This makes me go mad.

[beuk]

A day or two ago a tv celebrity of Belgium (Flanders) was going to Phuket too. He normally should have landed while the waves were just passed. After a while he landed and he wanted to know what was going on. At that moment nobody told him. So in the evening journal he said that the Thais did nothing at all, that they had no information or what so ever. Now there are people taking over his words in the shops and on the streets that the Thai people are poor beggars who can not do anything good. It`s by people like him that make such a beautifull country get there bad names. Now when they started to organize and clean everything up you don`t hear him speaking anymore. He probably is just making the best holiday in his expensive up mountain hotel and when he returns probably gonna tell everybody who to hear that it was total chaos. People like that who go on holiday and know jack sh1t about the Thai standards and how they live just p*sses me off.

[tintin]

Wich one? Jacques Vermeire?

Stupid man, no wonder his wife became a lesbian!

[Elgrande]

What a DICKHEAD!

Anyways, I totally agree with you, morons like that, give Phuket a bad name and render the local's useless, where in actual fact, they are much more efficiant than most of us, when it comes time to get the job done.

As I posted in http://forum.sawadee.com - this is my reaction below;

For those who have either lost a loved one in Thailand, espcially Phuket or if you are someone who is still interested in going, but unsure if you should go or not, based on what you see on the news, then things have to change and the people of Phuket must speak!

Since the terrible Tidal Wave, the only photos or videos that the media has been showing on television, are those of December 26th.

I have travelled to Thailand 12 times and I know the locals. I also have many friends in Phuket who in the last few days, I have been in constant contact with. All of them telling me that a major cleaning operation started as soon as the threat was over. This means, that Phuket will clean itself up quickly and start rebuilding, sure it might take some time, but none the less, people should NOT be weary of travelling to Phuket.

PS.

YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED............

PLEASE REPLY TO THIS TO HELP EVERYONE

As much as the media has helped, they are also at the same time, scaring everyone from stepping foot on the island.

I live in a country where there are many earthquakes; does that mean I have to move? I think being careful is more prudent, rather than abandoning and moving somewhere else, this applies to Phuket, either as a holiday destination or a place to live.

What Phuket needs now, is reassurance, promotion and good words from the media - because they DESERVE IT.

Live it, go there and thank that it's there, because they want you there, our presence is the reason Phuket is the best place in Southeast Asia.

God Bless the lost ones and God Bless Phuket.

SAWADEE KA/KRAP!



My good friend Neil, who lives with his wife Tik, in Kata Center and are the owners of Tik's Place, have been keeping me in constant contact with me, providing true information on what's going on in Phuket, you can visit their website here: http://www.phuket-guide.com/ and get the REAL news.

The media is scaring the people and they're not focusing on the positive events.

As sad as it is with the recent disaster, it's more important to focus on tomorrow, rather than yesterday.

Phuket is Phuket, not Sri Lanka...............

[beuk]

Right on it TinTin he`s the idiot spreading the news.

[Ziebart]

Just felt so touched by the public spiritness of the individuals and various organisations during the tsunami onslaught, I must put in print my observations and admiration.

1.The individuals who were working hard clearing debris from the water escape man holes grilles to allow water to flow through outside Christins on the morning itself.

2.Rescue trucks and ambulances who were ferrying wounded relentlessly from the beach to the hospital. Attendants getting their priorities right in bringing the wounded and sadly tending to corpses later. I saw them work replentlessly. My salute to the drivers and attendants.

3.At the airport, local thais were trying very patiently and diligently to help the wounded and those unable to walk anassisted. I myself was using luggage trollies to serve as wheel chairs once they got off the vehicles.

4.The army trucks who were transporting tourists to the airport in a situation where some could no longer pay their way there. The army also provided fruits, food packs, slippers, bread n butter etc.

5.The Rotary Club who provided water and packed food and of course some pretty ladies to offer comfort and a smile to us. Bangkok Air, Thai Airways and other airlines who gave us towels, pillows, in flight packed food, orange juices etc. Not forgetting the free extra flights to Bangkok on the 27th night when it was evident that all flights are fully booked.

6.There are many more organisations who have lent immediate or quick help in response to the situation which I have not seen but let no one say that the operations was a mess and chaotic.

I was most touched by the work done by all these groups and even more that I must put my 2 cents of input here. Thanks again.

[domifletch]

Originally Posted by beuk

A day or two ago a tv celebrity of Belgium (Flanders) was going to Phuket too. He normally should have landed while the waves were just passed. After a while he landed and he wanted to know what was going on. At that moment nobody told him. So in the evening journal he said that the Thais did nothing at all, that they had no information or what so ever. Now there are people taking over his words in the shops and on the streets that the Thai people are poor beggars who can not do anything good. It`s by people like him that make such a beautifull country get there bad names. Now when they started to organize and clean everything up you don`t hear him speaking anymore. He probably is just making the best holiday in his expensive up mountain hotel and when he returns probably gonna tell everybody who to hear that it was total chaos. People like that who go on holiday and know jack sh1t about the Thai standards and how they live just p*sses me off.

I don't know who you speak about, but this guy must be a f*ing a** hole.
I have heard so many reports and seen so many pictures on tv about Thai people giving assistance to farangs and Thais with food or drinks, or anything needed. How it is possible to speal like that!

[marc26]

i am not defending or desparaging this man. but i can tell you by personal experience that the 1st 15-20 minutes were very frustrating as a foreigner. the locals thais did react in no way ive ever seen in a disater, dire emergency. maybe thats a good thing, but when i was trying to get information, it was really hard. but i honestly believe it came from their lack of understanding the situation. all i got from my gf calls to her friends and her talking to thais on the street were "bad wind". my gf was reluctant to ask police or fire, which drove me crazy. so maybe his words were taking out of context. as i said before, when things slowed down a little, the thais were very generous and gracious. im just letting you know how i felt.

[pakhay]

Just to report the experience from a Hong Kong tourist finally luckily to survive in the tradegy. She and her family was in Patong and the wave suddenly came. They lost everything but had to run to the mountain only with their swimming customes. On the way, the local shop owners offer their clean water and food for free. Some even offer clothes and slippers.

If you have been in Phuket, you should know that these people are not rich but in incident like this, they are willing to share what they have (though not too much) with people that they don't know. That's what we call Global Village. I find it disturbing when the Americans are only donating a small sum of relief money given their superior economic power and wealth status. Don't they remember what the Asian allies do in fighting terrorists with them.

As for me, I intend to head to Phuket at the last week of Jan. Not only do I want to show my support to their tourism industry, I also plan to prepare some petty cash and give to kids wondering on the street. Though it won't be much, I just want to do my little part.

[Allybabba22]

Originally Posted by pakhay

I find it disturbing when the Americans are only donating a small sum of relief money given their superior economic power and wealth status. Don't they remember what the Asian allies do in fighting terrorists with them.

How can you say that 30million dollars in aid is small? I was listening to this on the news the other night and thought it was disgraceful to suggest this was a small amount of aid, Now dont get me wrong im not a great supporter of the american goverments policys but after you take into account how much they give out to other countrys in aid all the time, To say that about them is disgraceful especially when you compare it with what some other countries have given its by no means small, At the end of the day they dont have to give a penny to anyone but they do it anyway.