kasi

Is the someone out there who has a grasp of this art form.

I need some aesthetic enhancements.

References required.

It will be high season in Pattaya also. Weather hot. Book ahead if you're fussy about accommodations.

Also plan your flight to Pattaya a few days in advance as they tend to fill up this that time of year.

Sounds like VT6 is way ahead of schedule.

I heard they are up to the 22nd floor.

Is this correct?

Anyone know how what % of the building has been sold yet?

Patong is where the action and big fireworks take place. It's something to see.

I'd say you'd want to be right smack dab in the middle of it all.

It's a little late to book now though. Most of the cool places will be booked.

What's the matter isn't there enough action or sophistication at Lamai Beach??

the arguments are off topic but I simply refer you to the state of affairs in the USA.

Off topic is right. What is going on in the USA has nothing to do with the price of somtam in Thailand!

Perhaps you should honestly review the demographics of crime in England before popping off about the USA.

The Meridien in Nai harn is very nice and the beach is arguably the nicest. (it is my favorite too).

The place is for the well heeled though. It is also fairly isolated which can be good or bad depending on what you want.

In Phuket try the Patong Resort has a the best centralized location very close to a wide variety of good restaurants and services. They also have a very nice pool and grounds. All about 100 meters from the beach.

In Bangkok I often stay at the Ambassador because of the central location near the skytrain and the rooms are not too expensive. Seems to be very popular with the middle eastern clientele.

Bangkok Bank in Patong used to be the easiest place to open an account for a foreigner with a tourist visa.

Lines can be long so get there early in the day.

I've heard a recent report that UOB bank is easy to deal with and isn't crowded.

Kasicorn is ok and hardly ever any long lines. They are sticklers about paper work so they may follow the technicality forbidding foreigners with tourist visas from opening accounts.

I avoid the Siam commercial bank in Chalong as it is usually a complete circus getting in and out of there.

I like Thai Military Bank on beach rd., low key, no hassles, no lines.

correct ...

That's very welcome news.

1 2 go airline has the cheapest airline tickets to Phuket.

But if you just want cheap fun just go to Cha Am stay there in a sleazy quest house and ride the banana boat.

Thanks for the info! Just 2 more questions - How do these metered taxies look? how do i tell them where to go? Do I need to have the address written in Thai?

Good point I've always known where I was going or had a cell phone with me. Cell phones are invaluable!

They should know the hotel if it's not too tiny or obscure. The Kata beach area isn't very big.

You might get lucky and get a driver who knows a little english and his way around! If not it's all part of the fun of being in thailand, the land of "never mind"!

You could also try Koh Lanta. I haven't been yet but I've heard it's like Patong was 20 years ago. Couple of nice looking resorts.

The cheapest is the mini-bus scam. 150 to patong.

Beware though they will stop at a tour shop and order you out of the van and hustle you to sell a tour.

The other option is the meter taxi about 400-500 baht including the 100 baht airport surcharge. You have to walk out of he terminal though to the northeast area of the parking lot. The private limo/van will be double that.

The meter taxi is the best way but none of the annoying touts will help you find them.

There's a good used book shop in Patong, on 200 pee rd between Tony's resort and soi Kepsap.

The van scam from the airport is only 150 baht. Meter taxi is 400.

Private car back to airport is normally only 400-500.

There is regular cheap bus service. Moto taxi are just 20 baht.

If you think 400 baht for an aircon room too much(perhaps you'd prefer the dumps on KoaSan road?...what can I say.?There are hundreds of places to eat for 25-30 baht.

Too expensive!!!!!! <deleted>.

Maybe you're in the wrong country. Try Cambodia!

We like Phuket because it isn't Bangkok.

Lot's of places in that range in the Nanai road area. You will probably have some nice bar ladies as neighbors.

http://www.mangosteen-phuket.com/

Two flights a day to Utapao. One is direct.

Looking for websites that list properties for long term rental. Will be in Phuket in early January and would like a nice home for 1 to 2 months. Willing to spend up to 85,000 Baht/mo. Has to have broadband internet and a private pool. The only site I've found so far is this one -

http://www.siamrealestate.com/rentals_longterm.php

Something like this would be great, but a seaview would be preferred -

http://www.siamrealestate.com/property/propage.php?n=1424

I do plan to look at the properties in person first. The Phuket Gazette has many listings but no search feature. Any suggestions would be appreciated for sources either local or online. I've been to island 5 times and am looking forward to returning.

You can contact me directly here: http://mailnull.com/w?au=73567f9ed5c9e3e98bac9c76f4566ff2

1-2 months isn't really long term. Early january is the peak of high season. Expect to pay double

for anything you find.

I consider long term renters for 6 month leases minimum.

That said there are many places for rent. But january is probably the worst time to find them.

But with an 85K/month budget you should find something fairly nice.

Start talking to the agents now and arrange something before January.

Give Yvon a call at Easy real Estate

He's pretty helpful and has been around for a while.

I like to stay at the Princess hotel as it's only a 5 minute walk to the embassy.

I'm looking forward to the Carrefour and Robinsons that will be in Jungleceylon soon.

The best grocery store I've seen in Thailand was the one on Sukumvit near soi 33.

I'd love to see that here, what wonderful cheeses!

Those concrete trucks are great tunnelers!

I asked the missus yesterday what her opinion was. The response? Get ready for a huge crime wave once the visa runs etc. come to an end.

Could you clarify what she meant?

Crime wave in general because of the economoc impact, or crime wave targetted at the remaining farangs?

We saw a bit of a crime wave here in Phuket after the tsunami.

Nobody really knows what effect this new policy will have but invariably the smaller businesses will be affected most, who in turn provide livelihoods for many poorer people.

The number of quasi residents making 30 visa runs is huge.

I always thought it was a stupid policy. This new policy will force many out of the country I think and leave many Thai people in a lurch.

Time will tell.

I think the post office it still doing it. A friend mentioned how he saw a bunch of motorbikes awaiting posting at the post office in Phuket town.

ive been living here for 2 years and have built up a lot of things id like to take home with me ..... how do i get it all home ?

Mail, DHL, excess baggage on the plane. All the major air carriers have cargo handling.

There are also numerous shipping agents at and around the bus station in Phuket town.(domestic mostly I think)

Google shippers in your country and ask them who their agents here are.

Many ways to skin a cat.

Kind of depends on how big and heavy and where you want to ship the stuff.

Murder, suicide or just dropped dead?