Beng

isn't/wasn't there an Irish Pub with the whole original Irish interior shipped from Ireland on Lamai?

sorry roo, messed up again, the story about the mauny arms came from dave

The name was Mawney Arms, as I remember

Beng I , I think it has been sold. A development resembling Niki Beach to replace it. I could stand corrected.

Sorry to hear that. I used to drink in there, after fawlty towers in Bophut was shut ( was a great place).... Who's next ? Is ex Big Joes still open ? And the irish times by Bandon hospital ?

Anyone knowing if the Elephant & Castle in Bangrak is still going ? Same owners ?

Well, talk about trying to change their image. Do they have an official association or something?

They probably have a deal with the local cops, allowing further tourist rip offs, in order to compensate for their efforts to "help" the flood victims.

I was working on behalf of some european tour operators for 15+ years on USM. I had to look after clients, residing in hotels all over the island. From 2000 onwards, the number of complaints about agressive behaviour of local thais rose steadily. Every 2nd customer staying at the Boathouse in Choeng Mon for instance, complained about problems with cab drivers, taking them back from Chaweng. I had people, even got attacked and threatened. ( in that case, the tourists took a cab and agreed on 400,- Baht. After arriving, the cabbie claimed, that it was meant to be per person, and wanted 800.) Other, frequent complaints involve the jet ski mafia of course and aggressive insultings from street vendors, after customers refused to buy their junk.... Could come up with a long list of incidents, reported to me.

I've visited many places in Thailand. In general, Thais are friendly and helpful people. But for some reason, clocks on Samui tick in a different way.

As the rainy season normally arrives in November, there's not much time left to get ready.

The situation in central- and northern Thailand indicates, that Samui and the south could well experience a third, major flooding inside 12 months.

With power cuts and supply shortages in sight, Iet's put together a list of things to do and things to buy.

I start it off and....... be invited to add your advice.

1. Check your property's drainage ways, to avoid flooding.

2. If you can, provide storage room to people who live in flood prone areas. So they can at least move their belongings to a safe place.

3. If you own a truck, assist others, in need of moving stuff.

4. An ideal item to buy is a generator, to operate lights, phones and fans (heater fan) to keep the moisture away and communication going.

5. Always have plenty of candles at home, as they eliminate moisture too.

6. Stock up with easy to prepare food like instant noodle soups, tinned food, etc, Don't forget your pets.

The population of Samui consists of 4 main groups of residents. Local islanders, mainland Thais, expats and tourists.

In the mid 80s, Samui's population was of around 20.000 locals. Just let us assume, that this number still stands.

Now, there are 12.000 hotel rooms on Samui. Depending on the occupancy rate in the hi/lo season, there are always 3.000-20.000 tourists on the island.

The proper hotels alone, employ app.5.000 mainland thais. In addition to that, there's all the helpers, who work at the locally owned, bungalow type resorts. I give that another 5.000.

Plus we have the construction workers, the mainland business people plus their staff, a fleet of girls and of course, the thais working for falang.

There are most certainly more mainland thais than locals. Could be 30.000+ ??

The expats are the minority group in the low season. But how many are we ?? Hotel GMs, chefs, bar & restaurant operators, tour reps, real estate agents, property developers, retired people, maybe 10.000 expats ??

That would put the total no. to a 63 - 80.000 population. I think that's about right. Or anyone disagree?

Hi there,

Waste management is a very important matter indeed. Forgot to put it on the list. Thank you. Still remember the Incinerator (Hua Thanon) and waste water plant (chaweng) in place, but not being used for years. And not to forget the garbage trucks !! When I was driving to work early morning. All the way down Chaweng and over to Lamai. The smell from the truck, that had passed earlier was still present ....... But highest prices in the country.

...the local government shit cart is emptying most of the pumped shit from Maenam's location to Ban Tai and pumping in the bush so any run off then flows down a creek when it rain. Hope your bottled water is not coming from that area.

There goes the Beckhams' tropical paradise home in Bantai...

Thanks Dr.Chopper

Ok, I'll play. I'm a newbie so make of that what you will.

Access: 2 filthy ferry lines plus rip off Bangkok Airways

Never been on the ferries so can't comment. Yes the prices are high relative to other routes, but it didn't put me off one bit.

Beaches: poor water quality many muddy patches at the bottom, due to run offs from construction sites et

Not true, there's some lovely beaches here, and not all crowded. Not all perfect granted but devloped places seldom are.

Cost of living: highest rentals and food prices nationwide

I don't see that. You can rent for 10k per month quite easily. Regularly eat for less than 100 baht. Couldn't do that in my country.

Health care: is wealth care (apart from Samui hospital and a few local clinics with limited abilities)

Luckily I've not been in the hospitals yet but I know they aren't cheap. But then again I know that the standard of care is high and that my insurance will cover the cost, so this is non issue to me.

Infra structure: frequent power cuts, poorly maintenanced roads, road signs and unefficient water supply

Yup, the power cuts are a pain, but it's beyond my control so I don't stress about it. Yup, the roads are poor in places, so I drive carefully. No issues with the water for me, and I honestly didn't base my decision on where to live on the quality of the road signs.

Nature: deforestration rampant, litter everywhere, animals like birds and squirrels being eaten up by Isaan workers

Compared to Phuket, Hua Hin, Bangkok and Pattaya I'd say Samui wins on the tree front. Re: the squirrels.....so what?!

People: ignorant, unfriendly, cheaty, many criminal elements,

I like the people here. Sure there are criminals, as there are in every town in every country.

Road safety: highest road accident rate of the kingdom, poorest road quality, very dusty

Yes, its bad. So I drive carefully.

Transport: no bus system, no meter taxis, songtaew rides expensive and slow (Chaweng-Nathon 60 min is a joke)

It's a 20km across Island - why does it need a bus system?!

Security: law and order basically non existing, unsatisfying police work

Is it really any different elsehwere in Thailand?

Shopping: no choice, dual pricing at local shops and markets

Plenty of choice, there's 3 huge supermarkets within 1km of each other in Chaweng <deleted>.

I moved here cos I wanted to get out of the shit northern english town I lived in. It is cold, wet and boring. I dont want to live in a big city so that rules out BKK, Pattaya and Hua Hin. I didn't want to move to Phuket. I don't wanna go somewhere like Ko Lanta or Ko Samet cos although they are beautiful I do want to be within a short drive of an international standard hopsital. I love Samui so I moved here. It's not perfect but it's geat for me. Nowhere's perfect but for me the good far outweighs the bad here. Tell us beng, where do you live?

Thanks for your support carmine. In fact, I was hoping to hear some good reasons in contrast to my list, rather than " if u don't like it, move". This is not the caseso far.

I'm really not sure it is though is it? His points are not complimentary thats true but all legitimate nonetheless. If he were lying sure it would be trolling.............. and please i really don't want to read a cut and paste re trolling definitions.

What is interesting is that a number of longterm expats here still think that power cuts are justified!!! Talk about living in the past. Talk about not realising how the island is a totally different place to how it was fifteen years ago. With the cost of everything on this expensive "boutique" tourist haven of an island should NEVER have a power cut. Its fine on Lanta because thats still a tropical island but to have cuts here at samui prices is just one great piss take.

Right Rooo. Samui not for me anymore. Lived there from 89 to 09 and saw it getting from a little paradise to a dump.

Asia not for you. Samui not for you. Can't let you in on the secret of why we live here. Hope to hear from you from your next destination.

I am really wondering, why there are so many foreigners living on Samui today.

Aren't there much better places in Thailand ?? What does Samui offer ??

Access: 2 filthy ferry lines plus rip off Bangkok Airways

Beaches: poor water quality many muddy patches at the bottom, due to run offs from construction sites etc.

Cost of living: highest rentals and food prices nationwide

Health care: is wealth care (apart from Samui hospital and a few local clinics with limited abilities)

Infra structure: frequent power cuts, poorly maintenanced roads, road signs and unefficient water supply

Nature: deforestration rampant, litter everywhere, animals like birds and squirrels being eaten up by Isaan workers

People: ignorant, unfriendly, cheaty, many criminal elements,

Road safety: highest road accident rate of the kingdom, poorest road quality, very dusty

Transport: no bus system, no meter taxis, songtaew rides expensive and slow (Chaweng-Nathon 60 min is a joke)

Security: law and order basically non existing, unsatisfying police work

Shopping: no choice, dual pricing at local shops and markets

Judging from above categories, Samui fails big time, ennit ?

Hi there,

I'm looking for a reasonably house or appartment rental in Suratthani town. Not Samui, or any other island. Anyone any idea ?? Cheers mates.