong. Presuming 140 LBS he would have had 6-7 drinks.

Terrible story but not in the least surprising.....

Alcohol + fast driving = Death

They'll never learn unfortunately.....

Don't know who you mean with 'they', but if you mean 'us, humanity', I totally agree with you.

If mu numbers are correct the amount of alcohol measured is very little though, not even one glass of beer or wine, and an amount with with many people drive, legally also in many countries.

So it's bringing you presents. Be nice to it Peter.

well she was not at risk at that location .... higher ground if you are located on the beach front .... many thais just took the opp for a bludge , imo the owner is within his rights .....she walked ...

Agree about the location but we are talking about a frightened Thai girl who just followed everyone else to a hill.

She didn't expect to be be payed so not skiving off.

After witnessing the 2004 Tsunami I do not blame anyone running for the hills.I know I did.

I just find this a very harsh action sacking the poor girl.I wonder if any other Thai were sacked for being frightened.

But this is just my opinion

From that location she would have had to go downhill before she could head for higher ground no matter which direction she took, either down to Rawai Beach (a bit risky if you think there's a tsunami coming) and then up to Laem Promthep. Alternatively she could head for the viewpoint on the hill over to Kata, quite a distance to travel before she could get any higher than where she already was!

That really is not the point. The point is that the owner used the tsunami alert and her fear as an excuse to fire her, which is plain and simply ridiculous.

Not allowed, but you will probably be ok.

I lost one plate some time ago and ordered a new one the official way. Was not stopped for the 3 months it took to get a new plate.

I think we've all moved on since the tragedies of 2004 and it's best left in the past. Some people lost loved one's, personally although kind of on topic I think it's in bad taste and best deleted IMO....

No offence to Gladiator what so ever....

Whilst I agree it has happened and best left in the past, I fail to see why it would be bad taste.

I was on the road, on the way back with a guest from the airport. Quite a surprise to reach Kata, eary, go to the beach and watch things unfold. At that point communications were still intact and fully functioning, so I managed to warn my parents of what happened before they heard about it on the news.

I can't find out more until I call the prevention center of my bank and they don't open until 8 PM tonight our time.

I always check for skimmers (try to pull apart the part where you put your card)

And I always hide my punching in of my PIN number.

I only ever use this card for cash withdrawals and never have used it a restaurant or shop.

I have NEVER told anyone else the pin number.

So yes, it is scary.

I will get a new card and pin.

I will probably not use that ATM again and use the one in front of the bank from now on.

Just hoping they are not going to make me pay any of the money that was taken out.

Thanks everyone for the advice and all.

I presume also no one helping you at an ATM?

Never use 7/11 atms or stand alone ones poking out of shops.

I only use bank atms and always the same two locations. One in Phuket town far from the tourist centre and another in Thalang.

These scams are aimed at tourists so just don't withdraw in a tourist area.

What scams? Maybe better wait a bit till we, and I presume that includes the OP, know what happened.

7/11 ATM's are perfectly ok BTW. Just don't forget your card, because they won't be able to help you.

I agree with what you say about the police here. Would it be considered a "moan" if I was to say that is another negative about living on Phuket, an inept police force? (let's not get into it)

I did say nothing specifically about the police force here, nor did I accuse them of being inept, lazy, or other words you have used.

So nice to hear you agree with me, but you really don't know what you agree with.

Of course, you never post anything "specifically" criticising anything about Phuket, but we can all read between the lines of your posts.

Don't understand you Peter. First you accuse HKP of ranting, and then you're giving examples showing he is right in his claims.

That does not surprise me, maybe you should read his posts again on this and other topics

you have financial interests here, i and a lot of people i know do not and can afford to live

anywhere they want, and chose to live in Phuket

Who cares about the things people whinge about on this form they do not effect me and

people i know, we recently had a holiday in Bali and found the scamming much worse there

People just piss me of with there whinging comments about Phuket

Kenny changed his user name because he was sick of people picking on him for no reason

as far as i am concerned, he lived within his means not in fantasy land and was informed he

broke the forum rules

Other people are banned and come back time and again with new user names

No Peter, Kenny did not change his username because he was sick op people picking on him, at least not according to Kenny: "had a lot of trouble with my windows live so had the opportunity to change my user name".

I'm sorry to see you did not understand my post. But since it is off topic anyway I won't try to repost.

Getting a Drivers Licence in Thailand tells you something about why they all drive like crap. Firstly you will need to get the Proof of Residency doc from immigration. After that you go to DLT. There will be some man outside who will 'facilitate' the medical certificate. You wont need to be seen by a Doctor, the only thing that you are required to have examined is your wallet! Now you come to a decision point. Do you want to take the crazy written test or not. If not, Baht will solve that. The written test from every farang I've ever come across is so bizarre that you will probably fail. eg. If you are tired what should you do? a. Take a Rest, b. Drink Coffee. c. Take amphetamines. Soooo the same dude who facilitated the medical cert can also streamline that process. Onwards to the test. You sit on a chair with two pedals, Gas & Brake. You watch lights in front on you turn from Green to Red at which time you slam on the brake before another set of LED's turn from green to red. Its not difficult but you'd be amazed how many of them fail. Onwards to the depth of vision test. two strings are thrust into your hand and you have to line up two sticks in a box about 15ft away from you, to this day havent a clue what was going on. Assuming that your 'facilitator' got enough cash, thats it you done. If not, onwards to to the driving test. Drive around a circle, stopping at the Stop Signs, then reverse and parallel park, go forward and you're done. Watching that part was the most hilarious for me, watching Thais try to reverse and parallel park confirms all your worst fears. I did think I must start manufacturing plastic cones... they destroy a lot of them during that test maneuver lol

Dont worry about pictures all done digitally before they print the license there and then right before your eyes. Strangely enough one of the most efficient interfaces I've ever had with Thai bureaucracy.

Oh, regarding the Proof of Residency, you will be some kind of non-imm visa at the very least, I have a B which works fine for all Thai official docs, although I have heard stories of people bribing immigration to give it to them with a tourist visa only

In other DL offices things work differently from described here.

Don't understand you Peter. First you accuse HKP of ranting, and then you're giving examples showing he is right in his claims.

Yes, I am happy with my life here. I don't think I wear rose coloured glasses, although the ones wearing the black coloured glasses certainly do accuse me of that

I must say though I don't see much point in a thread like this, it will only continue the way it started.

I hope I am proved wrong here.

sent you a pm

This always bothers me greatly, I always read through a thread hoping to get some useful information and it ends with somebody sending somebody a PM and that is the end of the thread, if you have any useful information regarding this topic then please share it for everybody. I am also looking for a decent school in the north of the island, and would also like some information. Why does it need to be private anyway?

I agree with you it should be out in the open, but there are reasons for sending a PM. Self promotion e.g., or insider information, naming and shaming. Since both are not allowed on the forum the topic would be closed and the information deleted, so a PM is sometimes the only solution.

I agree with what you say about the police here. Would it be considered a "moan" if I was to say that is another negative about living on Phuket, an inept police force? (let's not get into it)

I did say nothing specifically about the police force here, nor did I accuse them of being inept, lazy, or other words you have used.

So nice to hear you agree with me, but you really don't know what you agree with.

What happens if you go faster, say 120-130 km/h do the vibrations stop again? If so, yes, probably balancing.

Problem is they did not do anything wrong to you. And it is very doubtful there will be enough to arrest them on from other victims.

Their actions, as reported to police by you, will give "probable cause" to police to detain, question and search them. Hopefully, they would then find the data capture device, blank cards, laptop etc. Then, search their hotel room for more evidence.

Do you really think that the police will detain, question and search somebody because you told them they asked you whether you forgot a 1,000 Baht note at the ATM machine? Your only hope is they are here illegally, then police might take action.

But no chance of that happening as well, by the time police arrives they are long, long gone. And police won't do a search on motorbike plates if all they have on them is really nothing.

You are going to tell the police, "That man try skim my ATM card - so I call police." What happens after that will depend on what sort of police officer you get - whether he is lazy, or not.

Gee, it sounds a lot like you are "moaning" about the lack of police action in these circumstances.

Given what you say, may happen, what is the purpose of you taking a photo then????

Just scare them of by taking a photo of them.

I'm simply saying there is nothing the police can do. Also because they can't be there in time.

Oh, and BTW, I'm not going into a discussion with you here on this. Wouldn't want to meddle with your thread

Problem is they did not do anything wrong to you. And it is very doubtful there will be enough to arrest them on from other victims.

Their actions, as reported to police by you, will give "probable cause" to police to detain, question and search them. Hopefully, they would then find the data capture device, blank cards, laptop etc. Then, search their hotel room for more evidence.

Do you really think that the police will detain, question and search somebody because you told them they asked you whether you forgot a 1,000 Baht note at the ATM machine? Your only hope is they are here illegally, then police might take action.

But no chance of that happening as well, by the time police arrives they are long, long gone. And police won't do a search on motorbike plates if all they have on them is really nothing.

Problem is they did not do anything wrong to you. And it is very doubtful there will be enough to arrest them on from other victims.

I believe the question is, "Was the transport system the way it is now, when I first moved here?" Or, a question similar to this. My answer is, "Yes." There was no decent public transport then, like there is no decent public transport now, and there will be no decent public public transport here in the future.

My solutions (adaptations) were to live walking distance to many facilities I need, and to buy a motorbike for longer journeys, and to sometimes hire a car, and I have a few numbers of decent black taxi drivers to call.

Why shouldn't I be vocal about the ridiculous transport situation here? My friend owns a bar in Kata. I have to ride down there, check-in to a

500 baht guest house, have a drink with him, and come home the next morning, because I refuse to ride whilst intoxicated. The tuk tuks want 400 baht down, and 800 baht back, well over double the cost of a room for the night.

Name one other global tourist holiday destination where your transportation for the day costs more than your hotel room, per night? That's the question I have for you.

A 1000 kms away is Pattaya with a baht bus system, and Bangkok with thousands of metered taxis. Anyone would think Phuket is a different country.

It was a ridiculous situation before I lived here, and it's still a ridiculous situation with no end in sight. How many people are riding motorbikes here because of the lack of public transport? How many of those riders have had serious accidents?

The greed, corruption and collusion with transport on Phuket is hurting people, physically, and in some cases, killing them.

Yes, exactly the same as the people moving to under the smoke of Heathrow and then starting to complain it is so noisy there.