|
|
|
A certain exhilaration is part of the pleasure of discovering a new cruising destination. And this can be especially true in Thailand. Once the essential official paperwork has been completed on arrival, visiting skippers and their crews have the opportunity to explore the many facets of one of the most sophisticated cultures in Asia. There is the challenge and delight of a new language, different customs to observe, and an extraordinary range of exotic foods to delight the most discerning palate.
When dealing with government officials or doing business in town, it's appropriate to wear clean and slightly more formal clothes - no T-shirts or thongs at check-in time. Untidy or unclean clothes are considered an insult. For men, a collared T-shirt or shirt, shoes or sandals, and long pants are preferable to shorts. For women, it's a good idea to have shoulders and thighs covered. A blouse with skirt or pants is ideal, and is comfortable for buses, etc. Just look around at the local people; they're nearly always very neat and clean. Follow suit, and you should have no problems.
It's not wise to get angry or impatient, to swear or shout. It's you who loses face, and it's likely to make the situation even worse. Be polite and attentive, have patience with any language difficulties, and you'll be surprised at how smoothly things can progress. Remember, government officials have a job to do and responsibilities to carry out, so it's sensible to treat them with appropriate respect. If you're really having problems, try and get to speak to a superior.
Remember, you're a guest in Thailand. The Thais are friendly, helpful and generous of spirit. They believe in enjoying everything they do, whether it's work or play. So if you make your business or social encounters enjoyable experiences, you also benefit. As in most Asian countries, it's best that no one loses face in any encounter. Don't argue either yourself or the other into a corner. It will only produce a stalemate. As when bargaining over price, they start high, you start low and you meet in the middle. Everyone goes away happy. Also be respectful of the numerous religious and royal icons that you encounter. They are held in reverence by the local people.
It's essential that all skippers and crew members proceed to the nearest Immigration and Customs offices. You should complete the necessary clearance procedures as soon as possible after arriving in Thai waters. In Thailand, it isn't necessary to fly the Q flag. Yachts can clear in at Phuket or Krabi, however, remember that you have to clear out where you cleared in.
Skippers must also report to the Harbour Master on arrival and departure as part of port clearance. In Phuket a clearance office has been set up at Ao Chalong at the Phuket Fishing Lodge, which is initially planned to operate part time. The main offices of Immigration and Customs are in Phuket Town.
All skippers or crew arriving from another country by sea get 30-day visas, which can be extended under certain circumstances. Provisions can also be made to leave a vessel unattended in the care of an authorized agent. If any of the crew are not leaving Thailand on the same boat, they must be signed in as passengers. They then receive a white card which must be produced when they leave the country by air, rail or road. If the skipper is leaving temporarily, another crew member must be nominated captain. Immigration regulations vary, depending on what passport you hold. Make sure you know your country's particular visa entitlements. Skippers are responsible for all crew aboard their vessels, and there have been some expensive and time-consuming oversights in the past. So check all papers, especially out-of-date passports and expired visas. Remember to be well organized. Have all relevant ship's papers and crew documents prepared, and always carry a couple of photocopies of each passport. They will be needed. Be polite, patient and respectful, and you'll find business goes more smoothly.
Government offices
8.30am-4.00pm, Mon-Fri
Closed for lunch 12.00-1.00pm; closed public holidays and weekends.
Banks
8.30am-3.30pm, Mon-Fri
Closed weekends and public holidays.
Commercial offices
8.00am-5.00pm, Mon-Fri
Closed weekends and public holidays.
Post Office
8.30am-4.30pm, Mon-Fri
9.00am-noon, Sat
Phuket Immigration Office
South Phuket Road, Phuket Town
Tel (076) 212 108
Phuket Customs Office
South Phuket Road, Phuket Town
Tel (076) 211 105
Phuket Harbour Master
Main Harbour, Ao Makham
Tel (076) 391 174
Weather Bureau, Phuket
Tel (076) 327 330
Krabi Immigration Office
Up the hill on Uttarakit Road
Tel (075) 611 097
Krabi Customs
Near long boat jetty, Krabi Town
Daily weather reports in English
8.05am HF SSB 3865 - Andaman Sea Net - Malacca Straits
7.55am VHF 69 - Phuket only
Reports based on daily faxes from Bangkok Weather Bureau
Phuket International Hospital and Medical Centre
Airport Bypass Road
Tel (076) 249 400 (20 lines); emergency number 210 935; Fax 210 936
24-hour service. One of the newest hospitals, the Phuket International has a full range of out-patient, accident and emergency services.
Bangkok Phuket Hospital
21 Hongyok Utis Road, Phuket Town
Tel (076) 254 421/29
New hospital with ambulance, emergency room and out-patient service.
Mission Hospital
Thepkrasattri Road (main road out of Phuket Town to the airport)
Tel (076) 212 386, 212 149
24-hour service. The new wing includes private rooms. Accident and emergency plus full range of out-patient services including dentists.
Ruam Paet Hospital
Phuket Road, Phuket Town (1st set of traffic lights after the Ocean Department Store)
Tel (076) 212 578, 212 950
This smaller hospital offers shared ward or private rooms, accident, emergency and out-patient services.
Patong/Katu Hospital
Sawatdirak Road, Patong, Phuket
Tel (076) 321 444
24-hour service for accident and emergency.
DDS Dental Clinic
109/12 Phuket Road, Phuket Town
Tel (076) 212 766
Yada Dental Clinic
1 Mooban Tinnawut, Soi Rachapreuk, Samkong, Phuket Town Tel (076) 212 160
Dental Care Clinic
62/5 Rassada Road (down the lane to the Phuket Supermarket), Phuket Town
Tel (076) 215 025; Fax 223 500
Mission Hospital, Dental Clinic
Thepkrasattri Road (on main the road to the airport) Tel (076) 212 386, 212 149
Ban Nit Marina
Situated on the far side of Chalong Bay and offering a wide range of services for yachts and crew. Facilities include a restaurant, moorings, showers and toilets, fresh water, ice, diesel and petrol, washing machines and laundry service, motorbike hire (a car can be arranged next door), and a wide range of engineering, refrigeration and mechanical repairs.
Marinasia
Ao Chalong Tel (076) 280 978
Charters and sales.
Marine Craft Service & Repairs
Ao Chalong, next to the Chalong Herbal Sauna and mini golf course on the road down to the jetty.
Contact: Khun Hym
All types of repairs are provided.
Phuket Boat Lagoon
22/1 Thepkasattri Road (look for the Sunsail sign next to the Caltex Service Station)
Tel (076) 239 055; Fax 239 056
Contact: Kasem Chiarasomboon, general manager, or Phil Hollywood, harbour master.
This modern and comprehensive marina offers a travel lift (max 100 tons), marina berths, long-term boat storage, workshop, offices and shops. Sunsail Charters and Fast Boats operate their fleets out of the marina. There's a supermarket at the main road entrance, and a coffee shop/bar on the ground floor of the office complex in the marina. Showers and toilets are available.
Phuket Marine Company Ltd
45/36 Chao-fa Road, Soi Suki, (Behind Jimmy's Lighthouse), Ao Chalong
Tel (076) 381 707, 381 716; Fax 381 325
Contacts: Jim Pearson and Willi Wiegand (Thai, English, German spoken)
Phuket Marine specializes in larger project work building, refitting or repairing vessels. Charts available.
Phuket Yacht Service Co, Ltd
Phuket Boat Lagoon
Service and maintenance contractors for the Boat Lagoon
Tel (076) 238 943
Phuket Yacht Service Marina
Laem Phrao
Tel/Fax (076) 327 109, mobile phone 01 7230459
Contact: Andy Dowden.
Located at the Phuket Boat Lagoon and at Laem Phrao near the bridge on the north of Phuket. Services include boat-building, marina services, repairs, boat minding and maintenance. The fully equipped workshop at Laem Phrao offers all kinds of repairs, from electrical and refrigeration to mechanical and engineering. Restaurant, shop, showers, toilets, laundry are on offer at the marina. Diesel, petrol, power and water are available off the jetty. Phuket Yacht Services have Singapore and Bangkok contacts for parts. They are also agents for marine insurance.
South East Asia Diving
Andaman Square, Patong Beach Road, Patong
Tel (076) 340 406
Contact Graham Frost.
Charters.
Thai Marine Leisure Co, Ltd (TML)
70/176 Paradise Complex Patong,
Rat-u-thit Road, Patong Beach,
Phuket 83150
Tel (076) 344 261; Fax 344 262
Contact: Jan Jacobs
TML provide charter agent, brokerage and marine consultancy services. They also arrange crewed and bareboat yachts (budget or luxury), high-speed motor launches, power boats, personalized sailing, fishing or diving expeditions, day sails, weekends, family holidays, honeymoons or conference groups.
They also offer consultancy services on marine developments, jetty construction and boat building.
Thai Yachting Co, Ltd
Tel (076) 341 153; Fax (076) 341 154
Charters
Tops'l Marine
PO Box 22, Phuket 83000
Tel/Fax (076) 381 508
International yacht delivery and management. Quotes include experienced skipper, engineer and crew as required.
Jimmy's Lighthouse Bar & Grill
Next to Fishing Lodge, Ao Chalong
Tel (076) 381 709
Contact: Jimmy Pearson
Phuket's unofficial yacht club venue for visiting and resident skippers and crew. Thai and American cuisine, full bar, pool table, satellite TV.
Welcome Inn
Patak Road, near Ao Chalong Circle on road to Kata Tel (076) 280 293
Contact: Khun Gung
Phuket's other unofficial meeting place for the sailing fraternity. Thai and European food, sauna, massages, garden bar and Friday night free BBQ's. Pool table and satellite TV.
Rolly Tasker Sails (Thailand) Co, Ltd
26/2 Chaofa Road, Chalong,
Phuket, Thailand 83130
Tel (076) 280 347; Fax 280 348
Rolly Tasker delivers duty-free sails world-wide. All the latest fabrics, colours and laser cutting equipment are on hand. Racing or cruising sails are provided, as are rigging service, spars and chandlery.
Cobra International Co, Ltd & Sea Sports Co, Ltd
1/11-12 Chaofa Road, Chalong Bay,
On road to jetty, Chalong, Phuket
Tel/Fax (076) 381 065
Contact: Rick Reynolds
This shop specializes windsurfing equipment, hobie cats, body boards, etc as well as custom made new sails and repairs for windsurfers and yachts. Also general canvas, sunbrella and awning work. Conveniently located at the centre of marine leisure activities in Phuket, in Ao Chalong, they provide pick-up and delivery services.
All kinds of water sports toys, equipment and accessories are available.
G.C. Huat Hardware Store
18 Rassada Road (near market), Phuket Town
Tel (076) 211 098; Fax 211 097
Contact: Daeng Huat (Thai and English spoken)
Khun Daeng is a local institution and a walking computer when it comes to most nautical spare parts. If she doesn't have it in stock, she can arrange delivery from elsewhere. The rare and exotic can be found in the far reaches of this tiny yet extremely well-stocked store. There's everything from anchor chain and spark plugs to waterproof adhesives and fuses.
Sin Dee Hardware
Telang Nga Road (opposite Maeporn Restaurant), Phuket Town
This large, double-fronted shop is crammed with an astonishing range of general and not-so-general hardware items at reasonable prices.
Poltep Trading
82 Phang Nga Road, Phuket Town
(near the clock tower, corner post office end)
Poltep carries speciality marine items as well as general hardware - paints, varnish, shackles, water containers, pipes, hoses, bolts, nuts, and screws. Some English is spoken.
Am Nuay Sup Shop
146/148 Phang Nga Road, Phuket Town
(near the long-haul bus station)
Look for a brightly painted, double-fronted hardware store-cum-paint shop, distributor for all types of Jotun paints, epoxies and thinners. Mixer is available to match colours.
Electrical Marine Co, Ltd
Phuket Boat Lagoon, 22/1 Thepkasattri Road, (next to Caltex station)
Tel (01) 958 6334, (076) 238 974;
Fax (076) 270 034
Contact: Damian Barrett
Electrical repairs and installations, refrigeration/air-cons, rewire jobs, water maker parts, electrical maintenance contracts, West Marine/Port Supply agent.
Electro Tech Supply
111 Phuket Road, Phuket Town
(on the same road as Immigration)
Tel (076) 212 64; Fax 214 515
Contact: Som Chart (English spoken)
This shop is excellent for most electrical needs, large or small. The proprietor is helpful and, while he doesn't do repairs himself, he's only too happy to recommend appropriate local people.
Southern Dynatech Co, Ltd
95 Krabi Road, Phuket Town
Tel (076) 211 325
Contact: K.K. Tham
Southern Dynatech stocks a wide range of electrical items, and there's a repair workshop on the premises.
JRC Electrical Repairs
2/58 Srisutus Road, Rassada Village, Phuket
Tel/Fax (076) 216 163
Situated in the commercial area of the wharf, out towards Koh Sirey, the workshop is small but well equipped. The staff are friendly and helpful, and speak some English.
Phuket Computer Services Co, Ltd
10/3 Moo 2 Chao Fa Road, Chalong
Tel (076) 282 153/4;
Fax 282 155; BBS 282 198/9
Contacts: Neil and Stuart Cumming
Services include computer systems consultancy, systems design, typesetting and document design. Computer time and facilities, photocopy and printing.
Phuket Battery Shop
75/16 Bangkok Road,
Phuket Town
Phuket Battery Shop
100/4 Baramee Road, Patong
Contacts: Mr Norongchai and Mrs Wanpin Wangkiat (English spoken)
A family enterprise, both shops offer a wide range of batteries to suit marine needs, and they deliver. In Thailand, old batteries are accepted as trade-ins; keep that in mind when bargaining.
Singha Battery
15/2 Montri Road, Phuket Town
(near the main post office)
Tel (076) 211 761
Manager: Trong (English spoken)
Very helpful and friendly, the staff is used to dealing with the needs of the yachting fraternity.
Phai Boon Battery Shop
12/11 Montri Road, Phuket Town
(near the main post office)
Tel (076) 215 591; Fax 215 685
Phai Boon stocks a wide range of batteries. Many of them are produced locally under licence from the big Japanese names.
Cholamark Boat Co
16/26 Chao Fa Road, near Chalong Circle
(on main road opp soi behind Lighthouse Bar/Grill)
Tel (076) 283 112; Fax 330 432
Contact: Hans Martin
(English, German, Thai spoken)
Cholamark specializes in manufacturing and repairing inflatables. They have all the proper glues and fabrics, work in fibreglass and are also licensed to re-pack life rafts. Pick up and delivery can be arranged. New dinghies for sale.
Chrome Shop
226/21 Thep Kasattri Road (road from town to the airport), Phuket Town
Put the sparkle back into those chrome fittings above or below decks. The process takes 3 or 4 days. The prices are reasonable, and some English is spoken. The staff is familiar with yachting parts.
Good Earth Second-hand Books
114/52 Patak Road, Kata Centre
(next to Kata Pharmacy), Kata,
Phuket 83100
Contact: Julie Hirunchai.
Julie has the biggest range of second-hand books on the island, with English, German, French, Swedish, Japanese and Dutch titles among those available. Julie's wonderful cakes, brownies and cupcakes, meanwhile, have developed a cult following. Wash them down with an assortment of teas, wines or beer. Open Mon-Sat, 11.30am-8.00pm.
Seng Ho Phuket Co, Ltd
News Agent and Stationery Shop
2/14-16 Montri Road, Phuket Town
Seng Ho stocks all leading local and international newspapers and magazines, as well as a wide variety of stationery.
The Books
53-55 Phuket Road, Phuket Town
Tel (076) 211 115, 224 362,
Fax (076) 210 945
Wide variety of foreign books, newspapers and magazines. Children's books and comics. Coffee shop.
Top Copy
7/9 Suthat Road, Phuket Town
(top of the street that the post office is on)
Tel (076) 223 511
Contacts: Wanpen Matra and Suchat Onchan
Top Copy has a full-sized photocopier that will do charts, as well as smaller colour and B&W copies.
Sangdumrong Store
34 Bangkok Road, Phuket Town
This shop has just about everything in plastic, Melanine, cutlery, crockery, cooking pots and utensils and glassware. They also have an excellent range of cleaning gear, including heavy-duty brushes, sponges, plus eskies, storage baskets, buckets, etc.
Main Market, Ranong Road, Phuket Town
Virtually everything edible is available here - fresh vegetables, meats and seafood as well as many smoked, dried, pickled and otherwise preserved items. This is also a good place for fresh flowers and dry goods. Items are cheaper before 9.00am. Open all day.
Sin & Lee
49 Thalang Road, Phuket Town 83000
Tel (076) 211 230
An institution among the yachting fraternity, a family operation that provides excellent service, this shop has been helping seafarers with their provisioning for years. You'll find all the gourmet favourites - German wurst, cheeses, imported wines, roasted and ground coffee, imported teas, spices, breakfast cereals and imported wines. There are car-parking facilities at the rear.
Home |
Top |
Maps |
Contacts |
Photos |