sambechtold

17 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Quantity over quality is never a good thing, unless you are selling one dollar items at a swap meet. It just lowers the quality of the experience for all. This is an emergency situation. It needs to be dealt with, and it needs a high degree of intelligence and competence. Not something Prayuth or Pipat possess. Someone else needs to handle this, and it needs to be handled yesterday!

 

The tourism industry is teetering on the edge of a tragic drop, and has already been devastated by this highly destructive administration. This could crush millions of families dependent on tourism. 

 

You know what they say about putting all of your eggs in one basket? I have been warning of the dangers of becoming too dependent on China for years. Now, after you have made your bed, you get to sleep in it. You have alienated all tourists but Indians and Chinese. Westerners are not coming here anymore for a dozen very good reasons. You insulted us. You demeaned us. You accused us of being evil, and you accused us of being criminals. You mounted campaigns touting us as bad for the nation. You demonstrated deplorable amounts of racism and xenophobia, and fear of the outside world. Some of your officials even went as far as saying we prefer to have tourists that look more like us! And now you want us to come back? Really? How soon you forget. Sorry, but they have not forgotten what was done and said. What they have forgotten is the Thailand, as a tourist destination. There are too many alternatives now, and they are not only trying harder, they actually have competent people in charge! Surprise!

 

Sorry to say, but the high spending tourists are lost for good. They WILL NOT come back to Thailand, for a dozen different reasons. And places like Pattaya, Phuket and Samui will continue to go downhill. So, the goons at the TAT continue to pursue ever higher numbers, regardless of the noxious air, unbelievable congestion on the roads, and woeful service at the airports, that this policy only exacerbates. But, will they return? Not like before. Not even close.

Another sad "nail in the coffin" farang cry's from the cheap seats.

 Thailand is doing just fine. Well positioned to be fastest return of the travel market with safety and top level healthcare to go along with vastly superior infrastructure and ease of travel for tourists.

"Other locations" you think that are better are all despots with muddy Sandy beaches and sub par ease of holiday. 

I understand the govt doesn't communicate perfectly, but overall they have us well positioned for the fastest revival. Talk of anything else is belongs in the sad and dreary farang Bible!

This article is complete rubbish. So many details are incorrect it's rediculous.

Its nothing but a sensationalistic piece based off of previous articles in the news that were just as crappy as this effort. The whole premise that every bad story in the news about Koh Tao over the last 3 years being connected in some sort of a huge conspiracy sounds like a scooby doo plot. Scaremonger stupid Farang talk.

Phone: 0819566687

name: chairat

Phi Phi Internet Guy

On Soi 50 there is a place called "50 Tennis". It is a tennis club with a weight room and Sauna. The weight room is NEVER used by anyone so it is very similar to having a private gym. Obviously there are also tennis courts where you can take lessons from one of the worlds best tennis stars, Paradorn, or you can simply rent time on the courts to play with a friend.

Phi Phi is beautiful and has many options. The island center is quite busy though so if your looking for a quiet scene you might want to try Long Beach in Phi Phi for your room. It is a beautiful beach with some great snorkling right off the beach. You can even snorkle with harmless black tip reef sharks right from the beach. It is only about 5 min by boat to the island center so your still close to the action and loads of restaurants. Phi has great diving, sunset tours, hiking paths over the hills, and probably the best view point Thailand has to offer. DO NOT MISS THE VIEW PIONT. It is where a large amount of postcards photo's are taken from.

Other places I think are great are:

Koh Tao: Rolling hills with huge boulders. Perfect sunsets. Lots of trails that you can travel via 4 wheeler. A very natural feel to the place

Koh Chang: Big island where tourism has yet to spoil. Very laid back and beautiful. Quiet.

Railay Beach, Krabi: Kinda spendy at times but because you can only access this place via long tail (no big boats, no pier) it makes it very much like fantasy island. Rock climbing, snorkle, hiking. Super natural....monkeys will be throwing mango pits at you from the tree's. Ya Ya guest house is probably the cheapest lodging there unless you go just around the bend to Ton Sai Beach where everything is a bit cheaper and your still very very close.

Ok, have fun...

Julia Bradbury goes in search of the perfect beach and is disappointed at the commercialism of The Beach. She instead goes swimming with sea gypsies of Koh Phi Phi and discovers there are still so...

Phi Phi has EVERYTHING. Thats why its so popular. From bustling villages that have thousands of tourists (no cars or motorbikes) to little beaches where you will see no foriegn faces but once or twice a day. It is THE BEST!!

after extensive research i have concluded that the beer mat incident in Phuket is responsible for the drop in tourists

yes, this one is a laugh in the pants. Its always the "extensivly researched" ones who come up with the best punch lines!!

If I choose to not drink but one day every 10 years what right do you have to decide that I cannot drink just that day out of some symbolic meaning to YOU?

And the roads would be safer if the police was interesting in...policing.

If you dont like the laws of the land then there is always your homne country to go back to

This has yet to be a law in Thailand and has a very very very small chance of ever becoming one. That is the reason for the debate.

enough alcohol bans already. Its getting silly. Let the ones who celebrate religion do it. Let those who do not be left alone.

A non-story. The media and paranoid farrang bloggers are at it again.

fisherman pants AKA yoga pants are cheap here and there are several people(I think farrang) making a business out of selling them in bulk out of Chiang Mai. Possible idea might be personalized fisherman pants: embroidered, special material, etc.

Bottom line: this temple was a non-issue til the temple was listed. Now the listing has turned the entire area into a combat zone where no one can enter. Solution: go back to the status quo

its a ok salary(little bit low for english + computer) but sounds like the job is working alone. Thai's need others to work with. Simply too boring to work alone. I have 7 small businesses and almost all my problems with staffing are at my small, single staff stores.

20k easily gets a fluent english speaking Thai. I know, I have two working for 15K. Graduates of Thamasat U.

Yup, Phi Phi is one of Thailands most beautiful spots. Yr going to love it!!

yes, you can just show up and EASILY find a room for under 1000 baht. Average walking time from the pier is 5-10 min to most guest houses. There are no cars or motorbikes on the island so walking is pretty much your only way.

HINT: once you've found a place be sure to ask if it is quiet at night. Will help you sleep.

Guiness Rep Bangkok(handles all Thai new accounts I believe)

Diethelm Co Ltd

Representative: Staphon

Cell: 0865259681

Hi Pete,

My name is Sam and I am a used book importer here in Bangkok. I saw your post and thought I should get in touch with you. My warehouse has TONS of used books right now. We have childrens books, text books, general interest books, dictionaries, atlas's, medical, etc. All books are second hand, in good condition, and are very cheap (our target price level is similar to Chatuchak weekend market). If you are interested please don't hesitate to contact me for more information.

I started selling books at my warehouse last year but have been in business for about 10 years wholesaling to Chatuchak and the Philipines. There are some pictures of my warehouse from a sale I did last year at www.Ds-Books.com/sale

Hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Sam Bechtold

Hi Guys,

My company has more childrens books than anyone in Thailand. I just brought in a 40 container of them last month and just a few days ago imported another 20 foot container of more childrens books. We have board books galore! Disney. Non-disney. Non-fiction. Teen readers. Lots and lots. Over the past 6 years we have just been wholesaleing them to big buyers at Chatuchak market but have recently started selling to the public. We are located on Sukhomvit soi 50 close to the Lotus at On Nut BTS station. Here are driving directions www. ds-books .com/sale

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You can contact my office secretary named Bang at -081-923-5743 for more information. or you can send me a email to [email protected]

If you have good books I will purchase them for about 1/3 of what I can sell them for in my bookstores. I have to see the books to make the price call but it will be around 50 baht - 120 baht per book.

If you want to do something good for a school or something I could use the trade in credit towards childrens books from my warehouse that could be donated in your name to a school or charity. Up to U.

Write me if your interested. [email protected]

I just imported a 40 foot container of 2nd hand childrens books. Super cheap! Super Clean! Like new. If you want I can select books that match your requirements and ship them to the school of your choice. Let me know. [email protected]

We have a warehouse sale right now on soi 50 and are open 7 days a week if anyone is interested.

-Sam

Hey Guys, I have a second hand book company that is running a childrens book sale right now. Super cheap prices that start at 25 baht for a slim paperback book and go up to 80-100 baht for large hardback childrens books. All books are VERY CLEAN and ALMOST NEW. It was a full 40 foot container of childrends books that was brought in from America. I'm sure it is cheaper to just have their staff select a order for you and then they can ship the books direct to the school designated by you. You just have to provide a grade level and general requirments. I am one of the owners so feel free to contact me about such a arrangement. [email protected].

Anyways, let me know.

Hello,

Just saw your post about a tortilla factory in Bangkok. I'd love to have the contact information if you might have it. I own a pub on Phi Phi Island and want to have a few great mexican dishes. I feel proper totillas and corn chips are a great way to start.

Any help you might have would be greatly appriciated!

Sincerely,

Sam Bechtold

Owner/Manager

Breakers Bar & Grill

Phi Phi Island

[email protected]

What about refried Kidney beans instead of Pinto beans? I tried it once and it was tasty. They're around 20 baht per kilo around here...

There is a tortilla factory in Bkk (wholesale corn tortillas run about 3 baht, wholesale, sold by the kilo) that makes corn and flour tortillas and also chips, which are equal or better than the American stuff, in my opinion...

All the ingredients for most any Mexican dish are available here, bar some pepper varieties and fish, perhaps...

Avocados are another story. In the North anyway, they are quite seasonal, and currently unavailable as near as I can tell, and I always keep a good eye out for them in the open markets... Maybe areas around Bkk are better. Avocados haven't been widely available here for long, anyway. I only know of avocados from the north and Burma, but I'm sure they're available from Malaysia and maybe Indonesia, too.