Boater

A Bangkok Airways aircraft with 38 passengers and four crew members aboard slammed into a wall at the Samui International Airport as it prepared to take off for Bangkok at about 7 p.m. on Dec. 17.

No one was reported injured in the accident, but the nose of the plane was damaged.

Airport sources said the plane, an ATR 72-500 model Rotor type, was at the aircraft parking area when the incident happened. It was preparing to leave for the taxi lane when the aircraft surged forward into the wall, instead of backward as the pilot was supposed to do.

Witnesses said the aircraft’s front wheel also hit a drain cover in the area.

While some passengers were badly shaken, not one needed any medical attention, the sources said. Bangkok Airways suspended the flight for a while and took all passengers of the ill-fated plane back to the departure lounge. They were later boarded into another aircraft which flew them to the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

http://www.samuiexpress.net/home/news/local-news/general-news/485-aircraft-slams-into-samui-airport-wall

Tony Blair's money-making has soared to unprecedented levels as official figures reveal his companies posted a bonanza 42 per cent rise in income last year.

The former Prime Minister's secretive business empire declared a £12million turnover, up from £8.5million the year before.

Yet this is potentially only the tip of the iceberg, since Mr Blair exploits a perfectly legal loophole to keep his finances secret.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2083827/The-12m-tax-mystery-Tony-Blairs-earnings-soar-42--pays-315-000-HMRC.html#ixzz1iss0eS00

a few people mentioned this on facebook the other day, but mentioned it was a westerner? ... or is this another one?

ok smokie, if we include beach bars then 80% will now be included ..... champange by the beach at Nikki Beach again next month anyone?

Someone using lakeview. Talk about loud.

Is that what I can hear banging loud and clear all night? Wow, Im half way down the Ghost Road.

I think it finally stopped at 6am.

it will start again at 4 pm

Hi Craig,

Both places have got their plus & minuses.Being a rip off , that can happen anywhere from Bangkok, in your case Darling Harbour or whatever destination in the world. At the end of the day it's what you perceive as value for money.

Sure it's dearer in parts that mainstream Thailand or up country villages , but you still have choices of either International type bars & restaurants or local venues.

Many a debate on this forum about the cost of living here, again all depends on your life style & your spending power.

People that tell you it was great 20 years ago, are probably still living in another world. Places change & people change ,but the island still has a lot of charm & a lot to offer. Visitors that bother to get out of the main tourist areas will tell you the same.

You will see a lot of negative responses, most of them are from people that have somehow either had a failed business venture, failed relationships or tried to survive here on a shoestring budget. or perhaps Craig they got disappointed that the locals are not living in bamboo huts & come out & bow to the great foreigner (sorry couldn't

help myself ).

You can travel around as I said outside the tourist areas & have a look. particularly South of the island.

You can get involved with local organisations , Expat clubs,Rotary etc... get to meet people from different walks of life.

Anyway , give it a go & make up your own mind, Good luck.

or perhaps Craig they got disappointed that the locals are not living in bamboo huts & come out & bow to the great foreigner

perhaps they have never gone back to a Bargirls Hometown then

(sorry couldn't

help myself ).

A bit negative ! Hopefully many will disagree ?!

depends which way you look at the post !,

Both places are rip off too, very unfortunately - Agree, to the the first timer, but there are still some good places to be found, but takes time

Also, most people are not going to the beach anymore afer a few years, - this is in most parts true, long termers NEVER go to the beach !, novelty worn off

of living in a prime tourist area with only money in mind and very little choices - there is a point here, but it is what you make it !,

now that is amazing service !! , but they are always good at the service the offer .... not to mention the food they serve is some or if not the best english grub on the island

Your property stops at you boundary lines. No permanent structure 10 metres back from boundary line bordering the beach.

Beach is the beach, you have no rights of encroachment , high or low tide marks have nothing to do with it.

Laudable or legal as this might be, many resorts have markers on the beach (sometimes heavy anchor rope on the ground) designating "their private" sand area. I can think of one in Chaweng like this. The beach-bed encroachment is not only against the restriction of the 10 meters of beach being "crown lands," but an eyesore as well.

A resort in Lamai has an illegal floating dock, up in Maenam a big waterfront lot is fenced off, Banyon Tree in Lamai will not allow you to even enter the property unless you are "someone," let alone the beach, The Sarann resort below the lookout point in Chaweng Noi with it's illegally reclaimed frontage (remember the protest banners?) and sand is roped off to corral business in Chaweng, to name but a few.

The question is: "Officially," who cares? By that I mean who cares enough to actually do anything about it?

Every time I see a photo of the smiling mayor of Samui, I think, "Do you really have no idea what's going on around the island regarding illegal structures, illegal development, even illegal speed bumps on public roads?" He's clearly "our man at the top" for Samui locals who need to get things done...either that or he doesn't get out much.

But take the Ark Bar situation; who do you go to, to get action when you can't walk across the king's frontage on their property because of sun beds and constructions? Answer? No one.

and have you seen the mayors resort??? .....

Dressed in a polo shirt and flip flops, this is the moment a British psychologist accused of faking his death was arrested after arriving home at Heathrow Airport.

Father-of-two Stephen Kellaway was detained as he stepped off a plane from Thailand where he is alleged to have lived under a false identity for over a year.

The 54-year-old is accused of faking his death during a family trip to Moscow in 2008, where his wife had breast enlargement surgery, to avoid jail for swindling thousands of pounds in benefits.

Arrest: Stephen Kellaway is detained at Heathrow airport after stepping off a plane from Thailand

But after the Daily Mail tracked him down to his new home in Bangkok earlier this year, he was put in an immigration detention centre before being deported on a BA flight

Read more: http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1i7VmRjKs

"Records show that Thirayu was prosecuted for attempted murder and drug abuse in 2008. He has been suspended and faces termination."

What does it take to get fired?

"Also, they said that once the dead man had been identified it might be easier to name the other man". BRILLIANT

how was he in the job with that record anyway? , or did he simply just pay for the position?

Cause your older than her parents............. 34 year age gap............really??!?!!!?

maybe even her grandparents

would you like your daughter of 20 bringing back an old ferang older then you ??? ..... you cannot be serious this is a relationship of love? ... she is 20 for christ sake .... and you say you have been with her a long time? .... how long, as i sure hope it is less then 2 years..

New years resolutions:

1. Lose the fat belly.

2. Learn how to actually cook a decent meal.

3. Get much better in the sack.

4. At least make it look like an effort has been made on appearance.

5. Stop breaking down every time my other half has an affair.

"Ok", sobbed my wife as I handed over the list I made for her.

Sorry, I cannot see how the island is quiet.

Larry's Shack in FV - no availablity for a table until after the 2nd Jan (as of yesterday).

Bandit Airways - still flying people in and out eighteen hours a day plus (one just came in 12.23 am.)

Plai Laem to The Arena and back (new indoor stadium near the Chewang Post Office on the ring road) over one hour. Is the ring road the new M25?

What is the traffic like in other places? It is crazy up here in Bangrak at times - but then we have the boats for the New Year's Eve party.

Of course - hotels are going to say "Our bookings are down this year!" This is probably %age wise. More beds every year - but the same number of flights, so - lower %age occupancy.

Certainly the bars are doing less business. But from what I have personally seen, the island is not quieter than previous years. Just different.

larrys shack is busy whatever day of the year !, everyday it is fully booked....

Hans, a middle-aged German tourist on his first visit to Bangkok, finds soi cowboy and enters a large GoGo Bar. The Mummason asks him to be seated and sends over a young lady to entertain him.

They sit and talk, frolic a little, giggle a bit, drink a bit, and she sits on his lap. He whispers in her ear and she gasps and runs away! Seeing this, the Mummason sends over a more experienced lady to entertain the gentleman.

They sit and talk, frolic a little, giggle a bit, drink a bit, and she sits on his lap. He whispers in her ear, and she too screams, "MAI!" and walks quickly away.

The Mummason is surprised that this ordinary looking man has asked for something so outrageous that her two girls will have nothing to do with him. She decides that only her most experienced lady, Porntip, will do. Porntip has never said no, and it's not likely anything would surprise her. So the Mummason sends her over to Hans. The sit and talk, frolic a little, giggle a bit, drink a bit, and she sits on his lap. He whispers in her ear and she screams, "NO WAY, MAI !" and smacks him as hard as she can and leaves.

Mummason is by now absolutely intrigued, having seen nothing like this in all her years of operating a GoGo Bar. She hasn't done the bedroom work herself for a long time, but she's sure she has said yes to everything a man could possibly ask for. She just has to find out what this man wants that has made her girls so angry. Besides she sees a chance to teach her Girls a lesson.

So she goes over to Hans and says that she's the best in the Bar and is available. She sits and talks with him. They frolic, giggle, drink and then she sits in his lap.

Hans leans forwards and whispers in her ear, "Can I pay in Euros?"

i see on the grapevine they have taken over the Lake View venue and will open January 4 th

they are trying to lure out the overstayers and known crimanals, as they are much more likly to catch a ferry then take a flight !,

they know who they are, as they have there picture on arrival to Thailand, so with facial recognition software, they will upload the pictures and cross referance with the arrivals database to see who is on overstay or know/wanted crimanal....

another sad motorbike death - Morgan Blaine Hayes died unexpectedly as a result of a motor vehicle accident on December 22 on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand.

http://www.jacksonnewspapers.com/obituaries/x1282428038/Morgan-Blaine-Hayes

I can also see this problem all over the islands, John - but never before at this scale. As travelers wait for the KPG boat or taxi vans, this place potentially exposes thousands of travelers every week to asbestosis (mesothelioma).

A well-spoken Thai contacted the Samui ampor about this catastrophe months ago, but they dismissed it with the usual "we'll take a look at it" reply.

I feel particularly sorry for the locals living and working in the immediate area, and this environment is specially dangerous for younger children with growing lungs.

this would be highly illigal in most countries, and would even warrent a travel advisory notice !

Ask Ian Forbes.

just noticed he has been in active since october, what happened?

anyone got a picture of them blocking the beach? , or how much is being blocked?

it might also have been from the other resorts that asked them to put it up , as one poster mentioned above to keep them in ? , and not being sick, pissing or causing trouble near other resorts? , might also keep the sound in a bit?

One suspects that moving the guy from sitting upright on a chair to laying down on a cart may have been all that it took to end his days, heavily drunk people who have passed out often vomit and choke when laid flat.

you are probably right with the above post,

but am i the only one thinking this is a poorly written report?