It's amazing what unrealistic expectations put landlords in Phuket:
a new house with small 2BR and plunge pool in Chalong (=no beach) simple bland interior design , low quality interior construction work 3,900USD/per month
similar capacity house w/plunge pool and way much better design in Ubud (=no beach) on Bali 700USD.

It is at the same time when visit to Potato beach club can easily cost you 400 dollars per person, and that KuDeTa is way more expensive than DaMaurizio of alike.

Posted by Sue on July 9, 2015 10:39

Dog on the menu at Dolphin Park Phuket ? Dolphin shaped ivory neckless souvenirs and Rhino horn smoothies? Plans for a bear pit ? Apparently anything goes in Phuket. The current plans for the dolphin apparently sanctioned by the same masters protecting the fishing stocks, sigh of relief, we are all in safe hands.

These poor intelligent mammals sentenced to a life of punishment without trial.

Its ok they wont waste anything, if the dolphins die try the dolphin burgers.

Posted by PhuketDreamer on July 9, 2015 11:09

Hi Ed

I just noticed a tweet from human rights defender, Andy Hall who is the Koh Samui Court for the trial of the two Burmese men accused of murdering two British backpackers.

He says that the accused are sleepy in court because they had to sleep with their chains on last night.

Apparently there were no officials to remove their chains.

I would not want to be sleep deprived if I were on trial for my life.

Ian Yarwood
Solicitor - Perth, Australia

Posted by Ian Yarwood on July 9, 2015 11:20

Nothing Fishy at Phuket Dolphinarium. It now seems official,newly endoresed by the fisheries department,although not sure they realise that dolphins are mammals, which could explain why they may not have a clue what they are endorsing.Surely the department that supervisors abbetoirs would have been more appropriate.It could also perhaps explain why Sue is feelig the pain of house renting in Chalong, as more dolphins due to living, I mean dying in the area.

Posted by Nothing Fishy at Phuket Dolphinarium on July 9, 2015 11:38

Sue are you moving closer to work? Did you get the job at the Dolphinarium in Chalong? Really hope thats the case,we don't want to lose your talent to Bali.But if you do go please remember to take your weighing scales. Good luck with the new job

Posted by Is Sue Moving to Chalong? on July 9, 2015 11:49

Sue have you tried the Zoo in Chalong? We hear there is a vacancy in the wart hog enclosure and they will throw in food and board for free. Problem solved.

Posted by Sue have you tried the Zoo? on July 9, 2015 12:12

Phuketdreamer......

With you 100 percent with your comments.

Poor poor Animals, terrible.... 2015 and this is allowed.....

Posted by Robert on July 9, 2015 13:04

Revelations coming through from Samui Court regarding DNA evidence that was "lost" or could only be tested once - per tweets of Jonah Fisher of the BBC

Posted by Ian Yarwood on July 9, 2015 13:13

@ Ian Yarwood, I question why these 2 boys have to be in chains ( see photo BangkokPost). Completely insane and not needed. And that since last night, as you wrote? For what reason is that torture?

Posted by Kurt on July 9, 2015 13:22

Hi Kurt

I cannot see any good reason at all why the accused had to sleep in chains overnight.

Sometimes there can be a claim that an accused might be a flight risk or might be at risk of committing suicide but I do not accept such claims.

More news is coming through about the loss of the DNA evidence.

Posted by Ian Yarwood on July 9, 2015 14:03

Hi Ed

Re: Samui murder trial.

From Asian Correspondent:

Worryingly, Sky News reporter Jonathan Samuels reported that the broadcaster's translator had been ''warned off'' by local mafia; not a development that inspires confidence. There were numerous reports during last year's hectic investigation of the murders that members of local mafia families were involved in the murder.

Posted by Ian Yarwood on July 9, 2015 14:32

Hi Ed

Re: Samui murder trial.

From twitter of Andy Hall @anatomicalandy

This morning's witnesses Koh Tao case lady heard people singing on beach and police officer involved in delivering forensics materials

Posted by Ian Yarwood on July 9, 2015 15:00

MoW

11:38, 11:49


You should not worry about me renting house in Chalong , as I am not seeking rental but observing situation; moreover I will not rent a house at East cost, and especially in the most criminal part of Phuket - Chalong/Rawai ;)

Last time I was in Chalong, except for transit, may be 3 years ago, simply don't go there.

In addition, my single visit to Australia was limited to few days stay at hotel at Seaworld Drive in Brisbane - with Seaworld actually at walking distance, never went there - or to any other dolphinarium,except occasionally one open air at BVI, simply not interested.

I guess you are among those neurotics who has within 500km at home in Europe or Australia few dolphinariums, but still reside to fight against dolphinarium in Phuket that is eventually simply venting out your disturbed state of mind to the world that was generated by some some other psychological injury, no?

I'm not Pro nor apparently Against dolphinarium in Phuket - I'm simply not on this topic, I don't know much about it, so it is simply not within my area of interests. Would it be elephants or dogs, I'd be more involved to the topic.

Posted by Sue on July 9, 2015 17:48

I can't believe my eyes what I'm reading:

Police told BBC that Koh Tao murder DNA evidence is lost.

I give less than 1% that disappeared as indee lost, but most probably it indicates that it was fabricated, intentionally contaminated, and now - when requested for examination - removed. Also, it removes risks that some local mafia will be identified as perpetrators if they were involved.

Actually, terrible moment for victims families as it indicates that investigation level is way below any reasonable standard , and there is very small chance for finding attackers..

For unjustly accused that surely is very remarkable statement.

Posted by Sue on July 9, 2015 18:26

Been watching the updates from the Samui trial - so the prosecution case rests mainly on DNA tests which apparently show these two boys as the killers, but now the police have destroyed (sorry, lost) the DNA so that it can't be independently tested!

What an absolute farce - with evidence like that the case should be thrown out of court immediately and substantial compensation given to the two innocent boys

With the Sky news interpreter being chased away as well, it would seem that the police should have looked at other people more thoroughly

Posted by Discover Thainess on July 9, 2015 21:08

Re: Samui Murder Trial:

This is already a bungled police investigation, the accused are being treated as guilty before the trial concludes and do not rely on any DNA evidence because DNA can be planted on anyone or any object.

Posted by Paul on July 10, 2015 08:05

@Sue
It's amazing what unrealistic expectations put landlords in Phuket

It is only a unrealistic expectation if he cannot let the property for his requested rent
The landlord like all business's will charge as much as they can get for their product. It is similar to when people work they want as much money as possible for their labour

Posted by Paul on July 10, 2015 08:44

Paul,

sure, I meant that the properties in question either will stay idle, or will be rented out around 1/3 of their asking price.

As always in this world, there are not many really good properties in good location.
At the same time there are a lot of un equate offers that are never or seldom rented out at all.
The house on a small land plot in the middle of Chalong frankly is not very shining brilliant property.
Same as e.g. ask bids for 2,500USD per day in peak season around Ao Yon for 2BR, giving that Ao Yon is semi-swimming beach , and the villa in question is actually facing non-swimming wateredge.

I benchmark prices vs.Carribean - you can get modern design villa, say, at Virgin Gorda is., BVI , yes, on non-swimming side, but right at water edge with flamingoes regularly visiting , 15min drives to Baths of 20min to Savannah bay - swimming beach, for less... - and it is in general much more expensive destination, and natural beauty simply is incomparable to modern Phuket( or in geberal, coastal Thailand)

Posted by Sue on July 10, 2015 09:10

Paul

Pornthip Rojanasunand heavily criticized collection of forensics in Koh Tao case on the basis that it should be done by independent to investigators bodies (and, anyone ever seen gloves in Thailand on anyone who collect evidence at crime scene ...?).

With that she, obviously, lobbied for a higher profile of forensic experts in Thailand.

But, bar her GT200 conduct and support for Abhisit's government push-off policy for Rohingya boats, I wait that a defense team call her as an expert witness in this case who will crash and trash the evidence collected basing on simply wrong unprofessional procedures below any reasonable standard , by Koh Tao and Samui police.

Posted by Sue on July 10, 2015 09:44