General Discussion

[LeungKen]

yeah, all is good for me here. ive settled in nicely and enjoying the island and the job. its definitely a lot slower than phuket is, but i like it that way.

i do have to say that anyone who thinks that phuket drivers are bad should come here and see what shocking driving REALLY is. to say that drivers here are all on a suicide mission is an understatement! man! at least in thailand the motorbikes stay on the left (most of the time). here, its a complete free for all. they overtake on the right side of the fast lane, zig zag in and out like crazy, and the car drivers have no regard for anyone else on the road other than themselves!

aside from the driving, its great!

we are at the end of the rainy season now and high season is approaching (we have opposite seasons to phuket). flights are full and hotels are all geared up for a bumper season. bookings are way over last year already and it looks like Bali has finally bounced back after the bombings.

Hey Crocs,

The only thing Donna forgot to mention was the place is full of "plurry" 'Stralians..,.

[Zpete]

yeah, all is good for me here. ive settled in nicely and enjoying the island and the job. its definitely a lot slower than phuket is, but i like it that way.

i do have to say that anyone who thinks that phuket drivers are bad should come here and see what shocking driving REALLY is. to say that drivers here are all on a suicide mission is an understatement! man! at least in thailand the motorbikes stay on the left (most of the time). here, its a complete free for all. they overtake on the right side of the fast lane, zig zag in and out like crazy, and the car drivers have no regard for anyone else on the road other than themselves!

aside from the driving, its great!

we are at the end of the rainy season now and high season is approaching (we have opposite seasons to phuket). flights are full and hotels are all geared up for a bumper season. bookings are way over last year already and it looks like Bali has finally bounced back after the bombings.

Hey Crocs,

The only thing Donna forgot to mention was the place is full of "plurry" 'Stralians..,.

.......and most seem to fill the gaols.......LOL

Actually, I reckon there are too many palefaces, round eyes. (What is Indonesian for farangs?)

What I like about Thailand is the people, most quite happy go lucky chappies and chapesses.

Not quite the same on Bali.

[Ping]

What day of the week suit you best for Patong, Ken?

[donna]

haha, the tourist side is the side that i try to avoid. my job takes me out to the airport on occasion and i have to admit that i must have been in asia waaaay too long as i dont even understand some australians when they speak! god, never thought i would say that! but its true. the plaited hair (didnt even look good on bo derek in my opinion), the fake tattoos, the clothing that should have stayed on the racks, and waaaay waaaay too much flesh leave a lot to be desired.

i dont want to turn this into an 'indo V thai' thread, but after spending the last two years of my thailand time in phuket, i would have to say that balinese are far nicer than phuket thais. YES i KNOW i am generalising (before you jump on me) but whilst i did work with some wonderful people, i didnt meet that many thais outside of work (in phuket). in bali, i have met loads of people already and am enjoying the place a lot.

now, when it comes to bangkok people (at least in my experience and in the location i was working), i find that i met some great mates there and they were mainly from chiang mai or isaan areas. many of those people i can see being lifelong friends and i miss them incredibly.

i guess that the reason i am loving it so much here is that i have always wanted to live in bali. the first time i visited was in 1983 and i told myself then that i would be living there. it took 25 years, but i finally did it!

[LeungKen]

What day of the week suit you best for Patong, Ken?

Probably any day Monday through Thursday.

A quiet night if there is such a thing in Patong.........

...and I'm not much of a party animal anymore, still enjoy a drink or two, but boozing 'til the wee small hours is but a mere memory (when it works that is).

Would still like to meet up for a chat and social intercourse, as I reckon we've all got a bit of history to share.

Cheers & Chok Dee..

[donna]

if youre looking for a 'nice' place in patong, you should try BYD Lofts for a quiet drink. yes, they are more expensive than bangla or nanai, but the setting is so much nicer too. i think they have a party night on fridays, so avoid that night, however on other nights its really nice and peaceful with great food.

located at the entrance to andaman beach suites.

[Kan Win]

All the very best to you “Old Croc” on your hip operation and wishing you a snappy recovery.

Qus? Will you be renaming your nick after the op, as well to say........ “Old Hippo”.

Yours truly,

Kan Win

[Kan Win]

And now for something completely different:-

Name that Beach:-

Come to Phuket during our “low tide season” and see the real Phuket

and another undiscovered beach

Kan Win

[Kan Win]

Another one for you folks “Name that Pier”:-

And now years later

Had to add some colour into this “Fred”.

Kan Win

[Zpete]

Kan Win, dun wanna be a killjoy, but thus is a general discussion thread.

No hijacking with another game............

Starting a new one, mite be a better choice.

Gofrit,

[Kan Win]

This is a thread for you to discuss general issues, experiences, etc pertaining to Phuket that are either not on-topic with specific threads or do not merit the creation of another thread. (and yes, I do generally discuss beaches and piers on Phuket Island, but nobody listens, hence me post on ‘ear.) Nothing will be off-topic provided that there is some connection with Phuket.

Kan Win, dun wanna be a killjoy, but thus is a general discussion thread.

No hijacking with another game............

Starting a new one, mite be a better choice.

Gofrit,

Nothing will be off-topic provided that there is some connection with Phuket.

I rest me case, me Lord, "Khun Ping" as this is related to Phuket high or low season, bar or witch udder bar you choose, pier or not to a pier, roundabout was a great song sang by "Yes". All have been mentioned, so it is up two you too.

Kan Win

P.S. Life Kan be a Peach som tam

[LeungKen]

Khun Kan you kan post your pics of Phuket anytime.

I think we probably have a bit of a mix up here as I suspect Zpete thought this might develop into yet another game ! (Correct me if I'm wrong Zpete) When Kan Win probably just merely posted photos for our enlightenment and edification.

And in actual fact this is a general discussion on all things Phuket.

That's how I read it but it's ultimately up to Khun Ping if he/she ( ) is the O.P.

Stay Kool.............

[Zpete]

Kan Win

And now for something completely different:-

Name that Beach:-

Come to Phuket during our “low tide season” and see the real Phuket

----------------

Another one for you folks “Name that Pier”:-

That appears to be a quiz, game to me................................

No problem posting pix, I do myself.

It's an attempted HIJACK...... grrrrr

Lord PING, wherefore art thou?

PMPL.

Edited April 24, 2008 by Zpete

[donna]

how do you hijack a thread that is essentially about nothing, Zpete?

[geriatrickid]

sorry, but back to the beach picks. Is that around Bang Tao? It reminds me of the area around the airport runway too. C'mon, gimme a hint, it's killing me. Thanks

[Kan Win]

The 1st one is one the East Coast of Phuket taken many years ago, I forgot, hence my qus?

2nd one should be easy really, name I do not know also West Coast looking over P....... Bay.

Kan Win

[Zpete]

how do you hijack a thread that is essentially about nothing, Zpete?

Very easily, it seems..........grrrrrrrr

[LeungKen]

Donna thanks for your suggestion re a meeting place, I'm just checking to make sure that this establishment doesn't have half naked floozies wafting about and bursting balloons with the aid of some odd parts of their anatomy as I find it puts an old bloke off his beer.

[donna]

LeungKen....you dont know me very well do you? haha. nah, no girlies at all. its a very nice establishment. its in the top end for patong. i highly recommend it.

[LeungKen]

LeungKen....you dont know me very well do you? haha. nah, no girlies at all. its a very nice establishment. its in the top end for patong. i highly recommend it.

There is a Top End to Patong ? This I have got to see.......

No I don't know you very well Donna (and more's the pity) but I must admit to diplomatically generally discussing things Phuket.

(Where's the emoticon for the tongue in cheek when you need it)......

[donna]

haha. youre saying IM diplomatic or YOU are diplomatic? believe me, i could say a heck of a lot more but i dont want to have to ban myself! after 8.5 years in thailand, i merely scratched the surface of phuket, but found it wasnt for me. different strokes for different folks of course.

[Zpete]

PING, where are you????

[donna]

i think ping has left the auditorium...

[LeungKen]

If anybody is going up to Ranong for a Visa trip, the New Thai Immigration Office is at the pier where the long-tail-boats go from. (Behind the big gasoline station)

and you now need a photocopy of your passport for Burma (we all did today)

[Zpete]

One of these days, I may have to make a Visa run.

I am usually, in and out of LOS during my trips, so it has neva come to pass.

[donna]

i had to do a few visa runs to ranong during my time in thailand. i went to victoria point only twice. second time i ended up coming down with malaria half way through (had symptoms before hand but it hit me half way through the day unfortunately). after that i went to the casino. much nicer way to do a visa run. i stayed overnight once too, which was a little boring, but the pool is nice.

[huggybear]

Another one for you folks "Name that Pier":-

And now years later

Had to add some colour into this "Fred".

Kan Win

Rawai Pier old and new

Edited April 30, 2008 by huggybear

[MustaphaMond]

Looks like Friendship Beach south of Chalong , before Rawai?

The ugliest beach in SE Asia.

[LeungKen]

Hey has anyone else passed through the "Welcome Gateway" near Sarasin Bridge ?

If ever there was a monument to the graft & corruption on this island then this monstrosity is it - which "Mafia Don" decided we needed such a carbuncle and what the H*ll is with the thoughtless <deleted>' detour ?

Anybody and everybody who had anything whatsoever to do with this project should be put up against the wall and shot at dawn., then the entire eyesore can be torn down - Viva the Revolution.

Apart from that I am quite a mild mannered man.......

Perhaps it was just my impression, but I would welcome feedback from others.

[Kan Win]

Hi "LeungKen",

Thank you for asking and yes I have passed it along the road , but never had time to enter it.

Kan Win