can u pm about this please?

just drive out of central bangkok in any direction and youll find what he is talking about. you will be in the sticks.

Another shooting/mugging between Kata and Chalong circle.

http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6499

ahem... my friend is coming in like 2weeks for 1month.. how the hell are we supose to go out at night... this **** is insane

ffs that is pretty ridiculous.

to think ron told me to take the kata road back to chalong the other night

i knew i had a bad feeling about it hehe
patong hills ftw.. @ 100km/h non stop

can somebody explain to me why phuket>bkk?

phuket is the worst place in the world

These guys are hardcore. "Give me your money"
"I don't have anything"
*Bang*
"Give me your money."

Helpful hint: If someone with a gun asks for your money, give it to them.

at least they're not murderers and probably not even likely to hurt you (aside from crashing your ass) if you give them your money.

wtf was this dude thinking telling them that he didn't have any money?!?!?!?

-Bill

I had a gut feeling it was plus EV to race home from the bars at night.

I wouldn't say phuket is better. It's just a matter of personal preference. I love both places but I get sick of BKK after a few weeks. I miss the nightlife and modern conveniences of BKK, but I'd rather have clean air, palm trees and beaches. And I love driving around on a motorbike.

What don't you like about Phuket?
From what I hear you're staying in Patong which is the ******* of the island. It's ok every now and again for nightlife, but I would hate to live there.
BTW, why didn't you come out the other night?

what sites do you use for planetickets from thailand, wanna check the prices to japan/korea/philipines etc.

Hmmm I'm an Asian-Canadian.

I'm pretty sure this means that when I get to Phuket, gangsters will assume I am a broke Asian and leave me be.

FTW.

Umm, there is clearly more to this story than is in the gazette.

More than likely this was an inside job or at least an inside informed job. I would guess the assailants knew he was a bar owner and HAD the till money on him.

Also, the 13yr old girl on the back of the MB at 5AM story don't sound too plausible to me.

This strikes me as almost definitely having some sort of personal element to it. In general, you aren't going to have any problems with this sort of stuff with a Thai riding with you, unless there exists other motive than pure robbery. Of course, they could just be absolute drugged up thieves who couldn't care less if they killed the Thai girl as well, but........methinks it's less likely than "other motives."

All that said, maybe Danny understands why I always "carry" when I drive. Also, fletch, think back to that night we were driving around in Nai Harn at night and I made us pull over for a few minutes because I didn't like the look of the Three young Thai dudes on MBs rolling behind us.

Basiclly, keep you eyes open and your head about you. Even if you don't have the training or experience, if you have much sense, you should be able to feel the danger. If it's late and you see a lone or several MBs with young Thai dudes behind you, either GTFO on high throttle OR hit a lighted/peopled spot and stop making it obvious that you see them and are ready.

Also, when driving at night in groups or even just two, hopefully you guys will listen to me now and STAY together vice trying to set land speed records thru the hills and leaving one or more 100m behind and isolated. I know I talk a LOT, but, some stuff is important yo!

Oh yeah. And Adam, use ur fricken helmet or granpa will hit you with his cane :P!

I'll have to start adding self defence/self preservation to my New Arrivals course.

booked my flight to arrive on 27th night.. it'd be cool if i can get in touch with any 2p2ers, im doing 3 days in bkk first then 4 days in phuket then deciding after. id appreciate it a lot

Blah blah blah. If they can't catch me they can't kill me :P.

Seriously though, just stay in groups and try to avoid the backhills. AFAIK, the area between Patong and Kata seems pretty safe (though I would have thought the road to Chalong was safe too). Also, it doesn't seem like these thieves are out to kill, just rob and get a few kicks from ****ing someone up a bit. I don't really mind getting robbed since baht isn't real money anyway. I just don't want to get shot or stabbed.

allinlife, sounds good

as far as the motorbike muggings are concerned, i think i am going to get into line of work when i everntually go busto, i've still got over 8 months left on my visa so i had may aswell make the most of it.

now just need to get a gun from somewhere ...

beaches, and actual sunshine. not just that hazey pollution you guys have

haha but I want to be like the cool kids..

It's Official!

This is the land of LIES!

haha i love this part "Riding pillion with him was 13-year-old Phraewnapa Laohongse, the daughter of one of the bar staff. She was riding with Hendren so that she could return the bike to the bar."

carry what?

they will know you aren't a local in approximately 3.4 seconds.