do you know what a 'traveller' is?

[broker1]

Im organising my postponed January holiday for April now and Ive just read this post on Stickman's site posted 2/2/05:

http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/Reader/reader1464.htm

forgetting most of the crap in this post, there are a couple of points that seem alarming:

"...future reconstruction on and around beach road in Patong. The damage was considerable. That means construction day & night, jackhammers, cement trucks barreling down the road, dust, noise 24/hr a day..."

"Everybody knows that Mr. Farang has left. But there is a secret here. Mr. & ms kon Thai have deserted also. The staff is nowhere in sight, probably moving to greener pastures. So if the farang were somehow to magically to reappear in any number there would be nobody to accommodate them."

"Now let's move over to the bar scene in Phuket. In Kata, Karon & elsewhere there is none. In Patong the scene is minimal with some grizzled veterans hanging on, bless them.'

"The tsunami hit at 8:30 am Sunday December 26, 2004. Why don’t we work & try to reopen Phuket on an exact date & time. Say like 8:30 am October 1, 2005." (it cant possibly take this long!!)

Id like the HONEST opinion of residents and current/recent travellers, to the above extracts. Things cant be all rosy, stevem sold (although I dont know the details, could be another reason.)

I will be coming to Phuket regardless, Nicke has been very helpful with pointing out the best things to do while there and I thank him for that. However I am going to be staying in Bkk as well and want to book hotels in advance. Reaps said that the best part of his recent trip was Bkk, Im thinking I should be spending more time there than Phuket, but I prefer beaches to buildings.

So basicaly am I going to be scrapping the bottom of the barrel with regard to quality of the BG's? And more important will Fantasea, shooting range, elephant tours etc. be operating?

Lastly are prices still inflated to cover for lack of tourists?

I know recovery relies on the return of tourists, that's why I didnt go to Fiji, Bali or Phil. instead, but Pattaya seems to be the hot spot of Thailand right now.

Oh and a 'traveller' is when your on a bus, boat, tractor etc and the rythmic vibrations of the engine/motion through the seat give you a plesant felling in your lions, then all of a sudden your little mate stands and says "Should I be getting ready for some action?"

[aussie dollar]

if you have a good look on forum most of your questions are answered already.
check out this site has photos of work from 26/12 to now
http://www.phuket.com/phuket-photos/index.htm
I have read 90% fixed now.
also in patong some building and noise is around always 5 years ago stayed at patong merlin next ,door grand tropicana was rebuilding it was noisy and dusty.
plenty of accomadation a little bit away from any damage is avalible.
phuket needs our money to help
check those pictures out and read somw previous posts.
If we dont start going back they will never recover fully !!!