stevenl

I can't see "NOT Makro" in your title, maybe you should edit it.

No, but the intention of the OP was clear.

Really.. Its description fits Makro.. How can we know.

I can't see "NOT Makro" in your title, maybe you should edit it.

the diving in Koh Tao is a lot better than the diving around Phuket in my opinion.

Also the diving in Phuket is also only 6 months of the year whereas you can dive all year round in Tao.

The dive sites are close to the island as well so you can dive 4-5 times a day. It is probably cheaper to do your DM and IDC IE there as well.

Any more news on this?

I read on a travel website that this scam is allegedly still going on. The claim was two travelers were accused of shoplifting and one had to pay 20K and the other is out on 200k bail.

I posted the article but it was deleted.

Yes, I sure hope that is going to happen. That is why I said in the beginning: "Let's see how this works out, could end up being the start of the mafia demise. "

Plus it is not just the hotels that won't accept this, it is also the touroperators, some of whom are very influential locally. Think Nikorn Marine, with 10-20 speedboats departing every day filled with tourists, etc.

Many options in Thailand.

If you want to do IDC + DM, do that in the same place (IDC Center), that will be cheaper than in 2 places. I can recommend Seafun Divers on Phuket for that, IMO the best CD on the island.

If you want to do only your DM there are many more options with different approaches. I can give you more information by PM, send me one if you want.

Several things come to mind reading this story

1. After all the storys about King Power why even go into their stores? Why take the chance that a scam may happen? They may have some nice stuff but are you really saving that much money buying it there?

2. If they really did steal something what difference does it make if it was daytime or nighttime?

3. Why would any parent let their 16 year old daughter travel internationally w/ her 21 year old boyfriend? It is not so much the age difference but the maturity, life experience, and common sense needed for international travel. Plus she is a little young to be on a 10 day holiday on her own.

Thus far, no allegations of such scams at duty-free shops at Phuket Airport have been reported.

RIGHT! Not until now!

Not really - the 'scam' (only referring to the case that was brought up previously here) was in-fact not a scam at all, as we could all see from the surveillance tapes. The 'scam' part would be how organized the system was to allow people to pay their way out of the trouble. So next time I am sure the couple is more than happy to go to jail instead. No?

And I doubt this is a 'scam' in the sense that they did in-fact steal perfume valued 22k baht and no negotiation has been reported taking place.

Correction in the post from the OP BTW: the tuktuk charge is 350 baht, but per tuktuk, not per person. That is according to the article.

This does not change the issue at all though IMO.

does anyone know what Rawai beach and Chalong Bay are like?

This is a first.

No it isn't. I believe the tuk-tuks were blockading the Arcadia hotel in Karon a couple of years ago for the same reason. I believe it was because Siam Safari were picking up guests there.

I don't recall it exactly, but have somewhere in the back of my mind that at the Arcadia it was something different, but don't know exactly what it was anymore.

I'm convinced though there is something else playing out here, something that lies underneath.

Every day there are lots and lots of tours picking up guests from all the hotels. Why this now, with this tour company and this hotel?

This is a first. All the time tour operators pick up guests from the hotels and take them on a tour.

Yes, the tuktuks are a mafia and iutrageous, but it sounds to me there is more to it than centara is telling. Tuktuks chsrge per car, not per person, so the mentioned 300 baht per person is nonsense.

Let's see how this works out, could end up being the start of the mafia demise.

Sorry to hear about the fire at Mr. India. I enjoyed the Indian food there every now and than, and the owner is a nice guy, when he is not chasing you with name cards.

PG report is correct by the way. The road from Chalong circle down to the pier is called Viset Road and is located in Tambon Rawai. Actually, the road to the pier is the border between Tambon Chalong and Tambon Rawai.

Is there even a Tambon Chalong?

Used to be one of Phukets best kept secrets with only a few loungers being used, now there jammed in 2 rows deep from end to end. The beach used to be lined with little mom and pop bars and shops but when they were flattened by the Tsunami they were replaced with guest hoses and hotels.

Don't know whether you're talking about Kata or Nai Harn Beach here, but on neither of these beaches you'll find guesthouses and hotels on the beach that replaces mom and pop bars.

Not almost, they are user changeable.

I would prefer waterworld over all4diving, but both will be ok, and you could even do it yourself.

Now that could be a good business idea for phuket.

Btw, they have been wholesale only since they moved away from patong, now about 4? Years ago.

Divesupply phuket is wholesale only. In other places it is different, but we're talking phuket here aren't we?

Divesupply is the authorised wholesaler and repair shop for Suunto Thailand, and they are based on Phuket.

But: they are a wholesaler, so you can't go there yourself. Any DC on Phuket can help you and bring your computer there, or check with Waterworld in Patong. waterworld was opened specifically for Divesupply consumer sales when Divesupply stopped that.

Snorkeling: northern end of kata beach is a nice reef, teeming with life at the moment.

This has nothing to do with Phuket, but with tourism in Thailand in general.

I'm curious.

Time share seems most likely to me.

I wonder whether workers in slightly less touristy places can relax as easily about their work permit situations.

Nearly all diving instructors here have a workpermit e.g., try to find the same on Phi Phi, Koh Tao, etc.

So your statement that in tourist places it is easier to work without a workpermit I very much doubt.

Just as I thought, a rumour.

The amount of half truths and non-truths on the net is enormous, you have to be really careful what to believe.

When I was young and I went swimming in the sea, there were never any life guards.

In this time of year the seas are safe, how about people taking some responsibilities themselves?

Ohh I fully agree...

However the response is directed at the 'dont go swimming when the red flags are out' crowd as the red flags are simply left out.

I did not react to that though but to somebody else, which is why I quoted him, sating the authorities should take care of everything. And I don't believe in that, I believe in own responsibilities as well.