sahibji

1 hour ago, Stocky said:

The problem is with the whole transport system. Introducing meter taxis always seems a good idea but it conflicts with the existing transport operators. Then when there's conflict, rather than fixing the problems there's some suitable Thai compromise.

 

Hat Yai introduced meter taxis a few years ago. First issue was with the tuk-tuk drivers, the meter fares were often less than the tuk-tuk fare and you travelled in a clean a/c cab. After various confrontations it was agreed that meter taxis can't pick-up on the street, you need to phone and book. Next was the clash with the AOT airport limo service, that operates a flat fare Bht300 from the airport to town, a similar meter fare would be half that. So after various fist fights the compromise was that the meter taxis operate on a Bht250 flat fare from the airport to town.

 

Needless to say after all this the Hat Yai meter taxis are that in name only, they never put the meter on, you negotiate a price.

Alas the curse of too much democracy and the complete lack of understanding of democracy and complete selfishness and fear of competition and free trade. operators have to learn how to take the heat when doing business 0r else get out of it.

5 minutes ago, Hayduke said:

 

What are they going to do with the sign?

 

 

it is going to be auctioned off as a souvenir.

like the governor tells them not to rip off tourists and the taxi drivers will say "yes sir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

the problems of drivers not using their meter and cherry picking fares has yet to be solved.

It takes gumption to solve the problem - make the laws and more importantly enforce them. Let the violations be dealt with swiftly. severely  and equitably.

1 hour ago, Blue Water Sailor said:

Seems like this thread is mainly about Patong, I've never been there just Chalong, I liked it and had a good time there, this was about 4 or 5 years ago. I'm coming back on this R&R for a few days to look at a sailboat that's for sale. Will be staying in Chalong again. I have been told that Bangla is like a mini Walking Street in Pattaya. If that's the case you can have it. I seem to have a good time everywhere I go in Thailand. There is an area in Bangkok I like. It's Soi 22 Sukhumvit. Been going there for about 10 years. I have noticed things have slowed down from when I first started going there but I still like it. There is a Chinese restaurant not far that's one of the best I've ever been to. I've never seen one forang there, not one. Anyway, I don't come home to Thailand because it's cheap, maybe not as cheap as it used to be, I keep coming back because I like it. It's fun for me and I feel good when I'm there. If it stops being fun or gets to where I don't feel good there I'll go somewhere else, Cambodia, Vietnam. I've been to both and like them also. 

well done. with that positive attitude you will be happy with any place.

you cannot fool ALL the people ALL the time. Sooner or later the victims wise up to it and stay away.

7 hours ago, BestB said:

The assumption is wrong thinking that taxi drivers think foreigners are stupid. Fact is taxi drivers are stupid , they do not know the difference between euro or dollar ????

a better solution would be to introduce competition in the form of UBER or GRAB

On 9/23/2016 at 12:37 PM, pegman said:

For all you guys cheering on the farangs in this just remember if there are race wars we are badly outnumbered. 

there is nothing to cheer the farangs about. what they did was totally unacceptable but it is an eye opener for everyone to note that it is not fair for a pack to attack  a low numbered victim/s.

On 9/22/2016 at 12:09 PM, taichiplanet said:

very unfair fight. i hope the culprits are taught a lesson about Thainess as a normal Thai fight must consist of 5 Thais to 1 Farang.

and what about the circumstances where five to seven Thais brutally attack one victim - and there are so many cases like that.

really strange circumstances - getting murdered hours upon arrival unless this was continuation of some previous episode.

2 hours ago, BestB said:

She had nowhere to stay should have been the warning sign

BestB hindsight is 6/6

there is no free lunch mate.

14 hours ago, Oziex1 said:

Seriously, they want to convince the new arrivals that they will be safe. Will take more than the presence of a few grinning numpties in uniform,  some real Lifeguards at Phuket beaches might be a good start. 

what you need to do is to bang up the guard who took law into his own hands. wai wai and all is non enough.

please tell the public what you plan to do with the guard who manhandled the tourist?

thailand apology is appreciable but how that guard is disposed off is sublimely import - he became the jury

the judge and the executioner. this is no way to go.

4 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

You do not attack your benefactors. Thailand owes MONEY to China.

please let us not make this personal. no foreigner should be assaulted.

mr prayut

worrying alone is not sufficient. please see to it that justice is one.

no situation whatsoever merits and assault on foreigners and if you value tourist dollars

please do something drastic to ensure justice in this case and have measures in place that

are tough enough so that no one will dare to repeat incidents like that.

that guy put his hand quite deep in the croc's mouth possibly irritating the animal thereby. hope he recovers soon.

this is his livelihood.no one loves to risk his life or limbs. he was doing the act for a living. good thing he croc let him 

extract his hand from its mouth. it could have been far worse.

3 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

What a legend.... He should be given PR for his dedication to the cause ?

give him honorary citizenship.

5 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Hunt her down like a rabid dog and jail her for 10 years pesky foreigners need to be taught a lesson.

with due respects sammieuk 1 would you recommend similar punishment for a Thai who did a similar act.

follow the law - there are penalties for theft. it is definitely not 10 years.

you can do whatever you want the taxis drivers will still abuse their position.

13 hours ago, KneeDeep said:

But would the charlatans adhere to the new pricing, even if it were agreed?

KneeDeep you nailed it. Taxi community is a fraternity without shame or morals

4 hours ago, Thian said:

Well the buses and minivans are also very dangerous....good luck.

where do you begin and where do you end. the taxis are terrible, the tuk tuk drivers are a menace, the markets vendors are all out to make a quick buck. There are numerous instances of physical assault ( often by a group against an individual. all these areas need addressing.

whatever the circumstances called the Dr  PEDO is definitely unwarranted. why involve personalities in a miraculous feat.