U S Navy In Phuket To Splash Out Bt2Mn A Day

[webfact]

US Navy in Phuket to splash out B2mn a day

Phuket Gazette

From 1,500 to 2,000 sailors a day from the aircraft carrier USS 'John C Stennis' and the USS 'Mobile Bay' will be rotated on shore leave while in Phuket. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

The USS 'John C Stennis' viewed broadside. The nuclear-powered strike group carrier may soon be deployed to the Middle East. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Phuket Tourism Association (PTA) Vice President Bhurit Maswongsa today estimated that the US Navy sailors currently visiting Phuket are expected to spend 10 million baht during their five-day stay on the island.

The USS John C Stennis and USS Mobile Bay dropped anchor in Ao Makham bay, off Phuket’s east coast, on Sunday, to give the 5,350 servicemen and women some much-deserved shore leave before possibly being re-deployed to the Middle East.

“Each day during the stay, sailors will be rotated off the ship daily in groups of 1,500 to 2,000 to spend time in Phuket, especially in Patong,” said Capt Ronald Reis, commanding officer of the nuclear-powered Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Stennis.

During their stay, the sailors will also conduct three community relations projects. The first, yesterday, was to continue installing a flood-defence barrier beside a tsunami orphanage in Phang Nga.

The Home & Life Foundation orphanage is home to 26 children and five caretakers, but the canal that runs beside the village has suffered bank erosion, with recurring heavy rain runoff threatening the homes.

“Today, 19 sailors and a few of us from the US Navy League built a drainage line for rainwater runoff and started to build the Ben Abels Memorial, which will end up as a completed work by John Underwood as a tribute to Ben, who lost his life in the [2004] Tsunami. It was John who donated funds that bought the land for the Home & Life Foundation,” said Brad Kenny from the Navy League Phuket.

The remaining community projects to be carried out by US sailors during their stay comprise painting the perimeter wall at Baan Klong Sai School, also in Phang Nga, and painting the buildings and installing parking curbs and other miscellaneous jobs at the Phuket Soi Dog Foundation in Phuket.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle18126.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-10-09

[whybother]

2,000 sailors are going to "splash out" 2 million baht per day. That's 1,000 baht each.

Cheap skates.

[KarenBravo]

Have heard from a couple of business owners in Patong that they're not spending much; just walking around.

Guess the economic hard times in the US hasn't spared the military personnel.

[Soupdragon]

2,000 sailors are going to "splash out" 2 million baht per day. That's 1,000 baht each.

Cheap skates.

What goes around comes around. I wouldn't be surprised if the sailors have been briefed on how they have been ripped off in the past and to be wary of buying anything at grossly inflated prices.

[Treborz]

Wait until the sun goes down, they will soon start splashing the cash if their antics here in Hong Kong are anything to go buy.

[NomadJoe]

2,000 sailors are going to "splash out" 2 million baht per day. That's 1,000 baht each.

Cheap skates.

What goes around comes around. I wouldn't be surprised if the sailors have been briefed on how they have been ripped off in the past and to be wary of buying anything at grossly inflated prices.

It is disheartening when at the port having just walked off the ship I see a guy buy some chicken on a stick for 60B when I just bought it from the same vendor for 20B.

[ikbenhet]

2,000 sailors are going to "splash out" 2 million baht per day. That's 1,000 baht each.

Cheap skates.

What goes around comes around. I wouldn't be surprised if the sailors have been briefed on how they have been ripped off in the past and to be wary of buying anything at grossly inflated prices.

It is disheartening when at the port having just walked off the ship I see a guy buy some chicken on a stick for 60B when I just bought it from the same vendor for 20B.

He probably thought he had a great deal.

[blackthorn2005]

2,000 sailors are going to "splash out" 2 million baht per day. That's 1,000 baht each.

Cheap skates.

Good for them, word is finally getting round that Phuket is a rip off, soon they will find somewhere else to go, cheaper and friendlier! I just saw a group being pestered by the vendors on Rat-U- Thit, the sailors said they were going back to the ship to eat. Soon the only military coming here will be the big spending Indian Navy

[NowImEasy]

Times they are a' changin. While American servicepeople are among the best, brightest and polite young people in American society, there are always some that need to unwind after months at sea. The PC leaders in Washington have surely laid down the law to the Commanders on board Navy ships. The Shore Patrol will be checking the bars and massage parlors to make sure the sailors behave. Unlike the good old days when a guy can let off some steam. I saw a picture taken during WWII in Hawaii where there were very long lines of sailors waiting patiently for their turn at two 'legal' brothels. If one is going into battle, then some sex is maybe a good thing. But not much chance that the saiiors on the Stennis will see any battle, with the exception of the fighter pilots. But I certainly don't think that the pilots are sweating facing the Iranian air force. Probably wishing 'Bring it on'.

Edited October 10, 2012 by NowImEasy

[PattayaPhom]

2,000 sailors are going to "splash out" 2 million baht per day. That's 1,000 baht each.

Cheap skates.

Thats the taxi fare and then they are skint

[Papafarang]

It wont be food or booze as it’s free on board ship

[stevenl]

1 minute ago, Papafarang said:

It wont be food or booze as it’s free on board ship

2012, long gone.

[beechbum]

WOW...They're still here, 7 years later!