billythehat

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but it's perfectly fine to invest in property that you can never own, and in business.

If I had a dollar every time you've posted that...........

...you’d have $13 (Bt380)...tax free though...

Of course, what they are doing to the third road is something that they should have had the foresight to do in the first place - making it a permanent structure that won't pothole and breakup every time there is a drop of rain. I understand the work is set to be completed somewhere around the middle of next year. In the meantime, it is an absolute debacle in Nanai during the peak (and often a mess off-peak as well) and oftentimes standstill on Ratuthit.

The third road will become the major thoroughfare and relieve a lot of pressure from these other two thoroughfares. To be fair, now that they have actually got into the project, I don't see much else that they could have done to avoid these temporary woes. No-one likes it, but the end result should contribute to vastly better traffic flow and will also ultimately accommodate the tunnel traffic.

Quote: "making it a permanent structure that won't pothole and breakup every time there is a drop of rain....."

I'm not sure about that "Ping" because they are laying the new concrete on top of mud. There is no base material/foundation under the concrete so surely once the big trucks are pounding along the new concrete road it won't be long before the mud underneath sinks or shrinks and cracks will appear??

Now I'm not a construction engineer, so perhaps someone with knowledge in this field could throw some light on the subject............can concrete be laid on top of mud to form a serviceable road for the long-term?

“Now I'm not a construction engineer, so perhaps someone with knowledge in this field could throw some light on the subject............can concrete be laid on top of mud to form a serviceable road for the long-term?”

Yes it can but with the proviso that the elements have been designed for the conditions. In areas of high water tables, poor drainage, etc, it is normal to see a typical spec of 150mm min thick well compacted crushed type 1 rock and, say, 200-300mm RC Slab as the running surface. Designed concrete mixes are available for placement in areas where water will be in contact with concrete structures, but whether this has been applied...your guess is as good as mine. Sub-soil drainage would also be a consideration as wet clay/sandy soils will also impose ground heave loads on the concrete structure. However, I note your mention of a lack of proper road base and so long-term serviceability will be limited. My 2 Baht’s worth is that the first failures will be due to piss-poor construction/design and incorrectly spec’d materials.

Thomson starting up holidays on Phuket Island once again. I find that both encouraging and surprising. I guess those Brit tourists will be bused every where like the Chinese and Russians. Even more coaches on the roads

“I guess those Brit tourists will be bused every where..”

I’m really quite offended by your curmudgeonly typecasting.

We’re all not wrinkly old duffers requiring frequent bussing to Bed Pan Emporiums, nae way squire. The Dublin crew and I will be flying directly there this Xmas and have no intention of bussing anywhere, using the sole services of ‘Shanks Pony’ to and from the rooms and sundry ale houses. I suggested we dump the cheap package hotel and check in at one of the many guest houses on the west coast. If you’re not fully booked up, have 5 spare double rooms and like the Irish folk (quality tourists), we have a small request; can we install our own rock and roll juke box?

Thanks in advance.

“Business owning foreigners are about the biggest bullshitters...” ....

Business owning foreigners are about the biggest bullshitters- they have a lot to lose if other western foreigners stop coming here, lot of censoring in the past on local papers,

those 30 year " + 30 + 30 renewable lease on land " total scam comes to mind. How many " counselors" pushed that total scam ?

No stopping the truth now,

Better change to accommodate the Chinese if you want a future in Phuket tourism.

Plenty of tourists from India, Russian states and China, westerners not needed, except to prop up Isaan villages through marriage, of course.

Foreigners are forbidden by law to protest. We have no rights and it seems there is a concerted effort among old timers to conceal the difficulties to potential new comers. Foreigners need more foreigners, it's like living in a tank of sharks and it's my civic duty to warn others who may find the sex scene doesn't quite make up for it all- for that is the real motive for vast majority of expats- sex and personal servants and is how Thailand gets away with xenophobic rules.

Live in a whorehouse and you're gonna get f'd.

This is the wrong meter for Phuket.

The BS only peaks out at +4 and the truth peaks out at -20.

The proper Phuket meter is where the BS peaks out to +20 and the truth peaks at -4.

C’mon lad, let me jog your memory a wee bit here.

Village Headman Rule No. 1966 - No member may quote a proper English Breakfast and withhold the inclusion of Bubble and Squeak, Black Sausage and a bucket of Hot Sweet Tea.

Definitely Kallot's in Sai Yuan.

Two eggs

Two rashers of back bacon.

A pork sausage.

Baked beans.

Mushrooms.

Fried tomato.

Fried potato.

A hunk of toast with butter and jam.

170 Bt.

Firstly, the OP, like most of us is not going to be able to tell the difference between someone who lives in Phuket and someone that doesn't, unless they first get into conversation with them.

The majority of European looking people that they meet in bars, will probably be "the wrong type". Even if you discount the tourists and look at long stay people in Patong, I would venture that there is a higher percentage of mongers than expats found elsewhere on the island.

Seems many Patong expats are getting offended by my post, that I'm tarring everyone with the same brush. That was not my intention, but, I still stand by my post.

Dunno why the inmates are getting their baggy Y-Fronts in such a twist over your post. I’ve sipped and supped at many of the watering holes in that berg and can honestly say that most of the bar keeps always reminded me of somebody that would steal their own car. Of the 6 exceptions, 3 are now dead and the others have moved on. I do, however, recommend farang owned bars over Somchai owned if you are out and about – you’ll see why when you’ve done a few. To the OP, you didn’t say whether you were staying at a hotel or guest house; I say thisbecause you are more likely to get good local info on places to see, booze and scoff from the owner of a small guest house than from the turkeys in the large commercial hotels...or even the sensitive ‘young at heart’ bloods here on TV....

Is this device called a U-bend?

“Is this device called a U-bend?”

Not quite...heh, heh...from the section sketch it would appear to be some sort of variation on non-return valve principles.

There is no evidence the man jumped. If one wants to kill himself, a 3rd floor balcony is not where you jump from.

I know it is hard to believe but sometimes people do fall accidently. We owe t to the injured man not to speculate and damage his reputation.

Inside the man's room, Police found an unaddressed letter which said, “I am dead,

I doubt he has written that letter after he accidently stumbled from the balcony.

Hard for me to reconcile the 'tumbles' headline = an accidental fall, and the letter left.

Quite so, Watson, but an even bigger mystery is:

“Staff at Vachira Hospital confirmed to the Phuket Gazette late this morning that the German has a blood clot in his brain and is in the intensive care unit (ICU), on life support with a feeding tube.

The Gazette is withholding the name of the deceased until relatives or next of kin have been informed.”

Why keep a dead man on ICU and drip?

Looks ok. I was under the impression they only ate potatoes and turnips.

Only the Ruskie Elite can afford Spuds and Turnips which are only available in the big cities of Russia, and only in 5 Star (Zsar) Hotels.

Sent from my ASUS keyboard using the internet.

You just have to put up with the smell until proper deep sewerage is installed

Its expensive to install and will not be happening in the near future

Until that happens people will continue to use the street drains and natural streams to dispose of there waste products

“…proper deep sewerage is installed...”

Hab hmmmmm, yes and thank you for this insightful Engineering analysis and solution. The design of drainage systems both within and outside buildings should take account of the need to segregate spillages of hazardous materials. Where there is a possibility that hazardous substances could be discharged into a drainage system, as in the case(s) mentioned in this topic, there already exists sophisticated interceptor and sump systems that could be provided (locally) of sufficient capacity to mitigate the problem of foul gases, etc.

Where the learned Khun Callan’s ‘deep sewerage’ idea may not be entirely feasible (costs) would be that, say, where Patongs’ treatment works is perhaps only a nominal level above the outfall at the beach headwall, an intermediate lifting pumping station and associated works would have to be considered. The solutions are not impossible but the will to do it?...proper infrastructure or new Mercedes?

been great if the german turned on him and kicked 7 bells out him broke his leg or some thing like that teach the little rodent a lesson he could then anooy other tourist for at least 6 months

dont they realise the tourist is there food line

Never encourage a lone Farang to use any kind of violence towards a Thai. They would end up taking on six or more Thais. When it comes to fighting, Thais are the biggest cowards in the world. Do you think the Jet Ski man would have run at the German without the anchor?

“Do you think the Jet Ski man would have run at the German without the anchor?”

No, of course not and I know this because the sister of Somchai the Brave told me, (through a flood of tears, naturally,) that Somchai, because he’s jai dii, was merely returning the anchor because he thought that Herman had dropped it. Obviously a misunderstanding.

I too have lived in Rawai nearly seven years first 2 renting then buying a house. I am looking at moving somewhere a bit quieter. I bought the house 5 years ago had one neighbour now all around are new condos sprouting up and the orbator still has not put in a proper road. I doubt if there has been a single day when I have not heard building work tile cutting or alike so my peaceful bit of luxury in Paradise has certainly not been what I envisaged. I do not want to go to Issan as I need to be near the sea and shops like Villa Mart. I am lucky as I still work in SE Asia month on month off otherwise I would have moved before now. Roll on the low season as Rawai does get that bit quieter then. Phuket I feel still has a lot to offer away from the Patong Bucket and Spade nonesense but as with others I certainly agree its not as good as it was 7 years ago.

Good luck selling the house, Rawaii has more houses for sale than are occupied.

I am not going to sell the house that is your assumption its a 5 bed with pool & sea views can get 140,000 Thb a month long term rental have had more during high season when I moved once before and stayed in Bangsaray south of Pattaya for about a year. Alas that was a bad move Pattaya is the pits and Phuket I find offers more. No need to sell although many are wanting or looking at leaving Phuket there are many more coming and wanting to stay which for Villa owners who do not want to sell is a good thing.

The only people I see coming and staying are Russians(good for people letting house's I suppose)

I used to go to Nai Harn everyday and how the demographics changed.

What used to be a beach were you heard many languages Italian,French,English is now like a Black Sea resort full of speedo and pork pie hat merchants.

What name do you think Phuket will adopt in the next 7 years.

Phudessa,Phudosstock or Puscow

“What name do you think Phuket will adopt in the next 7 years.

Phudessa,Phudosstock or Puscow”

Easy, ‘Putingrad’.

Then will come the ‘Fusion Food’...yum yumski....

Loss of Western European tourists is mainly down to the dire economic situation in Europe.

You know, I think it's much more complex than that. Maybe NKM put his finger on the problem. 10 -> 15 years ago much of the tourist trade was young people looking for fun, then it trended to couples and families looking for a good holiday vacation. The TAT tried to promote 'better quality tourists' as in more affluent tourists. For sure the global downturn did not help, the expensive Baht did not help. And now what do we have - tour packages from China, Tawain, other Asian countries, and now Russia. From what I can see it makes the 'arrival numbers' great but does not add much to the local business owner's economy. I really don't know where it all going to end or even the route it will take.

As mentioned, where did this market go? Why aren't they returning to Phuket for holidays, over and over? Why aren't the new markets complimenting the traditional western markets?

Why are many western tourists chosing other destinations in Thailand over Phuket? Why are some expats now living in other destinations in Thailand over Phuket?

Maybe Phuket will just end up as a cheap holiday destination for Thai's, built-up with farang money over a few decades. All the vacant hotels and guest houses may just end up being 300 baht per night rooms for Thai's to come to Phuket for a holiday after the tourists have long gone. The western restaurants and beer bars will slowly move to more profitable areas and along with that, so will the sex trade.

Once you are targeting the package holday makers, you are scraping the bottom of the barrel. (no disrespect to any particular nationality)

Further more, if a couple of package holidays were placed in front of potential customers from emerging economies, say Phuket and Pattaya, and the package to Pattaya was considerably cheaper, and also did not involve a side flight, most budget conscience tourists would chose Pattaya, especially if they google and see the considerable savings in food, alcohol and transport to go to Pattaya over Phuket.

The demographics of the tourists coming here has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. There will be no one left for the Phuket TAT to target unless there are some positive changes to the island, which I have never seen since coming here, and never seen since living here, which is the whole point of my posts.

Phuket can not keep replacing dissatisfied tourists with newbie tourists. It's just not sustainable tourism. You eventually run out of newbie tourists and gain a reputation as being a rip off, and I think Phuket is now at that point, in relation to western tourists.

Some good points in your post, and the previous esteemed right honourable members. KB mentioned economic reasons but this has been compounded by the sheer expense of just getting there from Europe - £400+ of my ticket price to Lalaland (Dec 2012) was tax. Coupled with the devaluation of western currencies against the Baht (approx. £1=Bt74 in 2001 to £1=Bt49 in 2012) LLL stopped being a cheap long haul holiday some time ago. Where did the old crew go? Well, for the many reasons already done to death on these forums, they simply had choice. Having been a few times and observed the rapid degeneration of Phuket into a cash-cow for the mob, why would anybody with a family to protect return? The current mean spirited, obnoxious attitudes of the locals to those that would provide them with money, really grates with the majority of visitors who are decent folk, and does nothing to stop the unmasking of that great lie ‘land of smiles’. Everything changes and the sparkle of being in an enchanting place so different from your own wanes over time; I was tramping around the Island during Xmas/early January and was having a coffee in Patong – watching the passing of the tourists crowds, tattooed steroid muppets, fed up dads with their dour faced missus and whinging wee bairns, it reminded me of any holiday resort to be found (and avoided) in southern Spain, etc. Where it may it go? Probably in the direction to which you allude although I fear your hope for positive change may be unrealistic as even the most hardened Thai defender knows that the Buffalo has long since bolted.

^

Beetroot soup? You can keep it!

Sir, I’m disappointed that you’ve decided not to avail yourself to the delights of the Russkie Menu, being the cosmopolitan chap you are. Yesterday, I was persuaded to partake in some said fayre, here in Patong, and, although cautious, I tucked into a bowl of (Unpronounceable name) Weak Cabbage Soup served with Sawdust Bread. There were sundry unidentified bits in the broth and I assumed these to be croutons. Made a nice change from Pizza.

I was at Patong with my wife and 3 kids the other day before lunch. Found nothing but immaculate beaches and friendly Thai's. I guess the <deleted> comes out at night but that doesnt mean its a cesspit.

Had a very enjoyable morning indeed.

Patong is not a cesspit but a very popular tourist destination

The street drains on the rawai beachfront stink of raw sewerage the same as patong

Its not that long ago that the Thames river in London was a open sewer

“Its not that long ago that the Thames river in London was a open sewer”

Hab hmmmmm….London sewers completed circa 1865….aye, only seems like yesterday….

So I am to believe that the old rules a spouse visa lasted 24 months regardless of breakdown in marriage.

And the new rules of 30 months spouse visa regardless of breakdown in marriage.

And if we get on after 35 months then yet another 25 spouse visa months regardless of breakdown in marriage.

This new law then is very optimistic for the relationship to be successful?

And if a breakdown in the relationship the spouse can easily carry on in the UK as an illegal just as before.

So what’s the difference?

The new rules do not hinder scam marriages then?

There are numerous checks in place to weed out the scam marriages prior to granting the spousal visa. 7by7 has provided information on the visa FLR and ILR rules for you.

If you doubt the sincerity of your prospesctive spouse then don't get married. Don't confuse the visa rules and the "ease" of getting a failed marriage partner out of the UK with the laws applying to divorce. I sense, possibly wrongly, that your question is "can I get rid of her easily if it all goes wrong without he taking anything off me"? Remember you will be legally married and subject to divorce laws.

“Remember you will be legally married and subject to divorce laws.”

Indeed, Sir, indeed; Caveat Emptor - A warning that notifies a buyer that the goods he or she is buying are "as is," or subject to all defects and to the OP, at the end of the day it’ll be you who decides how much of a mug she makes of you.

3 english pounds for a 45 minute trip from an international airport to your choice of hotel and yet loads of people still moan! what more do u want?

somebody tell me where in the world u will get this cheap and amazing service.

and for the record they stop once at their agency for about 5 -10 mins to get everybodys hotel address.(how else would they know where to take you?)

and if u dont have a hotel they can book one for u also.

honestly some people on this forum always want to see the bad in everything.

I don't think anyone is complaining about the 150 (whatever) baht price. And you tell the desk what hotel or road you want to go, the 'agency' stop is just a scam to sell a hotel room or tour. The complaint is that it the stop adds a lot to the time to get from airport to hotel/home. Thus the 45+ minute trip takes well over an hour. I know, I've taken the mini bus plenty of times. By the time you wait for the bus to fill up and if you are the last to be dropped off it can easily take nearly 2 hours.

A wee bit more for the OP. When I last used the MV’s (Bt150 pp) enroute to Patong, I left with 5 other vans filled to the brim with grinning greenhorns. The scam stop is about 15 minutes from the airport and the vans are unloaded and the mugs are led into the shop for the sales pitch. I knew the story from numerous visits and proceeded to sit there wearing a face like a sullen 5 year old child and refused to answer any questions, mainly due to nursing a mother of a hangover from my last night in Bangkok. That aside, my note to the OP and his familiars is that should you arrive in a motorcade of MV’s, make a note of the van you got out off as your luggage will be in that one. I staggered back into the wrong one and it took a minute or so to realise that I was surrounded by corpulent Hermans’ and not the family from Hong Kong that I’d started out with. The MV’s that go to Patong generally scoot around the berg quite quickly, which may point to maybe the only positive element of having a yaba’d up maniac at the wheel – they don’t hang around. Your first ‘fair ground’ white-knuckle ride up and down Patong Hill is worth the fee in itself.

If the re bar has a rough circular finish why do they use this finish instead of a smooth finish???

Typically a mechanical property which allows the rebar to be easily formed and fabricated whilst maintaining maximum tensile strength. Elongation is an important property to fabricators who perform numerous bending operations. I’m fear you may have confused yourself in respect to the criteria of bond and anchorage. I strongly suggest you take your own advice and seek professional help.

Re bar is high tensile steel and cannot be easily bent, the mild steel bar used here you can bend in your hands

What qualifications do people have here who build themselves all the ones i have talked to have none which would be internationally recognised

according to wikipedia 'It is usually formed from carbon steel,' and 'Common rebar is made of unfinished tempered steel'. it a long time since i did any concrete work in the UK or the states but i don't remember the steel been significantly different to here,.

i think high tensile steel would be hard to work with, have you ever tried to bend 20mm steel, it takes 5 beefy burmese guys to do it.

the architects will design with thai steel in mind, that's why they massively over engineer everything (that plus covering their ass to protect against structural problems and bad building)

i think the biggest problem isn't the size or quality of the steel, its the way they build it. not enough space between the steel and the side walls of the forms or the ground, so that it can become exposed to water and ultimately rust out. also the concrete is often way too wet and not vibrated properly, or at all and dried too quickly. that's why you have to be on site for every concrete pour to check the steel clearance, concrete quality and vibrating. if the concrete is coming out of the truck too wet, force them to throw in a couple of bags of cement until you get the right consistency. then keep it out of the sun and damp for a couple of weeks.

Carbon steel,tempered steel, high tensile same same it will not bend

And re bar has a rough Finnish to it so the concrete will stick to it

Never seen any concrete where they have used a vibrator here to settle and compact it,just pored and left to dry some times not in one batch

“And re bar has a rough Finnish to it so the concrete will stick to it”

I’ve been chortling my way through some of the replies and this is the best one yet...oh, me sides hab gone again.

A few points though regarding other comments/posts; the Architect does not design the reinforcement and neither should he. This is the job of the Structural Engineer and I won’t bore anybody with the design process for reinforced concrete, but essentially; calculate the loads (say for a given beam/column) and assume a cross-sectional size. From design tables, a minimum area of steel required for that cross-sectional area will give the Engineer the data for the diameter and number of bars required. The various shapes used in the design, straights, shear links, etc, are given in the bar bending schedule for the items to be fabricated, usually off-site. You are not required to bend these with your own bare hands, although I would be impressed if you could demonstrate. Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension and that is why steel is used to form a composite structural member. The lower of the 2 strength yields specified by the code for reinforcement (460 N/mm high, 260 low) can be specified by the Engineer for cases of low loadings or ties in low tension, but generally high yield bars will specified in most cases.

That's not what I'm disagreeing with.

I disagree that sex tourists can't get women in their own counties. That accusation could be leveled at anyone with a Thai partner.

I disagree that that is all they are here for. Believe it or not, they also come for the beaches, food etc. etc.

They have a normal holiday, but, at night they are certain to score. Nothing wrong in that.

“They have a normal holiday”

‘Normal’...hee, hee, I like that one.

I'm half swedish and know that murder is a rare occurrence in sweden, but drunkenness and depression are not. I am thinking he was not of sound mind and there were circumstances which we will find out in due course. His girlfriend looks dodgy as hell though.

"His girlfriend looks dodgy as hell though"

I knew it wouldn't take too long before someone would deflect attention from the farang to a Thai. She looks dodgy as hell compared to the farang who (allegedly) brutally murdered another person because of some trivial thing involving a dog. Right. If all else makes no sense, point a finger at a Thai.

I knew it wouldn't take long before someone made out my comment was a generalization about thai people. I'm certainly not sticking up for the swedish guy and it just might turn out that she's an accomplice to murder if you care to read the reports.

Agree with ya there, squire, but hab wait a cotton picking minute; farang murders farang? I thought that was a reserved occupation…

Somebody help us please!

Thailand – The Hub for Wabid Wasskilly Wabbits.

The Somchais better give Elmer J Fudd’s agent a ring – he knows how to deal with pesky Wabbits.

Dear me........Billy's post was tongue in cheek.

If you are a regular here, you know what Billy does for a living, so, he would hardly be the owner of an E-type Jag.

Really.....it just shows people take this forum far too seriously.

“Billy does for a living, so, he would hardly be the owner of an E-type Jag.”

Aye, ya not wrong there, lad, several years as an Engineering contractor has bought me the sum total vehicle worth of an old Ford Focus, an ageing Yamaha Fazer and 1971 Triumph Tiger motorcycle which has been in bits for the last 10 years. When asked by wee Leks what I do for a job I just say “I draw things” and swiftly move on to more interesting subjects like, “Buddha’s teeth, lass, how did you get into those jeans? ”

That was well spotted DLock. Waiting for Billy's answer.edit// oh just read it. Pretty lame Billy,

“Well spotted..” wot do ya mean ‘well-spotted’? It was on the 1^st page of the search engine!…I dunno, try to help you guys out and all I get is abuse…

Pretty lame Billy. Why not buy one, like I did. Here's me and my red one.

Now, now, Midder Jay Shot, careful with those lame jibes when showing the audience a fatally flawed and ruined beautiful car, namely; being left-hand drive, that soft-top and ghastly wheels. I’m writing to the Jaguar Owners Club UK to request your immediate lifetime ban for such wanton vandalism. Quite a cheesy grin you hab there but I would point out the danger of wearing dentures in a car that vibrates like a bar lass on yaba.

Toodle pip,

William in Dublin.