SamuiRes

Samui Buri is already gone to Mercure - wonder why.

The article states that after the tsunami Samui hotels mushroomed - a fact - but dind't the builders think about years after the tsunami? No they didn't! Now we have hotel buildings with 3 storeys close to the beach (not totally legal...) with almost no guests. Samui can blame everything - the yellow shirts, the red shirts, the financial crisis, the swine flu... but Samui should start blaming herself.

Accor Group through Mercure only have a management contract on Samui Buri - it was not sold. The article in The Nation seems to suggest that the current spate of sales is a consequence of the present economic climate. All the hotels mentioned (with the exception of Lawana which is relatively new) have been offered at these prices for the last two or three years. Unrealistic then - even more so now.

Can anyone recomend a good e.n.t.doctor either lamai or nathon

Dr Ning in Nathon.

Her surgery is on the one way system, on the left hand side about 50 metres before the turn back towards the sea.

I have used her for the past four or more years and she is excellent. Good English and all the right equipment.

I believe, but you will need to check this yourself, that there is a private Dermatologist on the ring road near Tesco. Pass Tesco going towards Bophut and as you go up the hill I seem to recall seeing a surgery in the shop houses on the right hand side. Used to have a clinic near the Post Office but that shut some time ago and I think this is where he moved to. Acapuncture - no idea. Hope this helps.

Organize a few songthaews to drive children to/from school, no big deal on this small island. To pay them, about 5% of the daily police 'collection' should suffice.

They already provide that service but not all kids seem to use it. Any morning from 6am onwards and in the afternoon from around 3pm you will see many songthaews with school kids on board. It seems that not all the kids want to use that service and prefer the bikes. Down to the parents again I suppose - so no hope there!

A very interesting thread this as I have had these problems for the last year and my ear specialist eventually diagnosed this as an inner ear infection and some strong antibiotics helped but did not completly cure it. Obviously if it was a viral infection antibiotics would not help but it did start to go away.

I have had ear problems since I was a child and have had three operations over the years.

I take particular note of the comments re Aspartam as I regularly drink Diet Coke, so will lay off that and see if that helps.

One point I would like to make. As a sailor for many years I have tried many sea sickness medications. One that came to the fore a good few years ago was Stugeron. This had been developed by two UK doctors for the treatment of vertigo, but as sailors themselves saw the application to fight sea sickness and I found it extremely effective with no side effects. One of the medications prescibed to me over the last year was Stugeron as a temporary relief if the vertigo became too bad and it worked very well. Obviously not a cure in itself, but for the immediate relief of symptons I found it very effective and keep some at hand in case I need them.

As I said in an earlier post I have always used UPS and had no problems. However, UPS have gone as far as I can see and have been replaced by TNT. I used them twice with two packages and they were delivered on time. The only problem I had was the tracking number as it never showed up on their web site tracking page.

Do you mean www.onlyinsamui.com not "on" - samui?

Nice website!!! Frontpage ahoy!!!

Does that mean they've cancelled your villa, taken your money, and are now expecting you to claim the expense back through insurance without even a hint of a refund?

My apologies for the typo - you are correct.

Certainly looks dodgy doesn't it.

I gather also they do not have instructions from the owners for some of the villas being offered.

This notice has appeared on www.onlyonsamui.com contact page.

QUOTE

Please contact us today

. . . SOS - May Day - SOS - May Day

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Issued 8th December 2008.

We apologise to all our customers whose holidays to Koh Samui have already been interrupted or cancelled by the current political situation in Thailand.

We cannot therefore accept any new bookings until the situation has improved beyond all reasonable doubt - and we anticipate that will only occur when a new democratically elected government is in power hopefully in early 2009.

Those who have already booked and are expected to arrive within the next month are advised therefore to immediately contact their travel insurance company and explain that your villa booking has been cancelled and wish to pursue a valid claim for all monies paid-to-date and thereby obtain a claim form.

Those making such a claim are advised in the first instance to contact Peter Drago (new owner) at [email protected] who will provide the necessary paperwork. Unfortunately, the Samui Support Team will not be available to answer any further enquiries as they are fully engaged in helping travellers to safely evacuate the island.

Travellers ignoring this notice and who turn up regardless do so at their own risk and will be forced to make their own accomodation requirements elsewhere and at their own expense. Furthermore, we would also be unable to assist such persons if and when they later attempted to make an insurance claim and we would be forced to notify the insurance company of the existance of this Notice.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter and again we profusely apologise to those affected.

UNQUOTE

Just heard that Natalies old place has been bought and the rooms are going for 1200-1600b a night. i have friends arriving at Christmas and was wanting to know would this be a good option for them. seems cheap enough and as i remember Natalie was charging 3000b a room...or maybe a bit more. does anyone know has it already opened?

it's called the chewang home stay or something like that not ibiza, no idea of cost but i am sure it has rooms

Not according to this web site - HOTEL IBIZA (formerly known as Art Palace and Mansion Samui)

www.hotelibiza-samui.com/

PR2008/ 065

For immediate release

First Bangkokair flight lands at Suvarnabhumi today

Bangkok/ December 3rd, 2008 12.00 hrs. – Bangkok Airways’ first operative flight will land at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 16.20 hrs from Samui. The flight will be operated by Airbus 319 as in the following details.

• PG 148 Samui-Bangkok dep: 15.15 – 16.20 hrs

• PG 171 Bangkok-Samui dep: 17.00 – 18.05 hrs

Passengers departing for Samui are requested to check in at Bangkok Airways’ Head Office (99 Vibhavadirangsit Road) at 15.00 hrs where transfer will be arranged for all passengers.

Bangkok Airways is now in full gear to operate its normal schedules as soon as possible.

For more information, call 1771, or 0-2265-8777 or log on www.bangkokair.com

Extra Flight

Bangkok Airways adds extra flights to Utapao, Siem Reap, Luang Prabang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Guilin, and Maldives on 1 - 2 December 2008.

Flight Cancellation

Bangkok Airways announced the cancellation of domestic and international flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport on 26 November - 1 December 2008.

Source: http://www.bangkokair.com/

Copy of their Press Release

Bangkok Airways adds extra flights from Hua Hin to Singapore and Hong Kong

Bangkok/ December 1st, 2008 – Bangkok Airways commenced twice daily flights between Hua Hin and Samui during December 1st – 2nd in order to connect passengers going to Singapore or Hong Kong via Samui.

Flights leave Hua Hin at 14.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs for passengers can connect with flights to Singapore leaving at 16.35 hrs and 20.30 hrs. For Hong Kong-bound passengers, flights leave at 22.00 hrs and 11.35 hrs on the next day.

From Singapore, there’ll be two flights: 20.10 hrs and 01.30 hrs. From Hong Kong, flights leave at 17.05 hrs and 04.00 hrs. Afterwards, passengers can connect to Hua Hin at 15.30 hrs or 18.30 hrs.

A complimentary transfer service will leave four hours prior to each flight departure from Bangkok Airways’ Head Office (99 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road). Additionally, the airline also operates between U-tapao-Siem Reap/ U-tapao-Maldives/ U-tapao-Guilin/ U-tapao-Samui/ and U-tapao-Phuket.

For more information, call 1771, or 0-2265-8777 or log on www.bangkokair.com

Lets spice up the question by saying, no bankloans.

A rich guy comes over and buy 10 shops on chaweng beachroad, pay cash and then leave samui to never come back. Sooner or later they´ll have to start using those shops.....

Once again i have to bring up the only example i know, for now, coco. Lets assume the restaurant is paid for. When will that ever be used again? In case those owners don´t come back ever.

And the question on property, infact many of them without bankloans, investers paid for houses that never got built, developers ran out of money, but managed to pay the land before. And maybe build one or two houses. Bank is not involved and the land has a leagal owner allthough he will never come back or develop it further.

Interesting thought on the topic "future of Samui" isn´t it?

So we are talking about a foreigner investing and leaving with no intention of returning.

Firstly forget leasehold as the land owner will eventually regain possession either through default on the lease or lapse of time.

As for a Freehold purchase then a foreigner can only do this through a Thai Company which will have Thai shareholders, possibly nominees, possibly not. The property is an asset of the Company and I would surmise that the Thai shareholders in whatever capacity would be able to apply to the Courts, if necessary, to dispose of the assets and take any capital less debts for themselves. If the debts exceed the asset value, then the Company could be put into receivership and whatever is recovered through the sale of the asset divided out in proportion.

As I understand it Thailand has the same legal prinicle of "prescriptive rights" as the UK, except here it is 10 years not 12 years.

Essentialy if you occupy land or buildings as a "squatter" and no action is taken against you, then after ten years here you can legally claim title. However, at any time within that period a legal challenge can be mounted by the actual owners if they so wish.

From E Travel Blackboard -

http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com/artic...=18November2008

Siem Reap Airways Blacklisted from European Airports

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

The European Commission (EC) has prohibited Siem Reap Airways International from landing at European Airports, which has called the carrier’s safety standards into question.

The EC released an update on Friday to its air carrier "blacklist", banning Siem Reap Airways and other carriers determined not to be in compliance with international standards from operating in Europe.

The executive branch of the European Union issues periodic lists of airlines from around the world that fail to meet its safety standards and cannot travel to EU countries.

“The commission has imposed an operating ban on the main air carrier from Cambodia, Siem Reap Airways International”, the EC said in a statement on its website.

“The airline does not operate in compliance with the Cambodian safety regulations nor does it meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),” it said.

“Significant concerns have also been expressed by ICAO with regard to the ability of the Cambodian civil aviation authorities to implement and enforce the international safety standards”, said the commission.

Siem Reap Airways and Cambodian aviation officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Siem Ream Airways is a subsidiary of Bangkok Airways International. It is licensed by the Cambodian government to operate domestic services between Phnom Penh and the tourist hub Siem Reap - gateway to the Angkor Wat temples - but does not operate directly to Europe.

I see tall 20-30 storey blocks of luxury flats popping up in the next 5 years or so.

Cant see that unless the building laws change as they are limited in height!

Why is then ,that there is a 7 storey condo project between Ban Tai & Ban Po on the hills & a similar 5 storey one on Bophut hills? Is this still illegal since it contravenes building regulations regarding structure height?

Those buildings obtained their building permission before the new regulations came in to force.

Thank you for your erudite comments.

Please read the post again.

I was highlighting the fact that you have to be wary of information obtained on the internet.

The site I referred to quite clearly shows a direct flight from Taipei to Koh Samui and totally ignores the existence of Bangkok Airways.

According to this web site, EVA Air are flying Taipei to Samui.

http://www.theairdb.com/connection/TPE-USM.html

No direct flights shown on the EVA Air web site

Mind you, if you click through to their info (http://www.theairdb.com/airport/USM.html) on Koh Samui Airport they do not seem to realise that Bangkok Airways fly here!!

Another indication of how dubious information gleaned from the internet can be.

My HP digital camera has recently decided to stop working. Just wondering if anyone knows of a camera repair shop on the island. I really don't want to send the thing to Bangkok.

Cheers for any info.

I have had a problem with my Fuji Digital Camera (dropping it etc!!!) and the only way to get it fixed was to send it to Bangkok. Contacted Fuji Service Ccentre, very efficient, sent by EMS and returned by EMS within ten days fixed. Only cost was the replacement part, small charge for labour and they did not charge for EMS.

Suggest you search the internet for your cameras Bangkok service centre and contact them direct. After sales service at Tesco and BigC simply does not exist.

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.

Came across this report - a couple of years old now, but some interesting facts.

http://www.cimmyt.org/english/docs/maize_p...ys/thailand.pdf

Hi,

I'm applying for job, and some of my documents must be translated into Thai.

Anybody who know a certified (qualified) translator? I meant, who can also give the"legal stamp"...

I know one, between Huathanon and Lamai, but they are charging me 1,200B per page.

Meeeen, thats pretty much .

Hope you reply soon!!!

May be try Liz Luxen. Not sure if she can legally stamp though.

Liz is the only one I know too.

http://www.liz-luxen.com/

Does anyone know of a doctors or hospital on Samui that offers ear cleaning by syringe ( where they clean your ears out with a jet wash )

Thanks

Having you rears syringed can be very dangerous unless done by a ENT Specialist. When I was young my local GP did this and was not aware of a hole in the ear drum and consequently forced water into the inner ear. This was the start of my life long ear problems which resulted in three operations. I have my ears checked on a regular basis, at Bumrumgrad in Bangkok if I am there and by the only real ENT specialist I know on the island, Dr Ning in Nathon. Both use air suction and would not dream of using a syringe.

Dr Ning is a lovely lady doctor who speaks good English and you can find her surgery on the left hand side of the one way road through Nathon about fifty metres before it turns the corner back towards the sea.

On Island magazine advertising I have found to be pointless. I track everyone who contacts us as to where they heard about us. Up to the middle of last year 80% were internet contacts and the balance a combination of referrrals, drive by and casual meetings in and around town. I was spending thousands of Baht in the magazines and in a twelve month period could only identify two enquiries which could be traced to a magazine. Consequently I pulled all my island magazine advertising and spend the money on promoting the web site and direct email contact with contacts on a regular basis. Much more cost effective.

Thanks. Which is the best car ferry service to Samui then? and from which pier?

Car Ferries run between Don Sak on the mainland and Nathon on Samui. They also have service direct to Koh Phangan. Two companies run out of Don Sak, Raja Ferries and Seatran. The latter has more modern ships.

If in fact you are actually arriving by air and enquiring about ferries between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan then the big Catamarans are quite safe and if the weather really is too bad they won't run.

Are the bills still going to your old house? Won't UBC be a bit confused? Maybe they'll charge you B1000 for moving your dish without notifying them - I wouldn't be surprised at all, TiT

We paid B1.500 to have ours moved about 6 months ago...

You can change your billing address and magazine delivery address on line. I did this to get them delivered to my office as post to the house was erratic. Did not move the system at that time. Moved recently with no problem. Neither changing the address or moving house attracted any attention from UBC/True.