Ping

(Please leave in Phuket Forum - about Phuket Immigration only)

I know this has been done before in previous threads, but times change and so do people's experiences. Today I went to Immigration to extend my visa another year and at the end, I thanked the immig officer and he said, 'Only thank you?' Clearly, he was after a tip, but as far as I'm concerned, he's a government officer doing his job. So no tip. It was also exceptionally busy (yesterday and tomorrow the office closed) and I had a far longer than usual wait. So I was also in no mood to tip, even if I had the inclination. Just curious as to what others do - do most of you tip? Do you also tip when you report residence (I never have)? And any cheap charlie comments will be graciously recieved...

Speaking of cheap charlie, I noticed that photocopying downstairs is charged at B2/page for Thais and B3/page for farang. Yes, cheap charlie again, but the old double-pricing principle chestnut is the issue...

Topic title says it all - 1.5m thin black snake trapped in our rear courtyard (Patong). Is there a ranger service or similar to ge trid of him?

Thanks - Ping

At about 1.45pm today, three fit looking Thai males - two in their early 30s and one older man, in a grey mid sized sedan (about 10 years old) arrived at my house. Two of them entered my property and the fittest looking one started to say, 'Hello, we are Navy and every year we...' and as he said this, I noticed the driver had got back into the car and reversed his car to block across my driveway. (Warning bells.) The speaker had extended his hand and I had reflexively shaken it, but at the same time said, 'Why is he blocking my drive way?'

The man shaking my hand took a strong grip of my hand and I tried to withdraw back into the house and close the door, ultimately breaking his grasp. He then held the door so I could not close it, but I managed to slide across and lock the security screen, preventing their entry, at the same time warning that I was calling police. He said, 'We are Navy' (or was it 'Army' - I'm sure he said Navy the first time). I grabbed my mobile and he could see this through the security door. He and his friends then beat a hasty retreat and drove off.

I should add that one of them was wearing a shirt bearing navy-type patches, but it was not a uniform-style shirt.

I have heard before of scammers posing as military personnel. Was this such an incident? Why would they target me - because there is a nice car in the driveway? Their entire approach was threatening - not the type of approach one would expect from people seeking donations.

An over-reaction on my part? Could they have been legitimate? I have not, at this point, notified police.

I'm looking for a reasonably heavy duty car battery charger. None seem to be available in Patong, and I'm told they can only be bought in Phuket Town, but no-one seems to know precisely where. Advice from anyone who knows for a fact where they can be bought would be highly appreciated.

I've ordered a Pajero Sport with accessories including a rear passenger projector screen and (at the request of the missus) a TV tuner, but have the following concerns about the TV Tuner:

- do they use the existing radio aerial for television reception, or do they fit an external aerial?

- is the TV operated by using the controls on the existing entertainment system or do they fit another panel with the TV controls?

Would very much appreciate hearing from someone who has had the same tyype of system fitted to their PJS.