shygye Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Link ... The future of Phuket as a rest and relaxation destination for US Navy ships is in jeopardy following a blockade of the access road at Phuket Deep Sea Port by taxi drivers demanding sailors use their service instead of a free transport service provided by the US military. ... Chairat Khumban, secretary of Wichit Mayor Kreetar Saetan, said the blockade was ended after the drivers agreed with military, police and Wichit Municipality negotiators to go back to an old agreement allowing the local taxis access to low-ranking US military personnel while only officers could take advantage of the free van service provided by an outside contractor. A high-ranking US Navy officer attending a welcome dinner put on by the Phuket branch of the US Navy League in Patong last night was reportedly furious at the security breach when informed by telephone. His crew had been on active duty in the Persian Gulf and hadn’t been ashore for 97 days, he said. The Phuket visit was a last-minute change from the originally scheduled visit to Singapore. ... Tuk-tuk drivers waiting outside typically charge a minimum 2,000 baht for the trip to Patong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 ...typically charge a minimum 2,000 baht for the trip to Patong... WTF!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Good reason for the Navy to go elsewhere. Still, I suspect the Swabbies would enjoy Phuket more than Singapore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Go to Pattaya or start to shell the tuk-tuks!! They do have some weapons on the US Navy ships...send in the SEALS!!! or not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Hi, Right, sending in the Seals to take out the tuk-tuks would do Thailand/Phuket a favor. 2,000 Baht for a distance of likely not more than a few kilometers is outrageous. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
passingthru69 Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Another TIT. The rip off tuk tuks in Puket. This is another reason I will not go there. My wife wants to go and I keep telling her no way. To many ripoffs. Yet the police and local goverment will not do anything about it. Might hurt their kick back deals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 The tourists continue to flock to Phuket Until tourists vote with their feet and go elsewhere, nothing will change, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Phuket was still nice 20 years ago, but it was easy to see the way it was going. I haven't been back since and don't intend to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bust Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Maybe people just need to smarten up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 In the 1970s and '80s you got around Phuket by ROT SONG THAEW, not expensive either. The nightlife was small but pleasant. Now Patong has become Pattaya with a better beach. How to eff up a beautiful island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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