Major Major

Anyone recommend a good nursery with wide variety of garden plants and pot plants suitable for terrace. I know there are many around, are prices pretty comparable? Especially looking for bouganvillia.

Cheers

My sister's recent experience confirms it's all to do with if your baggage is checked through to Samui. BA out of Heathrow would only check her bags to BKK even though she was coming on to Samui. Had to clear immigration in BKK, retrieve her bags and check in again at Bangkok Airways.

I suspect that, if you don't mind a bit of extra time travelling, the cheapest option would be London to Hong Kong on Oasis and then Macau to Bangkok on Air Asia

Yes, it is the cheapest but how do you get from Macau airport to Hong Kong airport and how much does it cost?

Need to take ferry from Macau to HK (around 150HK$ one way), then bus or train to HK airport (50-100HK$). Allow at least 3 hours for the journey, more at peak times. Ferries run hourly, probably also need taxi from Macau airport to ferry. Will probably mean at least 6-7 hrs transit time for the journey and check in.

Anyone know if soy flour is available here? Seen many soy products but no flour, would like to make wheat free bread.

Anyone have any info on whether can buy Ice cream maker/machine in Thailand. Would like to make own ice cream as easily as possible without resorting to manual ice/salt methods. Thanks

see www.crawshaws.com

the only English qualified lawyer on the island

Thanks for all the replies. i did attend at PFc bar at 2am and it was closed! Went around Chaweng trying to find open bar with South African channel, to no avail. Had to see it on the net the following night. At least we won and have gone up! And can watch the matches a lot easier next season! Keane will have a lot of cash to spend so it will be very interesting to see how we do. HAWAY THE LADS!

Any mackems in Samui want to meet at a bar to watch Burnley game Friday and see us go up??

Minister ponders nominee amnesty

source: Bkk Post

The Commerce Ministry could offer an amnesty to foreign joint ventures in violation of the Foreign Business Act in order to resolve problems with the use of nominees, according to Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet.

Authorities plan to review the Foreign Business Act and other laws to close loopholes and modernise regulations. An amnesty, meanwhile, would give joint ventures that currently use nominee vehicles time to restructure their indirect holdings to fully comply with the law.

''If it is necessary to [offer amnesties] due to economic reasons, and it does not violate the principle of law, then we will look at it,'' the newly appointed minister said yesterday in an interview with the Bangkok Post.

Such an amnesty would include the telecom giant Shin Corp, which is the subject of a criminal investigation over whether Singapore's Temasek Holdings used nominee vehicles to violate the 49% foreign shareholding limit, he said.

''What is necessary is necessary, and we have to abide by the principles, and if that means that we have to give amnesty to [Temasek] then we'll have to do it, because we have to treat them in the same manner as everybody else,'' said Mr Krirk-krai, who ranked the nominee and Temasek issues as his fourth priority after farm products, retailing, and exports.

Temasek controls 42% of Shin directly through wholly owned Aspen Holdings, and also has an indirect stake through Cedar Holdings, which holds another 54.5% of Shin.

The Business Development Department earlier submitted a report to police investigators that Shin violated the 49% foreign limit due to the use of illegal nominees, an offence punishable by jail, fines or even dissolution of the business.

Mr Krirk-krai said it was time for the nation to move on and try to differentiate between political and economic problems.

''If there's something that is not right about the structure, then we'll adjust it, but if we try to mix politics and business together then we will be stuck, and in this case the biggest loser will be the economy and the investors' confidence in the Thai economy,'' he said.

Mr Krirk-krai added that the ministry under his guidance would look to amend various laws to suit the needs of the investors and the free-market economy.

''On the issue of nominees, we have to look at ways to sort it out. Once we have the laws ready, then we'll discuss it.

For example, if the 49% gives way for nominees, and your aim is to seek help in development of the country, especially in sectors in which we cannot compete, then why don't you give them 51%?'' he asked.

While companies that have nominee structures would be allowed to maintain the status quo, those set up in the future would have to follow any new regulations that would be put in place.

The market has welcomed the minister's views, saying they were a positive step for the country and would help restore lost confidence.

''If you ask me, this is great news as deals have remained low as foreign investors have shied away from investing in Thailand,'' said an investment banker at one of Thailand's leading brokerages.

Fund managers and lawyers also said Mr Krirk-krai's proposal was positive and that funds would likely start to flow in the future once policies were clearer.

''This is definitely very positive for the country,'' said Lance Depew, investment manager at Quest Capital, which manages $240 million in assets in Thailand.

The legal changes would bring the government's policy in line with reality as in the past the governments had turned a blind eye to the shareholding structures of companies, he added.

''The devil would be in the details, although I must say I support it wholeheartedly if the government can do it,'' added Supavud Saicheua, a managing director with Phatra Securities.

''It will be a very positive step for Thailand if the government can set the right framework for the future.''

It is estimated that 13,000 companies have nominee structures and fears of consequences arising from the Shin-Temasek investigations have prompted many investors to put decisions on hold.

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Thai speaker with some english required. Experience in company formation/work permit required. Also, as a seperate job, a real estate property conveyancer. PM me if interested.

Anyone with any experience of setting up companies and work permit applications (Thai and preferably English speaker) please PM me...a good salary awaits in Samui

There is an enormous thread on the main site regarding foreign ownership of land. I would recommed anyone to read it if at all interested in this subject. Here is my 25 satang worth. As a farang working in a law firm in Samui, working with Thai lawyers, I can briefly say the following;

1. Foreigners cannot own land in Thailand.

2. The "new law" - inverted commas as it is not new law, simply an attempted implementation of existing law - is, it would appear to most informed commentators, there to stop foreign developers, not to stop Joe Smith buying his place in the sun. It does appear to have it's origins in Hua Hin, and hoteliers in tourist areas complaining that their occupancy rate is falling due to the proliferation of villas available to rent/buy.

3. The "legal loophole"...this was used previously on the 49/51% share company scheme...having had talks with the Land Office in Samui, companies properly structured on a 49/51 basis can still have land/property transferred to them. Land transfers, having stopped for a while, are now going ahead. Legally. The key to this is the prevention of foreign developers buying land, dividing it, and then selling it off. If you want to "own" a company, and buy Thai land, it is still possible. Whether you wish to take that route is a matter for you, a decision hopefully taken upon informed advice.

I sympathise with those who ask "what's going to happen?". The simple answer is, no-one knows for sure. If you wanted to be 100% safe, you would not buy in Thailand at all, save for a lease/condo. But people know there are risks. At my firm certainly clients are told in no uncertain fashion. Buyers will continue to buy, for commercial profit, and/or to own their own place in the sun. It's up to you. The consensus is that Thailand will not kill the golden goose, and so new law will be passed (God knows when) to codify what foreigners can and cannot do. Probably some extension to the leasehold law.

Finally, a word about us poor maligned lawyers. If I can believe the comments on the main website, we are regarded as the lowest of the low. As a farang, I can only speak about my small law firm, and cannot comment upon the motives of the bigger international law firms moving here. I am here to give the best quality service I can, with the assistance of my hardworking, modestly salaried thai lawyers. Clients are made aware of the risks so far as we can advise them. The decision to buy is up to them. Contrary to popular belief, lawyers in Samui do not earn a fortune. If that was sought, we would move to Bangkok or some other jurisdiction. Like most people here, we are here to enjoy Samui life. I rent here, but would hope to buy in future. I can guess your hearts will be bleeding now, so I'll stop!

er....

PM me sunchild10 can help

so there is no live english commentary AT ALL on channels 37-40? I find that hard to believe. So we got to go down the pub in the middle of the night?

I am looking for a rental flat/house in Lanta...could someone push me in the right direction? somewhere around 10-15K per month

I am opening a law business in Koh Lanta soon and wonder which part of the island would be best for such a business. Having been along the main road a few times, it doesn't really seem to have a centre, or am I wrong?

Mark Landers has been here for many years and owns Prestige Homes. He has a good reputation on the island and is very professional. I am a lawyer here in Samui. I have heard of no problems with them.

That Guardian article is a load of crap. If I showed that article to the numerous guests I have welcomed on holdiay here they would be very puzzled. ALL bar none have said Samui is the most beautiful reosrt they have ever seen and have had the best holidays of their lives. The beaches in Samui generally superb. The water, generally, is still clean although we have to be vigilant. Yes there are problems like in every tourist area, but having lived here for 16 months, having lived in Hiong Kong for 16 years, I am so glad I made the move. I have many Thai friends - I employ 6 in my small business and we have a great laugh together. Yes there are 'families' but the ones I know have always been helpful to me. The only real trouble I have seen is through drunken farangs in Chaweng. I do not have rose-tinted glasses, yes there are some problems, but they are not peculiar to Samui. This island is one of God's secrets and is an infinitely better place to live than Phuket and Pattaya, IMHO. Those farangs that don't like it, please leave.

I intend to give up bacon sandwiches around that time.

with respect, I am not looking for the Secret Garden type bands even though I enjoy going there. I was thinking of the young thai bands most likely singing in thai who perhaps haven't got enough songs up their sleeves to play a full set but could play half an hour or so. AND I am talking original music, not insipid copyists. The Underground in HK in HK is successful because every month we have 4 bands of different styles, largely unknown, and people want to see them. I just wonder whether the scene is big enough in samui to justify this.

I do know of the Springer, and was going to visit. Ditto Pompey Bar. But are there any local bands (apart from the ones with residency at bars) to make this venture possible? Or, as said above, perhaps sponsors could help in bringing bands to samui. Not real name bands, but undiscovered talent.

I am arranging with a well known venue to have at first a monthly but I hope shortly thereafter a bi-monthly rock night featuring local bands. I guess the problem may be the lack of same in Samui, due to the work permit problem, and the size of the place. May therefore have to spend a bit of money getting bands from afar. Anyone have any idea how to find local bands...is there a thai website for samui? I did this in HK for local bands and it was a great success...a non-profit making organsiation set up for the local youths to play music. Would love to do the same here.

Dear Steve

I am an English lawyer, having worked in HK for 16 years, came to Samui last year, and have just started my own law firm with my Thai partner, having previously worked for one of the top firms in Samui. We are associated with a top HK law firm, and we have associates on the mainland. We believe that we have contacts second to none in Samui.

My office is in Bophut, just off the ring-road. As with all law firms in Samui, we specialise in those matters you listed in your email. The office has just opened, although we have as yet done zero advertising (after Christmas). My staff are all excellent English-speakers (and not pigeon).

So far as I am aware, I am the only English qualified lawyer practising in Samui. I worked as a solicitor in Newcastle and London before leaving for HK.

In my view, the top firms in Samui are Kitt and Murray, Roberts and Gerrard, and Pensit and Laws, in order only of expense (having checked their 'shopping list' of fees). Our overheads are lower and thus so are fees. As a new firm, I can offer an introductory package. I can promise however the same level of service, if not better. I am not the type of lawyer who turns his phone off after 7pm.

We are thinking of opening a branch office in KP, as it happens. My staff have good experience of KP land deals, with good contacts in KP itself.

Any of the firms listed in this email will give you good service. If you are interested in my firm, PM me for further details, or email me on [email protected]. I will incidentally be over in KP next Thurday or Friday if you want to meet for a coffee/beer and discuss.

Best Regards

Mike Peart

CRAWSHAWS

Solicitors

I am a lawyer in Samui. The costs quoted are ridiculous. The expat firms are doing company incorporation and purchase of land/house for a figure in the region of 100-130,000 baht. This quote is clearly from one of the Thai rip off merchants that frequent these shores.