tvh13

Blah blah blah. People seem to have a lot to say about the government of Thailand. I often find myself wondering why they are here. Based on what I read here here anywhere would be a better place to live. Why the constant complaining?

The Director General said this? How did he get his job?

There is *no* link between coral bleaching and diving. None. The presence of divers will *not* make bleaching worse. If you close the parks, this is what will happen:

* Bleaching goes unreported (no complaints => problem solved!!).

* Monitoring gets wound back, because nobody is complaining.

* Illegal fishing activity goes through the roof.

If he's worried about pollution he should get rid of the fishing boats instead. 95% of crap on the reefs is broken fishing gear.

The 90% bleaching is true of most sites I visited in the second half of last year. I would guess about 30% of that died or was badly damaged, the rest has mostly recovered now, I didn't see any bleaching remaining yesterday.

Spot on - Couldn't agree more!!!

It is REALLY shortsighted to blame the divers! I've been running my own diving base on Ko Samet.

The ethical principles of SCUBA diving is to observe and NOT to touch nor take something from the sea!!

We say: "We dive and only leave bubbles"

We have the same symptoms here in the Phuket/Lanta archipelago! The reefs of Ko Rok is literally destroyed...

And SPECIALLY ABOUT ILLEGAL FISHING:

I've been reporting (with pictures) to the National Park Authority that on the Thursday-Market there are PARROT FISHES AND BLUE SPOTTED MANTAS for sale as food !!!!!???

They laughed and said that it also food !?

So:

1. The coral bleaching is a phenomena caused by water temperature exceeding 30 degrees Celsius (caused by mother Nature).

2. The illegal fishing goes on - ON TOP OF THE REEFS! - And the authority closes both eyes!

3. To blame the divers is real incompetence/ignorance!

But, of course we need a culprit, a scapegoat...

So blame the diving schools (witch are mostly run by Farangs)...

Pesche

Bleaching is a sign of stressed coral. The number boats and the numpber of divers with poor technique that dive these waters can and does have a stressful impact that compounds the problem. There isn't just one thing that is killing the coral but the reefs don't lie you can see the damage at any of the sites around here.

I have watched DSD customers overweighted and being literally dragged across coral beds fins scrapping (literally) across the coral as they go.

The dive industry here definitely a part of the problem but not the only part.

I agree that fishing boat are involved as well,but they are locals and they don't make that big money like diving schools...

Your facts are a little off on this. I was on the first boat to dive the Similans this season and there were large (very large and heavy) underwater fish traps right on the reefs. These types of traps can not be handled by small boats. When in Khao Lak harbor you see the immense size of the fishing fleets. There is BIG money involved in this industry.

In one sense the dive season protects the similan reefs from fishing boats at least for a part of the year.

The reefs here (phuket, phi phi, similans) are in quite a sad shape and dramatically more sad in the past 9 months.

The corals are stressed and there isn't just one cause this is true in much of the world not just this little part of the ocean. The whole natural fabric is stressed. Sure the dive industry could do better, so could the fishing industry, water management on the islands (Kata reef is dead) punished by the effluent stream that empties right onto the reef.

Bottom line is there are too many people in the world. We are racing towards the tipping point if we are not already there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d32OeqbYbHg

Thanks I passed it on to my Bears fan friend.

Looks like I'm going to rent a room for the night. I actually prefer to watch these games with limited distraction.

If anyone knows of a hotel with ASN here in Phuket please let me know.

Someone just told me that they checked astro guide and that the game is not listed.

Can anyone suggest how I can confirm wether the game is playing? Is there a schedule listed somewhere?

Thanks.

The NFL game (American football) is on at 4:30am Monday morning. I would very much like to watch this game live.

I have read that ASN carries NFL live. Is this correct?

I can't tell wether my apartment is cable or True Vision.

I am willing to rent a hotel room for the night in order to see the game. Can anyone confirm that I need to find Truevisison with ASN?

Thanks.

Near Surat Thani is a monastery that conducts 10-day silent meditation retreats for westerners that start on the 1st of every month. This is a great way to learn meditation. There is no charge for the retreat (donations are accepted). Teaching is in English and this program has been running for many years.

The monastery is Wat Suan Mokkh

In google you can search "wat suan mokkh retreat" for the web page.

The Patriots are playing the Jets this Monday night (Tues morning 8am here). Anyone know where I can watch the game?

freevpn is free and a pain in the ass with all of the ads etc. Strongvpn works and it works quite well and it costs money. There is plenty of info to be found through the google.

Considering their record they don't seem that bad to me. I would fly them. 5 crashes out of 1.98 million completed flights (airdisasters dot com lists five dating from 1998 back to 1980).

Thans everyone. I've found some people to work with. Thanks for the response.

Hi all,

I am a DM living in Phuket. I completed my IDC in October and plan on taking the IE here next month.

I am looking for an instructor that I can practice my confined and open water skills with before the IE. My schedule is very flexible.

Obviously this would be a paying gig.

I am also looking to assist/observe open water training. I am happy to come introduce myself so you can get a feel wether this would work for you.

About me. I am a 42yo expat from the US. Hard working and easy going.

Thanks.

-T

Yikes! That is a lot. Hmmm. Time to rethink my plan. Also the prices have gone up I imagine because of the weakening dollar.

Speaking from experience: about $225 tax.

I am looking at buying a new Apex regulator and the prices at Scubastore can't be beat (here in Thailand). I am wondering what I should expect to pay in tax on a shipment of $450?

Thanks,

-T

Isn't the long and the short of it that Victor Bout pissed off the US by supplying arms (some say for the Russian government) to many countries and groups that the US opposes? There is nothing idealistic about the problems Victor Bout now faces, although I do find it quite humorous to read the righteous indignation of many on this thread. The reason it is called covert and why such money is to be made is exactly because Mr Bouts actions run counter to many powerful governments interests. Did Mr. Bout know that he was doing? He seems to be quite an intelligent man. Why insult his (and your) intelligence now by crying foul?

I am curious. Where you do come from?

On my "planet" every man is innocent until proven guilty, even mr Bout. And that is in front of a legitimate court. Not the lynching mob we sometimes see here on TV.

As for your jury system I just say OJ Simpson! A joke if it wasn't so serious.

And on my "planet" every nation is sovereign within its borders and makes decision in accordance with its laws, no mater who tries to put pressure on them.

There's where I live!

Tiger

The sheer numbers reminds me of Frank Zappa's quilt.

Thanks everyone. I decided to take a friends recommendation and went to Phuket Dental in Phuket Town. He was nice spoke English and worked through his lunch time to get my crown started. He did have some problems numbing my tooth but I have had this problem with other procedures in the US too. Price for a porcilin rear molar crown was 6000 baht. I will get whitening from him once the crown is finished.

Can anyone recommend a good dentist here in Phuket. By good I don't mean cheap I mean high quality professional service.

Thanks.

Yes exactly where everyone goes to SCUBA dive.

Chalong Bay is the other side of the Island from Patong, near Phuket Town.

Ironic. I would not have cared two licks about this until this story broke. Of course any of the VPN services would allow me acess even if the site were blocked which it is not currently for me.

Can someone recommend an agent that will rent a car and driver to take me to Phuket? Also wondering what i can expect the cost to be? Hiring in bkk area for the day seems pretty reasonable.

Thanks! The bus it is then. I find the Thai busses much easier than those i have ridden in India.I too find most Thais to be quite honest, good and generous people.

I am just back in Thailand after a few months visiting in the states. I am trying to find a way to get myself with all of my things down to Phuket Town.

I have approx 90 Kg of "things". Ironically I will be engaged in Buddhist study (non attachment) while I am here.

My question is what is the best way for me to travel with my things (not ship but travel with).

Here are a few ideas and I would appreciate comments and advice.

1. Hire a car and driver. I imagine that this will be too expensive but I wonder can anyone give me an idea what this might cost and where to look?

2. Take a bus from the southern bus terminal to Phuket town. My concern here is that I have heard many stories of people having their luggage riffled and things stolen from under the bus while in transit from BKK. Are there more "honorable" bus companies? I imagine there are can anyone suggest one?

3. Train to Surat Thani and then hire a car or mini bus to drive the rest of the way. I would probably hire the whole car or mini. A couple of months ago I took a cab from Ko Lak to Phuket and it was very reasonable.

4. Suggestions?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Are you both mad. Embassys are telling people not to go to Thailand never mind Bangkok and you are arriving soon.Braindead comes to mind

What do you suggest I do then? You know nothing about my situation, so I don't see how you are in a position to comment about it.

So I take it you don't know what the situation is like around Sukhumvit, so your comment is even more worthless.

FO advice is always over the top. If part of a city is unsafe, they will advise not to go to any part of the city. That is just not good advice.

I have also read of Brits who live there and still feel very safe. If they feel safe, there's no reason that I shouldn't feel safe.

All I'm asking is what it's like in a particular area.

suk 2, 4 and near areas are quite safe for NOW.....i hope it doesnot spill over. heard that government is about to announce curfew...follow bangkokpost.com

I'm learning not to be shocked by the rudeness of some people on this forum. But rude is rude. Sadly JMS your negative attitude walks with you. Day and night...

As for the situation here on Sukhumvit. I'm staying on soi 15 and this morning I walked down to soi 2. Yes there are a number of well armed solders but I didn't feel unsafe. I met a couple of people who live in the area and they feel more inconvenienced than unsafe. Bangkok isn't very fun right now so like other posters have suggested there are other places that might be more fun for you depending on why you are coming. Bangkok is a hige city the problem zone is located in a small but very central area. And there are very very few people about. A pall has been cast over the city in general.

I wish you, and all, peace and safety.