Tim Linkinwater wrote:I love it down there.
I forget when you moved. Have you done a full wet yet?

I remember what had to be an eight day stretch when it didn't stop raining - at all. Grim.

On my first one now. Longest we've had so far was about 2 days nonstop. But I still go out in it... it's great, almost zero moto traffic. I like the beach in the rain as well (so long as there's no lightning)... makes the water cool and the waves bigger. I mean, you're getting wet anyway... who cares what direction it's coming from?

As stated Snooky isn't for everyone. In my opinion its mostly like Thailand 30 years ago. (going to Thailand for 34 years.) As stated you have party till you drop or layed back and not much in between. There is no hospital, but we are getting a BurgerKing. The beachs are the main draw unless you are into casinos. The beer and female entertainment is cheap as are the apartments/houses. Charlie Harper's and the Kangaroo Kitchen Bar/Guesthouse (around the corner from CH) are both downtown, have economical rooms and a regular expat clientele.

Ochheuteal beach is the main downtown beach (not the cleanest) and one of two centers for nightlife, the other is Victory hill at the other end of town. There are tons of hotels, guesthouses in both areas and isn't very crowded in the off season.

Otres beach is out of town to the south, has lots of economical grass shack bungalows/restaurants right on the beach, but the downside is its out of town.(long tuk-tuk, moto ride.) (backpacker heaven in the high season.) You can literally walk out of your grass/wood room and within 100ft be in the water.

Finding an apartment is hit or miss, but you can get a lot of good leads at CH or the Kangraoo from locals. The one good store in town Samudera's (downtown) has a sale/message board that usually has apartments/houses for rent listed. (Mrs. S also has apartments I believe just across the street from her store that are in your price range.) Low season there should be a lot available.

Independence beach is the best beach in town, but unless you really like to walk a lot its a moto or tuk-tuk ride. There is a new "fresh beer" place on the road to Independence that makes its own beer. $.50us for a cold mug of lite beer and $.75 for a mug of darker beer. (They make it right there.)

One year visa: I trek down to Anna Travel (on the way to Ochheuteal beach) once a year, give them $290us and three days later I have another one year visa. Drivers license takes them a few weeks.

Cheap beer/women, economical apartments, easy one year visa, beach's, casinos, what more could one ask for? Paradise (with insects.)

Sailorman wrote: Cheap women

Christ, there are only about 6 of them. It must get like Scotch broth down there, down there.

Thanks Sailorman. Plenty of useful info in your post.

I'm sorry, I know it's pathetic and childish, but I just have to. I tried but I can't resist.

The sea breeze is loaded with tourists for the other four months in the year.

Sorry. I feel better. Sorry.

phuketrichard wrote: Otres is nice but a hassle to get back from at night

Gotten better, tuktuks there pretty much around the clock now.

phuketrichard wrote: victory,( not as nice as when Browns was there) independence an Sokha beaches are real nice to hang out during the day

pretty much the whole beach is now a construction site up until the chinese restaurants and casinos.

phuketrichard wrote: You can often find some good deals on apts/rooms and even houses above Victory beach with views of the sea.

tuktuks and motos in that area have sort of lost their minds with prices (example: i had a motodop try and get $5 from queenco to charlie harpers one night, and he wouldn't negotiate lower) and most of the things to do up there have dried up or gone sort of shitty... so unless you have a moto of your own for getting into town/another beach it's not a very economical choice. what you'll be saving on rent you'll be spending on transport.

OrangeDragon wrote: tuktuks and motos in that area have sort of lost their minds with prices (example: i had a motodop try and get $5 from queenco to charlie harpers one night, and he wouldn't negotiate lower) and most of the things to do up there have dried up or gone sort of shitty... so unless you have a moto of your own for getting into town/another beach it's not a very economical choice. what you'll be saving on rent you'll be spending on transport.

When I was there a few months ago, I had the same problem. I just walked back to my hotel, they all thought I was insane, but 1 or 2 kilometres to a Canadian is not a big deal.

I think when stuff like this happens we need to form an Expats Union and never take transport until we get a fair deal.

Same Same, but different.

Up To You. (what you usually hear when you ask a taxi girl here how much?)