Gatorade

Seems there was a meeting with the Marine Police and Boat operators yesterday and that a Minister has announced that with immediate effect

all alcohol is banned on all boats including pleasure craft.This also applies to ferries.

The information I have is still sketchy but from what I can gather there will be an instant fine and confiscation of alcohol found.

The Marine Police will routinely carry out checks.

I really feel sorry for the tour operators.

Its difficult to see what will be achieved by this yet another badly thought out rule.

Still, it should get rid of any visitors on their yachts bringing business to the islands.

Interesting to see how this all works out!!!

I don't know if this is a country wide rule or just Samui.

Wifey and I have seen this dog a number of times in the area of Soi 7 and where it meets Soi Thong Sai.

The reason that we notice her is because it looks like a sibling of our neighbour's dog. (Abandoned in our area 5 years ago.)

If we see blackie again we'll grab her for you.

T.E. Thank you, very much appreciated.

Still no news regarding our missing Blackie. However, today there is an Email post today on the Samui SOS site from someone who is missing a Labrador in Plai

Lam.

I just hope that there is nothing ominous happening around here.

Wifey and I have seen this dog a number of times in the area of Soi 7 and where it meets Soi Thong Sai.

The reason that we notice her is because it looks like a sibling of our neighbour's dog. (Abandoned in our area 5 years ago.)

If we see blackie again we'll grab her for you.

Missing dog in Plai Lam area Soi 7- reward if found.

Her name is Blackie and she disappeared from Tong Son bay area 4 days ago (picture attached).

She has a black and red collar with a tag showing contact details and name.

Any help will be much appreciated

Thanks Roo

However I did this at Donsak and they said that they would send a new one to Samui which they did, but it was a plain membership card without the door access.

Will keep trying !

We have a VIP membership card for the Seatran ferry but have been trying in vain to get a card

with the magnetic lounge entry strip.

Anyone got any ideas? The offices in Nathon and Donsak don't seem to have a clue!

The annual horror of extension to my retirement visa is looming.

There seem to be myriads of rules now and I am totally confused as to what is now actually required!

e.g.

Do I need to supply a map if I have a Blue book? If yes I understand that there is a place opposite

the immigration which can produce the required doc for a fee.

Do I have to produce a medical report?

Any other new rules?

I have a letter from the British Embassy confirming that I meet the Thai financial requirements but last year the immigration guy still wanted to see

Bank books.

Would be grateful for any update as the guy there seems to revel in being unhelpful and intent on finding something "not in order"

I made the mistake of applying for my last visa one day before expiry and I was told to come back on the date of expiry!

Sorry if I'm going over old ground but I find this whole process unpleasant and time consuming. (Wish Samui residents could use Suratthani main office).

Heads up.

Besides heavy rain this coming weekend the Koh Samui forecast for the middle of next week is for strong wind gusts up to 35-40 MPH.

This is from Wind Guru so it's not "what is the weather doing now?"..... just a forecast.

Looks as though the Monsoon hasn't quite finished yet!

Book into the Soneva Kiri hotel,

Bit pricey but they have their own private aircraft and airstrip on the adjoining island to Ko Kood.

Takes about 1.30 from Bangkok Dom Muang.

They operate about 4 times a day and carry around 8 passengers.

Agree with you Churchill.

"what's the weather doing now" hardly seems relevant when it's not doing much at all!

Can't see the point of having 21 pages of history to scroll through.It's the forecast which will interest most of us I think.

Wind Guru supported by other Met agencies is giving wind gusts up to 50Knots (58MPH) around Sunday midday.

Wind from the NW swinging to NE/East.

If they have got it right then we can expect power cuts.

In my experience the forecasts are usually accurate but the timings can vary by up to 24 hours. We shall see!

It's a hearsay from a few days already. Some kind of big Phangan families feud about a construction delivery pier in a scenic area and protests from local people. Area Haad Yao-Srithanu. Somebody call the army to control illegal bungalows on the beach.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

Went past it last week on my boat and there were two coasters moored up there.

The area is directly beneath the dreadful and probably illegal development of the new "airport".

I think that this is the way that the construction material for the "airport" is being transported in.

I fervently hope that the Authorities are taking a close look at this development.

Just surprised that there is so little outcry from the residents of Haad Yao and K.P. in general.But I guess that there are powerful forces at work here. I cannot for the life of me understand how this development came to pass.

I've said it before, it's in the wrong place, it's dangerous, and it will further ruin one of the most beautiful spots on K.P.

Hope the military get involved!

I think you have the wrong area Gatorade.

Angiud is talking about Haad Yao West - Srithanu area, the airport is being built between Haad Yao East and Than Sadet, which is on the opposite side of the island. I know that the original plans for the airport showed a pier being built below it but I didn't see anything last time I flew over. As far as I know everything has been going in by road (which isn't much as there was no concrete at the airport site in mid-September) (that and the runway is about 200 metres above sea level and 200 metres inland you wouldn't be able to haul much up that hill at a time).

It is a bit confusing with there being beaches with the same names on opposite sides of the island.

Yes you are right I was confusing the two.

Nevertheless my comments regarding the ludicrous siting of the new so-called "airport" still stand.

I go past there quite a lot in my boat and I don't think that it is entirely coincidental that there are largish coasters moored up beneath the

desecrated area.

I can't think why else they would moor up there and they have only arrived there since the development started.

Next time i go over there I will take some pics.

It's a hearsay from a few days already. Some kind of big Phangan families feud about a construction delivery pier in a scenic area and protests from local people. Area Haad Yao-Srithanu. Somebody call the army to control illegal bungalows on the beach.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

Went past it last week on my boat and there were two coasters moored up there.

The area is directly beneath the dreadful and probably illegal development of the new "airport".

I think that this is the way that the construction material for the "airport" is being transported in.

I fervently hope that the Authorities are taking a close look at this development.

Just surprised that there is so little outcry from the residents of Haad Yao and K.P. in general.But I guess that there are powerful forces at work here. I cannot for the life of me understand how this development came to pass.

I've said it before, it's in the wrong place, it's dangerous, and it will further ruin one of the most beautiful spots on K.P.

Hope the military get involved!

I think you have the wrong area Gatorade.

Angiud is talking about Haad Yao West - Srithanu area, the airport is being built between Haad Yao East and Than Sadet, which is on the opposite side of the island. I know that the original plans for the airport showed a pier being built below it but I didn't see anything last time I flew over. As far as I know everything has been going in by road (which isn't much as there was no concrete at the airport site in mid-September) (that and the runway is about 200 metres above sea level and 200 metres inland you wouldn't be able to haul much up that hill at a time).

It is a bit confusing with there being beaches with the same names on opposite sides of the island.

Bangkok Samui hospital will carry out the Check.

Excellent service. You will need to take medication the day before the appointment. And a GA will be required.

Allow for a morning start to finish.

The cost is around 45-50K Baht. You might be able to combine it with a total health care check package.

It's a hearsay from a few days already. Some kind of big Phangan families feud about a construction delivery pier in a scenic area and protests from local people. Area Haad Yao-Srithanu. Somebody call the army to control illegal bungalows on the beach.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

Went past it last week on my boat and there were two coasters moored up there.

The area is directly beneath the dreadful and probably illegal development of the new "airport".

I think that this is the way that the construction material for the "airport" is being transported in.

I fervently hope that the Authorities are taking a close look at this development.

Just surprised that there is so little outcry from the residents of Haad Yao and K.P. in general.But I guess that there are powerful forces at work here. I cannot for the life of me understand how this development came to pass.

I've said it before, it's in the wrong place, it's dangerous, and it will further ruin one of the most beautiful spots on K.P.

Hope the military get involved!

My wife has lost one of her contact lens. Can anyone recommend a good optician where she can get a replacement lens in North Samui area please.

As a resident of Samui for the past four months it is quite apparent to me that the most dangerous factor and one that could be easily changed is the road rule that allows motor bikes to pass on the inside of traffic. Anywhere else in the world that I have ever been to you must only pass on the outside unless there are clearly marked separated lanes. Motor bikes on Samui can seemingly do whatever they want with impunity and it is a nightmare for car drivers to have to keep their eyes on the inside rear vision mirror as well as the outside and rear mirrors.

We refer to that as the Buddha lane. He is protecting me, and therefore a cement truck nor any other obstacle can do me, nor my passenger any harm. We see this all the time. The level of carelessness that alot of motorbike riders exhibit on Samui is stunning. They are taking alot for granted, that is for sure.

Not confined to Thai drivers either.Have just returned from Tesco and narrowly avoided having a half-witted Farang driving his bike in a daze on the wrong side of the road.

He was totally oblivious to the danger he put himself in.( And even worse, he might have dented my truck!).

Good on them. The lack of road safety in Samui is appalling. The conditions are beyond dangerous. And nobody has done anything about it, ever. Not the mayor, not the police, not the "tourist authorities", not the Surat Thani govt, and not the central govt. Nobody cares. Let them get injured, maimed or die, is the attitude amongst all authorities. So, good on the army for caring, and doing something. We all appreciate this. Now, they can move onto:

1. Unlicensed drivers. Especially 11 year old kids driving motorbikes.

2. Speeding fools, who have nowhere to go, but are in a hurry to get there. And in the process put themselves, their passengers, their families, and all of us at risk.

3. Reckless truck drivers. Especially the cement trucks.

4. Reckless and aggressive taxi drivers.

5. Motorcyclists who are driving out of their minds.

6. Drunk drivers.

7. Drivers without a helmet. The risk is horrendous, and the level of foolishness required for such an act boggles the mind. Especially on Samui. Yes, it is a lovely tropical island. But, it is the most dangerous tropical island in the world to drive a motorbike, and to drive one without a good helmet is akin to playing Russian Roulette with two bullets in the barrel.

There is no deterrent on Samui. I do not think the police have ever written a speeding or a DUI ticket or made such an arrest. Shame on them. If you are going to wear the uniform, at least pretend to be a law enforcement officer, OK?

Excellent post, but no 7? I don't care about riders not wearing helmets, they are only potentially harming themselves, if they want to be that stupid, then hell mend them.

Good post but would keep 7 because it is a dreadful and unnerving experience for passers by/drivers, not involved with the accident having to splash through slops of brain and skull all over the road.

Big C I totally agree with you. These buildings are an abomination and creates the impression of a complete and utter disregard of the Building rules and regulations by the developer. in other words the impression that "anything goes here" (given the right incentives).

One can only hope that the newly formed Government investigation commission will examine the legality of many of these and similar structures here, and whilst on the subject should take a peek at the siting of the new Koh Phangan airport and the "War of the Worlds" hotel on the South of the island.

Many thanks for all your replies. It does seem a cheaper option when compared with a Nationwide Swift transfer of 20 UKL standard charge. Although the Swift is same working day.

Moved to Banking for more specialized input.

Hi Rooo I understand your prerogative as a Mod to reassign a post but

I was hoping for a response from some of the Samui/KP TV members, besides residents there is a very high turnover of people here seeking to transfer money.

Regarding a more specialised input, there seems to be more than one thread on TV covering banking and transfer of funds and that Chiang Mai is able to have a specialised banking thread so perhaps we should also qualify?

Have just read an ad from Western Union that states there is no transfer charge for internet banking

from a UK account to a Thai account. Funds up to 4000 UKL can be transferred at any one time and can be received into your Thai account or by cash payment.

Have just checked todays X rate they are offering and it all seems OK.

Seems to good to be true. is there something I'm missing?

Grateful your views.

There does seem to be a probem and I'm worried that the mail may be being stolen.

Not sure who the relevant "Boss" is to contact in the Post Office. The situation is clearly unacceptable

as it is at the moment.

I have now been waiting for delivery of a small package and numerous letters by post from UK, to be delivered to my post box at my office in Choeng Mon for well over two months.

I don't recall having to wait for such a long period of time previously.

Anyone experiencing similar problems? Or know the cause?