khunPer

Do you say 25 million baht per rai..?

There is always a market if the price is right, but land prices on Samui don't seem to have increased during the last decade or so, if it's not extremely attractive land. Typically land costs around 3,5 million baht per rai, I was offered the same kind of land 15-18 years ago for 3,5 million baht. Bad location cheaper, good location more expensive – and way more expensive if prime location...????

It's because you're living on a hippie-paradise-island, which got inhabited by foreigners back in the late 1970s, when there were living about 200 Thai nationals on the island. Especially watching the full Moon rise on the so-called Sunrise Beach in uninhabited Haad Rin – you could only get there by long-tail boat, or walking over the mountains, or in low tide walking in water by the cliffs – but one afternoon in the late 70s, which more precise was in 1977, the police in Lamai became too interested in the hippie's mushroom shakes, so they decided to celebrate Xmas and young Joe's birthday on the beach of Haad Rin instead and watch the moon rise. Guitars, bonfires and lots of irritating sand-flies; however, it was such a good event that they decided to meet again next full Moon and repeat it – and so they have done ever since... Some of the hippies from that time are still living on Phangan and live like like not much had changed, smoking their so-called Bob Marley-cigarettes. Others of the original hippies and later arrived changed "business plan" and became New Age – you might still find some in a remote bay sitting meditating. Roads and progress changed Phangan, and from 1989 the parties at Sunrise Beach, where bungalows had popped up and a dirt road over the hills made entrance easier, were organized events and Full Moon Party became a worldwide trademark with thousands and young people of both age and mind are getting together in Haad Rin every 4th week. Furthermore, mind the number of high-end yoga- and health resorts, the New Age-hippies have not inhabited the island in vain... Phangan also became a paradise for so-called digital migrants – some of the are not so "migrant" after visiting Phangan – and other adventurers, perhaps in search of the original secret "beach" from the novel of the same name, that is hidden somewhere out there on one of the islands in Ang Thong Marine Park; of course together with the fields with weed for quite a number of additional Bob Marley-cigarettes – to min knowledge, the haven't yet found "The Beach", or they might just keep it secret... The Russians came later to the island – both Phangan and Samui – mainly after the millennium, at the moment quite understanding that numerous of young fit Russian men relaxes there. And then there might be some "sensible Western, professional and single gentlemen", as you say and seems to have noticed – have you ever considered to join a Full Moon Paty, you might even meet some quite exiting people there; I did...????

–and that is – shops selling cannabis – what the OP post is about and my comment...

From the OP-article... One change that may make a difference to how recreational users are behaving is that the gazette order now restricts the consumption of cannabis products on the premises unless it is for medical purposes. This means that cafes connected to shops selling weed will have to stop allowing people to smoke or vape it on the premises.

Neutral, but cannot vote that, so that must be a blank vote...

If you read the news, you cannot smoke it...

Lost illusions, hospital visits don't seem as fun as they once were, anymore...????

I presume that some bars that changed businessplan recently from beer bar to cannabis, might need to change businessplan again...

Don't worry, if there is a demand, then there will be more flights, it's business. If there isn't a demand then additional, but empty airplanes won't help the local's business...

No problem with a motorbike. The two ferry lines sails on reduced schedule at the moment so about two hours waiting time might appear.

From the article: "The municipality then sent him a letter saying that they halted further construction of the houses because no application had been made to build them and he faced a fine for violating regulations even though he never built them in the first place." Yes, after Thai law-practice it seems to be the at any time present owner that is responsible, even someone else did it, so if take over an old land-plot with some existing construction, make sure it's legal (I talk from experience)...

Most resorts in the Haad Rin area have a 5-day (nites) minimum booking around FMP dates. It seems like FMP is back to almost pre-Covid status – I haven't been over there myself after Covid, but my daughter has, and says that it's pretty much back to normal, so book as early as possible, especially of you wish to stay on the Sunrise Beach-side...????

Yes, but OP didn't mention what his extension-application is based on, could be retirement...????

Must be depending of the reason for extended stay – for example married to a Thai – if retirement you'll almost get the extension stamp immediately, or within a few days.

Because nothing has changed during the last year or so.

Samui immigration live their own life with their own rules, you probably don't gain anything from discussing the law with them. The pinned Samui-immigration thread in the local forum is the best way to get information.

There is so much I don't understand about Thailand, one of them is Indian men's interest in katoys...

I believe that statement was about Walking Street only...

Probably because the preferred parts of Thailand is warm enough without such a cozy fireplace; I however regret I didn't make one when I build my house, as Santa has been less friendly since I moved out from my cold Nordic homecountry... More seriously, I got spare time to read books now than when I lived and worked up north – including a few eBooks that are readable, they're not like real books, but that's how progress is, and it's easy to buy eBooks and read instantly; however, I'm still an alright physical book-client –, but sometimes my reading chair is not to far from a cozy cooling aircon in the very hot part of the all year summer...????

The minister says in the main article: He added by extending the nightspots’ legal closing time by only 3-4 hours, the economy in the areas will improve by over 30-40%. I didn't know that all the quality tourists in the 8 designated areas were attending the late nightlife – to be honest, I had a different impression of what quality tourists are – but maybe the quality tourists are no longer the main target... More seriously, many guests already leave the nightlife between 1 am and 2 am where I live, so I'm not convinced that extending opening hours until early morning might make that huge financial difference in general; however, a few night clubs and after-party pubs will of course benefit from it and might save the "fee" they already pays for late opening...???? Another point is that it's difficult to see the extended opening hours – and use of more electricity for light and music, and aircon some places – works well together with the request of saving power due to the higher LNG-costs; saying this I shall add that I'm in favor of letting tourists enjoy a late night life, including myself...????

Backbone is, if the primary Internet connection fails, like the wired – today fiber – connection can fail for several reasons, then the non-wired connection can be used for continued Internet-access, often via a different route, so I use two different service providers; i.e. having two wired connections and if someone tilts a pole, both wires may break. However, if it's a main router failure that both service providers use – like the major Surat Thani-router – I'm off for forced a break from ASEAN NOW...???? Backup to my knowledge means, storing your data on an extra external device or in the cloud, but you need Internet access for the latter...????????

Because I bought a router and subscription from AIS 3-4 years ago and is satisfied with their service, why should I spend more money...

I have had a 4G SIM-card wireless router as backbone for several years, it works on 2Mbps to 4Mbps. It costed me about 2,500 baht to buy and cirka 500 baht in monthly subscription for unlimited download (499 + vat = 533.93), with the first 8 GB at highest available speed, and the remaining on 128 Kbps. You can get different subscriptions, but I only need it as backbone, if the wired line fails...????

I'm from Denmark and I find Thailand (much) better – Denmark has lots of problems and bad service for their citizens paid by the World's highest taxes...