Latest on the ferry: nuttin', zilch, nada. Not a word, not an advertisement, zero on the Hua Hin channel, nothing in the local Farang Rag.
Supposed to be Jan 1 as the lift off day: you'd think there would be a parade!
Check out this space regularly for more scintillating news.
Just another reason why I love living in Thailand
It's a fine line with Asian ferry companies. Not enough customers and the company goes bust. Too many and the boats sinks drowning everyone on board.
cdnmatt (December 14th, 2016), christianpfc (December 14th, 2016), destiny (December 24th, 2016)
I second Smiles' observations from the Pattaya side (8dec2016). No signs or stall at Bali Hai pier. Then I made the mistake to ask for the ferry in TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) office in Pattaya. They don't know anything. (Mistake because after 5 minutes of talking, I knew nothing more than when I arrived.) What I read on Thaivisa is not encouraging either: Bali Hai pier is not ready, and nobody has ever seen the ship.
Christian wrote.
"I second Smiles' observations from the Pattaya side (8dec2016). No signs or stall at Bali Hai pier. Then I made the mistake to ask for the ferry in TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) office in Pattaya. They don't know anything. (Mistake because after 5 minutes of talking, I knew nothing more than when I arrived.) What I read on Thaivisa is not encouraging either: Bali Hai pier is not ready, and nobody has ever seen the ship."
But apart from that everything is ship shape and ready to go. Haha.
The Hua Hin/Pattaya ferry escapade is like a Seinfeld episode: it's all about nothing.
Just another reason why I love living in Thailand
You have got to be kidding right? Everyone knows. Last time I looked your baby picture was still posted on the ten most wanted list, and you are still the same age mentally.Originally Posted by Smiles
smiles.jpg
Koh Larn. Yes, two weeks ago, I went with friends to visit this tourist-trap.
The ferry over took two tries at making a mooring, both failed badly. The ferry was going up and down on the swell whereas the concrete pier did not seem to match the rise and fall of the ferry. I slipped and fell, fortunately on the rubber tyre the ferry was using as a buffer. Landing on my arse, I dislocated my right SI joint leaving me barely able to walk let alone explore the island.
On the return trip, we got to within a few hundred metres of our target Pattaya pier when the propellor-shaft bearing gave up the ghost with plenty of noise and smoke, leaving us adrift. The Chinese tourists stampeded the buoyancy vests whereas previously they had been totally indifferent. <Grin>
Another ferry eventually towed us into a mooring and we trans-shipped in a still bumpy sea.
On the plus side, it was amazing at the speed with which maybe 2 dozen jet-skies came racing up to see if they could be of assistance.
In summary, the authorities definitely need to move on the wharf facilities at both ends. Pattaya wharf it better than Koh Larn but there was never a gang-plank in sight. The Koh Larn disembarking and embarking was down-right dangerous - I could just have easily gone down the gap between concrete landing and the bucking boat. I got lucky, though damaged.
For all those "gentlemen of a certain age" out there, I strongly suggest there are other ways to get an adrenaline 'kick' than by going to Koh Larn. The youthful and sprightly might want to try their luck.
[i][color=#0000FF]"One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin, or the shape of our eyes, or our gender, instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings."
~ Franklin Thomas[/color][/i]
christianpfc (December 21st, 2016)
Yraen wrote:
"On the plus side, it was amazing at the speed with which maybe 2 dozen jet-skies came racing up to see if they could be of assistance." Wonderful.
It reminded me of a time (not remotely life threatening) when I was returning to Pattaya along Sukhumvit on my motorbike after heavy rain. At one point the water was a couple of feet deep and many bikes, including mine were just conking out. A few Thai guys had set themselves up as a rescue outfit and as soon as any bike stalled they immediately waded in and dragged the bike out while escorting the rider safely to the dry roadside. All tips from grateful rescuees were politely refused.
" it was amazing at the speed with which maybe 2 dozen jet-skies came racing up to see if they could be of assistance"
Not surprising considering the number of ferry accidents and fatalities on this ferry route.
According to this news in Pattaya One ( http://pattayaone.news/en/pattaya-hua-hin-ferry ), the ferry service is set to begin on January the 12th.
Cost of the service is said to be about 1200 THB one way.
More on my blog at : llz.blogspot.com
christianpfc (December 30th, 2016)
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