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Posts posted by stevenl
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Those Italians, they do everything.If national characteristics can be extrapolated from the figures, then Italians and Swedes seem to prefer long-term visas while Italians prefer the short-term ones. -
We're going a bit off topic though.
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No, open minded and extensive experience all over the world, including 10 years Phuket diving.blind or limited experiencethe standard of diver training on phuket is woeful
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If you have a 3 month visa, after those 3 months you have to go and get another visa (or enter Thailand visa exempt, 15 days if entering over land/sea, 30 days if entering by air).
If you have a 1 year visa you have to report at immigration every 3 months, and renew that visa after one year. That renewal can be done on Phuket, so without leaving the country.
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No, speaking from experience.
The standard of diving courses here on Phuket is high, and certainly comparable to those in Western Europe, and IMO higher than those in the USA or Australia foe example.On the second point I can assure you that the majority of people learning to dive here and some experienced dive tourists have no concept of personal safety and what it entails. They rely on operators to take care of them and training agencies condone and encourage this for commercial reasons.Joking, right?
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The standard of diving courses here on Phuket is high, and certainly comparable to those in Western Europe, and IMO higher than those in the USA or Australia foe example.On the second point I can assure you that the majority of people learning to dive here and some experienced dive tourists have no concept of personal safety and what it entails. They rely on operators to take care of them and training agencies condone and encourage this for commercial reasons. -
This is not only a cruel remark, but also ridiculous.Question. Did the skipper not check the radar frequently as he must have had a weather report from the Met before he set sail?Answer. TIT; proberbly didn't know how to switch it on
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On about 50% of the liveaboard boats here have these life rafts. The more expensive boats in general do have them.I have been on many dive boats (working in THailand ) and never one that I know of with inflatables that automatically dislodge and inflate.
That was the old Kingfisher boat. As a liveaboard boat it catered to maximum 12 people, allowed on board maximum 20. They got in trouble after the tsunami, the boat was sold and then resold again, and ended up in Phi Phi or Krabi, I'm not sure, with some rich Thai as a snorkeling boat. On the trip LOS is talking about it capsized close to Phi Phi with over 50 people on board, one dead and one hit by the prop.Wow I never heard this story.. which boat was that?Maintenance was poor and it was overloaded.
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You're right,. my mistake.
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I doubt that is the reason.the changes are made to avoid cheap backpackers travelling bordercrossings
I hear lots of things every day, but not everything I hear is true. How reliable is your source?Also i just heard they stopped the visa's to thailand in penang -
The boat was not expected back in port untill around 08.00 in the morning. So it was not missed until then as well.I am however very surprised by Dive Asia's apparent lax SOPs [standard Operating Proceedures] whenreacting to a late boat.
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The boat was new this season, and not used by anybody else but Dive Asia. So that local dive operator has NOT used this boat in the past.I contacted a local dive operator in Kao Lak who has used this boat in past.He states the boat was new - some 6 months old.
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I would expect them to come with a last minute offer.Hi, thanks for all the helpful replies! We'll probably end up making a reservation before going there. Has anyone heard of Eden Divers? They operate the Sea of Fantasy I, and are offering us a pretty good deal. Thanks! -
Maybe because 99% of the athtletes are black?when ever theres an article in sports about an athlete going to jail, 99% of the time, they are what color? -
I have my household insurance with QBE. Have not needed them yet, so can not comment on their service.
Health insurance I have with Bupa, a collective insurance for the business, and am happy with them. Before that I was insured on a privaye basis with Goodhealth, and was also happy with them. Would have liked to stick with them, but their collective premiums were not attractive, so ended up with Bupa, also to my full satisfaction.
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My first paragraph is based on the 'inconsistencies' you wrote in an earlier post.Your first paragraph is silly and again based ojn nothing
I have said no such thing. What is the point of having a discussion if you if you make up things?Again your email defers from the point. You said this place is based on respect,
So if you agree with the law, and therefor with the possible penalties, what is your point?There are no problems with the law here - there are problems with the people implementing it.
That is in contradiction with your earlier point that there are no problems with the law here.There never had to be a problem here - if the guy was stupidly rude then slap his wrists and send him on his way - ban him if you must but they didnt do that they let there crazy ego loose -
I am just pointing out some things in your post that are not true. So if these 'inconsistencies' don't mean anything, why did you mention these points in the first place?None of your points say anything at all.I don't mind a discussion, but a discussion should be held with valid and argumented points, not with made up things or 'I don't agree with you so you're a bastard' kind of arguments.
IMO the punishment is very harsh already, but that is the punishment in the country I'm living in. Don't like the law in the country you're living in? Try to change it, accept it or leave the country, just moaning about it here on a (mainly) foreigners forum won't do any good at all. But if it makes you feel better ...
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Yes, dangerously slow.Well....well.....that sounds strange to me. I have never reached the airport from Chalong in less than 1 hour, not even when not rush hour! Maybe I drive too slowly???From Chalong the normal time would be around 40 minutes, bit more in rush hour, bit less in the middle of the night.
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Checked the passport for 30 minutes according to mr. Burrowes.So, the imig officialsstudied the passport (which was ok for the officials letting him into the country and into Phuket) for more than 30 mins making a passenger miss his plane.
won't let anyone check the photo that was issued by a respected international authority
have recorded evidence but you cant chack that either
wont let you check the state of the prison cause its very dangerous
insulted britain, cambodia and laos
plan to keep the guy in prison for another 7 weeks before hearing a non existing case
& this is the countrys premier holiday location during an economic crisis when tourists numbers are down.
Hahahahahahhahahahhahah - this is a wind up right!
He is not in prison at the moment.
I am not sure it was the same official that examined the passport and talked about Britain, Cambodia and Laos, and everybody calling those words 'insults' is greatly exaggerating IMO.
For an international flight I am always at the airport 2 hours before flight departure, and after check in have almost those 2 hours available. So half an hour delay would be irritating but not causing me to miss the plane. He planned things really, really tight IMO, which would also explain his irritation.
The question remains: why was he in jail for 3 weeks, did he nor anybody else attempt to get him out? Should have been easy. I am also wondering what happened to his friend. Travelling with a friend I would wait directly after the check, and not go to the plane on my own.
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What I still don't understand is why he had to spend 3 weeks in jail, without getting out on bail.
The embassy failed to do something useful here, but also any lawyer would have been able to get him out within a few days.
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Way too many people living here in Thailand want the Thais to accept their beliefs and values.It always amazes me that expats becomes so "institutionalised" living in Thailand they forget the basic rights they were brought up with.It's like a sad version of Stockhausen syndrome.
Pathetic really
Wake up, you're living i a different country with different ideas. Those basic rights are the basic rights you grew up with, but they don't apply here, nor in lots of other countries that don't share your (western) morals and values.
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What does that have to do with racism?I can't help but feel that those of you ridiculous enough to say he deserves to be jailed for 2 years are absolutely racistThere is something really strange to this story though, 3 weeks in jail before being released on bail for an offense like this?
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There has to be more to it than he is telling (of course, because it is his side we are hearing, with just some comments from immigration).
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If you want to be sure of a certain boat and/or departure date, I would book ahead. But if you are flexible regarding departure date and boat, you can be sure to find some attractive last minute deals.
Diving School
in Phuket
Posted
Also, they don't do daytrips anymore, only overnight trips to Phi Phi twice a week.