stevenl

I'd like to know why the drivers who held back the policeman (the one who felt he had so little control of the scene that he had to draw and fire his gun into the air) haven't been charged with assault on a police officer.

The answer is already in the article: "Lt col Kittipong explained that the minor charges were brought against the drivers in accordance with Maj Gen Pekad Tantipong's order to bring about change in local tuk-tuk drivers’ conduct “step by step”."

I'm not holding my breathe either

It's like being in the UK except the rain is warm here! what is the forecast for the coming day's?

I heard same through Sunday.

According to windguru same through Tuesday, with on Monday much stronger wind. And windguru is normally much more reliable than any of the Thai sites.

Warning

"heavy rain and strong wind-wave"

No. 3 Time Issued : August 26, 2011

The rather intense monsoon trough lies across the north and the northeast of Thailand. The active southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand. Abundance rains is likely over the country and isolated heavy to very heavy rain in the Northeast and the South west-coast. People in the risky areas are warned of the severe heavy rain and flash flood while strong wind-wave in the Andaman Sea. All ship should proceed with caution especially in the thunderstorm areas a couple days.

The advisory is in effect for Thailand from 26 August 2011

Issued at 05.30 a.m.

http://www.tmd.go.th/en/

So there is a warning. re boats etc. i saw seven speed boats at intervals head out to the near by island's from Laem ka [phuket]beach [as normal.] in heavy rain at the time plus i was unable to see Racha or Lone or Coral island .the chinese seemed happy .but one does wonder re the safety riley 76

Depends where they're going. If to places like Coral Island and other well protected places no problem. But the islands in the open are more risky.

Still doesn't look too bad though.

Good, there is a warning, so it will probably be dry with no waves to mention.

Yes, I also saw him, curious as well.

I just purchased a large shop type fridge .. and was shocked at how much electric it used. One of the Sanden. What is about normal. I was away for a month and my electric was still 800. Not sure of the cleaning lady was running my washing machine or what.. Did expect it to add so much to what should have been a very small bill.

You'' get a much better comparison if you compare with a normal month.

And one more update: last few days have been much better, and even the rain has had a limited impact, far less than before with UBC/True.

The rate went up slightly it seems. I divided my amount due by units used and it was 3.35 before. Now it's 3.51 per unit.

For me there was a decrease from 3.37 to 3.35. So no real change.

In Kata the same price per unit. Don't know about my home in Rawai yet, still waiting for it.

The monthly bill in Kata was higher for me, but that was because of a higher usage, not because of a price increase.

Even McCafe in Phuket is 25% more expensive than here in Pattaya. First time I always thought that McDonald's prices were standard in the same country.

Depends on which McDonalds. Patong is more expensive than Phuket Town, I presume because of lease prices for the location.

Update. Yesterday's problems were apparently caused by probelsm with the internet service to the service.

They are upgrading all their software to make the service more reliable.

As a result of this thread I have changed, and am now using the contact HD Rider gave. So far good and quick service, now wait how it holds up over time.

And it is not holding up over time, and that time has been short. Very often no reception because 'the server has to be reset', 'there is a problem with the internet at our server', and things like that. Takes about 20 minutes and then programming continues, and of course this only happens at moments you don't want it to happen. Today 3 times, and nothing seems to be done about it.

"He offered the opportunity to invest in or buy properties in Thailand and promised return rates as high as 10 to 30 per cent. Investors never received what had been agreed to.

If someone offer me this kind of return, I know enough. Only suckers or very greedy fall for this

So very sad to read nonsense like the above. I just finished a 100 day oil trading agreement that paid me 25% ROI in that time frame.. which last time I checked was .25% a day... the people that are so busy sitting around making their 3% a year in their bank think that anything that is a GOOD return must be a fraud. It's ok by me if guys like you don't have the interest or skill to research and prove yourself deals like this are out there, but to assume they aren't without doing your DD is very sad to see.

We're talking real estate here.

Apologies for hijacking the thread but is a wetsuit/or wet tshirt essential for snorkeling? I will be doing some snorkeling in places like phi phi, koh tao and phangan. Can I not just go in with my shorts?

Thanks,

Wear some sort of protection, T-shirt is fine, to protect you from sunburn. Because while snorkeling your back will get a sunburn, legs also but to a lesser extend.

You should have warned me Peter, coming to live so close by

I live in the poor part of Soi Naamjai though.

Prefer to ride the motorbike, but if guests at the shop or extremely bad weather take the car.

This is exactly what he said in his first post....its not for him...i agree with some of the things he said but not all,....the same as i do for you....these are onlly ..OPINIONS.. at the end of the day its up to him,its his life,i hope he find happiness..

Totally agree, it is just opinions.

The problem though is some people think their opinion is the one and only way to see things.

A tad off topic but it has to be said:

I've tried the pizzas at Nikita's, M&M's, Amalfi, Ellis (now closed) and without a doubt, the best pizzas in Rawai are from Modena on Sai Yuan Rd. Check it out.

Go there on occasion for take away. If M&M were the same distance from home would way prefer M&M.

Did anyone see some travel warnings for UK?

They are usually the first to issue one for Thailand when there is some turmoil in the streets.

Just wondering.....

No, they're not the first, Australia normally is. And with you I'm waiting for their travel warning.

Gee, do you think the posters on here that own businesses have a conflict of interest? Eg. "the need to talk the place up" Sometimes you guys sound as bad as used car salesman, real estate salesman, lawyers, insurance brokers and bargirls telling a customer they are handsome. :) :)

Told you Pete, there really is no point in any discussion with him.

I don't experience any of the problems that have been suggested and most the Farang that I know who have businesses here would agree.

They are all biased in the Iceman's opinion, just because they can't afford to say otherwise.

No, Kata is not safer.

Kata Beach is a lot safer than Karon Beach. Much less and far weaker rips, and the seabed slopes down much more gradually.

wetsuits are easy...go to hotwave wetsuits in chalong, the other shit your talking about is a bit cryptic...you want after market or original gear?

thanks for the tip on the wetsuits, is Hotwave a retailer or a manufacturer?

other stuff, i am really looking for a manufacturer or a cheap supplier and can be aftermarket or original

the order would run to a few hundred pieces .......

Hotwave is a tailormade manufactorer and retailer. Don't know if they could deliver any kind of volume.

why cant people too poor to come here in the high season just go on a trip to phiphi.. you can swim as much as you want there.

oh wait.. rebate travelers.. can you expect anything out of them?

I think this is a fair point; many people come on a package deal - airfares, accomm and in some cases meals at the hotel restaurant too - and that is maybe the limit of their budget, all pre-paid with just a little over for some souvenirs.

Hotel right on the waterfront . . . all too tempting

Kata is often far safer than Karon, maybe herd up all the tourists and get them all swimming in a controlled area, shoot the ones who refuse.

Was just at both Karon and Kata Beach. Kata Beach had some waves but no rips as far as I could see, quite some people in the water. Nearly nobody in the water at Karon, excellent.

Easiest way to make the road safer would be to reduce it again to 2 lanes, as about 4 years ago. It will handle the same amount of traffic, but the speeds will be greatly reduced.