phuketsub

Thanks for the update Sub. It's good to hear that there are improvements happening on the island.

Is it still possible to drive or ride up to the hill during daytime 8am - 4pm?

Yes, it is. In fact, the view up at Point 7 is awesome late at night. Also, the access ban only applies to cars, not motorbikes.

Big, big changes up on Khao Toh Seh, and mostly for the good:

1. Full time street sweeping staff since start of this month, with an obvious improvement throughout the park.

2. The access road (starting from Green Forest Restaurant) closed 7-8am (presumably for the water truck to spray the road) and from 4pm to 7pm, to keep walkers safe from cars. There is an elderly security guard and a rollaway metal barrier there to enforce it at the Toh Seh Shrine.

3. The spirit house landfill drainage ditch was cleaned out sometime yesterday afternoon, with an English-impaired sign telling people not to dump unwanted spirit houses there anymore (cc: www.engrish.com)

4. I suspect the kind-hearted but environmentally ignorant "Mr Monkey" has been banned, presumably for brazenly ignoring the signs which specify where the macaques can be fed -- not to mention dumping loads of fruit with foam packaging on the roadside. Some of the street sweepers today dropped off a bunch of bananas and the macaques were fighting over them. A month ago they wouldn't bat an eyelash at a banana, preferring junk food, durien, coconut, dragonfruit, etc.

5. Far fewer dogs. I saw about 10 puppies (two litters) on Friday. No sign of them today. I can't rule out they were out in the forest. Most of the the well-known, established mutts are still there in their usual positions.

6. No more pigs.(this goes back about 3 months)

7. Overall, one of the best projects the OrBorJor has done, IMO.

With all the hassles and legal disputes over building on leased land, I often wonder why mobile homes (or some other kind of relocatable units) haven't proven more popular among expats here.

Not a good day for 'getting sh*t done', at least where the government sector is concerned. Here was the scene at the TOT office in Phuket Town, just around the corner from the Post Office, when I went to pay my Internet bill today...

Nice to know all is safe and secure at my ISP.

That's an old well used quote that I was too lazy to look up for a reference. Sorry for pissing you off, as that is never my intention. That said, Rottweilers have an incredible memory. The ones that show any aggression towards any human when unwarranted should be put down immediately. Those are not the ones I have known going on 40 years. We are probably on a lot more of the"same pages" than not.http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Harlan_Ellison

apology accepted; no problem.

At the moment I am having a hard time dealing with the over-compensation of my insecurities, but since you ask.... The question kind of begs the question "soi dogs in respect to...?". Soi dogs are just dogs. They have the same emotions of love and needs as the finest bred dogs and deserve any help we humans can deliver. Soi dogs are tough and live a precarious life. Taking in a soi dog to ones home can bring a lot of good to both the dog and the rescue owner. But if you own any dog, you must live up to the responsibilities of ownership. No need to list those here. I would suggest anyone with a dog to perhaps attempt to understand how dogs live, act and how their instincts direct them. A side note...to question the memory of Rottweilers displays total ignorance. You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to an INFORMED opinion. You are not entitled to be ignorant...

My comments were based on my own personal observations over the years; I have seen enough to come to believe there is a correlation between human character type and the breed of dog people choose to own. I think many others would agree.

These views were clearly expressed as personal opinion and in reply to the OP's query, not your post -- which I only glanced through.

Five minutes of subsequent research on Google confirms that Rottweilers are indeed one of, if not the, the deadliest breed in terms of attacks on humans. It's just a statistical fact. Yes, training and other things come into play, as you correctly pointed out. In many ways we are actually on the same page. I think.

That said, in response to your comment:

"You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to an INFORMED opinion. You are not entitled to be ignorant."

What the hell does that mean? Are you the King of Entitlements? I resent the insult to my intelligence. How can you dismiss my opinion as not INFORMED when you have no knowledge whatsoever about my personal experiences?

The last time I checked the arbiters of what views were acceptable in this forum were the moderators...It'll be interesting to see if they let this one through.

Not a good day for 'getting sh*t done', at least where the government sector is concerned. Here was the scene at the TOT office in Phuket Town, just around the corner from the Post Office, when I went to pay my Internet bill today...

Not so sure I am comfortable trumpeting the the fact that "no one has died yet"...Four days to go with this. Let's not jinx ourselves; I think it should be like a no-hitter in baseball. [sorry to any who don't get the reference]

Last time there was that horrible crash on Big Buddha Hill on the last day with many Burmese killed.

On the subject of Grumpy Old Men, I spent four hours with my wife and daughter at and around the Mining Monument at Saphan Hin on the 13th -- and didn't get splashed once. I think this is the closest I have ever come to experiencing a miracle. It was like that famous scene in 'Pulp Fiction'.

Perhaps my own GOM force field was perfectly tuned; maybe the kids there didn't want to hit an old man armed only with a condom-clad, large Atchaa.

I used to teach English at an estate in Phuket Town that had several of both breeds. I never back down from any dog, but one of the Rottweilers was by far the most aggressive and there were some very unpleasant incidents.

Both Rottweilers and Pit Bulls have poor memories, in my experience -- not a good feature in a guard dog.

The Thai soi dogs (mogrels), if raised properly, are the loveliest dogs on the planet: smart, loyal, attractive, etc.

If the reason you want a dog is security purposes I would suggest you get one of these. It's a win-win situation.

There is an old expression that dogs tend to resemble their owners.

From my perspective, the people I know who carry guns and keep breeds like Pitbulls and Rottweilers are over-compensating for their own insecurities.

But of course, that's just my opinion.

I'll let you all know how this case works out.

I have stopped hating myself for the foolish blunder that created it.

It won't be the end of the world if I have to do a visa run, but I would prefer not to.

My strategy will be to do a lot of smallish (but necessary) bank transactions on that account, then when I go to update the bank book they will all be 'compressed' and the fact that it dipped below 400,000 won't show up...does that make sense to anyone?

Anyway, I wish everyone who takes in this forum part a happy and safe Thai New Year !

I spent much of yesterday drinking beer at the at Saphan Hin, off to the sidelines at one of the salas as my wife and child 'played Songkran' at the tin mining monument roundabout.

There weren't many other people drinking in the area that I could see.

Unlike years past, there were several pairs of 'patrol police' there who arrived by motorbike. All got completely doused with water and didn't complain about it as hundreds of pickups carrying water in the back passed by in defiance of the supposed ban thereupon.

Authorities not only ignored the law, but took a very active part in breaking it.

Attached see pix of a Phuket City Municipality firefighting truck that was spraying water at people along Phuket Road (though not caught in action here) as well as children playing with water supplied by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office on Damrong (Dumbwrong?) Road.

This is the agency that is tasked with preventing accidents and tabulating the death toll...

Given what goes on, I am surprised there aren't more accidents, deaths and injuries that there are.

Anyway, I am glad it's just one day here.

if this is what to come in patong with the first bit of rain, then batten the hatches down, all of patong along nanai road has no electric, all the roads behind jungcylon are flooding with oozing mud, patong hospital junction is out of action and just for good measure there's been no government water in patong for 2 days. thats the good news, what a total <deleted> up, please someone start suing the Thai government as a test case, how many times can they screw up common sense stuff

Escape with your sanity intact....Here in Rassada we got a lot of thunder and lightning, but not much rain. The cool breezes of the storm front were very much appreciated by this poster, but not his 7-year-old daughter who had the temerity to complain of "being cold". This is the same child who insists on using air-con at night, even though the temps outside are perfect for sleeping.

D

...like most of the plumbing products on sale here they are are of very crappy quality...

Actually, a bum gun of "crappy quality" sounds rather appropriate...

H

55555555555555555------- Love it

the pun was intended in the original post

Still, I am amazed at the response to what I thought was a pretty mundane request for information

...still no functioning bum gun in my abode however;

I went down there with my daughter and told them exactly what happened, not trying to hide the real anguish and self-loathing I was feeling about the whole thing and adding in that I was worried about who would take care of my daughter if I had to do a visa run.

One of the more senior officers told me it shouldn't be a problem; not to worry about it, as it probably wouldn't appear on the bank statement. (something I will do my best to make sure of)

I just hope he is still there when I go to apply for the one-year extension.

Anyway, I have resigned myself to fate on this one. In my own experience, I have only done an under-the-counter payment once in 25 years of living here, and that was to save on paying a much larger fine for failure to do the 90-day report on time.

I think most of the staff there are generally nice people who understand that what they do, the decisions they make, have a real, sometimes overwhelming effect on peoples' lives. The Immigration Police Volunteers deserve a lot of credit for their help too.

That said, if you walk in there with a shitty, self-entitled and rude attitude it's like a game of snakes and ladders, with the ladders removed. I've seen it first hand so many times.

I will let you all know how it works out.

I wish you all a happy and safe Songkran.

Speaking with many years extension experience of married visa it's been my experience that immigration grant no latitude at all. All you can get is an extension (maybe 2 months) to get your time line sorted out. That's how I sorted out problems in the past.

I am on a two-month extension already after about six years of successive one-year extensions. I guess my question is: in what form does the "proof" that the balance has never dipped below 400,000 have to come? Is it a letter from the bank? A bank statement?

I really think the heat is starting to get to me...how the Hell did I commit such a blunder? I have to go down there before Songkran for my 90-day-report anyway; I am just wondering if I should tell them what happened or not. They were pretty nice in giving me the two-month extension to get it sorted -- and now this. Anyway, I assume on a day like today with all this heat they probably won't be in any mood to help me

Can't you get an earnings statement from your embassy? Or is that only for retirement visas?

that doesn't apply to me; I am on a non Immigrant "B"...Anyway, I am gonna go down there now and see what they say

Speaking with many years extension experience of married visa it's been my experience that immigration grant no latitude at all. All you can get is an extension (maybe 2 months) to get your time line sorted out. That's how I sorted out problems in the past.

I am on a two-month extension already after about six years of successive one-year extensions. I guess my question is: in what form does the "proof" that the balance has never dipped below 400,000 have to come? Is it a letter from the bank? A bank statement?

I really think the heat is starting to get to me...how the Hell did I commit such a blunder? I have to go down there before Songkran for my 90-day-report anyway; I am just wondering if I should tell them what happened or not. They were pretty nice in giving me the two-month extension to get it sorted -- and now this. Anyway, I assume on a day like today with all this heat they probably won't be in any mood to help me

that's my plan..thanks...I will keep you posted

Have no personal experience but would put money back asap to take it above 400,000 to support the argument that it was an error on your part and you corrected it straight away.

Then hope for the best.

I was trying to maintain a balance of above 400,000 baht for two months in order to get another one-year extension on my permit to stay. This morning, to my horror, I hit the wrong button while doing an ATM transaction and the balance now sits at 399,900 baht. Doh! I can put money back into that account today, but now I wonder if I have just screwed myself into having to make another visa trip...Does anyone know if there is any wiggle room on this? Should I go down to Phuket Immigration and plead for lenience today? Just wondering if any fellow TV members have experience/advice on this...

They will never be able to enforce it.

Even if the bars close you'll still get people bringing in their own or those guys who sell it from coolers on the sidewalk. It is ALWAYS the way here: play by the rules = get screwed.

Just look at the taxi mafia, mom&pop shops that ignore the afternoon alcohol sales ban,etc.

Saphan Hin is better for Songkran anyway, notwithstanding the recent report by one TV poster that he was targeted with acid to the face there last year.

Thanks, will try to find one.

Huh, mine is over 7 years old, never replaced a thing.

Then that's the one I want...what brand is it?

It's a Cotto brand.

I go to Saphan Hin with my young daughter and wife and have never had any problems whatsoever. In fact I sometimes feel like I don't get my 'fair share' of water directed my way because most of the kids have an innate respect for a 50-year-old farang.

That said, very sorry to hear about your experience, OP.

Huh, mine is over 7 years old, never replaced a thing.

Then that's the one I want...what brand is it?

Can anyone recommend a decent brand of toilet hose (aka 'bum gun')?

They are indispensable plumbing items, but like most of the plumbing products on sale here they are are of very crappy quality and I find myself having to replace them several times a year.

This thread seems to be dominated by people down south, but for anyone living in Rassada there is a really good restaurant named Prikwan. It's right on Rassadanusorn Road (the main drag through Rassada) next to the Tesco Express. It's set back off the road a bit, behind a small roti vending operation.

They have an extensive menu and the dishes are all high quality and very reasonable prices. Crowded every night, but they get the dishes out pretty fast.