kwilco

"I married one so I can't be racist, can I?"

The problem is the location and how it is reported - 2-wheelers are not allowed on motorways period -regardless of engine size – but clearly that accident is not on the motorway. It may be a frontage road. Another problem is the time – what time was it? Sri Racha district is very large it stretches for Laem Chabang to Bang Sen to the Rayong border. The traffic on the frontage roads is VERY heavy and a stopped vehicle may not have ben seen if another vehicle in front of the bike had obscured their view. There is of course no hard shoulder for the truck to park on.

assuming he's the only Navid Dilmahomed

Thai doctors are obliged to work in the government healthcare system after training. This is normally about 3 years. Un fortunately as soon as they can they disappear in specialist areas in private healthcare. The Thai healthcare system is a mess - doctors are not always trained properly and the hierarchical nature means that doctors are virtually unaccountable. THe private healthcare system drains the national system of resources and the set up deprives the system of GPs and general practitioners. Of course the healthcare su-sytem needs reform in all areas but the payment of doctors will require government money and therefore taxation. THey also need to reform doctors accountability under law.

Where do you propose storage?

I don't have any information about that on Samui. But in general desalination is not cost effective and the disposal of brine i s usually the killer. I doubt if solar panels would even be a possible solution. You also need to find suitable sites. I think allowing small private plants would not be effectively monitored or regulated.

Can you provide a link to this to show how you come to that conclusion?

This is geological mp of Samui, as you'd expect, granite in the middle with the run-off silt deposits around it and a couple of shale deposits. I'm wondering if you have a comment to make about it?

"uncontrolled tourism" is and has been a problem in Thailand for the last 40 years. The problem is lack of government planning and control resulting in untrammelled development. One aspect of this is developers, given a free hand, don't bother with making sure their is sufficient infrastructure installed either before or after the development. Utililities , water electric, etc etc are left to others to install post building, the result is on islands like Samui total chaos. and patchup projects that are little more than "band-aids"

One of the 4 soils types in Samui is Lateritic Soil. Much of Samui's interior comprises of this soil, which rich in iron. You can recognise it because it tends to be reddish-brown. You'll notice that most of the soil inland and in the hills is this type..

So the main sources of water are the pip=line from the mainland. some reservoir around the island and boreholes into the aquifer. There are a couple of desalination plants - but these are problematic including: high energy consumption, Desalination requires a lot of energy to remove salt from seawater, the power required puts a strain on the island's electrical grid. It also produces concentrated bring which has an environmental impact. The brine produced can be harmful to marine life if it is not disposed of properly. Cost of desalination is a relatively expensive way to produce water. This can make it difficult for the island to afford the necessary infrastructure. and dispose of the brine in a safe way.

Almost every building on the island and most of Thailand has water storage tanks. Water is often pumped electrically into the bathroom etc.. When the principle water supply runs out, the tanks work for a period and then you see the water tankers scurrying around the island. This is one of the reasons you should never drink water from the tap in Thailand. Many hotels may have bores into the aquifer too.

"If a beachfront well is too deep the water can become salty" is not the specific cause of saltwater intrusion or beachfront even. There are various causes. What you experience is not universal.

THe freshwater aquifer is not at one level - it is a wavy layer and may not even exist in some areas. There are 4 basic soils on Samui and characteristics can vary within relatively short distances, and local variations can occur within that. Sandy soil is by far the best for filtering out bacteria and pollutants - that's why they use stuff like that on sewage farms.

Wells on Samui - which has a sandy composition are bored to varying depths into the aquifer. How the aquifer is supplied in not just depth. THe problem of salt water intrusion depends on things like storm surges and sea inundation. BUT also is you take large amounts of freshwater out of the aquifer it can be replaced by salt water is the levels change to much. The other problem for the freshwater aquifer is pollution from unsuitable garbage disposal. Many houses have neither main water nor drainage and use sceptic tanks and soak-aways. These work up to a point but if overloaded then they cause problems.

Please explain. Tofu has a higher protein content than milk. as for other foods above, they are more suited to growing i the tropics. Remember milk was not readily available in Thailand too....until an industry was set up About 40 years ago.. How many dairy farms do you see around Thailand? What's your favourite Thai cheese?

here are some alternatives.... In the tropics dairy farming is limited, there are alternatives to milk that can provide proteins and calcium for growing kids.: Some are natural some like milk are processed… Plant-based milk alternatives: Plant-based milks such as soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and oat milk are commonly available in many regions. They are even fortified with calcium and other nutrients to make them nutritionally similar to cow's milk. Soy products: As well as soy milk, soy-based products like tofu, can be excellent sources of protein and calcium. These can be used in various dishes, including stir-fries, soups, and salads. Greens: Vegetables like kale, spinach, collard greens, and pok choy are rich in calcium. They can be included in meals, salads, or blended into smoothies to increase calcium intake Pulses: Beans, lentils, chickpeas, and other legumes are excellent sources of plant-based protein. Easy to keep and cook yet not that common in Thai cuisine. Nuts and seeds: ­nuts and seeds are packed with protein and minerals like calcium. They can be consumed as snacks, added to other dishes, cereals or smoothies, or used as ingredients in recipes. Grains: Whole grains like quinoa, amaranth, and fortified cereals can contribute to a child's protein and calcium intake. These can be used as side dishes, in salads, or as a base for porridges. You can fortify fruit juices Some juices, particularly orange juice, may be fortified with calcium and vitamin D, which are essential for bone health. You can use juices with minimal added sugars.

Rather than just pick out milk, they should look at the general diet offered to kids - There is plenty of protein and calcium available without just using milk.. Milk is not. naturally occurring food in the tropics but I'm sure there are alternatives.

they are also a lot more hairy - what are they adding to cattle feed that comes out in dairy products and meat???

Cows milk..... Although for most people milk is not inherently bad for them it has drawbacks. .It is a good source of protein, calcium, and other nutrients. but there are also potential health risks. Milk contains a lot of saturated fats - it is basically a suspension of animal fat in water., which may contribute to heart disease. Some people are allergic to milk, and drinking milk can cause symptoms such as hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing.. Lactose intolerance: Lactose is a sugar found in milk, and many people are unable to digest it properly. This causes symptoms such as bloating, gas, and diarrhoea. Inflammation: Studies have shown that milk can increase inflammation in the body. This is a concern for people with autoimmune diseases and other conditions that are associated with inflammation. Health risks of milk are often underplayed as milk is so common in the West. Health risks also vary with the kind of milk you drink. For example, whole milk is higher in saturated fat than skim milk. For some people, goats milk and other types might be easier to digest for those who are lactose intolerant. Drinking too much milk can increase your intake of saturated fat and calories. Notice how in the states obesity kicks in once people hit 25 years and continue to consume huge amounts of milk.

This is a very sweeping comment What kind of milk ?- Humans are the only mammals that drink milk after being weened. Historically about half the world is lactose intolerant.

So what's this? An OP by the Thai milk marketing board?

as far back as the 1970s and 80s it was predicted that wars of this century would be fought over water rather than oil.

Certainly run off is a problem especially as a result of building roads and housing. Also a major source of water for inducidual housing in the aquifer and also some communal wells as well. Apart from water shortage there is also potential for subsidence. I think the pipeline supplies somewhere between half and 2 thirds of the island's water...or that is the intention.... whether or not that caters for the future I couldn't say ...

There is now a mains water pipeline supplying Samui from the mainland It was completed in 2022. It was expected to help mitigate the problem of freshwater scarcity in Koh Samui, which has been a major issue for years. There have always been water shortages on Samui – an island that had a tiny population until the tourists started arriving in numbers in the 1980s/90s by 2019 rising to around 2.7 million per annum is bound to have problems. The reservoir for the pipeline is located in Surat Thani Province It is hoped it will supply about 70% of the water to Koh Samui. But this year El Niño promises drought throughout Thailand and so even the new sources of water for the island will have to be restricted. Many people on Samui get their water by boring down into the sandy water table. Unfortunately that is becoming less accessible and some of the water table has been polluted by the massive garbage back up at the improperly prepared tip in near the border of Maret and Namaeung. The tankers around the island usually fill from reservoirs. The reservoirs on the isand need constant dredging dur=e to the silt from run-off from the hills. The other tankers you see are the ones that empty sceptic tanks and other waste systems – the big question is where they dispose of their toxic cargos…