stevenl

On both of my visits to Phi Phi I witnessed drug use and casual violence between both Thais and foreigners. Not my idea of a fun place to be.

Phuket has plenty of lovely spots...my only real complaint would be a lack of trees on the beaches giving little to no shade. Oh and the traffic....

Glad to hear you feel that way.

Plenty of trees and shade at Kata Beach.

Another happy tale from the cesspit of Thailand. The island is full of every lowlife type imaginable, both foreign and Thai.

Don't change sides, last time you meant Phuket with 'the cesspit'.

Had problems with AIS Edge/GPRS today in Rawai. All ok again now.

Yes, balancing should do the trick. I had exactly the same with a motorbike, at 140 k/h they started vibrating, at 160 it was over. Balancing and all ok again.

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

I don't think so Steve, they clearly tried in vain to manipulate them and denied they even had that option in their contract and the OP was then forced to take their complaint to the authorities to gain some leverage and finally did but, if not, the insurance company would have been very happy to screw them, I'd say that categorizes them as "dodgy" in my book and he should protest with his feet to another insurance company. Let them feel it where it hurts, in their wallets and he seems to have enough business with them to get some attention on that front.

Op make sure when you do make your changes that they understand why so it doesn't go unnoticed and don't just tell the agent either, go to the top..

Could have been easily an updated list of 'preferred repairers', while the policy stated the old one. Of course the police is valid and they should honor it. But calling a company dodgy over that is IMO way over the top.

So that's why you're so bitter. Your parents spoilt you too much and you did not have enough character to motivate yourself to get out of that.

Where on Phuket are you staying?

I would not worry about getting charged for damage you did not cause, as LIK has said, make some photos and you'll be fine.

Also, theft (or scammed theft) is a far smaller problem IMO than sometimes suggested, but a more realistic issue than getting scammed for damage.

"is a far smaller problem" - so, the "problem" exists. Your advice is to "roll the dice." My advice is, DON'T DO IT. Do not rent a bike and ride here. You place your health and safety, and your financial well being at great risk.

Starting to look like you're following me. Any thread, any answer from me and you'll quote me and contradict.

they wont answer. As i keep saying all they care about is their little beach life with chang and motorbikes. The hell with the kid's future and safety.

As you can see he takes my comments as insults. They're not insults unless you know you're doing something terribly wrong.

Yes, it's a good life. However, that life was made by working in the west, on western money. Try making that life here, from age 18, earning the Thai baht.

No, it was not, that life is being made here by hard working.

You're lowering yourself to thailand's level with remarks like this.

I'm always happy to listen, and learn, from other points of view. Having said that, tell me, where, and what, do you see you kids doing at 18, after finishing school, and why?

I see the oldest one going to university in Bangkok and ending up in some kind of technical profession. Mind you, he is still only 4, so really hard to predict. The other one I really don't know yet, only 3.

But I do have the feeling at least one of them will return to/stay on Phuket.

Why? Sorry, that question is impossible to answer.

"Technical profession. Where? Phuket, or overseas?

You really think I can answer these questions for a 4 and 5 year old?

The oldest may end up a motorbike repair guy somewhere on the island.

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

I used to drive a 4WD here, but have changed to 2WD. I was hardly using it, and when using it it was more 'I have it, so I'd better use it'.

Where on Phuket are you staying?

I would not worry about getting charged for damage you did not cause, as LIK has said, make some photos and you'll be fine.

Also, theft (or scammed theft) is a far smaller problem IMO than sometimes suggested, but a more realistic issue than getting scammed for damage.

they wont answer. As i keep saying all they care about is their little beach life with chang and motorbikes. The hell with the kid's future and safety.

As you can see he takes my comments as insults. They're not insults unless you know you're doing something terribly wrong.

As usual, you really have no clue.

And yes, of course I see your remarks as insults. Last week, or 2 weeks ago, you were complaining so many of your posts are being deleted by the mods. What do you think the reason for that is? Because you are such a reasonable, well argumented poster?

I'm always happy to listen, and learn, from other points of view. Having said that, tell me, where, and what, do you see you kids doing at 18, after finishing school, and why?

I see the oldest one going to university in Bangkok and ending up in some kind of technical profession. Mind you, he is still only 4, so really hard to predict. The other one I really don't know yet, only 3.

But I do have the feeling at least one of them will return to/stay on Phuket.

Why? Sorry, that question is impossible to answer.

Are we agreeing on the same thing????

The kid has to move, no, MUST move, for either tertiary education, learning a trade, or to earn a decent wage. That's been the theme to my posts, in both threads, the whole way along.

I don't see 15,000 baht per month as a decent wage. Bar girls are making more than that in salary and lady drinks, without even shagging anyone.

I'll say it loud and clear. THERE ARE NO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ON PHUKET FOR 50/50 YOUNG ADULTS. Maybe this is why we do not see any here, at all.

Yes, I think we agree, we just come to totally different conclusions. I e.g. disagree with your shouted remark here.

I must also agree with some of the others here, in that I find it very strange that you are commenting here on the schools and quality thereof on Phuket, without having any clue about the schools here on the island.

You obviously didn't listen to my shouted comment. Education appears fine here, if you can afford it. No object from me about that - but I must clarify that I am only talking about good International Schools here.

The point I'm trying to make is, what happens AFTER that education. If the child simply enters the work force on Phuket, after school, they will earn 300 baht day, maybe more teaching english, or diving, but they are hardly "careers" and are not well paying by western standards. Backpackers perform this task, just to be able to stay in Thailand for 1 year. They are not careers.

I listened to your comment, unlike Thailand's insults and profanities, but I don't agree with it.

its also crazy how the road death and hospitalization #'s dont scare any of you with kids. Theres no way you wont have your teenager get on a bike or car very often. Teenagers still do not have every part of their brain completed, no matter how you teach them life, they still do not understand consequences because the part of the brain is still developing. Their chances of being crippled or dead is what? 600%-1200% higher than back home? Dont really think looking for statistic is needed and they are probably off by a lot since its shameful to thais and thais do not like to be shamed.

Who says people with kids are not scared of that?

I know I am, my biggest fear is the kids being involved in accident.

Are we agreeing on the same thing????

The kid has to move, no, MUST move, for either tertiary education, learning a trade, or to earn a decent wage. That's been the theme to my posts, in both threads, the whole way along.

I don't see 15,000 baht per month as a decent wage. Bar girls are making more than that in salary and lady drinks, without even shagging anyone.

I'll say it loud and clear. THERE ARE NO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ON PHUKET FOR 50/50 YOUNG ADULTS. Maybe this is why we do not see any here, at all.

Yes, I think we agree, we just come to totally different conclusions. I e.g. disagree with your shouted remark here.

I must also agree with some of the others here, in that I find it very strange that you are commenting here on the schools and quality thereof on Phuket, without having any clue about the schools here on the island.

I speak to lots of tourists and am at the airport very often, at least once a week. Big signs with prices everywhere, and many people touting limousines. So yes, anybody who pays 1300 Baht or something like that is really not looking at any of the signs and simply agrees to the first price mentioned. And those ridiculous prices will only come up after they have passed the airport limousine stand inside.

What would happen if that same kid moved from Europe to Thailand?

for education? Why would they want to do that?

That is not the point.

perhaps tell us where you are staying on Phuket ,maybe save you some gasoline

Probably he is home again, a 7 year holiday does not happen that often.

I would not get it.Very small risk, these risks are IMO way overdone in the West.

From another news source"-

"A EUROPEAN friend with Thai children entrusted them to the best local school on Phuket, where his son topped the class. But when the 15-year-old had to head to Europe and a new school, he was put back two years, in with the 13-year-olds. That's the scale of the gap between public schools on Phuket and throughout Thailand and schooling overseas. A better education can be bought by the fortunate few at the private schools that have proliferated with the internationalisation of Phuket. But many local Phuket children face big classes, rote learning and a future where their potential will be forever unfulfilled. Teaching children how to think needs to be the priority, not computer tablets and gimmicks that win popular acclaim but really don't address the chronic issue. Kill corruption, invest the money in necessities, and Phuket's children stand a fair chance".

Hmm, not as bad as I would think, public school in Thailand to European school and lost only 2 years? The language gap alone would already explain that. Because language education in Thailand on public schools is very old fashioned without any practical use.

What would happen if that same kid moved from Europe to Thailand?

Thats where it started.. The idea that a clever, educated, multi language person should be happy working for 15k a month.. And that was a good opportunity..

Seriously.. Is that the kind of lifestyle you want a kid of yours to have ?? 15k a month..

Since when can you express lifestyle in a monthly income?

I would like my kids to be happy. If that 15,000 Baht per month job makes him happy, that is his choice. But I hope I can give him enough wisdom to make him realise that that 15,000 Baht per month may look excellent now, but will probably not look so nice in 10 years time.

But that is my thinking instilled on him.

I agree, the EU is a classic example. Many Brits working in Germany, for example. I suppose a problem will arise if a teenager, after finishing school, does not want to go to university, anywhere. What job will they do here, and how much will it pay? We must not forget, we live here because we like the lifestyle. I'm sure teenage kids will like the lifestyle here as well, especially those with a few baht in their pocket from farang daddy. Will they want to leave? Will they even want to work? How would one deal with such a situation?

At least there is no "benefits system" here to sponge off whilst sitting on the beach all day.

And would that kid do if he lives in the west in a rural town and does not want to go to university? Or if he lives in a big city and does not want to go to university?

BS. Except on NY eve these prices don't happen, not even on Phuket.

With all due respect unless you monitor every fare leaving the airport how can you say that. I assure you they do and more.

Sorry, especially not at the airport. Big signs there 'Patong 150 Baht' (shared minibus), many people touting the airport limousines with big signs as well for 650 Baht. So people paying 1500 Baht for a 20 K ride from the airport, does not happen. 1500 Baht would be the price for a taxi to Khao Lak, can be cheaper but 1500 baht would be about the standard fare, but that is way over 20 K.