Phuket Thailand

retepg · #1 07-08-2007, 22:20

Hi to all on the board. I have been following the site for a while and feel that it is about time that I introduce myself.
I have been to LOS twice now, the first visit was at the beginning of 06 It was a short package holiday as a 50th Birthday present to myself and it included Patong, Bangkok and Singapore. I had prepared myself by surfing the net, but still learned the hard way about Guest Friendly, LT and ST ect. Also four days in Patong was not enough and I new that I had to go back.

I spent two and a half weeks in Patong this March, a lot better prepared but still had not yet found your amazing site. So the MT bar will have to wait till my next trip. The moment the taxi drove in to Patong I felt like I was back where I was happiest. I had chosen my own hotel (The Expat) using the criteria of, guest friendly, close to Bangla and a pool. I still made a few mistakes, the biggest being ignoring my own advice gleaned from the net. Not to fall for a BG. But is seems as though I am just one of many who have gone down that road.

My next trip is in the planning stage. I would like to visit off season next year and would like to stay a little longer and away from the centre of Patong. I would like to find a reasonable guesthouse or short-term apartment in the Nana area. To get a better feel for the place with the view of a possible long term stay in years to come. So any advice would be welcome, but I will use the search facility, I promise.
See Ya
Peter

keith67 · #2 07-08-2007, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by retepg

Hi to all on the board. I have been following the site for a while and feel that it is about time that I introduce myself.
I have been to LOS twice now, the first visit was at the beginning of 06 It was a short package holiday as a 50th Birthday present to myself and it included Patong, Bangkok and Singapore. I had prepared myself by surfing the net, but still learned the hard way about Guest Friendly, LT and ST ect. Also four days in Patong was not enough and I new that I had to go back.

I spent two and a half weeks in Patong this March, a lot better prepared but still had not yet found your amazing site. So the MT bar will have to wait till my next trip. The moment the taxi drove in to Patong I felt like I was back where I was happiest. I had chosen my own hotel (The Expat) using the criteria of, guest friendly, close to Bangla and a pool. I still made a few mistakes, the biggest being ignoring my own advice gleaned from the net. Not to fall for a BG. But is seems as though I am just one of many who have gone down that road.

My next trip is in the planning stage. I would like to visit off season next year and would like to stay a little longer and away from the centre of Patong. I would like to find a reasonable guesthouse or short-term apartment in the Nana area. To get a better feel for the place with the view of a possible long term stay in years to come. So any advice would be welcome, but I will use the search facility, I promise. See Ya
Peter

Hi and Welcome can see you have been reading some recent posts......555555....i'm sure some of the local bm's will help out with your questions there are a few live up round that area.

IRISH JONNY · #3 07-08-2007, 22:33

hi and welcome to the board....lots of great info on here..........keep reading.......ij

Nanook · #4 08-08-2007, 00:23

Welkom.
Hope you will keep enjoy reading and learning. This forum provides you almost anything you want to know.

t0rn · #5 08-08-2007, 01:22

Welcome to the board Peter,
Sounds like you're hooked already

You should probably clarify what you mean by 'off season'.
I assume by 'Nana area' you mean 'Nanai' - might help if you're searching, places available there from 300-400 baht/night - just depends how cheap you need.

as for getting a feel of the place, there are many expats on this board who are very helpful - just don't promise to fill them with Rosso!

retepg · #6 08-08-2007, 01:40

Thanks t0rn and the others, sorry about Nana / Nanai... As for off season, low season may be a better way to put it.
I will search closer to the time and once I have a few possibilities I will ask for valued opinions. I think that is the best way to go.
And yes, totally hooked.
Thanks again.

MrDK · #7 08-08-2007, 09:01

Welcome to the board Peter.
Good luck on what will be your third trip to Phuket.

May we expect a trip report?

Mav · #8 08-08-2007, 09:06

Welcome

l often wonder why we don't get many Sth Africans on the Forum.

nelsonone · #9 08-08-2007, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mav

l often wonder why we don't get many Sth Africans on the Forum.

and what may I ask is the answer to this conundrum which you are inclined toward.....

not tech savy enough for pew ahs....

can get in enough trouble in Jo'burg without leaving home...

no Afrikaans spoken in here....

Too busy watching Rugby....

BTW....sorry about that + welcome Peter!

Mav · #10 08-08-2007, 11:18

Just that l met so many of the mad ba$tards in London, l have never met one in LOS

nelsonone · #11 08-08-2007, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mav

Just that l met so many of the mad ba$tards in London, l have never met one in LOS

now you mention it nor have I ???.....can't think of a one

but "Thin White Duke" is a Yarpie who has stayed for a while in here.....

retepg · #12 08-08-2007, 11:43

Judging by the suit-salesmen being able to greet in Afrikaans once they know you are a Saffa... There must be a few others lurking around....

nelsonone · #13 08-08-2007, 11:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by retepg

Judging by the suit-salesmen being able to greet in Afrikaans once they know you are a Saffa... There must be a few others lurking around....

55555....true Peter but those monkeys seem to be able to imitate eskomos as well!!

fotonut · #14 08-08-2007, 12:12

welcome retepg, glad you found the forum - lots of great info, and folks, here. would love to get to cape town one day!

Thin White Duke · #15 20-08-2007, 22:03

Only saw this thread now...so welcome Peter.
Nice to have another Saffer in the house!

retepg · #16 21-08-2007, 03:34

Thanks Thin White Duke.
I am surprised that there are not more of us as I heard Afrikaans spoken more than once on my last visit and know of a few guys back here in CT who are regular visitors.

Captain · #17 21-08-2007, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by retepg

Thanks Thin White Duke.
I am surprised that there are not more of us as I heard Afrikaans spoken more than once on my last visit and know of a few guys back here in CT who are regular visitors.

Being Flemish I understand Afrikaans, speaking is a bit different as the word order in a sentence is sometimes different. But you will understand all Flemish/Dutch speaking guys in Patong.

edje123 · #18 24-08-2007, 02:46

baie welkom

retepg · #19 24-08-2007, 11:43

I can understand Dutch to an extent, but as Afrikaans is not my first language I would have to say that I would battle a bit.....

Thin White Duke · #20 24-08-2007, 13:26

Same here.

Funny how Aussie's/NZ think South Africans are all "yarpies",forgetting about all the English speaking people as well as the other 12 indigenous languages.Ignorance is bliss....

aussie45 · #21 24-08-2007, 15:16

Can someone explain the meaning of Yarpie, I have heard it used as a term of endearment used on the Rugby field when talking abbout our South African brothers! I want to make sure I dont insult the thousands that are flocking here to live at the moment.

steve w · #22 24-08-2007, 18:35

In Australian/Kiwi/South African backpacking culture, it is commonly believed that this was onomatopoeic from the use of "Yaar" (sounding harsh even to Australian ears

, to mean "Yes", especially while listening. ie those that say "Yaar, Yaar" as a (mildly annoying?) habit while listening are referred to as 'Yarpies'. Quite likely this is apocryphal but might be a reason contributing to the uptake of the word.

Thin White Duke · #23 24-08-2007, 19:38

Not sure of it's actual origination,however in Afrikaans the word 'aap' means "ape" and an "aapie" is a "small ape" or "monkey"

So although Steve W's version is plausible I expect this is the real reason for the name so enjoyed by the Aussie's/Kiwi's.

By the same token there's no end of 'sheep' jokes over here either

It all evens out on the Rugby field..5555

nelsonone · #24 31-08-2007, 09:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thin White Duke

Not sure of it's actual origination,however in Afrikaans the word 'aap' means "ape" and an "aapie" is a "small ape" or "monkey"

So although Steve W's version is plausible I expect this is the real reason for the name so enjoyed by the Aussie's/Kiwi's.

never knew about the (ape) meaning in Afrikaans....have always thought it is as stevew suggests...the "yarp" said quickly for yes....or the other more common one coming from "Jaap"....a popular (or once very common) male name in Afrikaans

oh well...no wonder we offend sometimes....sorry about that you biltong munchers!!!..........55555

faultytowers · #25 31-08-2007, 15:01

Found this explanation , don'y know if it is accurate or not.

Quote:

yarpie or japie

a white, Afrikaans speaking, South African man

japie, or plaasjapie meaning farm-boy. The origins go back to the early 20th century (possibly earlier) when economic circumstances forced rural Afrikaners onto the mines. 'Japie' or 'plaasjapie' was a term of derision implying 'ignorant, uneducated or even stupid, rural Afrikaner'