modafinil

Interesting reading wayned - presumably that was a form document sent out to every consulate/embassy. Hopefully it isn't fresh in immigration's minds two years later, proving that you are a tourist is tricky.

I had a read through Maestro's thread. I couldn't find any trip reports from December 2011 but the older info is useful. With any luck nothing will have changed too much.

Apologies for my remark earlier in the thread - inappropriate and inaccurate. lopburi3 has it right.

Merry Xmas!

Thank you visarunner, I appreciate your useful advice.

Apologies for my previous remarks re this forum - unfortunately it seems I am able to post here even when I am drunk and flu-ridden

Getting a cheap acoustic to practise on is good advice. If it sounds good on the acoustic, chances are it will be even better on the electric. With an electric it is always tempting to use effects etc to add "meatiness" to the sound, but these can mask deficiencies in your playing. An acoustic gives you instant feedback when a string buzzes or you don't strum exactly the right strings.

This would surely qualify as an advanced guitar lesson, but I was able do a decent copy of Gabriela's rhythm techniques after practicing for 12 hours or so, and I'm barely intermediate:

Their album Rodrigo y Gabriela comes with a bonus DVD, featuring a series of lessons from the pair - I bought it and found it very inspiring,

It looks like a tourist visa is your best option. However, don't expect any useful advice on this forum. You would do better using "Yahoo Answers" or simply browsing through random youtube comments.

Thank you for all your travel tales and help, everyone. I feel a little overwhelmed with all the info you've provided.

So nobody has got a tourist visa within the last, say, month? Really?

Like a naive idiot, I'll post a report of my trip to Laos, not that you've given me any help at all. I'm sure you will all be roaring with laughter if I get a red stamp or outright rejected.

Being in Phuket I would have thought Malaysia would have been easier, Penang or KL

Malaysia is easier, but I didn't think that they ever gave out double tourist visas, only singles. Although I could be wrong - I know that things change pretty frequently in the world of "getting a thai visa".

Hi,

I need to travel from Phuket to get myself a tourist visa, ideally a double-entry one. Last time I flew to Udon Thani and got a double in Laos - my first tourist visa.

I would like to avoid Phnom Penh if possible, if only because I would need to get an extra flight to BKK in order to get there. But if PP is the only option left I'd still go for it.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thanks macahoom, that's very helpful I wondered if there were set times, now we know.

Okay...

According to the signs that have appeared recently on the barriers at Heroines' Monument, the closing times are:

7.00am-9.30am and 4.00pm-8.00pm.

Thanks for the good answers. If given the chance, I will try to steer clear of that route during peak traffic hours. It does make some kind of sense to have the major commercial highway in and out of Phuket unblocked at busy periods - how much time it costs locals is another question.

Lots of traffic lights have different sequences for different periods of the day and night. I'm guessing they don't have that ability in Phuket so they do it manualy

One of my relatives is a wealthy (self-employed) and experienced traffic light engineer (it's quite a niche career choice!). The technology to do this is decades old. If you seriously think that the lights aren't timed, I'll ask him to approach "the powers that be" with a business proposal. Might end up making a few more commutes a bit more tolerable.

Here are some statistics .................... "Dwindling tourist industry" my arse!

2011 19,500,000 +22.00%

2010 15,936,400 +12.63%

2009 14,149,841 -2.98%

2008 14,584,220 +0.8%

2007 14,464,228 +4.65%

2006 13,821,802 +20.01%

2005 11,516,936 -1.15%

2004 11,650,703

Karen, I think your tongue is firmly in your cheek!

According to whoever was tourism minister in 2010:

Thailand recorded more than 7.5 million tourists in the first half of 2010 and the number of the tourists for the whole year is expect to reach some 14-15 million people, bringing in US$600 billion if there is no violence related to domestic politics.

The minister said he believed there will be nothing serious that could lead to a political protest from now on to the end of the year.

The tourism stimulus campaign in 2011 will add some sports competitions during the low season to attract more tourists to reach 15-15.5 million people, he said.

$40,000 baht a head USD ($600B/15M), that's pretty good going!

Since tourism is only 6% of Thailand's economy (apparently), this mean that Thailand's GDP is going to be 600/0.06 = 10 trillion dollars!

Thailand will have the second biggest economy in the world after the US ($14 T), not too bad! Japan and China down at 5 trillion dollars must be shaking their heads in wonder at the Thai economic miracle .....

Last time I went from Surin to Phuket Town, I decided to go via Two Heroine's Circle. When I arrived at the circle, there were two sets of barriers set up, so that traffic can't go around the circle.

I assume the police do this to make the Phuket Town-Airport (and beyond) journey quicker?

Does anybody know when the barriers are set up? Are they there 24/7, or just at certain times? Or is it a high season/low season thing?

Cheers!

How many red traffic lights did you run to prove your point Mr modafinil

I was lucky with the lights - every light was green until the big crossroads at Central Festival. Hit a few more reds between there and Chalong Circle.

So you could add a few minutes to my time up to Tesco Lotus to allow for the luck factor.

Since I did the journey today (on my 110cc scooter) I thought I would time it. This was on Saturday afternoon, medium traffic.

From the airport:

25 minutes 15 seconds to the big Tesco Lotus

41 minutes 5 seconds to Chalong Circle

51 minutes 20 seconds to Karon Circle

So Kata would have been about 47 minutes.

I do not believe anyone who says they can get from the airport to Chalong in 45 minutes

on a moped, i have never seen a moped keeping up with traffic in the centre lane

Unless my journey was some wild fantasy, it appears that you are mistaken Mr Callen.

You could hire a Toyota Hilux or similar for one day - the big hire companies will let you pick up and drop off in different locations. Stick your motorbike in the back along with all your luggage and drive to BKK.

Having looked at one hire car company, it came to just over $100 USD - more than I thought, but maybe preferable to some of the alternatives.

Are you seriously saying you get to Tesco Lotus from the airport in 30mins?? how long will it be before you are just another statistic!!

28 minutes with fairly heavy traffic. Yeah, it's pretty stupid. I have slowed down a bit recently, I'm trying to drive a bit more defensively. It's tricky on the fast roads though - most of the Thais are pootling along at 50 km/h, so if I try to go at 70-80 I am constantly dodging between the slow lane and the bike lane. If I do 100 I am at least keeping up with the traffic flow and won't get rear-ended by an SUV.

Time to buy a car!

Must admit all my mentioned experiences mentioned here are by car. Have done it by motorbike (100 cc but a tsunami victim with a replacement engine, could also be 110 or 125 now) a few times, did not time, but my guestimate would be (from Rawai and Kata) the coastal road is much nicer but also takes longer than via Chalong circle. I would drive around 80 km/h on the main road with the bike.

I agree. The person who originally asked me the question will be travelling by hire car, so I will recommend the Chalong circle route despite the lack of scenery. It's also easier to give directions for, which helps.

Strictly speaking it took me 47 minutes to get onto the circle itself from the airport, since I spent a couple of minutes just before the circle waiting around for traffic. This was on an old 110cc automatic moped.

You can choose to believe whatever you wish. What sort of person times his journeys? The same kind of person that starts this kind of thread I suppose. I would propose a friendly wager, but of course this is not possible in Thailand. If you managed it in 50 minutes why is it so extraordinary that I can do it in 47? On the level, the top speed of the moped is 100km/h, although it could go faster down a hill. Your top speed may be faster, but bikes have the opportunity to jump queues at traffic lights and overtake in places that cars cannot.

It's a shame that this thread took on a hostile tone, but mai bpen rai - live and let live. I accept that people on thaivisa are not obliged to be friendly to me.

I took my wife to the airport last year from Chalong circle

In medium density traffic traveling in the centre lane and keeping up with the traffic

The only vehicles or bikes that passed me were airport limousines and mini buses

One high powered bike and a few dangerous drivers weaving in and out of the traffic

and only gaining one or two car lengths by driving this way

It took me 55 minutes to get to the airport and 50 minutes to return to Chalong

I do not believe anyone who says they can get from the airport to Chalong in 45 minutes

on a moped, i have never seen a moped keeping up with traffic in the centre lane

Could be. In that case it would be nice if he were to accept other's experiences.

I have accepted your experiences, and am very happy that so many people contributed to the thread.

If you limited yourself to a top speed of 100 km/h then the coast road might be quicker for Patong and even Karon. But why would you want to do that?

No, it will not be quicker to Karon. Patong maybe just about even, but majority of cases I would think turn off at Tesco will be quicker.

The coast road is very scenic, its also narrow, hilly and has lots of blind bends

Turning of the bypass road at Tesco lotus is Quicker going to Patong

I think the OP is reading Google maps and has not traveled on the roads

I have definitely travelled on the roads - 15,000km in Phuket last year. In heavyish traffic on a moped, it takes me 45 minutes to get to Chalong circle from Phuket Airport. If my final destination was Karon circle, then it would probably take me just under an hour. I get from the airport to Patong under similar circumstances (coast road) in 45 minutes - again, I would expect to get to Karon circle in just under an hour.

As soon as you get in a car (or on a fast motorbike) the Chalong circle route has got to be the fastest route because of the higher top speed - and in the car, the coast road means that a couple of slow trucks will ruin your journey time.

I get to the Tesco Lotus on the bypass road from the airport in about 30 minutes - so another 15 minutes to Patong sounds about right, unless the BIB are "helping" with the traffic in Patong, in which case there could be a 5km tailback (yes, I've seen stationary traffic stretching back to the bottom of Patong hill up to the police station).

Yes, I was a little embarrassed about my "consensus" post - always a bad idea posting after a few beers ......

You have certainly made me reconsider my use of the coast road though - thanks for the help!

I think you may be confusing your own ideas with other ideas vented here when you mention 'we have established'. Unless you're talking pluralis maiestatis?

We are not amused We had also had too much to drink last night

No, you are correct, as with almost any thaivisa thread a consensus has not exactly been established. Also, the question is a bit vague - traffic conditions, the vehicle you are in and your willingness to drive at extremely high speeds change journey times so much that we could never have arrived at a conclusion.

If you limited yourself to a top speed of 100 km/h then the coast road might be quicker for Patong and even Karon. But why would you want to do that?

Sorry for hijacking your thread, but I was taken aback by the notion that all my Thai relationships revolved around money in some way.

I have been the beneficiary of countless acts of kindness from Thais who were complete strangers to me - almost always, they won't accept any money for their troubles if I offer it. The picnic/queue/bench comparison is a little unfair, as most Thais would (correctly) not expect me to know their language, so it would be up to me to start a conversation in broken Tinglish. The language barrier is the main obstacle here.

Sure, many of my relationships with Thais have some kind of involvement with money - but I would say not more so than my relationships in my home country.

I completely agree with your original point - it's the Thai people that keep me here, although the weather and the low cost of living certainly don't hurt. Despite the cynicism that is easy to find on these forums, Thailand remains the Land of Smiles - the TAT would do well to remember this when they are promoting their country. The "high-end tourists" dump 90% of their holiday budget into their flights and hotels that are usually owned by a non-Thai multinational corporation, so it's not as if Thailand gets their hands on that much of the cash.

The backpacker types actually stay at Thai-owned hotels and eat at Thai owned restaurants - they may not have as much to spend, but they are putting a far higher percentage of their holiday money into the pockets of local Thai people.

Depends on the helicopter! And how ting tong Scuba is feeling!

So I reckon that we've established:

Airport to Kamala - coast road, Airport to Patong - probably coast road, Airport to Karon - up for grabs but probably the Chalong circle route, and Airport to Kata definitely via Chalong circle.

Probably the traffic in Patong makes it too hard to do a speed run along the coast to Karon - I still reckon a 110cc motorbike could get to Karon faster down the coast, but in a car or on the back of Scuba's Ninja, the higher top speeds probably just about edge it for the bypass road route.

It seems like everybody is in agreement that the bypass road is the quickest way. Thanks!

I was interested in ScubaBuddha's comment that this would also be a faster route to Karon. I'm pretty sure that it's not up for debate that turning right in Thalang will get you to Bangtao, Surin and Kamala more quickly than any other route - although if you think I'm wrong please say!

I would also say that the coast road was the fastest way to Patong - turning right off the bypass road at the Tesco Lotus and heading straight for Patong adds a lot of time to your journey, and the road from Tesco to Patong is not super-quick. But if you disagree I would be interested to hear why.

I am of the belief that the coast road is as quick or quicker than the bypass road for getting to Karon - but I wouldn't expect everybody to agree with that!

I've got a challenging question for any farang in Thailand, whether a tourist or long timer.

Q: do you have a friendship/relationship with any Thai person which doesn't involve money changing hands?

Before you quickly answer, "of course I do" think about it. Every friendship and personal relationship between a farang and a Thai has a money element, at least at its inception, and quite likely in its continuance.

Let me answer your question with a question. Do you have any farang friends, family or loved ones (here or back home) where your relationship has never involved money changing hands?

Did your mate ever buy you a drink at the pub? Did your aunt ever give you some money in a Christmas card? Don't get me started on Western girlfriends/wives ..... suffice to say, money always changes hands.

I was recently given an expensive gift by a Thai who had never seen a penny of my money in any way, shape or form, who owed me nothing and could not possibly have expected anything in return. Does that count as money changing hands?