Entries Tagged 'South Thailand' ↓
March 19th, 2010 — Crimes, Drugs, Phuket
They have arrested another stupid foreigner on the island of Phuket that had the idea that the drugs were free to use in Thailand. The Police paraded him in front of the camera with a few other small time Thai drug dealers. The Phuket Police called it the new crack down on drugs and these people were all they could find on short notice.
It is really sad that the Police do not arrest all the people that walks around in Thailand and offers drugs to people. I see them as soon as I step out of the door and they keep asking me to buy drugs. Arrest them instead of tourists and Thailand will be a better place for sure. But one reason for the police not arresting is because they are police spies. When they sold the drugs to the tourist they call the police and get a rearward.
I know I covered this before but people still taking the risk to get arrested and end up in Thai jail for months for a few grams of marijuana.
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January 11th, 2010 — Phuket, Travel Warning
Another Tuk Tuk driver in Phuket thought the best way to improve the image for Phuket was to beat another tourist up. Mr Anvar from Canada agreed to pay 150 THB to another hotel but he then understood that that he been scammed since the new hotel was just around the corner.
He then offered the 100 THB for the ride to the Tuk Tuk driver who answered by calling a friend and the two of them start beating the Canadian.
After a few hours the Tuk Tuk driver reported himself to the police and was denied bail (wow). His boss could not understand why since 150 THB was a standard price for a Tuk Tuk drive in Phuket. Basically tourist be warned if you do not pay we beat you up at no extra charge.
I wrote it before and I will do it again, just avoid Phuket, and let them clean up themselves before any tourists put its foot there. It should be a travel warning when you land in the airport in Phuket that you are now entering a scam zone.
Do not travel to Phuket if you do not want to look like on the photo below
Note: After we wrote this Mr Anwar have confessed to fighting back with the Tuk Tuk mafia and confessed. If he did not do that he would have to stay in Thailand until a court hearing and that might take months. He was fined a 1000 THB.

Tuk Tuk Thailand
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January 4th, 2010 — Phuket, Travel Warning
Two years before the Tsunami I stayed in Phuket Patong area for two years time. At that time the TUK TUK was annoying and you could never get anything cheaper then 100 THB. Most tourists were charged 200 THB per trip long or short. But the after the Tsunami things have gone from bad to catastrophic.
Phuket TUK TUK mafia
The TUK TUK mafia is owned by only one family in Phuket and all TUK TUKs have to pay tribute each month and pay a fee to become a driver.
Nobody can just simply buy a TUK TUK and start driving you need to be part of the family and I have written and warned about this before in my blog.
Now I want to issue a DO NOT GO BY TUK TUK in Phuket it is a simple as that. Rent a motorbike, rent a car, go by motorbike taxi or walk but do not take a TUK TUK whatever you do. If you can book a pickup from the hotel in the price then do so you do not have to pay up to 1200 THV per trip.
The TUK TUK mafia in Phuket has already heard very strong words from the locals and several businesses have complained to the Governor in Phuket. But stil this mafia family can continue doing as they like and take whatever prices they like.
TUK TUK driver attack French family with kids
Last week a French family was attacked and the TUK TUK driver broke the fathers arm and brusied other family members. They had kids with them and their crime was they parked on a spot he wanted to have. The TUK TUK mafias also control much of the beach road in Phuket and ask for money if you want to park your car or motorbike, a land they not own or rent.
Phuket soon to be boycotted
In the last year Phuket have gone from bad to worse, most people that are keep themselves updated can see all high profile cases the Police in Phuket have done and embarrassed themselves. You can also read and see all the Jet Ski scams and other things going on in Phuket. In Thai forums people are talking about never go to Phuket after everything that has happened. If the Governor in Phuket not cleans up his “Paradise” island it will soon be boycotted by many more.
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December 30th, 2009 — Nature, South Thailand, Travel Warning
In Thailand we do not have much of Volcano activity but we yearly rice field burning in Chiang Mai every year. Philippines have warned Thailand that some of its smog from the volcano Mayon can float over to south Thailand in time for the New Year and the peak season.
South Thailand and Phuket can get the same smog we have in Bangkok over the New Year. The hospitals in south Thailand are monitoring the situation for people with breathing problems.
On the Volcano Live you can see the history and pictures of the Volcano Mayon in the Philippines.
Not really the kind of fireworks anybody want for New Year is it?
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