khunPer

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...

In my opinion: Yes...

AIS sells a little SIM-card router – both WiFi and RJ45 connection – that works on 4G and 5G...????

It's monsoon-season on Samui during November and December – that's why accomodation is so cheap up til just before Xmas – you can have outstanding days with sun and calm sea, and you can have utterly horrible two weeks with storm, high waves, and so much rain that parts of the are flooded. November-December on Samui is just like playing the lottery, sometimes you are lucky and win a jackpot...???????? And if you don't win the lottery...???? – just the get best out of your stay and enjoy the alternatives to the beach, like the main road in Chaweng...

I found it opposite last I visited Pattaya – food seems to be very expensive there due to being a major tourists destination – however, it's a question of what you seek of food and knowing the goo more local restaurants. Instead of the low season bargain at W with a candlelight dinner for two offered for only 15,999 baht – I shall add, for the matter of good sake, that it included a bottle of the house red wine, but service charge and tax came on top – you can find good meals in street kitchens from around 50-60 baht including free drinking water, and local restaurants for about 80-120 baht for a delicious Thai-dish, farang food often from 150-200 baht and up. Pretty much up to you...

There are so many pharmacies on the islands and I presume they all are "the best" – just like the pancake men with their street kitchens, each of them have a sign saying "Best pancakes on Samui", and probably also Phangan – personally I use either my local so-called mum & dad-pharmacy (it's a pharmacist lady owner) or the chain Morya, which has branches all over Samui...????

Some are – if you are handsome (not handsum) enough – almost that lucky...???? I know a good looking younger successful business owner lady, in her later 20s, that sometimes look for a handsome young worked-out man in the nightclubs. She don't have time for a regular often too demanding boyfriend. If she find one lucky enough to get her, she will join him to his hotel, and after she got what she wanted, she will not only leave, but throw five 1,000-baht notes on the beds, so the young handsome man don't think he got something for free; no, she bought him...????

–and you can be up against hard competition on Samui with the many young handsome worked-out foreign men, even you have bahts in your pocket...????

Some of them can be too young... –others have past last selling date...???? –to say it very Thai-style: "Up to you"...????

Not on Samui...

If you are looking in Lami bars, you're looking for sex-workers, and there you'll find all kinds of the profession from extremely professional gold diggers to new arrivals just looking for a boyfriend and future husband – and provider of course – the latter might even be difficult to barfine for a sex only date. If you wish to enjoy nightlife away from the bar-scene it's mainly Chaweng, both the beach side and its parties that is on way up again after Covid lock downs, and the trendy pubs, and the clubs on the land side of the road. You both find professional freelancers there, and plenty of "normal girls" having a night out with friends – they might not be interested at all in a farang, or not interested in a sex-date – and lots of young, younger tourist girls and mature foreign ladies. Another trendy place to meet folks – and girls – is Coco Tarms in Fisherman Village in front of The Wharf, it's busy from the afternoon. Also the walking street and evening markets there on Mondays, Wednesdays and especially Fridays is good to meet other people. Local girls – and local young men – will often hang out later in mainly Ma-Ha-Te, Old School Bar and places like Kongsiam, it's all places with Thai live music. ????

To my knowledge: 1) Both yes and no, for foreign workers a work permit is needed plus 2-4 thai employees that gets a salary and preferably pays into Social Security. 2) 10 percent fixed rate. 3) If you don't add the dividend on the annual tax return form, the final rate is the already withheld fixed 10 percent dividend tax. 4) As foreigner with a work permit and extension of stay based on workpermit, you need to show an income and pay income tax of that income, typically 50,000 baht per month, but salary rate is depending of your home country.