stevenl

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.

Some people say they have done it but don't say what the vehicle/spec/age is or how much which would help everybody .

I can't recall reading any successful story but read al least few that failed and ended up walking away. Not worth it!

I imported a motorbike here, 20 year old Yamaha XS1100S, and had it all done legally. Ended up paying I think 80,000 Baht at customs. I'm not sure about the amount anymore, but do recall it was about my estimated value.

All in all I would not do it again. too expensive.

I must say I am very much interested in especially the answer to the first question.

If I'm not mistaken, NKM has moved here about 2 years ago, Patong, after having spent quite a lot of vacation time here beforehand. So surely he must have taken the transport situation into account before moving here?

He is refusing to answer it because he knows it hurts his argument. 'NKM' is fine when it comes to going round in circles and going off on tangents and being obtuse, but when you push him for a specific answer to a specific question he goes rather quiet.

Even 'NKM' will have moments of clarity where even he can see how illogical and barmy it is to moan about the transport system, even though it hasn't changed since he arrived and he knew exactly what it was like before he made the decision to live in Patong and not own a car.

But if he admits it he will have to admit to being someone who just moans for the sake of moaning, and someone who is living somewhere that isn't ideal for them, and he won't be doing that any time soon I assure you.

The thing is, by not answering the question he is answering it anyway.

The point of this thread was to point out that it isn't the fault of Phuket that so many people are unhappy here. It's their fault for not living somewhere that makes them happy. If people can't adapt to the way life is, the way Thai people are and how different things are to 'back home' and feel the need to moan every day then I can only conclude they are living in the wrong place. This theory is pretty much proved right when they move away.

People who are truly happy with their lives on Phuket will not need to moan on a forum every day, that's a fact. Those that do must have issues and the island becomes their scapegoat.

I agree with you there, but I also think this thread has run its course.

I had such trouble getting my 5 year license from Pattaya that I took the bus and went to Bangkok and got it within an hour and a half (the delay was waiting for the video to be played)

In Pattaya they absolutely refused to accept the letter (with seal) from a foreign embassy that my one year license had been returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with the ending of my diplomatic status. Pattaya actually wanted me to go to the police and report my license stolen before they would clear the computer record of the missing one year license. I refused to go to the police and lie, and the Bangkok Land Transport Office (near Chatachuck) had no trouble understanding how the system works and issued the 5 year license based upon the letter from the embassy and the computer record

It has been my experience dealing with these petty bureaucrats here it is usually easier to go to another office an get what you need done or if that is impossible go on a different day and try and see a different employee

Yes, that is the same wise decision the OP made.

Don't make any problems, simply go somewhere else.

You didn't answer my last questions. What were you thinking about the transport situation in Phuket the week before you moved here permanently?

And why if only one thread you have spoken about scams in two years ago, makes it to Google, then how exactly can you say by you repeating the warning day after day ever since, helps others?

Why was your advice about the limousines good advice when a huge amount of people don't see them as a scam. You didn't give people all the options, so what's good about that?

Simple straight forward answers to my questions would be nice. Not looking to chase you round the thread like a bad sketch from the Benny Hill Show anymore.

P!ss or get off the pot 'NKM'!

Either answer the simple, on topic questions that you are asked, or stop having discussions with the grown ups.

I must say I am very much interested in especially the answer to the first question.

If I'm not mistaken, NKM has moved here about 2 years ago, Patong, after having spent quite a lot of vacation time here beforehand. So surely he must have taken the transport situation into account before moving here?

With the election polls now closed, what is the reasoning for keeping the bars closed until midnight?

(I know reasoning is a bit of a strong word.)

I would presume the reasoning is to prevent unruly behaviour because of the elections?

talking 'bout him, watts up with kata and Moon, haven't seen them in a while ? too busy or ???

KBB is away for a long time, see here.

Most of the bars in Rawai didn't even bother opening at all on Friday(mainly because even the people who are supposed to know could not give you a straight answer) and they are all closed tonight.Can not get a straight answer about 8 and 9 either.What a pathetic place this is.

Just wondering is Thailand a democracy or dictatorship /

What does your last comment have to do with anything?

What do you mean ?what has it got to with anything.

I /we are being dictated to as what we can do..

I have a business which is related to the restaurant and bar trade and it's hard enough to make money without these pointless closures every year.

They call this a world class holiday island.In their dreams.I had to talk to many p-ssed off people last night who had they know about these closing days they would not have even entertained coming here.

Well, in every country there are rules and regulations, called laws. And those laws tell, dictate you, what you can do and what you can't do. So in your reasoning every country is a dictatorship.

Most of the bars in Rawai didn't even bother opening at all on Friday(mainly because even the people who are supposed to know could not give you a straight answer) and they are all closed tonight.Can not get a straight answer about 8 and 9 either.What a pathetic place this is.

Just wondering is Thailand a democracy or dictatorship /

What does your last comment have to do with anything?

??

I think if I run into one of these ATM scammer guys the first thing I'm gonna do is break out the phone camera and say "can I take your picture"?

That's what I did.

<snip> or by a person with a "limitless view"<snip>

You'd wish

Sorry, I just tell you what the embassy told me.

There's an agreement between my country and Thailand that states that Thai people can change their 5 year drivers license for a permanent drivers license of my country (when they come to live in my country).

The other way around this agreement states that we can obtain a drivers license (1 year and then 5 years) without doing any driving test (when we live in Thailand).

Since Thailand signed the agreement they are supposed to follow it.

Your username sounds Dutch or Belgian.

If so, there is no such an agreement, except for the normal agreement in place with many countries. And that agreement does not entitle to 5 year DL's.

From the Phuket News

Due to elections for the new president of the Phuket Provincial Organisation (OrBorJor) tomorrow (April 7), alcohol sales in Phuket will be banned from 6pm tonight (April 6) until midnight at the end of tomorrow.

Luckily I read this at 4pm.

Yes, that is the official situation, followed by 3 days of closed entertainment venues because of a princess' funeral.

But what is going to happen?

In the end I decided on Palm House (Rawai), but for a while I was hesitating between Darasamuth, Kajonkiet and Dowroong. I would have chosen Darasamuth of those 3, the school and language programmes simply felt better than the other 2.

Who in there right mind googles using quotes....lol

Using quotes in a google search has the advantage that you only get the results with the exact text as quoted. I don't see it happening much for a search like this one, but for certain searches I can see advantages.

"even bar owners I have spoken to don't seem to know whether they are allowed to sell or not from 6pm tonight..."

Officially they're not allowed to open tonight and tomorrow till 24.00 hours. But are they being allowed? Like you, no idea. Also restaurants are officially not allowed to sell alcohol after 18.00 hours today BTW.

Also for the next 3 days (princess funeral) we'll have to wait and see.

In my opinion a day trip or ferry ticket is cheaper to buy direct from the

ferry service operator than a tour agent, there are no commissions involved

Again Peter, including transfers you're wrong.

There are lots of mom and pop taquerias from southern CA, up the west coast, and in to BC, where the food is just as good and authentic as any restaurant in Mexico.

Thanks, didn't know that.

I suppose there is Mexican food and mexican food. Are these recommended places real Mexican food or the Taco Bell version of it? It's pretty much the same as Thai food in here. Some restaurants serve tasty enough paper, but it still can not be compared to the real deal.

You mean real Mexican food as served in Mexico, real Mexican food as served in parts of the USA, real Mexican food as served in ... etc.

Real Mexican food sold by Mexican street vendor in Mexico DF

I think that is only available in Mexico. The Mexican food I have eaten in different places on the world was always completely different from the Mexican food I have eaten in Mexico.

Should be easy. I presume that, just like me, you look exactly like your avatar?

If you use a tour agent it pays to shop around for a decent price, it does not

take long they are everywhere like bars, massage joints and dive shops

About 8 diveshops in Kata. Maybe I have forgotten 1 or 2, so let's make it 10.

But Peter, from the OP: "i need to book from home because come late in kata and have to go morning afte."

I suppose there is Mexican food and mexican food. Are these recommended places real Mexican food or the Taco Bell version of it? It's pretty much the same as Thai food in here. Some restaurants serve tasty enough paper, but it still can not be compared to the real deal.

You mean real Mexican food as served in Mexico, real Mexican food as served in parts of the USA, real Mexican food as served in ... etc.

Just get a taxi to Rassada port in the morning - easy to buy a ticket just before you board.

To right and a lot cheaper than the agents, this time of the year seats always available

No, more expensive. Don't forget to include 500 baht for a taxi/tuktuk to Rassada Pier.

last time i checked at the pier a return day trip including snorkeling and lunch to Pi PI

was 1200 baht bought direct from the ferry office

Yes the road transfer could be expensive for a newbie with no transport

Peter, if you want to prove your point, buying directly at the pier is cheaper, also post the touragent prices and include transfers to the pier and back as well.