seville

All the weddings I've gone to have been on Phangan, but I'm sure it's pretty much the same all over. Slacks or a nice skirt with a cap sleeve always seems safe to me. As for the gift an envelope with some money in it is given to the people greeting you at the gate. You more than likely are being invited to the reception and not the ceremony, but you can check with your friend.

If you go on your own, don't be late. I arrived a half hour to a reception once and all of my friends had already come and gone. I'm sure others have more experience then me.

Hey Colesdad,

You may want to think twice before planning on going in November, at least to the Gulf of Siam side. Rainy season.

I fly out of SF and have found EVA to be my favorite airline, but I do go for the cheapest rate I can find, without too many stops or lay overs.

Phillipine air was quite pleasent. I find Travelocity to be the cheapest place on the net to get tickets. I used an agent this time and she saved me a little bit of money. Sometimes she can get me the better deal, but it's always with China Airlines, not my favorite, but I haven't flown with that airline in a while. Japen Airlines was the worst.

Hey Kitty,

What's the website you keep talking about? The only other one I know about is the Kohphangan.com

I've never arrived around that time, but I'm sure the place will be packed.

I found a Travel agent on the net that booked my joint ticket for the train and they are going to bring me my ticket by messenger, when I arrive in BKK.

Olavi Travel is the name.

Or you can book a flight from home on the net.

I would reserve a room somewhere for a few days and then go check out some places and then move. I've only stayed on Chawang once, so I can't recommend anywhere really.

Good luck

That's High season and all the prices go up. The room you rented in August for 400 might be as high as 600 when you return. It depends on what the market will bare.

If you liked the place that you stayed last time and the Thai people liked you, I would head there first.

If they aren't busy yet, you might get lucky and get the room for the same price, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Hey Rossabout,

Where exactly is Dr. Jimmy's office.

Hi SBK,

There is an American women her name is Alicia Cheung on Samui or at least I think she is still on Samui that does Acupucture. Try e-mail [email protected] for her information.

Her boyfriend was running a sailing outfit on Samui by Big Buddha pier the phone number there is 66-6-274-7340. I don't know them personally, but give it a try.

Hi Moon,

Well I didn't suggest Black Moon, but was there once. I would check it out if there is one when your there. That party is on again, off again. I have to say that I tend to stay pretty close to where I'm staying and just hang at my local bars.

Someone else might be able to suggest a place to rent a bike long term. I don't ever rent them, as I'm too chicken to drive 'em.

Restaurants... there are so many and so many places to go. I spend most of my time on Had Tien and Thong Nai Pan. Dare I say follow your nose...

If you want Indian food Om Ganish was outstanding when I was there last, but have heard that if the big boss isn't there, it's not so good. That's in Had Rin.

The best Thai food... look for where all the Taxi drivers and other Thai people are eatting. The best Som Tom I've had is from the Som Tom lady that has the stand in Thonsala. Also in Thonsala there is the place next to the Yellow Cafe. Really good food.

You'll get into your own groove as soon as you get there and all of this information will slowly melt away as you meet people. Just get there have a wonderful time keep Jai Yen and everything will be sabai sabai

Just Samui, none on Phangan? Thanks guys your going to save me some running around when I get over

Hey there folks,

I lent some friends some money and will be getting back in Baht. Anyone know which banks will exchange baht to dollars?

Thanks

No, don't live there. I'm just there a few times a year. There are plenty of places to rent bikes. I stay on thong Nai pan and Had Tien for the most part, but the rental for bikes as far as I know are the same all over.

If you are not staying in Had Rin. Try and get a taxi from the bungalows that you are staying in both there and back. The drivers from the bungalows are trust worthy and will tell you when and where to meet to go home. Many of the drivers work together from the different villages, so you can find out who to ride back with. If you can get there by boat, that would be my choice. Do not!! Ride in on a motor bike it's really dangerous.

Don't carry any drugs on you especially in a taxi. The police love to stop the taxis and bust farangs. I even know of a guy that had a cop try and plant some weed on him while he was patting him down last year.

As far as what not to miss, sorry, I stay pretty far away from Had Rin during full moon party, but all the people I know that go always go to The Back Yard Bar after party the next morning and into the following night.

Sorry, can you open a joint account with a Thai and on a tourist visa?

Can you open a joint account with a Thai?

Oh, really. What about all the middle easterners that got rounded up and are still sitting in U.S. jails? I'm not saying any of this is right, but to state that western countries don't have abuse of power problems is naive.

Good to hear what you had to say about it, you don't seem like the type to jump the gun and all of that. Hey, maybe they won't be able to land a plane there.

Thanks for the reply

Eric there are number of different Non-Profit's in Thailand that are trying to help Elephants. Something to be aware of is that often the places that take tourist trekking are working their Elephant to death. I mean this literally.

I volunteered at two centers over the last two years.

One is Wildlife Friends of Thailand www.wfft.org

The other The Elephant Nature Park www.thaifocus.com/elephant/

Around the WHOLE island? How long did that take. That sounds kind of fun.

I was just reading the Phangan News and the signs posted in protest of the new airport was the topic. I was wondering for those of you who live on the Island, maybe SBK is the only person living there, if there is any locals trying to get the officials to try and slow things down a bit.

I live there and don't know how things really work, but isn't the over building hurting everyone already there? Is there a big voice or any voice for that matter of concern? I know living on Thong Nai Pan it's very hard to explain to some of the Thai that many Farang that have been coming for years aren't going to be coming back because they don't want to spend 400 baht and up for a bungalow.

And what about the water? Two years ago the water was in very short supply. What happens if there is another draught? There must be 5% more bungalows on the island now, not that there are more tourist. For 3 months all I heard was Mai Mee Farang.

Is this a helpless situation? Surely the Farang that live there see what danger lies a head, what about the Thai that have been there for generations?

It depends on what your looking for and how much nightlife you want. Chawang is very busy and has everything from 5 star resorts to little run down bungalows.

I prefer Boput and Maenam. If you want to rent a house/appt. I know there are some places by the airport for around 2,000 baht a month. They are clean and I think some are very new, just being built in the last year or so.

Your getting there right after high season is finished and should be able to swing a deal somewhere.

ekk!! I think I saw that g-string wearing farang on Had Rin last year.

The Texi boat drivers were rolling over laughing as he walked by

Kop Khun Ka,

Leaving from Phangan, so that's why we go to Penang.

Hi all I have a friend who I told I would travel with to get her Visa Stamp for her second entry. I'll be on a 60 day single, but will have only been in the kingdom for about 3 weeks when we go.

If I go into Malaysia will I lose the 5 weeks that's left on my Visa? Sounds like yes.

How long will it take her to cross and cross back? I've read different things.

I'm thinking that I should stay in LOS, let her cross and just wait for her to get back over.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

I get the nobelcom phone cards, but do call from my land line.

Prices good and no problem with connections

According to the dictionary I have it's just a verb and Chua-Tuu is the full word

It also lists Wai Jai

The Noun is Kwaam Chua-Tuu and Sin-Chua

The U being pronouned like Winnie the Pooh