I like Ao Sane bungalows. 
Stayed there for over a month when I first came here, 15+ years ago. 
I have friends (whom I've recommended Ao Sane too), that love it now. 
It's a bit rustic but that's what they want. 
No TV or WIFI, but right on the beach and the restaurant is good. 
But, you need a motorbike to get there. 

I don't really understand what this fight going on over definitition of a bungalow is, but Ao Sane bungalows are right on the beach IMO (good snorkeling at Jungle beach too)

Most of them are concrete although I believe there are still a few wooden ones up in the jungle (in the back)

At least 2 are air conditioned. 

And a few on the rocks is very close to the sea. 

Maybe the guy saying they are not bungalows has not been there?

Anyway, back to your fight guys..............

8 hours ago, bartender100 said:

Been mining BC with my super fast CPU, going to be a millionaire soon, or not, but I have made a few dollars worth for nothing 

What is your electric bill?

Here in my home country now for a visit. 
It's cold. 

Everybody follows the rules.

The price marked on things is not the price you pay.

Women are mostly overweight.

You are expected to tip 15-20% if you eat out.  (plus tax) 

Have to pump your own gas (did I mention the cold temps)

Fun seeing my friends.  But they seem to know nothing about the rest of the world.  Their geography is so bad, I had my sister in law ask me if I drive to get to Thailand.

Rant over, I'll be back soon.  (breathing a sigh of relief)

Guys, help me out here.   Where can I buy into this (seemingly) great gamble? 

I wonder, do trolls get a special reward or feel some kind of euphoric state when their threads go over 20 pages?

A humorous new book that talks about the problem from a bicycle rider's perspective: 

That's pretty good and I always get some ideas from these threads. 

I understand some people go through ups and downs in life and might have to live as cheaply as possible at times. 
But I think you missed a few: 

Internet? 

Soap, shampoo, shaving cream, coffee, 

Phone?

Snacks? 

Such a shame as cutting down an Agarwood tree is not the best way to get the (rare and expensive) oils. 

I have seen one Agarwood tree in Phuket, and it was scarred in a few places to make the oils. 
A healthy one will not produce the oils. 

I've been told the bark can be worth more than gold, but it is highly illegal to cut a wild one, as they are very rare. 

Yesterday it was a Russian at Karon. 
Rough seas out there folks. 

Minimal lifeguards. 
Good luck to the red flag snubbers.  (this one was a snorkeling trip instead, but still too rough IMO to be out)

I would think making some of the existing ones bigger would be a better idea. 
I realize RPM and Boat Lagoon are maxed out in space available. 
But Ao Por (both marinas up there) should have room to expand. 

Easier to build a few more piers than it would be to start anew IMO. 

9 hours ago, Argus Tuft said:

This is a tricky question, as you can probably well understand.

 

Best bet is for you to check for the following:

 

- somewhere you have stayed before as a regular, where they know you and you can ask them to check you in early

 

This is the advice I would give (above) (I added the bold type)

We have a hotel we really like in Ao Nang that has HUGE rooms.  
We have 2 kids, so in the past, we had to book 2 rooms. 
Now, we have the manager's phone number and call her first and explain who we are and that we would like only one room for the 4 of us (something not possible on the various hotel dot com etc. websites)

She is glad to accommodate our wishes.  

If you are a good enough customer, a smart manager would be glad to accommodate yours.

I have an old Wave and love it. 
It looks old. 
I don't worry about it being stolen. 
The muffler is a bit rusty. 
Runs like a champ. 
Why would I sell it? 

Only to buy something that someone might want to steal. 
No thanks. 

Of course, I drive a 21 year old pickup truck. 
Don't care what other's think. 
I keep both in tip top shape even though they are old. 

I guess it's a slow news day. 

I saw many of these bikes being  used at Sapan Hin a few days ago. 
I think it's a good thing. 

Now, will the police check the cameras and find out who did it?  and then why?

tuktuk mafia?  

accident?

or drunk tourist?

Different people use Facebook in many different ways. 
Tonight, I drove down (in the rain) to get a roti at my favorite roti stand. 
Normally it is quite busy and I have to wait. 

Tonight, while waiting, the cook gets out his phone and checks it. 
Facebook, he says. 
Someone texting in their order through messenger. 
What? I said. 

I can do that? 
He said sure: Here's our FB page on our sign, just text in your order and it will be waiting for you. 

I use FB to post pics of my life here in Thailand to my family back in my hometown. 
Some use it for political statements (I usually drop those people, as I don't want to hear about: religion, politics, and I dislike pet pictures)

So, badmouth it all you want.   I don't care. 

I'm using it tomorrow to order me some roti.   (and looking for a second hand dining room table)

There are many different uses for all the different social medias out there. 
The trick is to use the one that your friends, family and people you want to communicate with are using. 
For me, I have many of those who use Facebook. 
Thai people love FB  and many use it for business. 

I just found out a new one today, that many people (Thais included) are using:  WeChat.

I thought "Line" was 2nd. 

anyway, to the OP: Up to you to use whatever one(s) you like.  Or none at all. 

But if you want to communicate with Thais: FB or Line will probably get you more action than that VK you talk about.   I for one, have never heard of it and have my doubts whether many of my friends are on there. 
But hey:  to each his own!

Go for it. 

On 9/16/2017 at 7:02 PM, the guest said:

An underpass which has completely zero value for the traffic in Phuket, well done !

I take it that you weren't here before the tunnels were built. 
As much as we like to complain about how long it takes to build a tunnel here, I believe they do much to keep the traffic moving.  Especially northbound.

16 hours ago, steelepulse said:

Does the stench of the wastewater lagoon across the road have any effect?

And the sewage treatment plant is just above it. 
So, they are sandwiched by **it.

They're not the first to go under at that location. 

5 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

I see nothing wrong with this. 

 

Perhaps you are an insurance salesman. 
Have you ever tried to collect insurance from a travel insurance company? 
I have. 
It took almost a year to get my mother some money from them after a bad trip she went on. 
Insurance companies are in business to take your money. 
Not to pay it out. 

(know any poor insurance salesmen?)

Wonder who they polled? 

Certainly not my (Thai) wife or her friends. 
None of them would know how to use any electronic payments except for the ATM transfer. 
I go to the market here in Rawai (where many Thai's do their grocery shopping) and never saw anyone accept or try to pay with anything other than cash. 

So, I'm calling this guy's statistics BS

Online food ordering with their mobile?  Yeah right!

Down here in Nai Harn, a few of the local hotels got together and bought and placed some trash bins near the beach,  and talked to the Orbotor (I imagine paid some money) about getting them emptied daily, and the beach is much cleaner now. 
I see Thais and farangs both cleaning up the beach after whoever it is that leaves their garbage. 

(It is not always Thai people leaving it.) 
At least now people have a choice and a place to put their trash. 
Times (hopefully) are changing for the better in this regard. 

Up there in Mai Khao and Nai Yang beaches, they have enough hotels and resorts to do the same. 
Their GM's should understand that a clean beach converts to more and happier tourists. 

So, maybe they could be talked into doing the same. 

Personally, I think this should be the government's job, but I don't always understand the cultural differences here.

I walk through that sea gypsy village probably 2 times a week. 
I've never had a child beg from me anywhere near there. 
There is an old man who smiles and says hello, and if you say hi back, he'll put out his hand. 

All in good fun it seems. 
I don't understand this clampdown at all. 

Theft is pretty rare here in Thailand. 
I almost never lock my truck doors 

But I wouldn't leave my keys in my motorbike. 
No sense in tempting the very  poor. 

Back in the states, on a recent visit, I left my car unlocked for 3 minutes. 
They took everything inside, including an old jacket, and a few pair of socks.

I get too used to the goodness of people here in Thailand. 

“Strictly enforcing the rules cannot solve the original problem if motorists still have bad driving habits,” he said."

How would he know ? 
Has he been to a country where they strictly enforce the rules, and seen that people drive stupidly anyway? 

I remember about a year ago, they changed the lights to red (heading north) in the center lane.  

About 50% of drivers ignored these red lights and just drove in that lane anyway. 
So scary. 

So, I'm glad to see the cones in the center lane.

Although making it 4 lanes would have been a much better idea IMO. 
 

I see them stop and search a bus once in a while. 
Not that often though. 
I often assume it's because they are looking for someone in particular and are then much more vigilant. 
Or else it's just random. 

Where do you live? 
I'm in Rawai and have a Garmin 60CSX here that you could borrow. 
It has Thai mapping in it from about 7 years ago I think. 

Should be fine for what you need.  

Although it won't have Laos roads in it. 

I have some important tracks in there from some hiking I've done here on Phuket, so, would need it back. 

Problem may be that I'm leaving on the 30th and won't be back for 2 months (going hiking in Europe). 
Don't need it as I bought an Etrex 20 now as it's much lighter and smaller. 
If you live in Rawai, you could return it to my wife or son possibly.