loiner100

I need a new uk passport as i only have 8 months left on it does anybody know of where i can give my passport to somebody in samui and they take it to bangkok and have it done for me or do i have to go to bangkok and do it all myself?

Why not ask someone who knows rather than who guesses.

Here are the phone numbers (all natural English speakers).

http://www.help4brits.org/services.html

Drive slowly, nobody needs a helmet. That's just a bs like safety belts, airbags etc. What the hack those things helping us? Just that we can be faster?? There was a study ones in the us that all this crab is actually not helping us, it gives us just the feeling to be more safe and making us driving faster and more crazy. It is an illussion like all! Believe it or not it is up to you. But it should be also up to me if yes or not? They try again here on KPG like every 2-3 year to implement it with the police! Do you actually realize that Thais driving about with 30 km/h? Of coarse not all but the most! And you really think that those strange helmets people wearing, that this helps in the case of an accident? It is just another tool to manipulate people

It is just my personal view! I don't like it at all! I rather drive carefully and slowly and everybody should be able to choose by himself. I don't need somebody to tell me what to wear or not

....and your serious aren't you?

you mean "lible"...."slander" is spoken defamation, lible is published defamation.

you mean "exceeded"...not "acceded"

But now you are both right!...thank goodness for global economic depression, international airport take over and closure and blind hypergreed development to bring you two to meeting of minds

Thaierless, I think if you are going criticise (U.K spelling, not U.S.) others and attempt to educate someone to use the English language properly, the least you can do is to spell words correctly yourself!

'Lible' is NOT a word in the English language, perhaps you intended to mean 'libel'.

As a Samui Resident card holder, I have just received these offers from Bangkok Airways.

Interesting that the fares INCLUDE a fuel surcharge!!!

http://promotions.flyerbonus.com/newslette...ankfare_en.html

Just after midnight yesterday, an 'inattentive' Thai gentleman hurtling through Bangrak in a pick-up managed to completely demolish around ten motorbikes outside Whispers Bar before careering across the road and crashing into a wall.

Fortunately no-one (as far as I know) was hurt although the driver was pretty well shaken up.

Do you recognise your bike???

Went to Immigration in Nathon to renew my Non-Imm O a month ago.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - new requirements every day = No luck getting the renewal.

Since I still had to do a borderrun by Friday, I decided to go to Penang Thursday morning for the renewal.

Left with the 8.00am ferry and arrived in Penang 7pm.

Went to my regular agent, Banana Guesthouse, had the paperwork done by Thursday night.

Friday afternoon the Non-Imm O visa was in my hands, without any problems at all.

Tony, I'm on a 12 month Non immigrant multiple entry 'O' visa. I go to the UK every 12-15 months to renew it.

Are you saying I can get this SAME visa renewed in Penang?

Why would you go to Nathon to try to renew it? Are we talking about a different visa here? A retirement visa or something?

I am really confused now.

Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement centre were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: "Slim, I'm 83 years old now and I' m just full of aches and pains I know you're about my age. How do you feel?"

Slim says, "I feel just like a newborn baby."

"Really!? Like a newborn baby!?"

"Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants."

An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen.

The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, "Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly."

The other man said, "What is the name of the restaurant?"

The first man thought and thought and finally said, "What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love?

You know... The one that's red and has thorns."

"Do you mean a rose?"

"Yes, that's the one," replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?"

Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical.

A few days later, the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm.

A couple of days later, the doctor spoke to Morris and said, "You're really doing great, aren't you?"

Morris replied, "Just doing what you said, Doc: 'Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.'"

The doctor said, "I didn't say that. I said, 'You've got a heart murmur; be careful."

Thanks for the info on where to buy, I was missing my 'fix' too.

But in Tops at 375 baht (nearly eight quid) a bottle it looks like I am going cold turkey!!!

By the way, George, how is the wife???

??? Not sure what that means?

Shes fine thanks...

OK, my local in the UK was the George & Dragon, the joke was you go up to the landlord and say hi George, how's the wife? (dragon)?? Get it?

Not funny when you have to explain it though. :D

Thanks for the info on where to buy, I was missing my 'fix' too.

But in Tops at 375 baht (nearly eight quid) a bottle it looks like I am going cold turkey!!!

By the way, George, how is the wife??? :D

Thanks all for the feedback & advise.

However, I don't have any Thai bank account to allow me to do the advance Seatrans booking. Moreover, I'm not even in Thailand or even close to it.

Guess my easiest option is to just keep my fingers crossed when I reach the Raja terminal (maybe around 3pm?) Any idea how long it takes to drive from Sadao to Donsak? I'm being safe & intend to hit the Thai immigration at 8:00am, just when they start operating.

Cheers.

I would allow 6-7 hours to be on the safe side, that includes time for a couple of comfort breaks.

My advice (like others before) would be to try Seatran first, the two ferry terminals are less than three minutes apart at Donsak.

For a long time yesterday and again now (1pm Monday) the road between Plai Lam and Bangrak is closed due to flooding.

There is an easy diversion if you need to get through

The improvement over 2005 is that the drainage they put in since seems to be working in that the floods go down fairly quickly once the rain stops. Twice over the weekend I had to take the diversion round the back roads in Plai Laem but three hours later it was clear again. I used to live in the bungalows just there and three years ago it would take days to go down, now only hours. Last night driving to Tesco from Bophut, floods were starting to build near BigC but three hours later they had gone. No major flooding when I drove down to the office on the Beach Road and through Laem Din but that was at 9am so not sure what it is like now as it has been pretty heavy since then.

You are right, it seems to be draining away faster.Still some problem spots, but nothing compared to 2005.By the way,I'm only talking Bophut,Maenam & the way in to Chaweng via the lake road.

Plai Laem to Bangrak open now. The drains are helping the water to get away much quicker now.

For a long time yesterday and again now (1pm Monday) the road between Plai Lam and Bangrak is closed due to flooding.

There is an easy diversion if you need to get through

I wrote in reply to the same email mentioned above and asked for clarification. This is the answer I got back.

Dear Mr *****

Thank you for contacting the Interactive Customer Care Team regarding your National Lottery Interactive Account.

To play The National Lottery interactively, a player must be a resident of the UK or Isle of Man when they register for an interactive account # and at all subsequent times when they play games through this account. Additionally, players need to be aged 16 years or over and have a UK or Isle of Man Sterling bank account. It is the player#s responsibility to notify Camelot of any change in their address.

As operator of The UK National Lottery, Camelot is unable to sell UK National Lottery products outside the UK and Isle of Man # because the National Lottery Games licences granted by our regulator, the National Lottery Commission, prevent us from doing so.

In addition, local laws in other countries usually prevent the sales of lottery tickets other than those for their own state lottery. To protect players and the UK National Lottery, our rules prohibit players playing the UK National Lottery online in any country where it is unlawful to do so. As a result, we would not be able to pay out any prize on a ticket bought in such a country.

We would advise people that whilst travelling abroad, they assume it is unlawful for them to buy a lottery ticket online for the UK National Lottery # and to only buy their tickets when they are actually in the UK or Isle of Man.

Please can you confirm by reply if you conform to this criteria in order to clarify that you are still eligible to play through an interactive account. Please can you also confirm that the active tickets you have on your interactive account were purchased in the UK or Isle of Man.

Yours sincerely,

Emlyn Jenkins.

Interactive Customer Care Team

0845 278 8000

[email protected]

Open 7 days 8am-11pm

I replied saying I did not wish to do anything illegally and would they credit my account with all my previous lottery entries and of course debit with the winnings they have credited me with. I await their reply with interest as my expenditure (maybe around £120.00) far outweighs the winnings (about £25.00) over five years. Not holding my breath!!!!

Well, here is their reply, just as expected, I suppose, they are keeping my money.

Dear *****,

Thank you for contacting the Interactive Customer Care Team regarding your National Lottery Interactive Account.

To play The National Lottery interactively, a player must be a resident of the UK or Isle of Man when they register for an interactive account # and at all subsequent times when they play games through this account. Additionally, players need to be aged 16 years or over and have a UK or Isle of Man Sterling bank account. It is the player#s responsibility to notify Camelot of any change in their address.

As operator of The UK National Lottery, Camelot is unable to sell UK National Lottery products including Euromillions outside the UK and Isle of Man # because the National Lottery Games licences granted by our regulator, the National Lottery Commission, prevent us from doing so.

In addition, local laws in other countries usually prevent the sales of lottery tickets other than those for their own state lottery. To protect players and the UK National Lottery, our rules prohibit players playing the UK National Lottery online in any country where it is unlawful to do so. As a result, we would not be able to pay out any prize on a ticket bought in such a country.

We would advise people that whilst travelling abroad, they assume it is unlawful for them to buy a lottery ticket online for the UK National Lottery # and to only buy their tickets when they are actually located in the UK or Isle of Man.

We can confirm that with effect from today#s date you will no longer be entered into any National Lottery draws for any active tickets purchased outside of the UK or Isle of Man. However, please rest assured that any outstanding funds will be refunded.

We can confirm that your interactive account can remain open, however, it remains your responsibility to ensure that you comply at all times with the Rules and the Terms and Conditions, including your being a resident of the UK or the Isle of Man and only entering plays using your Account when you are physically present in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man.

We hope the above clarifies the situation for you.

Yours sincerely

Paul

Interactive Customer Care Team

0845 278 8000

[email protected]

Open 7 days 8am-11pm

Hi Jez,

As usual on any post on the Samui board you will find the majority of replies to be negative and totally off topic.If you want my view all of what you have said is true regarding our homeland and I believe you have been kind and missed out loads of other reasons why you should come back to Samui.I have sold my house and my travel bussines and will be heading to Samui early next year as that is where I feel most at peace and happy with life.

There seems to be loads of people who live on Samui that don't seem to be happy so my advice is to jog on and go elswhere if life is that bad, Oh most of you can't because you are stuck with you mindless business and now spend your days trashing Samui because you can't get out and all because when you arrived here you followed the sheep and opened another bar be it a sports bar or even a Girlie bar - now that is forward thinking. I could go on about these boring people but lets be honest about this if Samui makes you happy then that is all that matters end of story and yes the UK is crap to live in because there is no longer a sense of belonging only a sense of living to work to pay the bills.

I love Samui for both the good and the bad and I can't wait to return.

Shakeyd

Agree 100% sd, BUT, Jez, be aware of what can happen to you in LOS.

For example, you go in to a bar, you fall in love with a beautiful girl, you commit - much, - if not everything; she leaves, you lose -much - if not everything!!!

More chance of recompense in the UK than here.

But, hey, maybe you get lucky like me and have a wonderful life here.

Good luck

I wrote in reply to the same email mentioned above and asked for clarification. This is the answer I got back.

Dear Mr *****

Thank you for contacting the Interactive Customer Care Team regarding your National Lottery Interactive Account.

To play The National Lottery interactively, a player must be a resident of the UK or Isle of Man when they register for an interactive account # and at all subsequent times when they play games through this account. Additionally, players need to be aged 16 years or over and have a UK or Isle of Man Sterling bank account. It is the player#s responsibility to notify Camelot of any change in their address.

As operator of The UK National Lottery, Camelot is unable to sell UK National Lottery products outside the UK and Isle of Man # because the National Lottery Games licences granted by our regulator, the National Lottery Commission, prevent us from doing so.

In addition, local laws in other countries usually prevent the sales of lottery tickets other than those for their own state lottery. To protect players and the UK National Lottery, our rules prohibit players playing the UK National Lottery online in any country where it is unlawful to do so. As a result, we would not be able to pay out any prize on a ticket bought in such a country.

We would advise people that whilst travelling abroad, they assume it is unlawful for them to buy a lottery ticket online for the UK National Lottery # and to only buy their tickets when they are actually in the UK or Isle of Man.

Please can you confirm by reply if you conform to this criteria in order to clarify that you are still eligible to play through an interactive account. Please can you also confirm that the active tickets you have on your interactive account were purchased in the UK or Isle of Man.

Yours sincerely,

Emlyn Jenkins.

Interactive Customer Care Team

0845 278 8000

[email protected]

Open 7 days 8am-11pm

I replied saying I did not wish to do anything illegally and would they credit my account with all my previous lottery entries and of course debit with the winnings they have credited me with. I await their reply with interest as my expenditure (maybe around £120.00) far outweighs the winnings (about £25.00) over five years. Not holding my breath!!!!

wah! suay mak mak!!

i`ll use this as my wallpaper.......

seriously nice pic mate

Andy

Thanks, Junkie, you're most welcome.

I think Lao Po's point is that with all the unregistered residents the island's resources are being stretched thin. Budget, in the past, has been allocated by the mainland govt according to how many registered residents a district has. If that budget only allocates for 50,000 people yet there are more than 150,000 using resources, then it is a problem.

I think I understood Lao Po's point.

I was making my own thank you.

I'm not sure but I have a feeling that you create an odd kind of answering to the original question in my OP.

The question was if there were indeed 120,000 non-registered people/workers on Samui or maybe even more (or less).

I didn't say that it was or would be a problem for the Farang living or visiting the island, but you mentioned that.

If you are living on Samui with your Thai family you will sooner or later face problems if this growth of non-registered people/workers continues. It's a slowly building-up bubble which will burst sooner or later and will, thus, affect you and your family as well.

Food prices, water supply (!), garbage, traffic, accidents, health care...I could go on, but if those 120,000 would register (which is not going to happen..I know), infrastructure and the other things i mentioned will improve drastical.

Your sentence in your first message: "Too many westerners have too many 'personal' issues here (especially some TV members)." is asking for an explanation....Please explain.

Your way of posting messages is a kind of negative in my opinion....a bit sour..... and not from a friendly happy person (you claim to be), enjoying his life on Samui...

Your last sentence in your previous message shows that: "Relax and enjoy your life here or go 'home'".

I've seen too many people writing such dxxb sentences, as if they have more rights in Thailand or Samui than others.

LaoPo

OK the LaoPo, let me clarify my post.

First, I understood the original post and have no issue with it.

Second, I agree no-one probably has any idea of the number of 'non family book people' and an attempt to arrive at an educated estimate by whatever means is to be applauded.

Third My point is, that as a fahrang neither I nor any other group of expats are able to influence local or national government to improve to infrastructure on the island. Nor are we able to do anything about the itinerant Thai population that is living and working here. We cannot vote and, but for a few, are not able to speak the language fluently enough to help or advise with the anticipated problems regarding sufficiency of potable water, foul water drainage, garbage collection etc., etc.,

With all that in mind, that is why I say I keep my head down and enjoy my life here.

I didn't say that it was or would be a problem for the Farang living or visiting the island, but you mentioned that.

In your first post, correct, yet in YOUR next post you are saying exactly the same thing as me.

If you are living on Samui with your Thai family you will sooner or later face problems if this growth of non-registered people/workers continues.

Indeed you then go further:

It's a slowly building-up bubble which will burst sooner or later and will, thus, affect you and your family as well.

Yes, I agree again, but am at a loss to know what I can do about it, what is your solution?

Finally, my comments about personal issues and the need for some to relax was NOT intended as a slur on you,( I apologise if you felt it was) but a general comment and you have to agree there are some very confrontational posters on TV, many of whom, do not perhaps like you and me do as much as possible to make our own and others lives here as happy and fulfilling as possible.

I think Lao Po's point is that with all the unregistered residents the island's resources are being stretched thin. Budget, in the past, has been allocated by the mainland govt according to how many registered residents a district has. If that budget only allocates for 50,000 people yet there are more than 150,000 using resources, then it is a problem.

I think I understood Lao Po's point.

I was making my own thank you.

But why is this a problem for us Fahrangs?

TIT and I for one am happy to live here in Samui with my Thai family. I keep my head down and enjoy my life here co-habiting with the local population.

We do not live in a first world country and have to accept the lifestyle and ways of the indigenous population.

Too many westerners have too many 'personal' issues here (especially some TV members).

Relax and enjoy your life here or go 'home'.

Just arrived to work to hear that last night another fatal shooting in Soi Green Mango.

Anyone else hear about this or have any details ?

Forgive me, Reimar, but we must be reading different threads.

This topic is about a shooting in Soi Mango and nowhere does the OP discuss whether or not the Samui Express can be considered a newspaper.

Surely this warrants a new thread if anyone is interested in discussing it.

Anyhow, no doubt you will disagree BUT, we are all allowed a point of view and that's mine.

So all the people that HATE Samui Express still buy and read every issue?

Good game.

Um, no. Never seen it. Its never made it to Koh Phangan (or if it has, I've never seen it) and its never been available when I have been on Samui. I never realized Samui Express was a newspaper. I assumed it was very similar in content to the ad driven publications I've always seen, with a bit of news inside, as the old Community Magazine used to do.

Anyway, if this was reported in the Thai language press, I fail to see how that is "being swept under the carpet" .

Advice from Reimar 'Keep strict on topic and maybe you should reread the forum rules for to be sure to follow them'.

I think the topic is 'Another shooting in Soi Mango'.

Didn't seem to find anyone posting a topic on this so I thought i would just ask, as i'm sure many are aware that koh samui is mostly a tourist get away, and pretty much the whole island survives realistically only on tourists coming and going, yes I am aware thais work here and contribute to but there purchasing power is no where near the amount a foreigner comes in and spends I could be wrong just my opinion though. Anyways due to

1. Political Instability which most likely won't be resolved anytime in the near future

2. Global Recession

I suspect we should see some businesses on the island go out of business, note I understand people will still travel, and so will the rich but I don't think the majority of tourists coming to samui are rich, anyways if you run a business

1. Will you make it through next year if declines in tourists keep happening

2. Do you plan on laying of employee's

3. Do you have enough money in reserve to get by

Look forward to all your opinions

Laying of employees sounds to be a bonus in any business if you can get away with it and your wife doesn't find out

Even moderators lose the thread sometimes!

For the past three weeks I have been getting brown water from the well via water tower.

Any ideas for an inexpensive water filter I can get fitted please?

Any suggestions for make, model, price, where to buy and contact details of anyone who can fit it for me? I live near Bangrak.

I don't need drinking water quality, just clean enough to stop the wife moaning about brown stains in the washing.

Thanks.

These WERE taken by me in Samui. I can't wait for the comments on the last one taken in Sloaney's!!!