stevenl

Twice i have posted a reply and twice has dissapeared into the stratosphere!!!! Why?

Anyone else have problems on here?

No problems.

You seem to be posting with your mobile (judging from the quality of the links etc.), so maybe that has something to do with it. From my mobile I sometimes also experience problems.

Any particular reason you want a PADI course?

There is a very good school on Koh Tao offering BSAC courses. Google 'Davy Jones' or BSAC THAILAND, and that will get the address for you.

There is a good reason DJL is offering PADI courses as well.

I feel like they have building that bridge for 2-3years now, was the first time you left Phuket by road

i never had a problem with the old (current) bridge, seems to work just fine, nice views too

That one is still there and will keep being used. The other one, the lower one, will stop being used.

I'm glad te report that my relation to ord, the welder and general handyman, recommended to pca by me, has not suffered.

I am curious as to why a new bridge is needed if the Sarasin Bridge is still perfectly serviceable. Is there really enough traffic to need a separate bridge for north and south bound vehicles ?

It is a dual Highway, and the new bridge replaces one of the old ones. So not really an upgrade, just a replacement of one of the bridges

Wasn't the new bridge needed because the old one was too low to allow some boats passing underneath?

Lol, losing 30.000 baht per month? He'd wish.

Why?

20 tanks at 150 per day is 3000 per day. 10 days rented out of a month would be 30,000. Doesn't sound unrealistic to me.

This time of year? Totally unrealistic. I'm willing to bet that even at the busiest time of year he does not even rent out 7 tanks a day at 150 baht each. This time year? If he is lucky 5 per month.

Lol, losing 30.000 baht per month? He'd wish.

Sorry, mistake. I have always paid thai prices, never tourist prices.

Aaaaggghhh!

With that attitude, you're lucky people risk their reputations with recommendations to you.

I had the same fear/feeling, so i'm seeing my 'recommendation' later today.

What ID would a Thai child need to show??

The child is 10 years old and has no photo id.

Was told the minimum age to apply for a Thai ID card is 15?

Many thanks in advance

Boycie

Have taken mine on birth certificate (Thai).

Yes, true.

In all national parks all over the country i have always paid tourist prices.

Show your Thai driving license and there is a 50% chance that they will let you in for the Thai price.

Some parks do and some parks don't.........

Much more than 50% in my opinion. I have never been refused thai price as far as i can remember, all over the country.

Yes, true.

In all national parks all over the country i have always paid tourist prices.

I've been here for almost a year and don't feel like being ripped off. If I want to see a waterfall, I might pay more money than Thaipeople, but that's fine, because my income is WAY higher than theirs will ever be. Just imagine having to live on 5k Baht or a few thousand more. I couldn't do it. And they should still be able to have a nice time in their free time, so lower prices for them is fine.

Apart from that: Yes, unknowing tourists have to pay a lot higher prices sometimes. People who have been here for a few weeks will usually figure that out though. Go learn some Thai, talk to the people and they will gladly give you a little discount.

So to answer your question: Yes, I think there are a lot of places in Thailand where farang are treated very well and friendly, without paying loads of cash. I'm staying in the north by the way, might be a problem of the south, I can't really judge that after such a short time here.

You start by saying you have been "here" a year. This being a thread about Phuket, I assume you mean you are there. But you end by stating that as you live in the north, you don't know anything about Phuket. Why should visitors pay two or three times what Thais pay? And it may surprise you but there are many tourists coming to Thailand who have saved for a long time to be able to come here. Not everyone has the financies you claim to have. And of course those people who come here for one, two or three weeks should learn some Thai. Oh dear.

Any connection between living on Phuket or not and paying national park fees?

Yes most Farangs have more money then the majority of Thais,but what about the approx 10% of Thais that have far more money then the Farangs, why should they be able to enter the parks etc at a tenth of the entrace fee paid by Farangs.Yes it's their country, but when these very rich Thais holiday in Europe they still expect,demand to pay the same entrance fee as the locals.

So what do you suggest? All Thais bring their bank statements, and a letter from their employer to the park entrance, just so they can make that pesky 10%, pay the extra 100 baht?

(Where did you get 10% from anyway, seems a bit high to me)

Good post Bashty.

No, the obvious and logical answer to your ill founded question is that everyone should pay the same regardless of complexion!

Nothing to do with complexion, only with nationality.

It is always easy to find people unwilling or unable to see pragmatically; the big picture. The mere fact that diplomats are voicing concerns about the dangers of Phuket, and honorary counsels are "addressing the problems" "repeatedly" means, Phuket has a plethora of problems. So....I disagree.

LOL, so you disagree that people coming here again and again are having a good time and are enjoying Phuket because these people are not seeing the big picture.

The financial crisis has nothing to do with the change in the tourist arriving in Phuket, which some say has increased, making your statement a mute point.

BTW, if there is an increase that does not make my statement that the change has been influenced/mainly created by the financial crisis a mute point.

I responded that the tourists have changed, meaning that it is a different market, because many have had bad experiences.

Yes, different market at the moment, but IMO not because of bad experiences. Just check the topurist forums and you'll see.

The financial crisis has nothing to do with the change in the tourist arriving in Phuket

I have noticed the financial crisis has a major impact on the change in tourists. Just as the tourists have changed after the tsunami.

But this is going off topic.

True, there are different people coming, but i don't think you have the reasons right.

Simoly a matter of the financial crisis.

Its not road widening as this road has no need for that.

Have you ever seen the big tourbuses trying to navigate this road, while at the same time all snorkeling and diving minibuses try to get to their destination, all buying ice and other things in the mean time?

Susco sells 95 petrol, but its the only petrol I have had pinging with, so hard to believe it really is 95

Got to agree with you. Susco fuel quality is always suspect. Best to stay with the majors like Shell, Esso, Caltex, & PTT.

I used to drive all the way out there for 95 and my engine sounded Ok, but now I just use the 92 at PTT (as they are one of the few to offer 100% petrol) and don't drive the car too hard.

That is the only pump in Thailand I got scammed (got only about half of the amount asked for for full price).

I am surprised the singaporean cars with police lights were allowed to twice cross a border.

You have obviously lived here a while and you are surprised ???

Yes, mainly by Malaysia.

I am surprised the singaporean cars with police lights were allowed to twice cross a border.

Bashing, what bashing?

I'll send you a PM with a phonenumber. I'm not sure he is on the island at the moment, but you can check.

Thankyou, much appreciated, he is coming to have a look at the job this evening

Reliable, trustworthy guy and does good jobs.

I have hired him quite a few times for different things, never complaints from my side and always very reasonable priced as well.

Any of the gazillion shops that fabricate iron-work gates and fences. They are as common as 711s.

Surprised you need to ask here.

And any of those gazillion shops will do onsite work. They won't speak English though, so you have to speak Thai to get things sorted with them.

Is that right, how many jobs have you had done and can you recommend any body instead of bashing

My wife speak perfect Thai and she asks the shops we have approach :jap:

Bashing, what bashing?

I'll send you a PM with a phonenumber. I'm not sure he is on the island at the moment, but you can check.

BUT if you buy a book (+certification card) in Europe you can't use it in Thailand.

Yes you can, no problem at all.