Duncan & Lek

Hi,

What we did in April was to transfer 50% of my company to my wife, 45% to me and 4 lots of 1% to her daughter, mother and 2 of her sisters.

This enabled us to get rid of the nominees and make my wife MD with some of her family shareholders.

Was a marginally better alternative than closing the company down and transfering to my Wife's name and also signing away any rights to the land and paying the transfer tax.

Now just need to wait and be told this is a bad idea and then have to change it all again and not upset my wife to much.

whats wrong with riding it, or are you one of those pretend bikers riding around samui with shades on and no t shirt trying to look mean

Riding it is definately best, I did it a few years ago on a Sonic with my Mrs on the back. Only took about a day and a half. Can have a night out in Hua Hin on the way. Be easy on a Bros. Even the Sonic could do 100K/ hr 2 up.

Good luck

Duncan.

Hi,

My and my mates have done it a few times on AX1 Hondas and the quickest we've managed is 4 hours from Donsak but with a motorbike it won't do it on one tank so need to stop a couple of times.

Is a lovely trip if you take a bit longer and go round Kao Sok Park etc.

We did it in a day once on two AX1's including a visa run to Ranong and then down the coast to Phuket.

Happy trails

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I am following up on a few of them. It has been very difficult to decide which way to go as connections on the island can be useful and dangerous, depending on who the connections are to. Hopefully I will find a way.

Duncan, as a side question, there have been a lot of posts here concerning land purchase. I was wondering if you would be willing to let us know how you did yours and whether you had any problems at the land office (i presume it was Samui).

Hi,

I had no problems, it was Samui, Choeng Mon, it was a little slow due to the plot being sub divided into 1/2 rai plots and changing the title to Chanote.

I never went to the Land Office, the Agent did it all for me, there were clauses in the contract that if the vendor pulled out I got double the deposit back, how it could be enforced is anybody's guess without going through the courts.

As far as I am and can be aware it all seems above board, well the government landmarker bits are in the ground and I have the Chanotte and transfer paperwork and it all looks genuine.

Suthep set up the company and I have the translations which as best as I can tell are OK. I have paid the tax on the company, done the balance sheet and changed the details when the land titled was changed.

The deal seemed fair, the vendor (Thai) paid 1/2 of the transfer tax, they wanted me to pay it all but Suthep and the agent said no. Not sure the value of it has increased since I brought it due to all the bad press samui has been getting, but I want to keep it to build on and live in anyway.

I have done nothing with it except have a fence put round it a couple of weeks ago, need to save up to build on it, but also keeping a close eye on the way things go on Samui in case I need to transfer it to my Wifes' name to stop it being taken away.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Duncan

just dive, I don't believe Suthep does property at all, just business. That said, he is certainly connected on the island and may be able to give a referral.

And yes, sometimes it does help to have someone connected deal with things. Usually, it isn't about how much money you have but who you know.

Hi

I have used Suthep to buy land as have friends of mine and although it may go pear shaped at some stage, so far all is well.

Cheers

Duncan.

Hi,

My worst memory of Surat is when we were motorbiking it back from Phuket to Samui and my mates TDR250 conked out and made us late for the boat from Donsak a couple of years back.

We ended up finding a hotel in Surat and then going out on the town, this was fine right up to the point when someone spiked the drinks. Luckily we crawled back to the hotel before passing out. We felt tremendous in the morning.

Other than that when we were on my wife's Sonic 125 going to Bangkok, we were sitting at traffic lights in Surat and some guy on a bus started giving her a load of abuse about being on a motorbike with a no good Farang, or words to that effect.

Maybe, he had a point!

Still beats living in the UK though

Duncan.

SCAMS....Be prepared to be RIPPED OFF if a motorbike ridder drives up beside you as you walk down a Samui street - especially in Chaweng or Lamai.

They usually open with "Hello, you speak English ?" or "You speak German" or whatever depending on your appearance.

You sure they are not the Katoeys outside Burger King in Chaweng at 3 in the morning Get more than ripped off I am informed.

Duncan.

Hi,

First posting, just signed up.

Could always try the Molotov in Soi Colibri, run by Steve, Kay and Sharon or the Hut in Bangrak.

There is also the Frisby golf where there are usually plenty of Expats.

I agree, Secret Garden on a Sunday evening is great.

Duncan.