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southwest19
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Posts posted by southwest19
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Whats he mater with you?
You have your oppinion and i have mine. I was the manager for a resort 2 years ago and our highseason started in the begining of november at that time. In chaweng. Now you say high season is starting januari 20? I beleive you, i just think it´s different from a few years ago, and i have honestly not seen chaweng this empty ever before. Difference in oppinins. Thats all.
Negative program. Or reality program. Depending on who you ask.
Oppinions, thats all it is.
I have been either a tourist or a resident on Samui for the best part of twenty years and high season has never been in November it is rainy season and one of the quietest months of the year and always has been and probably always will be I think you are getting confused with Phuket where high season starts early November. Here on Samui it does not start getting busy until the week before Christmas.
The last two days I have picked up friends from the airport and both said their flight from Bangkok to Samui was completely full. I was also in a well established bar yesterday afternoon on Chaweng Beach Rd and they were busy also the road outside was much busier than this time last week with tourists exactly what you would expect to see this time of year and it will be even busier in a few days time.
Of course next year holiday destinations around the world face challenges but lets just keep things in prospective here your posts have become very one eyed and unbalanced.
I will most propbably be in the same bar around 3pm today so if you would like to meet please pm me for the details and I will give you the benefit of my first hand knowledge of tourism on Koh Samui over the last 20 years and also you can witness yourself how much busier it is than last week which is normal and maybe you can share with me your vast knowledge of tourism on Samui going back 20 years which has been witnessed first hand by yourself
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Although a few weeks ago now, I noticed Samui was very quiet, a drive down Chaweng beach the only people were the time share guys.....Hua Hin and Cha am are absolutly booming now....I think logisticaly Samui is badly placed, too far from BKK and only one very expensive airline. A return ticket for someone from the UK would now be almost 200 pounds, so a family of four.....do the maths, it just isnt worth the money any more...Samui needs cheaper air tickets and some real positive marketing, maybe then the tourists will return
The following quote was posted today on the Hua Hin forum and it is high season there.
'Hua Hin is the best it's been in years. Not much traffic and not so many annoying tourists'
Lets just keep things in prospective here it is quiet all over Thailand and remember it is still LOW season here and it will be until the week before Christmas it always has been.
Some people on this forum remind me of the undertaker in Dad's Army well forgive me if I am not joining in we're all doomed.
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B100,000/day ICU for me a few years ago, changed hospitals and B45,000/2 weeks. Bangkok Samui are BS imho. If you want nice big plasma TVs on the waiting room walls and manicured gardens etc then it's worth it. For me, good medical care is all I am after and no rip offs. BS also charged me B9,000 for some guy to literally hold my little finger and put it back into joint, a process that lasted all of around 5 seconds.
Rip off merchants.
I personally think Bangkok Hospital are a welcome addition to the island, earlier this year I needed an operation and had to stay there for a few days. The care and treatment was first class as good as I have had anywhere and the bill was settled by my medical insurer directly with the hospital.
I really do not understand how foreigners come to Thailand without medical insurance and then complain about the cost of hospitals and being ripped off blah blah blah. It seems to me that some people place having UBC, beer etc above the importance of having adequate medical cover.
If you are over 18 and have chosen not to bother with insurance then the only person to blame is yourself.
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Recently had to go to Bankok Samui Hospital with very bad kidney pains. the service was excellent etc etc and the doctor prescribed me 4 different pills and told me to come back the next day and if i was feeling ok they would just send me away and if i wasnt they would change the medication. went the next day, explained to the nurse and receptionist that i was ok but they ferried me into another room. explained again, also that i have no medical insurance and no money (the second one being a small white lie but i could understand what was happening) kept explaining no insurance no money but was asked to do a urine test, was then ushered into a specialists office who without even examining me said that they needed to do a prostrate exam and a CT scan. at this point i thought enough is enough and told them in no uncertain terms that i felt this was totally unecessary and i didnt have any money or insurance, bit of arm flapping on their behalf then it was ok no problem goodbye. so the warning is this, if it is a minor medical problem go to the happy pharmacy near the guest house on soi reggae. the girl there has always been great and very knowledgeable
one other point i was charged 1700 baht for pills and my regular pharmacist has told me that two sets of pills are not required as they do the same thing as the other two and i could have bought them from her for 300 baht
the only reason i went to the hospital was because i was in agony, perhaps i should have got someone to drop me off at the pharmacy instead, we live and learn.
by the way this was my first ever experience of hospital in thailand and i have lived here for two years, whilst the service was excellent and the hospital very clean i feel that they cannot justify these extra diagnosies and exorbitant charges for medication
Rather than moaning about Bangkok Hospital why don't you buy yourself decent medical insurance.
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Whilst I am not neccessarily doubting the statistics I do doubt anything Samui Express reports their articles are at best misleading and full of inaccuracies and some simply not true.
There is a picture in the newspaper next to the above article of Chaweng Beach with only a few tourists on it and the caption underneath (not exact quote as I do not have paper to hand) 'Chaweng Beach deserted it is normally packed with tourists this time of year'. Now bearing in mind for this picture to have made the current edition this would have to of been taken in November does anyone on this forum ever remember Chaweng Beach packed with tourists at the depths of the low season which is also the rainy season, November has always been and probably always will be the quietest month of the year.
Obviously it is quiet but don't belive everything you read in Samui Express it is only for toilet reading and it should be left there.
Hmmmm...I can't judge about the quality of the Samui Express but to deny statistical facts from the Thai tourism agency is not wise. The facts are out there that tourism, especially also from (East) Asia is dropping dramatic in the past 3 to 4 months.
It all started in July - August and it will become much worse....a LOT worse in 2009 !
LaoPo
Also I wouldn't quote 'statistical facts' from Samui Express before they are independently verified I think that is most unwise.
Remember we are still in low season hotels have always been quiet this time of year the true test will be what it is like in about 2 weeks time when high season starts.
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Whilst I am not neccessarily doubting the statistics I do doubt anything Samui Express reports their articles are at best misleading and full of inaccuracies and some simply not true.
There is a picture in the newspaper next to the above article of Chaweng Beach with only a few tourists on it and the caption underneath (not exact quote as I do not have paper to hand) 'Chaweng Beach deserted it is normally packed with tourists this time of year'. Now bearing in mind for this picture to have made the current edition this would have to of been taken in November does anyone on this forum ever remember Chaweng Beach packed with tourists at the depths of the low season which is also the rainy season, November has always been and probably always will be the quietest month of the year.
Obviously it is quiet but don't belive everything you read in Samui Express it is only for toilet reading and it should be left there.
Hmmmm...I can't judge about the quality of the Samui Express but to deny statistical facts from the Thai tourism agency is not wise. The facts are out there that tourism, especially also from (East) Asia is dropping dramatic in the past 3 to 4 months.
It all started in July - August and it will become much worse....a LOT worse in 2009 !
LaoPo
Please read my post again where did I deny that it is quiet I actually said I do not neccessary doubt the statistics!!!
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Thanks to a remark by member Mattias33 I think this article is worth it's own topic because it's important to the economy of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan & Koh Tao
Tourist arrivals on Samui down 50%
Tuesday, 02 December 2008 11:02
EVEN before Bangkok airports were shut down by anti-government protesters, tourism on Samui has been in the doldrums.
Room bookings for the high tourist season that starts December have gone down drastically, according to Mr. Phanu Voramit, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Suratthani.
For this high season, bookings are only 60-70 percent of the hotel rooms available, compared to almost 100 percent during this time last year, Mr. Phanu said. Tourist arrivals in Thailand, as in other countries, have dipped due to the current global economic crisis. The country's ongoing political crisis has further aggravated the already dire situation.
Bangkok Airways disclosed recently that the number of passengers arriving on the island has dropped 40-50 percent.
Mr. Sirichai Charoenrat, director of the Samui Airport, said most planes that land on Samui now are half empty. During this time last year, according to him, most Bangkok Airways flights to Samui were fully booked.
In a bid to encourage more people to travel, the airline has trimmed to 10 percent its fuel surcharge. Mr. Sirichai said he hoped more people would travel to Samui for the coming New Year celebration.
Mr. Phanu, on the other hand, said his would soon launch a tourism promotion campaign in neighboring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore to boost tourism arrivals on the island.
He hoped tourist from neighboring countries would fill in for the dearth of European tourists arriving on the island.
source: http://news.samuiexpress.net/headline/357-...ui-down-50.html
LaoPo
Whilst I am not neccessarily doubting the statistics I do doubt anything Samui Express reports their articles are at best misleading and full of inaccuracies and some simply not true.
There is a picture in the newspaper next to the above article of Chaweng Beach with only a few tourists on it and the caption underneath (not exact quote as I do not have paper to hand) 'Chaweng Beach deserted it is normally packed with tourists this time of year'. Now bearing in mind for this picture to have made the current edition this would have to of been taken in November does anyone on this forum ever remember Chaweng Beach packed with tourists at the depths of the low season which is also the rainy season, November has always been and probably always will be the quietest month of the year.
Obviously it is quiet but don't belive everything you read in Samui Express it is only for toilet reading and it should be left there.
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People are geting injured and dying on that newly repaired road and these are the best solutions you guys can offer? That's lame.
Agreed koheesti. Luckily this is only what this forum came up with. Alot of bullshit and slagging to eachother. During these postings i went to tessaban together with another poster who is doing videonews and we got a meeting in a week from now with the responsible people. I spent 5 hours on the phone before i went there. I plastered the two girls injured and i drove one of them to the hospital in nathon for the delivery of her sisters babygirl. All on my freetime.
The postings here was just to try to get some help and motivation along the journey. From my side. It led adsolutely nowhere.
This threads point got lost.
I live along the Ghost Road and the solution would be that after heavy rain a JCB went out and scraped the sand off the road there is one along there owned by local Thai people I have hired it myself to do private work if I remember right it is about 1600 THB for 1 hour which would be plenty of time to clean up the few trouble spots.
I would happily make a monthly contribution to have this done maybe if the other residents along the road do likewise than hopefully end of problem.
I would just like to add that I have seen this JCB cleaning the road before on occasions but I have no idea who funded this.
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People are geting injured and dying on that newly repaired road and these are the best solutions you guys can offer? That's lame.
Agreed koheesti. Luckily this is only what this forum came up with. Alot of bullshit and slagging to eachother. During these postings i went to tessaban together with another poster who is doing videonews and we got a meeting in a week from now with the responsible people. I spent 5 hours on the phone before i went there. I plastered the two girls injured and i drove one of them to the hospital in nathon for the delivery of her sisters babygirl. All on my freetime.
The postings here was just to try to get some help and motivation along the journey. From my side. It led adsolutely nowhere.
This threads point got lost.
I live along the Ghost Road and the solution would be that after heavy rain a JCB went out and scraped the sand off the road there is one along there owned by local Thai people I have hired it myself to do private work if I remember right it is about 1600 THB for 1 hour which would be plenty of time to clean up the few trouble spots.
I would happily make a monthly contribution to have this done maybe if the other residents along the road do likewise than hopefully end of problem.
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I would have thought that with all the troubles going on here in Thailand that the Baht
would be at least 65-70 to the UK pound. Today, it is around 57 which is not going to help
the Thai economy at all. I'm not a financial whizz and really don't understand the reason, but in real terms the cost of a 10 million Baht house will now be around 26000 pounds more for someone bringing in money from UK than this time last year. Not sure if other currencies are similarly affected. I know that the world financial crisis must have something to do with all this but I can't figure it out. Anyone know?
The main reason is that a couple of weeks ago due to the turmoil in the financial markets the European, British and American central banks made an emergency rate cut of 50 basis points and the reason you have seen the currencies weaken is because this cut makes it less attactive to hold these currencies because you receive less interest so you sell those currencies.
The reason why the pound has moved more then most is because there are fears that the recession in the UK will be deeper and longer than in other countries and therefore the Bk of England will need to cut rates alot further and keep them low alot longer to try and stimulate the economy and so foreign investors have reacted by pulling out their capital from the country.
I hope I have explained it clearly enough but also the Samui forum may not be the best place to get what is a good question answered and it does affect alot of people.
Thank you SW. You have certainly made things clearer, but as one of the major investors in Thailand is the UK, it surely can't be in Thailands best interest to support an exchange rate which is ultimately harmful to the Thai economy by discouraging investment and tourism. This forum may not be the ideal place to raise this discussion but it does seem that Samui and KP have a very diverse collection of expats who may have a view and are affected by this unfortunate situation.
I agree it is not good news but I think there is little Thailand can do at the moment as it is the turmoil in the west which is dictating exchange rates. Ironically the USD has done rather well because it is still the worlds reserve currency and so considered a safe haven so in times of uncertainty you get a flight to the USD but Sterling and the Euro have taken a real battering.
The Asian economies are not immune to a recession in the west i.e. manufacturing slowdown, so maybe next year we will see lower rates here too which will hopefully see the Euro etc regain some ground but for the time being I think it is going to be pretty tough.
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I would have thought that with all the troubles going on here in Thailand that the Baht
would be at least 65-70 to the UK pound. Today, it is around 57 which is not going to help
the Thai economy at all. I'm not a financial whizz and really don't understand the reason, but in real terms the cost of a 10 million Baht house will now be around 26000 pounds more for someone bringing in money from UK than this time last year. Not sure if other currencies are similarly affected. I know that the world financial crisis must have something to do with all this but I can't figure it out. Anyone know?
The main reason is that a couple of weeks ago due to the turmoil in the financial markets the European, British and American central banks made an emergency rate cut of 50 basis points and the reason you have seen the currencies weaken is because this cut makes it less attactive to hold these currencies because you receive less interest so you sell those currencies.
The reason why the pound has moved more then most is because there are fears that the recession in the UK will be deeper and longer than in other countries and therefore the Bk of England will need to cut rates alot further and keep them low alot longer to try and stimulate the economy and so foreign investors have reacted by pulling out their capital from the country.
I hope I have explained it clearly enough but also the Samui forum may not be the best place to get what is a good question answered and it does affect alot of people.
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Don't want to create a doom and gloom post but for personal and professional reasons I am interested in how businesses in the area have felt the knock on from events in BKK. There was a recent poting on the news section that tourists figures are down 70%. Is this what it feels like or is it less dramatic than this?
It is less dramatic. I believe there have been some cancellations but we are in low season now and it is always quiet and it will be until the middle of December. I don't think it is particularly quieter than this time last year.
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1. OK, understood.
2. That might have been Highdiver but since a few months (and I'm talking 2-3 months here) the situation in the world has gone worse, dramatically. The time that people were standing in line to buy expensive 2nd houses, also on Samui, is over and I KNOW that there are people with a lot of money in S'pore/HK/China/Japan/S Korea etc. but I guarantee you that nobody is buying.
Especially the Eastern people are VERY aware that there is a very difficult economical situation around the corner, possibly a recession in a number of countries and have their hands full, managing their own butt.
Didn't you read that Phuket tourism is DOWN -17% in the first 3 months of this year ? That is high season !
ASKING prices may still go up as you mentioned but the question is: are buyers buying for those insane prices ? I think not.
Looking at the various real estate websites on Samui and I see hundreds and hundreds of 10M+ houses, for sale already a long time.
Personally I know a couple who's trying to sell their property (2 houses + land) now for more than 3 years.
A sellers' market ? I think not.
It's a BUYERS' market, for people with enough available cash, and that's worldwide, also on Samui.
Embrace yourself for difficult times and I guarantee that the real estate market (also on Samui) will dive even further.
3. I still find it very difficult to believe that there are many hotels with an occupancy rate of 80%+. That means that those hotels are 100% fully booked on almost 300 days a year including rainy and bad seasons ?
I hope for these hotels I'm wrong....
But tourism will also drop to Samui, substantially. It's a matter of a few months that you will hear hundreds of owners of restaurants, bars, hotels etc. complain.
That's happening already RIGHT NOW in Europe...
Again: embrace yourselves.
LaoPo
I disagree with your doom and gloom outlook though the world economy is going through some difficult times it does not neccesary mean that the worldwide real estate market has ground to a halt.
I no little about the Himmapan project and don't wish to speculate but I can certainly comment on my own project and recent experiences. In the last six months we have sold 13 houses and 3 of those sales have been in the last 3 weeks if anything I would say enquiries have acually picked up in recent weeks.
Our project is well funded, in a superb location and we have very realistic sales prices also we have over 200 construction workers on site actually building. Please pm me and visit my sales office i would be only too pleased to show you my project and take you up to the site and show you the work in progress.
As Highdiver mentioned there are various reasons why some properties don't sell i.e. price, bad location, poor marketing, poor construction, no market research carried out to see if there is actually a market for what they are building and I could go on and on.
Sorry if I don't share your doomsday outlook and hopefully if you pay me a visit I can cheer you up a little.
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Hi guys,
Haven't booked any more accomodation or transport. Just wondering do you guys have international SIM cards in your mobile. I'm with O2 but it's really expensive to make or receive calls. Don't want to spend too much time on the phone but if I could get a cheap SIM card that gave good rates I would be interested if anyone has tips?
I plan on booking Lamai accomodation soon for the first few nights. haven't been online much to research places.
I would not recommend you book a hotel in lamai at all it is the girlie bar capital of Samui and you will be very disappointed.
You are far better off booking a hotel in either Chaweng or Bophut the latter being quieter its up to you. There are plenty of good bars and restaurants in both places which are not of the girlie bar type. Tropical Murphy's on Chaweng Beach road is a good bar Irish owned and serves decent pub grub it would also be a good place to meet people similar to yourselves.
Have fun.
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Emperor - agreed, but why should he take ALL the blame and punishment? As a farang, he so obviously needed facilitations from Thais, who unless prosecuted and banged up with him, are just going to do it again, and again, and again.
In a fair and just society he shouldn't, but the reality is that this is Thailand, and even worse, Samui, and he has got his fingers burnt dealing with the locals down there.
It never ceases to amaze me the amount of foreigners that think they can come here, ignore the laws, play the same game as the Thais and expect to walk away as winners.
Ain't gonna happen.
This thread has even managed to surpass the usual boll**ks on Thai Visa with uninformed posts made by people who have nothing better to do than sit in there 8,000 baht per month rentals and hide behind your keyboards.
95% of the posts are at best way off the mark and whilst others are illegal. He is already home fyg and I hope he reads some of the above and instructs his lawyers to start libel proceedings against not only the posters but also ThaiVisa for allowing them to appear in the public domain and don't think Thai Visa can protect your identity they cannot.
Something else I am sure most of you don't know is Mr Fay raised over 120,000 THb to have his head shaved at a recent charity event and he also employs many Thai people.
This is my last post on this forum and my last message to to most of the members (not all) is get a life.
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I don't rate Bangkok Airways at all. I have just booked a Thai Airways, Samui Bangkok return through a local agent for 6820 THB including taxes etc and flying at sensible times.
The ticket is non-changable and non-refundable which suits me fine instead of having to buy a more expensive flexible ticket that I don't need.
Maybe this is a Thai Airways promotion fare I am not sure.
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Greetings all. I have a friend going to stay on Samui and is looking to rent a house long term. Hes hoping to get something around Bangrak if possible. Any of you knowledgeable Samuians know the going rate and where to look. Cheers in advance
OOPS should read house to rent not for rent. Maybe mods can change Sorry
Try Mango Villas not far from the Beach House Hotel. 5 one and two bedroom modern villas set in large gardens within a perimeter wall.
Last I heard 11,000 THB per month for one bed and 15,000 THb per month for 2 bed.
Run by a decent honest English chap and his Thai wife who live on-site plse pm me if you would like his number.
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So did Padraic not enjoy his holiday ? And why choose Thailand in the first place ?
Sounds like it was his mission to Pan Thailand right from the start.
Never mind there's always Banff next year.
Naka.
I still think Borat's trip to the USA was far more balanced than this article written by someone from some third rate american university
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so why is everyone applauding his release
It is an 18 month story, so would take a lot to explain it, here in a nutshell is the story:
100 or so DSI police, TV crews etc come to Samui and arrest 1 person, then get 2 more (including Crispin who lived and worked in Samui but was in Pattaya at the time).
We find out later that the DSI have taken on board a report written by an ex-business partner of Crispins which talks about drug running and money laundering on Koh Samui. That report lists 70 or so individuals and many businesses including large hotel chains and even a bank, as being party to the illegal activities.
If you want to read the report, then PM me and I can direct you to it.
It is totally fictitious and actually quite funny to read it ... except that it resulted in 3 arrests, one person got out after a month or so and after paying significant cash, the other 2 are still in jail, but I understand since Crispin was found innocent of all charges, he should get out later today, and Kim is likely to spend another month in jail as they found him guilty of one drugs related charge.
Crispin, was a businessman on Samui with a dive operation and publishing business. He had a wife and kids, he used to ride a large motorbike and like to have a long moustache and he always appeared to be a friendly family loving guy.
His friend fell out with him and with help from a Thai person who had high up contacts, managed to get Crispin arrested using his fictitious report.
Crispin has spent 18 months in a Thai jail.
Crispin has today been found innocent of all charges.
We believe that he may come out today once all paperwork is completed.
We believe he will be able to come to Samui and be with his family (although there is a small doubt about whether he could get in trouble because he technically has not got a valid visa).
It has been a horrible road of pain for Crispin, we all hope that the worst is now over.
uh sorry, being released is NOT being "found clear of all charges"
ESPECIALLY in Thailand!!! And all you guys proclaiming his innocence?...what evidence do you actually have of that?? MOST...almost ALL of the big "businessmen" on this island...ARE crooks, and I don't mean they are merely cheating on their tax returns a smudge or occasionally speeding on the ring road.Also FYG Erik is being sued by a group of prominent businessman on Koh Samui for libel so if you want to join him carry on.
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so why is everyone applauding his release
It is an 18 month story, so would take a lot to explain it, here in a nutshell is the story:
100 or so DSI police, TV crews etc come to Samui and arrest 1 person, then get 2 more (including Crispin who lived and worked in Samui but was in Pattaya at the time).
We find out later that the DSI have taken on board a report written by an ex-business partner of Crispins which talks about drug running and money laundering on Koh Samui. That report lists 70 or so individuals and many businesses including large hotel chains and even a bank, as being party to the illegal activities.
If you want to read the report, then PM me and I can direct you to it.
It is totally fictitious and actually quite funny to read it ... except that it resulted in 3 arrests, one person got out after a month or so and after paying significant cash, the other 2 are still in jail, but I understand since Crispin was found innocent of all charges, he should get out later today, and Kim is likely to spend another month in jail as they found him guilty of one drugs related charge.
Crispin, was a businessman on Samui with a dive operation and publishing business. He had a wife and kids, he used to ride a large motorbike and like to have a long moustache and he always appeared to be a friendly family loving guy.
His friend fell out with him and with help from a Thai person who had high up contacts, managed to get Crispin arrested using his fictitious report.
Crispin has spent 18 months in a Thai jail.
Crispin has today been found innocent of all charges.
We believe that he may come out today once all paperwork is completed.
We believe he will be able to come to Samui and be with his family (although there is a small doubt about whether he could get in trouble because he technically has not got a valid visa).
It has been a horrible road of pain for Crispin, we all hope that the worst is now over.
uh sorry, being released is NOT being "found clear of all charges"
ESPECIALLY in Thailand!!! And all you guys proclaiming his innocence?...what evidence do you actually have of that?? MOST...almost ALL of the big "businessmen" on this island...ARE crooks, and I don't mean they are merely cheating on their tax returns a smudge or occasionally speeding on the ring road.You sound like Erik. I would be very careful what you say Thailand has very strict laws on slander and libel and unless you have evidence to support what you claim then I would keep my mouth shut.
Welcome home Crispin.
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Below is a copy of a bit of an article on Sky News which shows that Global Warming is affecting places everywhere, even the most developed countries and authorities everywhere are patching up problems rather than spending the money to really fix the situation well and prepare for the worse weather. Just thought it might be interesting...
'Sea Defences Smashed To Oblivion'
By Roger Collier, Dunwich resident, Updated:12:35, Friday November 09, 2007
"The shingle bank, that has protected Dunwich from the North Sea has been
breached for the second time in the last 12 months and water is pouring over the
fields and into gardens.
But the question villagers are now asking is what happens when the waters
subside.
For years they have been battling the authorities to provide adequate sea
defences. And for years these authorities have spent pocket money patching up
what nature has provided."
I wondered how long it would be before someone bought up the subject of global warming once it was called bad weather before the poiliticians saw an opportunity to tax everyone to the hilt in the name of saving polar bears and the planet.
Lets get this straight we are not talking about freak tidal surges in the North Sea we are talking about the roads and peoples houses getting flooded when it rains.
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every year the same...nothing has changed.
every year the monsoon comes. every year it floods.
every year the new residents are shocked by the floding.
every year the same arguments from TV members who know better how to solve the problem...
every year the same complaints about land erosion, over development, construction controll...
every year the same "surprise" when the airport closes down.
it will be the same in future years...because.... when 200mm of rain downpour in leass then 24 hours and it goes on for 2 weeks. it floods. ans it does not matter how many drains you put in it will still flood.
Los Angeles has a huge drain system to drain the floods in the LA river but when it rains so heavily they too have floods.
when you live in the route of a monsoon it will happen. some years less some years more but it will allways happen.
you can allways take comfort that the garden looks great
have a look at posts from 2004
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=21130
and posts drom 2005
Last year was very mild.
I am sure if we had a drainage system as good as LA it would not here flood here with the rains we have experienced over the last two weeks.
Based on your arguement there is not actually any point updating the public infrastructure as it will flood anyway whatever you do.
Not sure you arguement will hold much water with Samui residents!
I am a samui resident for the past 9 years.
and the public infrastructure has come a long way since then.
unfortunately when it rains as it did this year and in previous years it will flood. even if they upgrade the drain it will still flood.
even if they add pumps as they did this year it will still flood. its just to much water at one time.
you can see how the public infrastructure has improved by the amount of time it clears up when it stops raining.
few years ago it would have taken days for the flood to clear now it a matter of hours.
I think you are in a minority of one if you think the samui roads and drains have greatly improved over the last nine years most people are of the opinion the roads are as about as bad as they have ever been and I first came here nearly 20 years ago.
It does not help though that development has been allowed on flood plains with no thought about where all that water will go.
Incidently it has not rained all afternoon why don't you pop down the lake road or Laem din and have a look it still lokks flooded to me.
Then I'm in the minority - have just come back from Samui after 1 month (out of my 3 monthly trips per year) and can say that compared to 2005 the water is draining away much quicker than in 2005.
I know this time of year is bad - but it's the tropics - what ever they do it won't get any better
Best to just sit it out - and wait for the UK winter (Samui at it's best)
Based on your rather limited knowledge of Samui i.e. you do not live here and the only benchmark you can use is 2005 I think your aguement of doing nothing is absurd at least Highdiver talks from 9 years experience though I do not agree with everything he says.
Of course when you get extreme weather conditions you are always going to have problems but I think most people would agree that measures can be taken to improve the situation i.e. better roads and drainage and I think you will indeed be in a tiny minority if your view is do nothing as the infrastructure we have is perfectly adequate and it will happen anyway.
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every year the same...nothing has changed.
every year the monsoon comes. every year it floods.
every year the new residents are shocked by the floding.
every year the same arguments from TV members who know better how to solve the problem...
every year the same complaints about land erosion, over development, construction controll...
every year the same "surprise" when the airport closes down.
it will be the same in future years...because.... when 200mm of rain downpour in leass then 24 hours and it goes on for 2 weeks. it floods. ans it does not matter how many drains you put in it will still flood.
Los Angeles has a huge drain system to drain the floods in the LA river but when it rains so heavily they too have floods.
when you live in the route of a monsoon it will happen. some years less some years more but it will allways happen.
you can allways take comfort that the garden looks great
have a look at posts from 2004
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=21130
and posts drom 2005
Last year was very mild.
I am sure if we had a drainage system as good as LA it would not here flood here with the rains we have experienced over the last two weeks.
Based on your arguement there is not actually any point updating the public infrastructure as it will flood anyway whatever you do.
Not sure you arguement will hold much water with Samui residents!
I am a samui resident for the past 9 years.
and the public infrastructure has come a long way since then.
unfortunately when it rains as it did this year and in previous years it will flood. even if they upgrade the drain it will still flood.
even if they add pumps as they did this year it will still flood. its just to much water at one time.
you can see how the public infrastructure has improved by the amount of time it clears up when it stops raining.
few years ago it would have taken days for the flood to clear now it a matter of hours.
I think you are in a minority of one if you think the samui roads and drains have greatly improved over the last nine years most people are of the opinion the roads are as about as bad as they have ever been and I first came here nearly 20 years ago.
It does not help though that development has been allowed on flood plains with no thought about where all that water will go.
Incidently it has not rained all afternoon why don't you pop down the lake road or Laem din and have a look it still lokks flooded to me.
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every year the same...nothing has changed.
every year the monsoon comes. every year it floods.
every year the new residents are shocked by the floding.
every year the same arguments from TV members who know better how to solve the problem...
every year the same complaints about land erosion, over development, construction controll...
every year the same "surprise" when the airport closes down.
it will be the same in future years...because.... when 200mm of rain downpour in leass then 24 hours and it goes on for 2 weeks. it floods. ans it does not matter how many drains you put in it will still flood.
Los Angeles has a huge drain system to drain the floods in the LA river but when it rains so heavily they too have floods.
when you live in the route of a monsoon it will happen. some years less some years more but it will allways happen.
you can allways take comfort that the garden looks great
have a look at posts from 2004
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=21130
and posts drom 2005
Last year was very mild.
I am sure if we had a drainage system as good as LA it would not here flood here with the rains we have experienced over the last two weeks.
Based on your arguement there is not actually any point updating the public infrastructure as it will flood anyway whatever you do.
Not sure you arguement will hold much water with Samui residents!
Tourist Arrivals On Samui Down 50%
in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
Posted
I agree Roo with what you say and I think this thread has run for long enough with nothing new mattias seems to have his own agenda here.
I think we can safley disreguard alot of posts from someone who thinks high season on Samui starts in November he is obviously so well informed. I just wonder how long Mattias has actually been here?