Pro'S And Con'S Of Aonang Beach ?

[galilee]

I m running a small business since 4 years here in Aonang and i d like to get a bigger picture of the pro's and con's of the place (from both tourists or peoples living here).

For me&wife (living here)

pro's are:

quiet place

beautiful sceneries

low rate of criminality

many nice peoples (locals and expats)

con's:

difficulties to socialize(i guess it s the case of most expats)

slow development

no shopping mall,

longtails boats(pollution, ruining the beaches)

noisy mosque,

from our customers:

pros's:

nice sceneries

short trip to beautiful islands

cheap restaurant (not on the beach front)

good place to chill out.

con's:

no shopping mall

no decent nigthlife

dirty beach(Aonang) and even no beach at high tide

noisy mosque

lack of beach activities.

What do you think of Aonang ?

[grumpyoldman]

I've always seen Ao Nang as a bit of a jumping point to other places nearby and that's a "pro" for ya, easy access to outer islands.

Otherwise complete tourist hell, shack up in an overpriced resort and hang at a marginal beach. Nightlife, terrible, restaurants way overpriced, too many touts bugging on the street (can I see your work permit pal?). Cons.

But I must say, one of the nicer things in life is to pull a big beer out of 7/11 and sit on the beach wall and watch the sunset. Big Pro.

[taninthai]

Kind of agree with above if ao nang didn't have the islands it wouldnt have half the tourists that it has.

Ao nang beach crap much better beaches in the area , ao nang seafront shops crap 100 shops all selling the same overpriced crap ,for me ao nang has become well to westernised but then again that is what families want

Plus points are beautifull scenery, no jet skies beach hawkers and no in your face sex tourism and a relative quite low season means easy to park your car and get around if your an expat

P.s just see the comment about noisy mosque well the big new mosque in ao nang is nearly finished so that will be more noise

I have no problem with mosque and understand ao nang is a huge mislim area but they shouldn't

Really build them in the middle of atourist area in which is considered to be a Buddhist country

Edited August 25, 2012 by taninthai

[agogohome]

I have no problem with mosque and understand ao nang is a huge mislim area but they shouldn't

Really build them in the middle of atourist area in which is considered to be a Buddhist country

Ever stopped to consider the local Muslim population might not want noisy bars and tourists in thier area? After all, they were there first!

[simple1]

"I have no problem with mosque and understand ao nang is a huge mislim area but they shouldn't Really build them in the middle of atourist area in which is considered to be a Buddhist country"

It's their land so can they do what they want. Mosques in other major tourist areas are Pattaya and Phuket and of course Bangkok, just enjoy the diversity. BTW many of the beach vendors & massage ladies are Muslims

Edited August 25, 2012 by simple1

[rixalex]

When i went there for the first time a few years back, we checked into our resort and immediately noticed the noise of construction work coming from the beach direction. Took a stroll down there wondering how long we would have to put up with it, and couldn't see any construction work in sight. That was when it dawned on us that the noise wasn't construction work, but the noise of the long tail boats going back and forth. Couldn't believe it! It totally destroys any tranquillity and it lasts from sun up to sun down. That would be the biggest con for me and enough to put me off ever going back again. And it's not like i'm unaccustomed to the banana boat / jetski nonsense. This was worse.

[ManInSurat]

When i went there for the first time a few years back, we checked into our resort and immediately noticed the noise of construction work coming from the beach direction. Took a stroll down there wondering how long we would have to put up with it, and couldn't see any construction work in sight. That was when it dawned on us that the noise wasn't construction work, but the noise of the long tail boats going back and forth. Couldn't believe it! It totally destroys any tranquillity and it lasts from sun up to sun down. That would be the biggest con for me and enough to put me off ever going back again. And it's not like i'm unaccustomed to the banana boat / jetski nonsense. This was worse.

What? You're criticizing the noise of longtails boats near a beach in Thailand? Are you mental?

This is the only time I can ever remember of hearing someone complain about the noise of longtail boats in 7 years.

They're not there in the same role as jetskis and banana boats. They are about as far removed from playthings for tourists as they possibly could be. What do you think a longtail is?

They're the de facto method of transportation to and from Railay/Tonsai Beach (which are only accesible by boat), all the islands and other numerous destinations. Moreover, forgetting the tourists, they're a very important to lots of Thai fishermen too. These guys need to make their livings.

They support a very very large proportion of the Thais in the coastal Krabi areas and their families and have been doing so for decades. Long before your ever so tender eardrums even heard of this country.

They're a feature of every beach resort and rural seaside town I've ever been to and I've been to hundreds.

You can rent any one you see (normally) for the day and get them to take you basically anywhere you want. They're cheap, fun and an experience you can't get out of the Asean region.

The alternative is a speedboat, which with 2-3 250hp engines strapped on the back is the epitome of quietness (!) Obviously longtails outnumber speedboats and catamarans greatly and will continue to do for decades to come. It simply comes down to cost.

This is easily the most ridiculous post I've read in a while!

Here's a suggestion, if you don't like the sound of longtail boats near the sea. Book a resort with sound proofing or go to Chiang Mai and stay there for the whole duration of your holiday. May I also recommend Lhasa in Tibet and Thimphu in Bhutan.

Longtail boats make noise! Hahaha! Yeah, the rain's wet and grass is green.

Sunset, looking out over the part of Ao Nang beach infront of the coastal road, drenched in red, orange, purple, pink, salmon, violet and blue watching ardent longtail boat skippers roll in the surf and ply their trade is probably one of the prettiest vistas this life has to bring, in my opinion and that picture is ruined if there's no soundtrack.

You're never coming back? Oh no. Destroy all longtails in Thailand, quickly!

Thanks for the laugh. Complaining about noise in Thailand? What?

Edited August 30, 2012 by ManInSurat

[ManInSurat]

I have no problem with mosque and understand ao nang is a huge mislim area but they shouldn't

Really build them in the middle of atourist area in which is considered to be a Buddhist country

Ever stopped to consider the local Muslim population might not want noisy bars and tourists in thier area? After all, they were there first!

They don't and I've seen them out protesting on the street in their white kaftans numerous times.

I talked to one of the younger men involved in the protest and they also really take umbrage to the northern Thais that come and make their kids sell "All Purpose Flying Fire Lanterns" until 2am, as well as the go-go culture, late closing times and various states of inebriation they get to see the foreigners in at 6 am - 10 am when they're on they way to do a hard day's graft.

Sadly, the tourist dollar is now inextricably linked with Ao Nang, to its detriment, and lots of Muslims are the beneficiaries of this.

The devout will continue to complain, as is their right, but I think they're drowned out by the rest of Thai community that reap serious financial dividends by setting up shop here.

As for this comment...

"I have no problem with mosque and understand ao nang is a huge mislim area but they shouldn't Really build them in the middle of atourist area in which is considered to be a Buddhist country"

That's about as ingorant as you can get about the whole of Southern Thailand and its history, it's bordering on inflammatory.

So wats are OK and mosques aren't? On what basis? That Thailand is 95% Theravada Buddhist?

Ok, let's go and destroy St Agnes Church while we're at it!

They were here centuries before we even got close to this place and have been working the land and sea in the area the whole time and up to the present day. We've been here since the late 80's and that gives us a right to dictate to them where they can and can't build their houses of worship, because they'll get in the way of the gogo and hamburger culture we've imported?

Some of the comments in this thread are outrageous!

Edited August 30, 2012 by ManInSurat

[Galong]

I lived there for three years in the early 90s. It's honestly my least favorite place in all of Southern Thailand. Sorry, but I have absolutely nothing positive to say about any aspect of the way it turned out.

The unfortunate part is that many tourists think they should go there instead of Phuket when it's worse than Phuket in many ways.

Krabi Province is beautiful. Ao Nang is a cookie cutter mass tourism hell.

[ManInSurat]

I lived there for three years in the early 90s. It's honestly my least favorite place in all of Southern Thailand. Sorry, but I have absolutely nothing positive to say about any aspect of the way it turned out.

The unfortunate part is that many tourists think they should go there instead of Phuket when it's worse than Phuket in many ways.

Krabi Province is beautiful. Ao Nang is a cookie cutter mass tourism hell.

Lol, least favorite part in all of Southern Thailand? Pattani, Naratiwat, Songkla and Yala with bombs going off, teachers being murdered, schools being torched, religious fundamentalists and the government being at an impasse on an almost daily basis and you choose Ao Nang? What did Ao Nang ever do to you!?

Did you get an STD here?

Have you been hidden away from the spate of high profile murders, beatings and grand scams in Phuket that have been featuring as front page news of TV for the past few months? Not to mention Chalerm's vow to 'clean up Phuket'. I don't remember the Thai gov't having crisis meetings over the rampant levels of crime in Ao Nang and the way they'll seriously affect the Thailand brand and image to the outside world.

Phuket's a total hole!

They should rename the place the United Soviet Socialist Republic of Phuket. I love the mafia-enforced Russification of Phuket, I really do.

Edited August 30, 2012 by ManInSurat

[Galong]

I lived there for three years in the early 90s. It's honestly my least favorite place in all of Southern Thailand. Sorry, but I have absolutely nothing positive to say about any aspect of the way it turned out.

The unfortunate part is that many tourists think they should go there instead of Phuket when it's worse than Phuket in many ways.

Krabi Province is beautiful. Ao Nang is a cookie cutter mass tourism hell.

Lol, least favorite part in all of Southern Thailand? Pattani, Naratiwat, Songkla and Yala with bombs going off, teachers being murdered, schools being torched, religious fundamentalists and the government being at an impasse on an almost daily basis and you choose Ao Nang? What did Ao Nang ever do to you!?

Did you get an STD here?

Have you been hidden away from the spate of high profile murders, beatings and grand scams in Phuket that have been featuring as front page news of TV for the past few months? Not to mention Chalerm's vow to 'clean up Phuket'. I don't remember the Thai gov't having crisis meetings over the rampant levels of crime in Ao Nang and the way they'll seriously affect the Thailand brand and image to the outside world.

Phuket's a total hole!

I don't go to the far south, so I don't include that in the places I don't like. Other than Hala Bala, there is nothing down there of interest to me.

I worked in Ao Nang in the early 90s and found the locals to be the most dishonest and downright mean Thais I've personally encountered. There were, of course, plenty of nice folks too, but overall, I'd say that area has an unusually high amount of nasty people.

I live in Phuket Town and I don't go the touristy parts of Phuket. I don't drink and I have never had any problems with violence/crime in my 20 years here. There are crime problems in any area with this many people. Stay away from places that tend to be troublesome and you won't have any problems.

My opinion is based on my experiences. Obviously yours is different. You must have had different experienced.

[ManInSurat]

Ao Nang isn't the main drag. There's much much much more to it. The fact you don't know much about what else there is to do in Ao Nang speaks volumes really.

I go digging for "hoi seap", "hoi lai" and "hoi waan" in the silty sands of Ao Nang beach.

There's the walks you can do out to the islets separated from Nopparat Thara at low tide.

I go fishing from the new bridge that connects Ao Nang and Ban Na Tin/Khlong Muang.

I also go out into the mangroves there with my family and friends on longtail boats and fish for "bla sai" in the salty river estuary and visit their fisheries made from rattan and plastic in the same place.

I eat at a Thai frequented (save for a few adventurous souls) Muslim restaurant with my wife where the food is as authentic to the region as you can get and not your imported Isaan stuff that permeates everywhere.

I eat the shellfish I collect myself.

I eat the fish I catch myself.

I come across tarantulas, vipers, bats, macaques and other fauna.

All of this is here right now in the Ao Nang area and I could prove it all just by showing you.

For you to take the opinion that Ao Nang is just one street and a cookie cutout mass tourism hell means you don't know Ao Nang very well and you don't have enough experiences of what else Ao Nang has to offer, to be able to make a fair and balanced opinion.

Your view of Ao Nang seems to be either from the late 90's or from a recent passing visit - not really a fair amount of time to pass judgement on a place you haven't lived in for over a decade.

EDIT: Also re-reading your comment, I don't get the "nasty people" comment either. Real native Krabi-ites are the most mellow and chilled out group of people I've ever met. This is ever more the case with the Muslims. My wife is Muslim, most of her family is, trust me I really know what I'm talking about here.

Ao Nang specifically has a large proportion of Northern Thais, lots and lots and lots of them. I've always found people from Isaan, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, etc, to be far ruder and disparaging to their Southern counterparts and farangs, than the other way around. They value light skin tone and see any one as dark (which people from Krabi, very much are) as inferior.

Can you differentiate between the two? Phuket is teeming with these people too.

Muslim Thais in the region will treat you with dignity and respect if you make the effort to engage them and don't come across as completely ignorant to their culture and the fact you're partly responsible - by proxy - for destroying a large swathe of their motherland.

Why do they owe us over-reaching kindness anyway? They do profit from the enterprise here in much smaller ways, but most of the "hua naas" and business owners are from the north, in my experience anyway.

If I was from Krabi, I wouldn't want to be particularly "sweetness and light" to the herds of marauding Koreans, Russians and Swedes either.

That's all I really have to say about that.

Edited August 31, 2012 by ManInSurat

[ITGabs]

I like Krabi and Ao Nang, I like small towns, free of stress, noisy and pollution.

good beaches, many things to do (no at night), mixed culture, people friendly, cheap home with kitchen , many places to eat...

no shopping mall xD

the unique thing that I don't like are these gangs of young people (I think muslims) making bad things, and that the people like so much to burn the rubbish, and in the afternoon and night the nasty smoke is everywhere, about the muslims chants good luck that the monk have good and soft voice, i like it

Edited August 31, 2012 by ITGabs

[taninthai]

I have no problem with mosque and understand ao nang is a huge mislim area but they shouldn't

Really build them in the middle of atourist area in which is considered to be a Buddhist country

Ever stopped to consider the local Muslim population might not want noisy bars and tourists in thier area? After all, they were there first!

They don't and I've seen them out protesting on the street in their white kaftans numerous times.

I talked to one of the younger men involved in the protest and they also really take umbrage to the northern Thais that come and make their kids sell "All Purpose Flying Fire Lanterns" until 2am, as well as the go-go culture, late closing times and various states of inebriation they get to see the foreigners in at 6 am - 10 am when they're on they way to do a hard day's graft.

Sadly, the tourist dollar is now inextricably linked with Ao Nang, to its detriment, and lots of Muslims are the beneficiaries of this.

The devout will continue to complain, as is their right, but I think they're drowned out by the rest of Thai community that reap serious financial dividends by setting up shop here.

As for this comment...

"I have no problem with mosque and understand ao nang is a huge mislim area but they shouldn't Really build them in the middle of atourist area in which is considered to be a Buddhist country"

That's about as ingorant as you can get about the whole of Southern Thailand and its history, it's bordering on inflammatory.

So wats are OK and mosques aren't? On what basis? That Thailand is 95% Theravada Buddhist?

Ok, let's go and destroy St Agnes Church while we're at it!

They were here centuries before we even got close to this place and have been working the land and sea in the area the whole time and up to the present day. We've been here since the late 80's and that gives us a right to dictate to them where they can and can't build their houses of worship, because they'll get in the way of the gogo and hamburger culture we've imported?

Some of the comments in this thread are outrageous!

Think you need to calm down a bit people are aloud opinions you know sorry I mentioned the mosque now but I have run a business here for five years and these are the general comments of most customers I speak with,no use starting to talk about catholic church after all they do not blast music at all hours of the day and yes most tourists don't realise parts of Thailand are more Muslim than thai and they come expecting to see wats not to be staying in earshot of a mosque waking them up everyday.

And if you want to talk about the bars well sorry but after nearly 7 years here I would say 8 out of ten of the Muslims I have met or am friends with drink alcohol or smoke weed.

No more comments on this subject from me.

[ManInSurat]

I like Krabi and Ao Nang, I like small towns, free of stress, noisy and pollution.

good beaches, many things to do (no at night), mixed culture, people friendly, cheap home with kitchen , many places to eat...

no shopping mall xD

the unique thing that I don't like are these gangs of young people (I think muslims) making bad things, and that the people like so much to burn the rubbish, and in the afternoon and night the nasty smoke is everywhere, about the muslims chants good luck that the monk have good and soft voice, i like it

Ok a few things here.

I can see English isn't your first language, so could you please try to be clear about what your mean by "gangs of young people (i think muslims) making bad things". You do not know they're Muslim. Thinking someone is Muslim isn't good enough. What do you mean by bad things? That could include an awful lot of things.

People burn rubbish as the rubbish collection service is totally awful. It's not the Thai people's fault the Thai goverment don't want to spend the money they get given for dealing with waste disposal and would rather use it to pay themselves. People will burn refuse if no one comes to collect it and they should be allowed to until there's a satifactory level of refuse collection. I'd rather have the smoke than the smell of rotting rubbish on my property.

Also the smoke isn't everywhere. It's just where you are. I've never come across smoke in the main tourist areas of Ao Nang nor at my house. If it's happening right next to the house you're staying in, that doesn't mean it's happening everywhere.

A muslim "monk" is called an "imam". What you're hearing is the "adhan" or call to prayer. It has nothing to do with good luck in any way. It's announcing to pracitisng muslims in the area that they should come to the mosque now to pray.

Often it's performed by a young teenager, 12-13 years old, but can also be one of the older men in the congregation.

Please do explain to me what "bad things" means, I'm very intruiged.

[ManInSurat]

I have no problem with mosque and understand ao nang is a huge mislim area but they shouldn't

Really build them in the middle of atourist area in which is considered to be a Buddhist country

Ever stopped to consider the local Muslim population might not want noisy bars and tourists in thier area? After all, they were there first!

They don't and I've seen them out protesting on the street in their white kaftans numerous times.

I talked to one of the younger men involved in the protest and they also really take umbrage to the northern Thais that come and make their kids sell "All Purpose Flying Fire Lanterns" until 2am, as well as the go-go culture, late closing times and various states of inebriation they get to see the foreigners in at 6 am - 10 am when they're on they way to do a hard day's graft.

Sadly, the tourist dollar is now inextricably linked with Ao Nang, to its detriment, and lots of Muslims are the beneficiaries of this.

The devout will continue to complain, as is their right, but I think they're drowned out by the rest of Thai community that reap serious financial dividends by setting up shop here.

As for this comment...

"I have no problem with mosque and understand ao nang is a huge mislim area but they shouldn't Really build them in the middle of atourist area in which is considered to be a Buddhist country"

That's about as ingorant as you can get about the whole of Southern Thailand and its history, it's bordering on inflammatory.

So wats are OK and mosques aren't? On what basis? That Thailand is 95% Theravada Buddhist?

Ok, let's go and destroy St Agnes Church while we're at it!

They were here centuries before we even got close to this place and have been working the land and sea in the area the whole time and up to the present day. We've been here since the late 80's and that gives us a right to dictate to them where they can and can't build their houses of worship, because they'll get in the way of the gogo and hamburger culture we've imported?

Some of the comments in this thread are outrageous!

Think you need to calm down a bit people are aloud opinions you know sorry I mentioned the mosque now but I have run a business here for five years and these are the general comments of most customers I speak with,no use starting to talk about catholic church after all they do not blast music at all hours of the day and yes most tourists don't realise parts of Thailand are more Muslim than thai and they come expecting to see wats not to be staying in earshot of a mosque waking them up everyday.

And if you want to talk about the bars well sorry but after nearly 7 years here I would say 8 out of ten of the Muslims I have met or am friends with drink alcohol or smoke weed.

No more comments on this subject from me.

Lol, you have such a twisted perception. It's not the responsibility of Thailand or the Thais to let you know Krabi is a more Muslim area. It is your responsibility.

You're trying to say that their mosque gets in the way of the tourism and you also said that it shouldn't happen as this is a majority Buddhist country. Basically a wat would be OK and a mosque wouldn't. Have you ever heard a wat being constructed, it's not a particularly quiet experience.

I was joking about the church obviously to try and get you to realise the point I am making here.

You come across an islamaphobe out of ignorance more than anything else. I've said this before and I'll say it again, I'm married to a Muslim Thai, I have been for six years, the northern Thais here are far more aggressive and rude than the muslims and most of the petty tourist related crime is committed by Buddhists. Not to mention charging you double fee and ripping you off on basically every purchase you make, if they think they can get away with it.

Ao Nang and the muslim community don't owe you anything. They don't have to explain why they're here in more numbers than in other places. Find out if you don't know and don't act surprised when you come across it.

When travelling in a notoriously noisy and loud country, which Thailand definitely is, it's your responsibility to bring silence to Thailand and not for Thailand to provide you with silence.

If the morning adhan wakes you up, get some ear plugs, they have much more of a right to practice their religion than you do a right to not have your hangover made more worse. You complaining about the call to prayer is quite offensive to me and would definitely be to the rest of my family. I am not a muslim, I am an atheist, but I'd never complain about something like that. It's utterly ridiculous.

Ao Nang does not have to make way for you and the peace and quiet you demand. Islam has been in the Malay peninsula for over 500 years, Krabi's muslim community are peace-loving and friendly if you don't come across as ingorant and unwilling to understand about their culture, which you really seem to be doing here.

I'm calm and you're right, people are allowed opinions, but if that makes you a bigoted islamaphobe, in my opinion, I'm allowed to tell you that too.

With the greatest possible respect, I couldn't give a toss about how your business is effected by the adhans and/or construction of the mosque. You should have considered this when purchasing the business, the mosque that you're referring to has been in a construction phase for way over 5 years.

Your guests don't like it? They'd rather crush the muslim culture in the region so they can have a quieter holiday? Do you realise how ridiculous that idea is?

You just don't seem to get it.

The muslim Thais here owe you no silence, no beaming smiles. You get in their way and not the other way around. You disturb them when your clients stagger home still drunk at 6am - 10am in full view of hard working families and kids on their way to work. and/or school.

So you know some muslims that drink alcohol. Big wow!

Every Christian I've ever met eats meat on a Friday. Every Buddhist I've met doesn't believe that the ground is so sacred, they must walk barefoot to reduce their impact on living organisms they may accidentally kill. I've met Jews that eat bacon. I've met atheists that say Jesus Christ and Oh My God on a regular basis. Cannabis and the islamic religion are heavily intertwined, in most places around the world.

What's your point? You know some people that don't follow their religion to the letter, but the fact they want to pray to their God 5 times a day and call other people to do the same means they get in your way?

You have severely twisted logic and it appears to me you and your customers discriminate against religion because it's a bit noisy and you don't really like it. Well tough. Deal with it.

Oh and lastly please do and try and tell your muslim weed smoking and drinking friends that you socialize with in bars that their mosque shouldn't be where it is as it's obnoxious to your ears. Let's see how that goes down.

Edited August 31, 2012 by ManInSurat

[ManInSurat]

"most tourists don't realise parts of Thailand are more Muslim than thai and they come expecting to see wats not to be staying in earshot of a mosque waking them up everyday"

What a massive pile of steaming bullshit. I can't believe what's written there even though I've read it several times now.

If you can't educate yourself that southern Thailand has a strong and vibrant muslim community before you come here then you shouldn't be going on holiday or coming to live here. It's not new. The area has been this way for centuries. Religion should shut up as it disturbs holidaymakers?

Are you just having a laugh here as there's not many sane and rational humans I know that would form an opinion like that.

"Expect to see wats" The people you are talking about expect to see neon and McDonalds, some semblance of a beach, but most importantly bars, girls, bargirls and girly bars. They couldn't give a toss about religion and a day trip to Wat Tham Seua with no information about it or its history, just a moment to decide whether or not they can get up the mountain, will fulfill their "expectation of a wat."

That kind of tourist is destroying this area. I wish you'd force them to leave and would close any business you have that encourages this kind of behaviour. Thailand will be so much better off without you here.

People who do actually come here expecting to see religious structures in some form and appreciate their beauty aren't not going to be upset when there's the building of other religious places of worship for a religion that has been in the area for centuries, perhaps even millennia and are an integral part of the local culture, cuisine and history.

All that is apparent to me is that you dislike Islam generally, probably have this fundamentalist media-reinforced view of your average Muslim and definitely don't think it should be in Thailand. Certainly not in Ao Nang. If they could just disappear it'd be lovely for your oh-so-precious clientele.

You're not normal man.

You should leave and the Muslims should make more noise.

Edited August 31, 2012 by ManInSurat

[taninthai]

Give It a rest my bussiness is no where near a mosque so I have no problems

You are now making claims it is the buddhist that cause the trouble seems that it is you that has the problem and are biased, I didn't reply to this thread for two days as I have no interest in religion or getting into a debate about it

Thank you

Enjoy your day

[rixalex]

When i went there for the first time a few years back, we checked into our resort and immediately noticed the noise of construction work coming from the beach direction. Took a stroll down there wondering how long we would have to put up with it, and couldn't see any construction work in sight. That was when it dawned on us that the noise wasn't construction work, but the noise of the long tail boats going back and forth. Couldn't believe it! It totally destroys any tranquillity and it lasts from sun up to sun down. That would be the biggest con for me and enough to put me off ever going back again. And it's not like i'm unaccustomed to the banana boat / jetski nonsense. This was worse.

What? You're criticizing the noise of longtails boats near a beach in Thailand? Are you mental?

This is the only time I can ever remember of hearing someone complain about the noise of longtail boats in 7 years.

They're not there in the same role as jetskis and banana boats. They are about as far removed from playthings for tourists as they possibly could be. What do you think a longtail is?

They're the de facto method of transportation to and from Railay/Tonsai Beach (which are only accesible by boat), all the islands and other numerous destinations. Moreover, forgetting the tourists, they're a very important to lots of Thai fishermen too. These guys need to make their livings.

They support a very very large proportion of the Thais in the coastal Krabi areas and their families and have been doing so for decades. Long before your ever so tender eardrums even heard of this country.

They're a feature of every beach resort and rural seaside town I've ever been to and I've been to hundreds.

You can rent any one you see (normally) for the day and get them to take you basically anywhere you want. They're cheap, fun and an experience you can't get out of the Asean region.

The alternative is a speedboat, which with 2-3 250hp engines strapped on the back is the epitome of quietness (!) Obviously longtails outnumber speedboats and catamarans greatly and will continue to do for decades to come. It simply comes down to cost.

This is easily the most ridiculous post I've read in a while!

Here's a suggestion, if you don't like the sound of longtail boats near the sea. Book a resort with sound proofing or go to Chiang Mai and stay there for the whole duration of your holiday. May I also recommend Lhasa in Tibet and Thimphu in Bhutan.

Longtail boats make noise! Hahaha! Yeah, the rain's wet and grass is green.

Sunset, looking out over the part of Ao Nang beach infront of the coastal road, drenched in red, orange, purple, pink, salmon, violet and blue watching ardent longtail boat skippers roll in the surf and ply their trade is probably one of the prettiest vistas this life has to bring, in my opinion and that picture is ruined if there's no soundtrack.

You're never coming back? Oh no. Destroy all longtails in Thailand, quickly!

Thanks for the laugh. Complaining about noise in Thailand? What?

You seem to struggle taking on board opinions that differ from your own. I have lived in Thailand many years and visited just about every beach resort there is, and this was the first time i have found the long tail boats creating this level of noise and diesel pollution. And no, the ones i saw were not being used by local fishermen, they were being used to ferry tourists about. Of course tourists do need ferrying about, i appreciate that, but whilst making the pick up / drop off point right on the main beach, guarantees maximum profits for the boat operators, it doesn't do anything for the tranquillity of those trying to enjoy the beach. Mock, deride, laugh, cuss, all you want. That is my opinion, and like others, i shall desist commenting any further on this thread as it is clear that you are incapable of accepting any opinion but your own. The floor is all yours. Cheerio.

[nontabury]

There are many good things about Ao-nang

Beautiful scenery.

The beach is ok,although it would be nicer if the pick-up for the long-tail boats was from the bridge at Nopparati.

The locals including both muslim and buddhist are great,very friendly.

There is no Mall.

Short distance away is tesco,big c,macro

Soon will have a new private hospital(as long as it is not over expensive)

Airport approx 18 kl away

International school.

Easy Access to many places of beauty /interest,both on shore and off shore.

girly bars not in your face.

The bad points=

Tuk tuk taxis are starting to copy the antics of their friends in Phuket.

Expensive restaurants,selling bland food, mainly those on the front.

To many shops selling the same cheap rubbish.

The likes of mac Donald's/Starbucks

To many Indian cloth shops

Bad parking

With regards to the call to prayers from the local mosques,as someone has already pointed out,they were here first.however it used to be someone using their voice,then they started using loud speakers, now some of the mosques have very kindly decided to increase the volume,why I don't know.

[ManInSurat]

When i went there for the first time a few years back, we checked into our resort and immediately noticed the noise of construction work coming from the beach direction. Took a stroll down there wondering how long we would have to put up with it, and couldn't see any construction work in sight. That was when it dawned on us that the noise wasn't construction work, but the noise of the long tail boats going back and forth. Couldn't believe it! It totally destroys any tranquillity and it lasts from sun up to sun down. That would be the biggest con for me and enough to put me off ever going back again. And it's not like i'm unaccustomed to the banana boat / jetski nonsense. This was worse.

What? You're criticizing the noise of longtails boats near a beach in Thailand? Are you mental?

This is the only time I can ever remember of hearing someone complain about the noise of longtail boats in 7 years.

They're not there in the same role as jetskis and banana boats. They are about as far removed from playthings for tourists as they possibly could be. What do you think a longtail is?

They're the de facto method of transportation to and from Railay/Tonsai Beach (which are only accesible by boat), all the islands and other numerous destinations. Moreover, forgetting the tourists, they're a very important to lots of Thai fishermen too. These guys need to make their livings.

They support a very very large proportion of the Thais in the coastal Krabi areas and their families and have been doing so for decades. Long before your ever so tender eardrums even heard of this country.

They're a feature of every beach resort and rural seaside town I've ever been to and I've been to hundreds.

You can rent any one you see (normally) for the day and get them to take you basically anywhere you want. They're cheap, fun and an experience you can't get out of the Asean region.

The alternative is a speedboat, which with 2-3 250hp engines strapped on the back is the epitome of quietness (!) Obviously longtails outnumber speedboats and catamarans greatly and will continue to do for decades to come. It simply comes down to cost.

This is easily the most ridiculous post I've read in a while!

Here's a suggestion, if you don't like the sound of longtail boats near the sea. Book a resort with sound proofing or go to Chiang Mai and stay there for the whole duration of your holiday. May I also recommend Lhasa in Tibet and Thimphu in Bhutan.

Longtail boats make noise! Hahaha! Yeah, the rain's wet and grass is green.

Sunset, looking out over the part of Ao Nang beach infront of the coastal road, drenched in red, orange, purple, pink, salmon, violet and blue watching ardent longtail boat skippers roll in the surf and ply their trade is probably one of the prettiest vistas this life has to bring, in my opinion and that picture is ruined if there's no soundtrack.

You're never coming back? Oh no. Destroy all longtails in Thailand, quickly!

Thanks for the laugh. Complaining about noise in Thailand? What?

You seem to struggle taking on board opinions that differ from your own. I have lived in Thailand many years and visited just about every beach resort there is, and this was the first time i have found the long tail boats creating this level of noise and diesel pollution. And no, the ones i saw were not being used by local fishermen, they were being used to ferry tourists about. Of course tourists do need ferrying about, i appreciate that, but whilst making the pick up / drop off point right on the main beach, guarantees maximum profits for the boat operators, it doesn't do anything for the tranquillity of those trying to enjoy the beach. Mock, deride, laugh, cuss, all you want. That is my opinion, and like others, i shall desist commenting any further on this thread as it is clear that you are incapable of accepting any opinion but your own. The floor is all yours. Cheerio.

"Taking on board" Love your cheeky unintended little pun. Oh don't be upset about what I said. C'mon now hear me out! I'll behave, I promise.

I can take on opinions that differ from my own. The fact is that's always been the main pickup and drop-off point for Ao Nang, it's never been any different and I'm trying to work out where you were staying that is so close to the longtail pickups that it was a disturbance.

You did say you noticed the noise as soon as you checked into the resort. You must have been staying on that main drag then. Not down the promenade heading towards Railay, but actually on the main road opposite the longtail parking.

Those resorts are set back from the road. Longtails are separated from the resorts by the beach itself, the sea-wall by a road, a wall of high trees and a wall of shop fronts add to that the fact that none of the resorts there are at beach/sea level and are raised significantly.

Not to mention that that's the heart of the gogo area. If you were at a resort on the promenade heading towards the Last Fisherman and Railay's limestone karst then no longtails park there.

I tend to check the reviews and location of a hotel or resort before I book it. If you could say which resort it was, we can see if there's other people that share your anguish. Surely they'd have made it clear in the reviews section of TripAdvisor.

There's a pier in Ao Nang at Nopparat Thara, but they would never be able to house all the boats in the area and the river mouth there is dangerous at low tide and even more dangerous when congested.

They all have to leave from that beach. The boats are there just to acommodate us. We cannot complain about the noise of an industry that is generated by our presence here.

You cannot argue the fact that the boats take up a very small part of all the available beaches in the Ao Nang area. The whole of Nopparat Thara beach, which is massive, bigger than Ao Nang beach and very beautiful, has almost no commercial longtail landings, other than the small collection near Luna Bar.

Khlong Muang beach and Tub Kaek beach are even quieter and only a short bike/car/tuktuk journey away.

For you to be constantly disturbed by the longtails on Ao Nang beach you would have had to have stayed permanently in that 200-300m stretch of beach that they park in. Why would you choose to do that? Move slightly to the left or right, say by 500m and you're on quiet expansive beaches. I spend everyday, with a few exceptions on the side of Ao Nang beach closest to Railay, there no longtails ever there, there's no noise pollution of any kind and there's certainly no diesel pollution in the water where I swim.

I'll go and take some pictures today to show you what I mean.

Opinion is fine, but what you're trying to impress on everyone here isn't opinion. It's misinformation.

My point is you'd have to go out of your way to be disturbed by the longtails on Ao Nang beach, even if in my first post, I did come across as loud and brash, this hasn't changed.

You're either hyper sensitive to sound or diesel or are tyring to experience a problem where there isn't one.

If you did actually choose to go and lie next to where all the longtails park infront of the big wide steps on Ao Nang beach and spend your whole day at the beach there, then you're a bit silly. The beach isn't good that side anyway, which is why the boats are there and there's never ending coastline in the area you could easily walk to in about 10-15 mins from Ao Nang beach.

How could you have missed Nopparat Thara beach? It's bigger than Ao Nang beach!

If you were somewhere else, say in a room in a resort right on the beach in Railay, well I could see that might be a problem, but all of those resorts cleary have reviews from people that think the noise is an issue.

Apart from two very small strips of beach on Railay and Ao Nang beaches, there's no other longtail parking, en masse.

It has to park somewhere.

Your argument is silly and does not paint an accurate picture of how longtails (an iconic feature of Krabi heritage and always seen on posters and websites advertising Krabi) work in the Ao Nang area.

Tell me where you stayed and I'll tell you if it's loud. I can go there right now and take some photos at the intrusion of longtails on the beach.

Lastly, you say you were here a few years ago, which means the marina/pier I am referring to wouldn't have been finished yet and parked in.

You can't possibly know what the boat parking arragement is like now in Ao Nang. I do. I could drive there in about 5 mins.

Another point I though about was, outside of the tiny parking strips they do have on Ao Nang and Railay beaches and coming in and out of the river estuary on Nopparat Thara beaches, all longtails keep a very long distance to the shore when they are making their journeys. In the kilometers. There is no way possible boats passing along the coastline could disturb you from that distance.

Anyway, will endeavour to take some photos to show people what I mean here and I'll still maintain the fact, which is based in currently reality, that you'd have to go out of your way to be disturbed by longtails in the Ao Nang area unless you had a resort bungalow closest to the beach where they park in Railay. There's just nowhere else where it could be a problem.

I can prove what I'm saying and I will.

Your comparison of longtails boats to banana boats and jetskis is just totally bizarre. You can't deny that. How are they related in any way?

Longtail boats are a historic iconic image of not just the Krabi area, but Thailand as a whole, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and most of the Asean region. They not only provide a means of income through tourism for Thai locals, but they also allow them to fish in the low season.

The others are just toys, normally used by drunk holiday makers zipping around the surf at high octane speed, presenting a large danger both to the riders and the people in the water around them.

I don't understand your "opinion" here at all. How do they equate?

(I do not actually think you are mental, it's just a turn of phrase and said in jest in the UK. My apologies if any of what I said offended you, that was definitely not my intention. At no point did I cuss. Stop being a fuddy-duddy.)

Edited August 31, 2012 by ManInSurat

[taninthai]

Sorry last comment on this and this is just for you maninsurrat

And this is one of the reasons alot of western tourist do not like or are interested in Muslim religion and beliefs

Make sure you read some of the replies as well I don't think you will like them very much. Just as I'm sure the peaceful budduist Thais won't like the fact that the insurgents have said they are going to start killing buddhists now.

[ManInSurat]

Sorry last comment on this and this is just for you maninsurrat

http://www.thaivisa....l/#entry5620882

And this is one of the reasons alot of western tourist do not like or are interested in Muslim religion and beliefs

Make sure you read some of the replies as well I don't think you will like them very much. Just as I'm sure the peaceful budduist Thais won't like the fact that the insurgents have said they are going to start killing buddhists now.

What a joke you are.

For you to compare the insurgency in Yala (which you obviously know nothing about) with the peacful Muslim community Krabi shows just how badly you understand religion in Thailand as a whole. Thailand is not just a Buddhist country and it's never just been a Buddhist country in its history.

Also the headline you linked to is very misleading. (Not withstanding the fact that linking to other threads is against TV rules.) I read that article before you brought it to my attention. The man was shot. That's how he died. More Buddhists shoot other Buddhists in Thailand. Significantly more than in the Muslim population. More Buddhists shoot foreigners here. I'm sure you saw the story of the British motorcyclist that was executed in Khon Kaen. It has no Muslim population.

You're a religiously uneducated bigot, plain and simple and your previous comments in this thread reflect that for everyone to see and I do not need to read the comments from other religious bigots that you're trying to bring my attention.

What some crazy drug-fuelled men are doing on the Thai-Malay border has no reflection on the people that have been an integrated part of Krabi society for over 500 years.

I think it's disgusting what a tiny minority of people do in the name of religion. It does not just happen in Islam. The Thai army kills large numbers of these people and this war they've been having 1000kms away, which started in 2002, has never and will never affect what goes on in Krabi, Phuket, Phang-Nga, Phattalung, Trang, Satun, Surat Thani, Had Yai and Nakhon Si Tammarat. They are not the same people.

Plus, I've been to Sadao in Songkla many many times and stay with a Muslim family when I am there. That's the place where all the bombs go off and the attacks on the Thai army and retaliations take place. The fact is the Thai government have handled the situation very badly from the start, which is hardly suprising and has exacerbated the situation.

No foreigner has ever been a target of Muslim insurgency in the deep south of Thailand. It's a land war. That's exactly what it is.

You coming along and telling the Muslims in Krabi to move their mosques or not construct mosques because the calls to prayers disturb tourists is probably one of the rudest things I have heard. It's ignorant, bigoted and very small-minded.

Lastly, peaceful Buddhists Thais? Are you serious? There are almost no Muslim business owners involved, even by proxy, with the tourism industry in Krabi. They all come from the North and they're all Buddhists. They constantly rip tourists off a lot of the time aggressively, leaving first time visitors with a bad impression of the country and the area and it's getting worse.

Phuket is now a center of violent crime and murder and has badly badly damaged Thailand's image globally and it has a virtually non-existant Muslim population. All Buddhist on Buddhist and now more recently Buddhist on foreigner crime (and more recently murder.)

We could also talk about the murders that do acutally take place in Krabi and not in a province that belonged to Malaysia. If you bothered to do some research you'd learn that the majority of crimes and murders committed in the Krabi area are done by Buddhist Thais.

You really know almost nothing about this country, its religious make-up or its history which is impressive for the amount of time you've lived here.

You just dislike Islam in general, expect that everyone esle does and form an opinion of all the Muslim Thais in the Krabi area which it totally inaccurate, based on fundamentalism and insurgency. That's just stupid.

Not only that, you even go as far to say that they should get rid of their places or worship and I also think you'd prefer it if they weren't here altogether.

All of this to make Krabi a nicer place for your tastes. That's about as insensitive and rude as you can be as a human, in my opinion.

This isn't your country, you should not be able to dictate which religious beliefs are held by which people in this country and thankfully you'll never have any sort of influence over it as a nobody business owner.

You try to impress upon us that you 'know' some Muslim 'people' from socializing with them in bars. Rubbish. Sorry, have drunken chats in bars is not any kind of way of getting to know and understand a religion in the province you live in, nor how it's been historically integrated and what kind of role it plays today.

I married into the culture, know it from the inside on a profound level. I speak, read write fluent Thai, so I don't just get along with pidgin talk, I actually talk to them and totally understand them.

I live around Muslim Thais from Krabi, I speak to them all day every day and they are my friends. I know this can't be the case for you as you wouldn't have the ridiculous ideas you have.

I'd love to be there when you tell some Muslims here in Krabi how you dislike their religion, think it spoils the Ao Nang area, as it's too loud and messy for you.

Please invite me along to when you express this opinion to your Muslim friends as I'd really love to see what they do. Also, please do bring up the insurgency in the deep south, on the Malay border, and tell them that this is why you dislike Islam and the mosques in the Krabi area and we'll also see how they react to that.

I know for a given fact they'd be disgusted and you'd be lucky not to be beaten and you'd deserve it. Please do try it. Just remember to invite me along when you do.

You're intolerant, ignorant and bigoted about the religious beliefs of the indigenous population in Krabi and it's sad to know that people like that are here.

I am an atheist. I do not believe in religion or God personally. I am tolerant of those who practice their religion peacfully and with the best intentions, especially if it helps them come to terms with the notion of death for themself or their loved ones. Which is definitely the case in Krabi.

Being loud is not a reason to dislike a religion. It's the height of stupidity.

Your attempts to show me why you're in the right to dislike Islam in the Krabi area are sad and pathetic.

Edited September 1, 2012 by ManInSurat

[ManInSurat]

That's the last I'll also say on this matter as I've already wasted enough energy on dealing with religious bigotry to last me a lifetime.

Edited September 1, 2012 by ManInSurat

[grumpyoldman]

"I have no problem with mosque and understand ao nang is a huge mislim area but they shouldn't Really build them in the middle of atourist area in which is considered to be a Buddhist country"

It's their land so can they do what they want. Mosques in other major tourist areas are Pattaya and Phuket and of course Bangkok, just enjoy the diversity. BTW many of the beach vendors & massage ladies are Muslims

I have a mosque right up the street from where I live here in Phuket. Certain times of year when it's Imam du jour belting it out at sunset or 5AM, it's sort of cool. As the poster says, enjoy the diversity.

BTW-a bungalow place I stay in Ao Nang, owner and family Muslim. Lovely people.

[taninthai]

That's the last I'll also say on this matter as I've already wasted enough energy on dealing with religious bigotry to last me a lifetime.

I seriously think you are brainwashed you claim to be an atheist but seem to know an awful lot about Islam and cannot accept people have different views on this and other aspects of ao nanang

You have generalised and slagged of Russians,Koreans,swedes people from chaing mai,chaing rai,issan and Buddhist peoPle from krabi

Even someone commenting about noisy longtails you cannot except I ve heard loads of tourist complain about this there is even reviews on our website mentioning this yet you even claim there are no reviews any where like this.

You go on to claim the Muslims have been pushed out by the aggressive northern Thais and Buddhist locals and they can't run any of the businesses what rubbish what about pp family boat company and barracudas tour probably 2 of the biggest and successful tour operators in ao nang making millions both Muslim owned please show me where these aggressive Thais are stealing there bussiness

Sorry but this thread was for pros and cons of ao nang 2 people who run businesses here mentioned they get comments from customers regarding mosque and you cannot accept that and go on to slag of other posters ,Thais and tourists if you cannot accept other peoples views and resort to throwing insults and playing the race card you are probably better of not getting involved in Internet forums

[ManInSurat]

That's the last I'll also say on this matter as I've already wasted enough energy on dealing with religious bigotry to last me a lifetime.

I seriously think you are brainwashed you claim to be an atheist but seem to know an awful lot about Islam and cannot accept people have different views on this and other aspects of ao nanang

You have generalised and slagged of Russians,Koreans,swedes people from chaing mai,chaing rai,issan and Buddhist peoPle from krabi

Even someone commenting about noisy longtails you cannot except I ve heard loads of tourist complain about this there is even reviews on our website mentioning this yet you even claim there are no reviews any where like this.

You go on to claim the Muslims have been pushed out by the aggressive northern Thais and Buddhist locals and they can't run any of the businesses what rubbish what about pp family boat company and barracudas tour probably 2 of the biggest and successful tour operators in ao nang making millions both Muslim owned please show me where these aggressive Thais are stealing there bussiness

Sorry but this thread was for pros and cons of ao nang 2 people who run businesses here mentioned they get comments from customers regarding mosque and you cannot accept that and go on to slag of other posters ,Thais and tourists if you cannot accept other peoples views and resort to throwing insults and playing the race card you are probably better of not getting involved in Internet forums

English isn't your first langugage. If it is you're not very good at reading it. You just make things up and put words in my mouth.

I didn't slag off Russians, Koreans or Swedes. I said there were lots of them here. Which is an accurate observation. Read what I said. Yes, I wish there were less tourists here as a generalization. The fact these countries (along with China) have the most representatives here is just incidental.

I said nothing about stealing businesses. I said they were here en masse. What's the family name of both the Barracuda and PP owners. Just because the boys who run their boats are Muslims, does not mean the owners are. Yet again you fail to read what I said and understand it.

Yet again you show you ingorance for the community here. Muslims live near water and work the sea. Just look around you. Of course tour companies are going to have boat pilots that are Muslim, it's what they're good at and is a skill that has been passed down through their families through generations. They know the coastline and it leads to far fewer accidents.

It's so fustrating at how someone can live somewhere for 5 years and know so little about the local culture. Do you live in a box when you're not working?

Northern Thais are ruder, commit more crimes as there's more of them, are much more aggressive and they're all Buddhist. What ancient Theravada Buddhism teaches and how modern Thais actually practice that are as far apart as they can be. Read the novel "Phra Farang" for even a small amount of insight into this.

I can't be brainwashed and be an atheist at the same time. I believe there is NO God. I have since I was 8. About the same time I realised there was no father Christmas.

I have lived with Muslims for 8 years. That's where I get all my experience and impression from. That's a long period of observation.

You actually said that you'd prefer it if the mosques weren't here. Your clients would prefer it if the mosques weren't here. They're an inconvenience for you and they get in the way. JUST BECAUSE THEY MAKE NOISE! Do you have any idea how utterly idiotic that is.

Churches and Wats are OK, but a Mosque is not. Listen to yourself.

It's not surprising your reviews on your website say that. I'd call your clients bigots, to their faces, too.

Everyone else either through likes or replying are backing up what I say, except I will actually call you a religious bigot if I think you are and they probably won't. Yet you still carry on regardless to how offensive you're being.

I'm not swearing at you or calling you names. At no point have I done that. At no point have I slagged you off. Calling some a bigot, intolerant and ignorant when they are obviously a bigot, intolerant and ignorant is not rude. If this offends you I don't care. Be offended. It still means you're a bigot. You're just an offended bigot now.

Calling you a bigot is a factual observation, because descriminating against a religion based on your experiences of that religion elsewhere or what you read in the global media and in a country where you have absolutely no right to is bigotry of the highest order.

It shows a lack of education and poor tolerance of other culture. Muslims in Krabi do not represent muslims the world over. You linking to an incident in Yala reinforces that and it's so sad you can't realise it.

Nothing you're going to say is going to make you less of a bigot.

I've said it once and I'll say it again - The fact Islam makes noise, even if it 5 times a day is not a reason to dislike their religion and ask them to move or not build there places of worship where they choose to.

Stop thinking you or your reviewers are in a position to do anything about it.

I've a mind to go and have a chat with the local imam, at that very mosque (who I do know), this evening and see what he makes of your and your reviewers bigotry. Just a shame I don't know which business it is you have. You could expect a protest of some kind.

If you say you're going to stop commenting, actually stop. It'll make you appear less uneducated and uncouth than you already do and help you stop embarrassing yourself.

(N.B. Even a Grumpy Old Man came on here to tell you to chill out and be more tolerant. When then happens you must know you're in the wrong.)

You're an Islamophobe and everything you've done and said so far in this thread proves it very clearly. That's quite a dangerous thing to be around a Muslim community.

Edited September 1, 2012 by ManInSurat

[ManInSurat]

Oh and playing the race card? What are you actually talking about? Stop acting like an idiot and people will stop treating you like one.

----

Here, I tell you what.

I'll leave you alone, carry on believing what you want to believe about Muslims in Krabi and where they should and shouldn't be allow to build their mosques for the benefit of tourism.

That's totally your choice. I can't stop you from doing that.

Don't think for one second if I ever do meet you that I won't call you a bigot to your face. I will. I'll also have basically everyone else in Krabi backing me up as is evidenced by all the other posters in this thread.

I'm all for live and let live.

Peace out.

Edited September 1, 2012 by ManInSurat

[taninthai]

Ypu are really boring me with your bullshit and narrow mindlessness I don't Like alot of the views and beliefs of the catholic church ,buddism or Islam hence why I said I have no desire to get into a debate on it.

You on the other hand cannot accept these and many other views you cannot except anything people say trust me the the two companies mentioned are Muslim owned along with many other hotels and bussiness that I deal with on a dalily basis for fuc_ks sake we don't even sell pork at our bussiness as although it is now owned bybuddhist thai it was originally Muslim owned and considered unlucky by the Thais

From your insults and comments do you honestly think I would live where I live and give bussiness daily to Muslim companies if I was an Islam phobe

The only thing I agree with you On is the views alot of westerners have they only read and see bad media off exstremists and group all the same and yes I used to be like that when I lived in uk but after coming to Thailand living in and around real Muslim communities for 7 years my views have changed for the better and I don't judge a whole race of people on what a small minority is doing

You on the other hand seem to make out like there is some great divide amongst the Buddhist and Muslim people of Thailand and have made insulting comments against thai people and Buddhist people

There is no divide there is no aggressive northern Thais forcing the Muslims out as you put it they all live and work along side each other respecting each others views and opinions ,something which seems you are not capable of doing

[ManInSurat]

Ypu are really boring me with your bullshit and narrow mindlessness I don't Like alot of the views and beliefs of the catholic church ,buddism or Islam hence why I said I have no desire to get into a debate on it.

You on the other hand cannot accept these and many other views you cannot except anything people say trust me the the two companies mentioned are Muslim owned along with many other hotels and bussiness that I deal with on a dalily basis for fuc_ks sake we don't even sell pork at our bussiness as although it is now owned bybuddhist thai it was originally Muslim owned and considered unlucky by the Thais

From your insults and comments do you honestly think I would live where I live and give bussiness daily to Muslim companies if I was an Islam phobe

The only thing I agree with you On is the views alot of westerners have they only read and see bad media off exstremists and group all the same and yes I used to be like that when I lived in uk but after coming to Thailand living in and around real Muslim communities for 7 years my views have changed for the better and I don't judge a whole race of people on what a small minority is doing

You on the other hand seem to make out like there is some great divide amongst the Buddhist and Muslim people of Thailand and have made insulting comments against thai people and Buddhist people

There is no divide there is no aggressive northern Thais forcing the Muslims out as you put it they all live and work along side each other respecting each others views and opinions ,something which seems you are not capable of doing

So you resort to swearing.

I DID NOT SAY NORTHERN THAIS WERE FORCING MUSLIM BUSINESS OWNERS OUT. Learn to read man. It is YOU saying I said this.

I said there were lots of them here. That's true. I said they were aggressive towards tourists and other Thais in general. That's true from my experience. I said Buddhists (not northern Thais) commit more crimes in Muslim, which has to be true as there are way way way more of them.

Please, please, please stop misquoting me.

This is not a debate. They're not views. It is bigotry.

I have a very good ability for taking opinions and views of others on board.

I do not suffer fools gladly as it just encourages them to continue being foolish.

Saying a mosque is loud and it disturbs the tourists is not a view or an opinion. It's bigotry plain and simple.

Who gives a monkey's if it disturbs the tourists? Good. I hope they get more disturbed and the mosque gets louder. They have every right to practice their religion in any legal fashion they see fit. If some pasty, overweight holiday makers lose a few hours sleep or get a worse hangover as a result of that, well that fills me with a sense of great satisfaction.

It's so rude and you just can't see that.

That's the saddest part of all of this, that you still think you and your clientele are right to think this. Even when you get public backlash on this forum, not just from myself, but from everyone who's replied. So you should.

I gave you an out, you didn't take it.

You still maintain I've been insulting you and calling you names.

Get it into your skull calling someone a bigot, when they are a bigot. Or calling someone intolerant when they are intolerant. Or saying someone appears stupid or uneducated or silly, or whatever, is not calling someone names, or hurling insults. It's a FACTUAL OBSERVATION.

I tell you, talking with religious bigots has to be one of the hardest things there is to do when it comes to conversing with other human beings.

You continue to think what you want. I'll continue to think what I want.

It still doesn't make you any less wrong.

YOU ARE CALLING ME NARROW-MINDED!?

YOU WANT TO STOP A MOQSUE FROM BEING BUILT BECAUSE THEIR CALLS TO PRAYERS ARE NOISY.

LISTEN TO YOURSELF. YOU'RE NOT NORMAL!

You have to be the most hypocritical person I've ever met.

Someone please lock this thread.

Edited September 1, 2012 by ManInSurat