phuketsub

Please let me know if you find similar deals at other branches; I cleaned out the peanut butter at that one...

I always take first time visitors to SuperCheap and they are invariably blown away by it...

If they are female, just drop them off at a shopping mall. Never fails; just make sure there is a good watering hole located somewhere nearby...

I just got back from the Tops minimart near the Municipal Market 2 (Dilok Uthit 2 Rad, near Robinsons) and found some really good 1/2 price bargains on stuff like Skippy peanut butter, virgin olive oil, cans of baked beans, wasabi paste: the type of stuff you don't find at the SuperCheap minimarts...I asked the girls there and they told me it would soon become a FamilyMart, with the same owner and staff, so they are clearing out stock. I know the other Tops in Rassada closed some time ago. Anyway, worth a look if you have one in your area...

I don't know if this means the end of Tops minimarts across Phuket or not, however.

What drives me nuts is when they allow cars to go to the pumps in opposite directions, causing traffic chaos where none need exist. The worst offender that I am aware of is the Shell station at the corner of Phang Nga and Surin roads.

The OP states that they require "unsigned" - this is my concern. Because every other copy of my passport I have ever given out to anyone, has the aforementioned two lines through it and a written statement of its intended use and then my signature.

According to the OP, this is no longer acceptable as a way the reduce the risk of miss-use.

For clarification: I made the copies as requested, then when I handed them over I asked if he had a pen (didn't think I would need to bring one) so I could sign them and he said there was no need to...so I guess having written that "unsigned" copies may have been misleading. I assume he would have accepted them had they been signed, but with this agency one never knows anything for sure.

Surprising for me last time in was they took my photo.......might have mentioned that already.

Wow..that's discouraging...next thing they'll be asking for medical certificates, maps, and god knows what else..it seems that they only time they ever ease back is after some disaster that threatens tourism

I just got back last night after a road trip to Songkhla, where the weather was overcast but not raining...it was raining when we left on Thursday morning...just wondering if it has it been like this the whole time we were gone...

The OP states that they require "unsigned" - this is my concern. Because every other copy of my passport I have ever given out to anyone, has the aforementioned two lines through it and a written statement of its intended use and then my signature.

According to the OP, this is no longer acceptable as a way the reduce the risk of miss-use.

For clarification: I made the copies as requested, then when I handed them over I asked if he had a pen (didn't think I would need to bring one) so I could sign them and he said there was no need to...so I guess having written that "unsigned" copies may have been misleading. I assume he would have accepted them had they been signed, but with this agency one never knows anything for sure.

I'm not sure I'd be happy leaving unsigned copies of my passport with anyone here.

It's always better to be safe than sorry, but for me the irritation is more about wasting time, paper and money, albeit just four baht in this case. Whatever happened to the 'paperless society' they were talking about back in the 80s & 90s?

I would like to give an award to whomever programmed ATM machines to ask whether or not users needed a receipt/balance slip after making a transaction. We need more innovation like that, but I really doubt it will come from any organ of this government, that is actually getting away with spending billions of flood control projects that actually increase the likelihood of flooding, to name just one example.

I have always supplied copies of my passport for 90 day reporting - face page, current stamp, departure card. Can't understand why not signed as all these copies must be signed to make valid copies. Must be something I am missing here ??

Interesting; it was a first for me after about six years...and they didn't ask for current stamp. Maybe they want to increase revenue at the 2baht/page copy service downstairs... I won't lose any sleep over it, but for me the goal has always been "get in/get out" as fast as possible, so this one tripped me up a little.

Just a heads up for those among us who have to do the 90-day reporting here in Phuket: You now need to present unsigned copies of your passport face pages (pic and signature) and departure card when doing this.

I don't know why, as all of the relevant data is filled in on the form already and the officer is supposed to check it anyway, but that's the case: more paperwork.

I don't know if this applies to other Immigration offices or just Phuket.

I finally checked out the area today; the road down to the little beach is private land with a sign (Thai) reading Laem Nga Development Company. There is a closed gate about halfway down, with an unmanned security guard shack. I parked, walked over the gate, and walked a few hundred meters and almost got to the beach when I came across a pack of about 10 barking dogs and some pigs.

An old lady there told me the land was owned by a French guy, who chose to restrict access. [yes, I know foreigners can't own land, let alone restrict access to a beach]. There is a sign near the gate that says "open 6am close 6pm", but I got there well before 6pm and suspect it is closed all the time now.

I did find a way to the beach further south, however. Go to the Horizon villa estate and there is a little path though the woods that leads to a dirt road...It leads to a sandy beach with a big pier that does not appear on Google Maps, indicating that it was built after 2011. . I didn't have time to swim as it was getting dark, but that is the best spot I have found.

Untill the OP can confirm or deny the the cause of the accident ( its speculated (on other sites where they are also asking for money to fund Gerrys lifestyle) that Gerry was blind drunk and no seat belt )so i , for one,wont be paying anything toward his funds ,if he choose not to bother getting decent car / medical insurance.No insurance company will pay out if you shouldnt have been driving in the first place.Come on OP be honest now ---WHY DID HE CRASH ?

+1

As I stated previously, he cannot talk or otherwise communicate effectively, and there were no witnesses, so the exact cause remains unknown.

I refuse to pump for information a friend who is cleaning to life through a respirator and is in extreme pain and anguish: sorry.

I likewise refuse to engage in some of the callous, tangential debates this thread has generated.

The good news is that he will be moved to a ward room tonight.

Based on 27years of experience, I think the conventional wisdom that all bar girls make bad wives is inaccurate. I have many friends whose wives had bar backgrounds and they are very happy with the results more than 10 years later.

Conversely, I have other friends who have had nightmare marriages with "good" Thai girls.

All of my friends married to Thai-Muslim woman are happy with them.

I find it disgraceful how Thai women, and Thailand in general, is portrayed in the Western media.

Supercheap main branch has a wide selection; enter at your own risk.

I would ask everyone to refrain from speculation on matters like insurance or the exact cause of the accident, as I don't know all the details yet.

What I will say is that Gerry has always been a guy who kept his stuff together and even though he enjoys a drink I have never seen him sloppy drunk. A friend who went to see him suspects he may have fallen asleep at the wheel, but that may just be speculation too.

I understand that he has some medical coverage, but not enough to cover the huge and mounting bill at Bangkok Hospital...

Anyway, I just wanted to inform friends and family about his condition.

I am sad to report through this forum that Gerry Mason, a longtime British expat resident, is in ICU after crashing his car into a power pole in Rawai.

Initial reports are that he suffered extensive facial trauma, respiratory problems and possible swelling of the brain, although a scan revealed no evidence of brain damage. He had a long surgery to repair an eye socket and cannot see, but recognizes visitors by voice: a good sign.

Efforts are underway to contact relatives and organize some kind of fundraiser to help pay his mounting bill at that hospital, before moving him to a less expensive facility.

Gerry is a real English gentleman, former soldier and is well known on the darts scene in Patong, where he has played for the Piccadilly Bar, Hemingways and in the Super League.

I start this thread as a way to help him on the road to recovery and will help provide updates as I learn more.

Corruption is a disease similar to alcoholism! If the people don't want to change and do what is necessary to accomplish it will never change. It is a way of life for Thais and it will never change!

Corruption is certainly not a disease, and I don't believe alcoholism is either.

They are vices and need to be perceived as such, imho.

But even if they were both diseases, you still wouldn't be able to compare what would be a social disease (corruption) to a more personal "disease" like alcoholism.

Alcoholism: One individual hits rock bottom and realizes change is needed; makes changes

Corruption: Entire populations are"infected".

It is much easier to find solutions for individuals than groups, so I am not down with this particular analogy.

I prefer to compare corruption to littering. If one enters a new house that is immaculately clean, that person is far less likely to make a mess than when entering a pig-sty. It's all about raising and maintaining standards.

I think this is one of Thailand's greatest challenges, but you don't need to be a Thai to help them out in this battle. Just Say No.

The best way to kill superstition on the vine is to ignore it completely. DOH!

I'll let you guys know; I looked at the road on Google Street View and it looks to gnarly for a car, so I'll go by bike as soon as I have access to one.

ustvnow.com shows all the free to air tv channels free, cbs, fox, nbc etc. so you can catch the Monday morning game streaming. For $19/mo you can get a lot more channels including ESPN if you want to catch the Tuesday morning game and US sportscenter

Interesting. I'll check it out tomorrow, when my beloved Pats play the Jets. I have a bad feeling about this one, though...

ustvnow.com is interesting and easy to use, but they only give you five channels (for free) -- and none of them carry this game. Looks like more vipbox on this end...GO PATS!

ustvnow.com shows all the free to air tv channels free, cbs, fox, nbc etc. so you can catch the Monday morning game streaming. For $19/mo you can get a lot more channels including ESPN if you want to catch the Tuesday morning game and US sportscenter

Interesting. I'll check it out tomorrow, when my beloved Pats play the Jets. I have a bad feeling about this one, though...

Thanks HKT. I will give it a try; not expecting perfection, I just want a decent workout.

Coconuts on Rawai Beach shows the games live. Eat a spot of breakfast and watch the game.

Thanks...it's sure tough with the time difference, though. Dunno whether to drink coffee or beer...

Does anyone know of a decent place to swim in the sea off Koh Sireh?

I just want a place I can access by car, get in the water and swim hassle-free...preferably without having to wade through muck.

Any advice appreciated.