fiddlehead

"Couriers like Fedex or DHL are also a problem. They'll make sure you pay the maximum customs duty on everything they deliver. Again, that's the courier services that are screwing with their customers, not Thai customs. And using the Thai post office over the past 10 years I have NEVER had anything sent to or by me go missing ... literally hundreds of things over that time period."

Yes, Fedex is quite a joke here.
THey have never found my house, and when I have to go (at least an hour drive) to their office, and ask them why they can't find my house, as it's simple and everyone else can find it, they just shrug their shoulders.
I would never ship anything Fed Ex to here.

That being said, I agree with whoever said the Thai postal service is good.
I have never had anything not make it here (eventually)

And rarely get charged duty.
Last time, it was a camera and I had to go to customs,
She pulled out this big, thick book and looked up cameras.
Finally found it: No duty on cameras.
But she charged me 700 baht tax.
Go figure.

I always buy ebay, ship it to my sister's house in the states and she ships it to me.
US Postal service.
But, their rates just went up on Jan 14th I believe. 15% on average.
So beware.
It's getting more expensive to ship all the time.

Was on Soi 4 a few weeks ago and it was time to fly back to Phuket.
Flagged down 3 taxis and none would use the meter.
Said it was 500 baht to Don Muang.
Lo and behold, a cop was walking down the street.
So, I asked him: "since when won't the taxi drivers use the meter anymore?"
He flagged one down (traffic was slow, the guy didn't have much choice), and pointed at me and said: "Don Muang, Meter!"
I got in, the guy went 2 or 3 blocks to near the Nana BTS station, stopped the car and said: "GET OUT!"

I went up the BTS, steps, bought a ticket to Mo Chit (43 baht) and took the airport bus for 30 baht.
Took me about 40 minutes total.
<deleted> those taxi drivers.

Here's some info from wiki travel site from Mo Chit station to Korat:

o, assuming you are in Bangkok, just head to Mo Chit Northern/Northeastern Bus Terminal. No need to consult a timetable: buses leave Bangkok for Korat several times an hour 24 hours a day. Go to the top floor of the terminal building and buy your ticket at window 40, 49, 50, 52 or 53.

Window 40 and 49 - Ratchasima Tour. Direct 24-hour service. Window 40 for the old bus station and window 49 for the new bus station. Window 50 - Suranaree Air. Tickets for services to either station are sold at the same window. Confusingly, there are two windows #50 at Mo Chit (50 and 50ก). The one you need is on the left of the two. Windows 52 and 53 - Air Korat Pattana. Window 52 for buses to the new bus station and window 53 for buses to the old bus station. It's been known for the vendor to just sell a ticket for the next departing service. If you really want to go to the old bus station ("bok kor sor gow") make sure you do buy your ticket from the vendor at window 53 and that your ticket has the number 1on it somewhere. This denotes the old bus station whereas a 2 denotes the new. After you have purchased your ticket the vendor will point to a number on the ticket. This is the bay you must go to to catch your bus. Overhead signs will guide you there - just like following a gate number at an airport.

Probably best to get a night bus to Bangkok. Takes about 12 hours and they stop to eat.

Then you'll have to get transport from the southern bus station (where that bus stops) via taxi or MRT, to the northern bus station at Mo Chit to get your 2nd bus to Korat.

There are many different bus companies there and a few going to Korat I believe.

I don't know that Thai bus companies have their schedules online.

I did find one schedule to Chaing Mai and northewest Thailand, but not for Korat.

Good luck.

Haven't heard of this one.
Where is it?

Let him do it, then the first time he shows it, spread some empty (and half-full) bottles of booze all around, a few full ashtrays, dishes piled up in the sink, dirty clothes piled Everywhere, and some rap music blasting.
He'll show someone elses place to the next potential buyer.

Sounds like you could afford Phuket.
Not all of Phuket is near the beach.
Has good hospitals (5 of them)

Infastructure is good compared to most of Thailand.

I would suggest Paklok area or Cape Yamu for you if you don't like beaches.
Pretty much in the middle of the island, yet far from the hustle and bustle of Phuket town or Patong or other beach towns.

You should list your hobbies for a more exact location.

With aprox 1 million people living on this island, and 15-30 million tourists a year (depending on which news source you read), it is pretty spectacular that a van sliding into a pole gets 2 pages of replies. (or even makes the news at all)
Who here has never slid on a rainy, wet surface?
Slow news day for sure!

All on Phuket:

I run at Nai Harn, 8/10 km long.
I used to run (when I was younger and wanted to go further) at Karon beach which is about 4 kms. (one way)

They are both good at low tide.
Can suck at high.

Mai Khao beach is a lot longer but too steep and not nearly as flat as the two above.

I much prefer running barefoot than the cement or blacktop.
Better for my body too.

It's the Thai home security system.
It works!

Pepper spray would work against them, but the neighbors probably wouldn't like their dogs yelping like that and may come after you themselves.

You'd only have to hit them once with it in the face.

It's not too late IMO.
But, trash cans are a must if it's going to happen.
How many times have you finished a drink, or a candy bar, and don't know what to do with the wrapper or bottle?

I end up putting the wrapper in my pocket, but, I imagine I'm in the minority on that.
But, I can't seem to find the trash cans to dispose of them properly.

I also think that sending school kids on clean-up trips an hour a month or something like that, would help them learn that it is wrong.
They won't learn it from their parents.
And I don't think they realize it is wrong at all.

Using cameras to catch them though? That's a joke

Just want to say I was in Central about 5 days ago.
I stopped at Auntie Ann's soft pretzel stand as I usually do, as they come from where I was born and raised and I like the pretzels.
Line was about 8 or 9 people long (longer than I believe I've ever seen it)
And the guy in front of me paid with a credit card.
I used to think that was silly, but I noticed my niece and her friends use the card for just about everything.
Even a coke at the bowling alley.
It's a different generation, I don't try to understand it.
Just wait for my soft pretzel and try not to judge how much money everybody is making and spending.

Traffic sure sucks. I know that.

In the south, most land is used for rubber and palm oil.
Prices for both are way down.
In the north, it is mostly rice and sugar cane.
Not sure about prices in those commodities but I believe rice is down (with some help from the stockpiling of rice from the Thaksin plan)

So, tourism is up, but not the money end of it as the Chinese and Koreans don't spend the kind of money that the Europeans did.

So, it doesn't look good IMO.

And you've got 4 or 5 policemen seemingly interrogating the snake.

The Blame game is amazing here sometimes.

The tuk tuk drivers in Phuket won't know who to beat up.

I did a similar thing 10 years ago for my wife's family.
We ripped the old house down (was ready to fall down anyway), re-used some of the lumber, and built a new one in it's place.
I designed the house, and bought all the materials myself.
I was on the job site 90% of the time.
The 10% that I wasn't, was when things got screwed up.
The whole thing (100 sq mt) cost me about 250,000 baht.
That was 10 years ago, I imagine it would be a lot more expensive now.
I'm happy with the outcome although her parents have since died and he brother lives in it now.
But, we have a nice place to stay when we go up there. (once a year maybe?)

I'm not sorry I did it.

Was a good gesture on my part, and a learning experience all around>
I am still friends with some of the builders that I met through this.

In fact, they're my favorite people up in Issan.

I never expected it to be mine, and don't want to live there anyway.
but, you never know, and someday I could.

so, only you know your situation and most on here seem to expect the worst.
Life isn't always as bad as they tell you it will be.

You need an international drivers license (if you are stopped)

There is a songteaw system between certain points, in the daytime. (truck with 2 bench seats in the back that hold from 8-20 people depending on size)
If you are in Phuket town, go to the traffic circle near old town that has the smaller water fountain (near the market area) and that's where they base out of.
Ask around for schedules and where they go.
They go to some of the beaches, are a bit slow, but many people use them.
There is a bus system too, but I don't know much about it.

Would help if you describe where you are and where you want to go.

The guy mentioned above in my latest post (on Choafa West) can do it.
And Julaporn Stationary on Choafa East has most all the official cartridges at a decent price. (i paid around 300 baht for one last time) (real thing too)

Except for health care, I think prices balance out IF you know where to shop for food. (I admit I've never lived in a big city though)
Land prices are through the roof here in Phuket, although rent is cheaper.

Food is about the same if you cook and shop right in the states.
(can actually be more expensive here in Phuket)

Restaurants are cheaper here of course.

But the biggest differences are the weather and the beach.

(and the size of the girl's butts of course)

Those last 3 sold me.

It's on the same side of the road as Big Buddha.

There was a (somewhat small) "Print" shop 2 doors away, where they make (print) signs etc.
I went in there and asked and they pointed it out to me.
He does have a small sign but it is set back at his shop and there is an awning or roof over the front (parking spot?)

I'd say about half-way between Home Pro and the red light where you can turn for Big Buddha.

I'll just point out that my wife had no choice in the matter and when she got a new Govt. ID card (old one had expired), they insisted on changing her name to my last name.
I didn't want this to happen as her visa to my country is in her maiden name.
But, they did it anyway.
Now, she has to get a new visa to the US. (not easy at all!)

Bummer.

Why not head to the lake portion of Khao Sok national park (Che-lan lake i believe it's called), and rent a longtail and go stay on one of those raft houses.
Great experience.
We even spent one Songkran day there and it was not too crowded.
Kayaks are free to go exploring and get some fresh water swims in.
Just an idea.

There is plenty to see outside of Phuket.
Krabi, Lanta, Trang, Khao Lak, Ko Phayom (mostly backpackers there), etc. etc. etc.

Yeah, not easy.
I agree.
I searched a while and finally found a store in one of the malls that had some nice soft cotton, plain shirts in various colors.
Was just a small place in one of the malls around Sukumvit 17 or so???

I always feel the cotton and look for the softest.
I found some incredible ones in Cambodia for dirt cheap.
Bought a bunch of them (Phnom Penh)

Always looking.

Tennis balls and pretzels.
Tennis ball are 1/4 the price in the states than they are here, and better quality also.
I have no idea why, but I always fill my suitcase with as many tubes of balls as I can fit in once everything is packed.
It's the last thing I do usually.
Pretzels are better too.

There's a shop on Chaofa West between Homepro and the Big Buddha lights. He moved there recently. Fixed my laser printer.

This is the guy who used to be near the small 7/11 just before Home Pro.

He is very good.

So, I was wondering where he moved to and found him at this spot today (above)

He fixed my printer in 10 minutes.