Boater

We have to remember that we are in their country. We have to report every 90 days if you have a certain visa. You can only stay for 30 days if you do not have a visa before you arrive depending on or nationality. We choose to visit or live here and have to accept their laws.

But you also have to remember this law effects the local economy , and really does make any sense at all ....

Was just wondering the same , thought it was the iPad

I signed up and the sent an automated email to my local mp and I got a response the next morning !

Thank you for contacting me about Air Passenger Duty and the ‘A fair tax on flying’ petition.

With the UK paying over £120 million every day on debt interest payments alone, APD makes an important contribution to reducing the nation’s deficit and this must be taken into account.

Last year the Government launched a consultation on APD to improve the fairness and efficiency of the system. Ministers recognise the importance of the aviation industry which is why the Budget in 2011 announced APD would be frozen for 2011-12 and the rise would take place this April instead. I do of course recognise the impact this tax has on the cost of family holidays, especially at a time when household spending is being stretched.

I know that the Chancellor is aware of the broader points you make, many of which come within the scope of the consultation

To ensure fairness, Ministers have closed a loophole so that from April 2013, business jet passengers will also have to pay this tax.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

Yours sincerely

A female Chinese tourist drowned while another was seriously injured when they were swept off the wa-ters at Koh Tao while swimming without life jackets, officials said.

Miss Chen Yaxing was pro-nounced dead at the Bangkok Samui Hospital while Miss Ging Yuguan was seriously injured from the incident. Both victims are aged 42.

Reports reaching the Samui Rescue Foundation showed a KohTao rescue officer spot-ted the two appearing to have troubles in the water.

They were immediately helped and brought to the hos-pital but Miss Yaxing did not survive.

http://samuiexpress.net/home/news/local-news/general-news/699-chinese-tourist-dies-on-a-trip-to-koh-tao

I got a taxi driver to turn his meter on once. I was going from the Ghost Road 7/11 in Bangrak to the ring road near Fisherman's Village. We already agreed on a price and I asked him to turn it on just out of curiosity. I forgot the exact amount, but I seem to remember that after including the 90 baht surcharge, it came out to about 50 baht less than what we had agreed on.

They want 700 baht to go from Lamai to the airport, I'm pretty sure the meter would show a lot less than that, including surcharge.

I got a taxi from the lamai to the airport on meter , and it was 230 thb , but was still charged 600

surely you would not have to pay if the meter says 230 plus the 90 baht. did u make a note of the taxi number and take a photo of the meter then call the police.

getting money back can be difficult but noot giving money is slightly easier.

what is the number for the BIB anyway

I had asked just out of curiosity I turn the meter on to see how much it should be , and the driver didn't mind , as long as the 600 far was paid

I got a taxi driver to turn his meter on once. I was going from the Ghost Road 7/11 in Bangrak to the ring road near Fisherman's Village. We already agreed on a price and I asked him to turn it on just out of curiosity. I forgot the exact amount, but I seem to remember that after including the 90 baht surcharge, it came out to about 50 baht less than what we had agreed on.

They want 700 baht to go from Lamai to the airport, I'm pretty sure the meter would show a lot less than that, including surcharge.

I got a taxi from the lamai to the airport on meter , and it was 230 thb , but was still charged 600

RT @RichardBarrow: Starting from 1st September, if a taxi driver refuses to pick up a passenger or turn on the meter they could be arrested. Call Hotline 1197.

R.I.P.

Motorbike in Thailand are a huge hazard

Rip

But agree , with the amount of traffic now on Samui roads , motorbikes are becoming a very dangerous mode of transport

Keep safe people

Regardless of its status as satire, it is clearly out of place in a news section. It is in fact discriminatory against gays as well as it points out that being in proximity with them is 'punishment." The gay community should rise up and file discrimination law suits against Th Nation.

Lol ....

This is the kind of thing to me which constitutes press intrusion....fair enough if he was married, but he's a single bloke. Where is the story??

This is the kind of thing to me which constitutes press intrusion....fair enough if he was married, but he's a single bloke. Where is the story??

Good god smokie , he is the future king of England ... Booze fueled orgies with stippers !! , now if a dog was involved it could have made the Sunday star .... No reference there to any prince involved

Causing a stir in the uk at the moment

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2191845/Naked-Prince-Harry-pictured-cavorting-nude-girl-VIP-suite-raucous-Vegas-holiday.html

Young , free , single and a prince of England ? , people are only jealous that complain !

Next stop for Harry is Bangkok

Toyota vans are, as far as I am aware, hotel transport for guests (a friend drives one) - why all Toyotas, no idea- price break maybe?

PM uniform: all civil servants wear uniforms, and have medals, its not military at all.

I never noticed Italians clap before. I personally find clappers creepy.

Bit of a sweeping statement without answering the question..I wasn't suggesting that they were all military although we do generally

associate them with acts of valour or winning races.

There are hundreds of civil servants in various Departments in Thailand who wear uniform (it is mandatory on certain days) and they do not have medals. But I'm interested as to what exactly the medals that are issued are for? Surely they must be for something! She seems to have an awful lot of them!

Maybe they work on the same system as McDonald's , where you are awarded stars on your name badge ?

From his size, it appears that Duncan wasn't using any of his own product. No worries, he'll get on a diet and lose those unsightly kilos as soon as the shackles go on and he's sharing a cell with 30 Thais.

According to posts on Facebook he is already released and the case dropped for a nice sum off 500 k

Shocking

If this had happened in the us or uk , would have been front page news !

I remember Martin and this tragic incident ... He was a very colourful expat in lamai

Maybe a mod could move to Samui forum

The mini bus swerved to avoid an on coming vehicle, that's unusual normally they just flash their headlights and continue straight at you

not to forget he was overtaking on a bend !

AN overstaying man from Nigeria is facing multiple drug and immigration-related charges after authorities found 35.9 grams of cocaine stashed in his colon when he was scanned at the Thai International Hospital.

Suspected drug carrier Oliver Nnaemeka arrived at Koh Samui Airport via Bangkok Airways flight PG1183 from Suvanabhumi Airport and was placed under surveillance.

Police Lt. Col. Phorphol Uthaiphop, Koh Samui Immigration inspector, said their office received information from an intelligence officer that a man from Nigeria carrying drugs was arriving at the Koh Samui Airport.

http://www.samuiexpress.net/home/news/local-news/police-report/686-nigerians-colon-yields-359-grams-of-cocaine

i am surpised this was not picked up before !, seems like the same situation as with the Crash near samui a while ago !

The accident took place at about 10:30am, some 30 kilometres north of Kurburi.

One of the passengers on the minibus, operated by Kathu-based TVR Co, told The Phuket News on condition of anonymity: “The driver – he’s only a young guy – was going very fast, about 120 kilometres an hour, and was trying to overtake on a bend. There was a vehicle coming the other way, so he swerved to avoid it.

“The minibus went off the road, fell onto its side and then slid into a tree.”

The driver and eight of the nine passengers were injured, he said, some badly. “One has a broken back; another has a broken neck,” he told The Phuket News.

“I don’t know why they have to drive like this.”

However, a TVR company spokesman, who also asked not to be named, denied that anyone’s back or neck had been broken, though he admitted one passenger had a broken leg.

He said two passengers had to be hospitalised but have both since been discharged, while another seven needed first aid treatment only.

The driver, he said, is already driving again on visa runs.

“Accidents can happen anywhere,” he added. “You can’t predict them. No one wanted this to happen – everyone understands this. Our company’s service is safe and we have insurance.”

http://www.thephuketnews.com/nine-hurt-in-phuket-visa-run-smash-32587.php

Is the runway on a side of a cliff ?

23 trillion years

A friend of mine fell for the usual trick where the paint came off and scratches showed up when he brought it back. He was asked to pay US $5000. After 2 hours of trying to argue, a policeman arrived at the scene. After another hour of arguing, the jet-ski owner pointed a gun to my friend's head. The police stood by, and told my friend he should pay the guy. He withdrew the US $3000 left in his atm and gave it to the guy.

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That's terrible