Valentine

Here in Phuket the download speeds for Fibre 2U supplied by TOT have dropped by 80 to 90% beginning on 7th October. Wondering if Bangkokians are having the same experience but please use the following website to check http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest?flash=1 (use the link to L.A.) as I believe many of the other speed test sites are cached thus giving a high but false reading. In Phuket we are compiling data from all ISPs using this website as our guide & in order to be consistent. Thanks in advance.

Well, Thailands largest fast food chain KFC has been serving fishfingers for years

Don't forget the folks selling the fish balls

Can't forget, everytime I see those fish balls, I think "dam_n, that had to have been a BIG fish!"

Moving on from gelded fish, really good fish balls which are nice & moist, can be had at the stall right by the traffic lights in Samkong, the set just before Bangkok hospital if coming from Phuket Town. She does not open until at least 4pm though. Nearby but back further has delicious fresh soy bean milk (natural or sweet) everyday but again they open late afternoon.

I was about to post the same. Puncture on one tyre I noticed. But absolutely perfectly positioned in the middle of the strip!

He must have damaged the sump as there was oil leaking. I try to imagine why it ended up there & can only think he was trying to overtake & the other car would not let him in so the only place to go was over the strip.

I just saw a tuk tuk perched on top of the median strip outside the TOT office. Looks like he turned over about 20m of dirt & plants & fertilizing with his engine oil. Another great example of the driving standards on the island.

There must be something wrong with the numbers quoted as this works out around 318,000 Baht per camera. I wish the reporters would explain or ask just exactly what the money is used for as the cameras themselves cannot be much more then several thousand Baht each.

These people sit around sniffing petrol fumes all day, they wont be the sharpest tools in the shed. Ive never once been dudded....I dont need to watch them like a hawk either. Petrol goes in Pay cash, check change and leave.

Now its a different story if the machines are calibrated or not, Generally to fill up its the same price each time

You may have touched on a whole new issue here. Who calibrates the pumps? Can they be tampered with to show, for example, 10 litres when in fact you might only get 9 litres?

As for the issue of scamming, the only time a pump attendant has tried to rip me off is when I have asked for say 1,000 Baht's worth but the tank was full at say 950 he still tries to pocket the 1,000 without giving change. Like most posters I too look at how much they key in & ensure the full amount is actually pumped.

Anybody know a better way to test your water other than drinking it

and seeing if it makes you sick.

We have a filter hooked up to the tap, and when I changed it after the recommended 6 months, it still looked brand new

Vachira hospital has a water testing service. Price depends on what tests you want but can include things like e-coli.

I suggest you use treated pine from New Zealand as it will last a long time. The distributor is just by the traffic light on Chao Fa West, the T junction with the big wine barrel & the straight road (Thanon Kwang) that joins the Chao Fa West with Chao Fa East. They have decking wood with the grooves in it. Do not use normal nails with this as it will eventually leave a horrible stain on the wood, better to use the nails supplied by the timber company. They have a printed price list there. Cannot remember exactly how much per/m2 & will up there with the higher priced timbers but without the ongoing maintenance costs.

The storm last night caused my electricity to go haywire and burnt out some lightbulbs and now when I flick a certain switch, I'm tripping breakers.

Expensive day coming up now my water pump is non responsive.

I started shutting things down when I heard the first thunderclap right overhead but was surprised the electricity did not go off.

was hoping for feedback from anyone who has a water filter. but thanks for the info

I use a simple countertop water filter, run it into a big plastic bowl (same as the ones used for handwashing laundry), then treat it with ozone & bottle it. A simple ozone generator can be found at Lotus Home Pro, I could not find one at the Chalong branch. The ozone machine is also good for treating your fruit & veges.

Last night the lightning & thunder happened almost at the same time which put out my sat system shortly after the start of the race. I also have KPP cable but they were not showing it.

yea i spotted that too jimi ...but the ellis is crossed out maybe someone else taken over .. good food but budget ambience ...i like Modenas mainly because it opens early ,sometimes midday , the pizzas are good and the fresh pasta i had with Ragu was also good ... been back for takeaway many times ...M&M good but getting pricey and very busy high season ...

I noticed there were signs up for Ellis Pizza and Pasta again. My wife said she saw him, so I guess he's back...

Ellis has just reopened in the same place with the same owners. I was chatting with someone yesterday who went there a couple of nights ago.

Are these wild animals? If not, why has no owner come forward?

Wild buffalo in Phuket? I don't think so. Do you think he would come forward to get an insurance claim for the vehicles killing his buffalo? Or would he possibly be liable for allowing his animals to wander into the road? I don't know what the law here is on this one...

I think the law states buffaloes are not allowed on the roads after sunset which was a question the first time I sat for my drivers licence here.

House and Home where?

Chaofa Road West, just before Phrompan.

Ahhhh, that place. Thanks for the info. I always pass it and forget to slow down and enter. If you do not look for it, you do not see it.

And the food is ok, then?

They have the best toasted bread I have had with my breakfast.

Sacs, next to House & Home, do a good breakfast, wonderful toast, but apparently closed this week whilst stocking up on supplies & new staff.

Yeah, I go past early and they are never open.

I used to like the french couple who ran it before but haven't tried it with the new English people running it, I hope the quality is the same or better..

Do they open at 10am or something?

I think they open at 8 but not sure although I understand closed this week. If I go it would normally be late morning, early afternoon. I feel the quality is pretty good all round both savoury & sweet products (especially the apple slice with cream). Breakfast has good bacon & I like the sausages buy early last week he was worried about getting the same supplies.

Sacs, next to House & Home, do a good breakfast, wonderful toast, but apparently closed this week whilst stocking up on supplies & new staff.

Thank You very much for the answers and information. That's what I thought there's nothing much I can do about it... But You can not think about all things ahed when you purchase the villa...

It could be you are on the higher rate. I have a home in an estate in Kathu & for a long time wondered why my bills were so high. I went to the PEA office at Bangwad & when I showed them my bill they explained I was on the highest rate & it could easily be dropped to the lowest rate by having my wife (electric is in her name) sign a document. Bills dropped by a considerable amount afterwards. Check your bill & it should show either T1, T2 or T3 which is the highest rate.

dam_n those meds. The T1, T2 T3 system applies to the water bills.

@Warpspeed - so I assume you condemn anyone who installs a Desjoyeaux pool, since that respected manufacturer of pools uses an over-the-side product?

Simon

Condemn them? No, that wording is a bit strong. I'm fully aware of the product and the copy product of JD I'm intentionally speaking in code a bit here and no I'd not ever use one nor wish to swim in a pool with one at least not with power to it.. They may be acceptable in some other countries with stricter protections but not here with the lax (read seemingly non existent)codes, regulations and liability..

That's my professional opinion and from there you make your own decision in light of your circumstances..

I am a professional in this are as well and I fully agree with WarpSpeed!!!

Don't like em at all and wouldn't think about using or swimming in a pool with one.

Plus they look Sh*t house!!

+1

Thank You very much for the answers and information. That's what I thought there's nothing much I can do about it... But You can not think about all things ahed when you purchase the villa...

It could be you are on the higher rate. I have a home in an estate in Kathu & for a long time wondered why my bills were so high. I went to the PEA office at Bangwad & when I showed them my bill they explained I was on the highest rate & it could easily be dropped to the lowest rate by having my wife (electric is in her name) sign a document. Bills dropped by a considerable amount afterwards. Check your bill & it should show either T1, T2 or T3 which is the highest rate.

"Please don't destroy Big Bag or other flood barriers." This is a qoute from BP. The government has named the flood wall. Hilarious!!

If you would care to check you would know they have been placing big bags which can hold about 1 ton of sand so the statement is exactly what it says & not hilarious at all.

I recently had good fish n chips at Chalong Pier Beer Garden replete with home made thick style chips. I just hope they do not resort to using the crinkle cut frozen chips.

I got my map book at the little magazine shop near MacDonalds in TescoLotus, Bypass Road. It is so worth the THB400 (ish), I use it lots, my only complaint is I wish it were a little bigger (A4) size!!

Does it have all the roads in phuket or just phuket town and the major tourist areas

I have a B&B map which shows the major tourist areas and Phuket town and major roads

its all the other roads i want a road directory of

I think this link could be the best for you to source a good map. These guys spent months driving around Phuket detailing all the information. www.streetsofphuket.com

There used to be one on Nanai opposite The Hideaway. Remember the two that used to be in Chalong? Both of them were very good but nothing has popped up to replace them.

More restaurants people? hasn't been many suggestions lately

SACS Bakery next to House & Home on Chao Fa West do a pretty decent burger, have good pies, a very nice apple slice (these are from my own observations) plus I have it on good authority they do a very respectable high tea in the afternoons.

Classic but here is an example of a possible but serious shortage. Everyone is lamenting the lack of rice, water, beer, whiskey but the other day my twin girls needed to buy sanitary pads in Big C & did manage to buy some. However, they said there was almost no stock of this item which is so essential to many of the female gender. There may be other things like baby formula, pampers, soaps, detergents etc which we take for granted but could very well become in short supply. I wonder if all those dingy, dark, dangerous Mom & Pop stores have ample supplies.