Boater

As with most other emerging market nations, Thailand is currently experiencing a dangerous credit bubble that is helping to boost its economic growth and consumer spending. Though traditionally an export-driven economy, debt-funded domestic demand has replaced the country’s export sector as the primary economic growth engine since 2008.

Loans to Thailand’s private sector have soared by over 50 percent since the start of 2010:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jessecolombo/2013/11/04/thailands-bubble-economy-is-heading-for-a-1997-style-crash/2/

Even some of the websites like late stays.com slash there prices a few days before Xmas if the rooms are not filled ,

Everybody who lives in Koh Samui is aware of the dangers on the islands roads and despite so many deaths many choose to still ride without a helmet. Many of the helmets provided by bike hire companies are not very substantial but despite common criticism that they would do nothing to protect you in the event of an accident something is better than nothing. They are better than nothing. It may prevent you having some of your face scraped away, losing an ear, or worse.

http://www.samuitimes.com/staying-safe-roads-koh-samui/

There are plenty of 2-3 bedroom houses available to rent in the Hua Thanon area for under 20k a month. They have parking too, don't know what their policy on dogs is.

On aurally rent yes , but for 1 month will be more and the op hasn't stated when , if iver Xmas will cost a lot more

Are there any venues in Bangkok that have a ' Sunday Session ' type pool party / Brunch on a Sunday??? ( Similar to Nikki Beach / Beach Republic in Samui ? )

Just to note , I regret jail breaking my iPad as I cannot get any updates now and it has completely buggered it up , so beware

Hello, I been looking on the net for accommodation with no success, I'm looking to rent a fully furnished house with parking facilities for 1 month but needs to be able to accommodate 2 medium sized dogs. A 1 bed-roomed house for a couple with air-conditioning preferably close to nice beach... so ideally on the east side but as I have a car anything reasonably close considered. I can be contacted on 0956645285 if any one knows of a suitable property.

Kenny

I forgot to mention ideally rent would be in the 15000-20000 range, Kenny

There are many properties around lamai and bangrak , but most are yearly rents .. Most don't advertise on the net and just hang a sign outside the house .. Can you boost to 30 a month? Also ou didn't mention when you wanted to stay

Prepare the booze, condoms and morning after pills. Or is that not what the makers of the show intend to portray? Check their previous show "what happens in Kavos" to know what you will be signing up for. Makes for some fun television though...

You forgot to mention ladyboys !

Tesco lotus

You could also limit buses to say 70 kmh ? I believe European rules require a rest every 4 hours ?

This is the one annoying thing about Thailand as I have lost a number of friends due to the dangerous roads

Thailand's roads aren't dangerous, its drivers are.

A lot of Thailands roads are dangerous. what about all those potholes? How is a motor cyclist going to see them on those dark unlit roads?

Headlights?

Oh, yeah. Never mind.

Headlights ! am not sure if they are required on Samui..............pretty certain tail lights not needed tho !

Samui is a law into itself when it comes to driving , constant drink drivers , underage driving mixed with people with no clue and lots of in road worthy cars

Koh Samui has seen incredible growth and progress over the last decade and there have been some very successful residential estates built on the island by reputable and professionally run developers. Sadly, in the past Koh Samui has been subject to some very unscrupulous fiends in this, and some people who invested here found themselves not only short changed but left without their life savings and without their dream home.

For some of those the problem was getting caught up with developers who planned to build homes on stage payment plans from their investors rather than find the initial investment themselves. This kind of plan opened the door for disaster and in some cases investors were left with half finished developments when the so called property developer did a disappearing act once the stage payments had been collected. This is a position that no investor wants to find themselves in, especially if they live in other parts of the world

However, there is one story that may give heart to anyone who finds themselves in such a terrible situation.

http://www.samuitimes.com/phoenix-ashes/

You could also limit buses to say 70 kmh ? I believe European rules require a rest every 4 hours ?

This is the one annoying thing about Thailand as I have lost a number of friends due to the dangerous roads

Thailand's roads aren't dangerous, its drivers are.

And that is why there are so many crashes as bus drivers roar along at 130 kmh , limit this to 70 and you will see a crash reduction

Driving too fast, brakes crap,don't know how to use gears to slow vehicle down,

so no seat belts on that bus. RIP

regards Worgeordie

Requiring log books that record distance traveled as well as breaks would go a long way also. Of course then there's the enforcement part...

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You could also limit buses to say 70 kmh ? I believe European rules require a rest every 4 hours ?

This is the one annoying thing about Thailand as I have lost a number of friends due to the dangerous roads

That's a very old picture right?

looks like this now

been there a while - http://conradhotels3.hilton.com/en/hotels/thailand/conrad-koh-samui-USMKSCI/gallery/index.html

Tim Ward

16 September

3am on Beach Road.. Collecting empty bottles is something i done to survive when i was a kid.. I'm proud of these boys.. They are not selling drugs or stealing cars.. I ended up giving them every cent i had on me.. I think the smiles sum up how good their night turned out.. — at Pattaya Beach, Thailand

There was also another post where he bought a disabled girl and electric scooter so she could get around

He does do his bit for the community in Pattaya , so maybe that is why the police ECT leave him be

Has the site been hacked ?

Will be arriving in BKK mid November

Normally stay at dream hotel but looking for something new , had a look at all the hotel sites , but can't gather what is real or fake

So , my requirements are as follows

Sukhumvit location ( those will look elsewhere if better deal )

Studio or 1 bedroom

Now the must haves

Modern ( hotel can be old but room modern )

Gym ( must be new or at least have modern equipment )

Pool ( must have sun beds or pool that face the sun all day ! )

Internet ( wifi and must be included , stung to many times as a 1000 thb Extra )

Lady friendly ( I might get lucky )

Near Bts / mrt

Looking at spending 2500 a night

Any suggestions with links ? With preference you have stayed there and honest review

One of my wishes would be to stop all the rubbish burning, specially plastics, tires etc.

For example I pass the construction site of "Replay" Condo between Bophut and Bangrak almost daily and I can always see 1 to 2 big fires with lotsa smoke. They seem to burn all the rubbish that construction of many hundred apartments create.

While it will probably be hard to stop all the locals next door setting up a small fire to get rid of mosquitos it would be a big improvment if we can stop the above behaviour.

They burn rubbish all over Thailand , everywhere I have lived in Thailand , apart from Bangkok , they burn rubbish . They don't realise what burning rubbish does and no one has probably told them it is bad for the environment or more importantly it pisses people off !

You also have the 10 plus year old pickups and trucks that would be classed illegal in most countries with the amount of smoke they emit

Another big point is plastic bags ! If they want a kick start ban or limit plastic bags ( esp 7-11 and family mart )

Just been told about a post in Thai on Facebook claiming staff closed the shutters to Supercheap to stop people leaving with goods when the fire started... I really hope it is just a rumour. Perhaps someone can translate - https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1379413_4977762622173_863651496_n.jpg

I really hope that is not true

Never been in super cheap , but do they have clearly marked fire exits ? Also why was it a fire waiting to happen as many have posted ?

Elephants, even so called tame and or trained ones, are dangerous and ornery animals. Their size along makes them very dangerous and they often have nasty and unpredictable tempers.

I would never be near one that wasn't confined securly in a zoo pen.

There are a few clips around ' when elephants attack '

Try Horizon homes in Cheong Mon,

they are to build around 100 condo's/apts..

Had a brief look at these apartments but they are very over priced for off plan ! Also I do not think they have the correct condo licence for foreign ownership , and will be lease hold

The new development ' the nest. ' might have a condo licence , it's in the right area and owned by Thais , but due to the location and the very high possibility of flooding I would be inclined to purchase there

The park in Chong mon had a condo licence ( although they are town houses ) and I believe they have a few resales there , as well as whispering palms condo in chewang , who have a couple of studio and 1 bed resales on foreign ownership

You should re read your post Boater, in the 3 paragraphs you state, think, might & i believe ! So you actually 'know' nothing then?

Correct , I don't think they have a condo licence as I haven't personally checked with the land office , the nest might have a condo licence as the location and build would suggest they might , but again I haven't personally cheeks at the land office , and I believe they might have resales at the 2 developments as they previously did and do advertise being for sale , but again I haven't personally checked ...

OK, so Samui453 has stated there are available units at WP condo

The Horizon Homes development will be leasehold, no condo licence or freehold foreign ownership - http://horizon-residence.com/more-information/method-of-ownership/ , the Nest will be Condo Ownership with a foreign Quota - ( This is a full condominium - with Foreign freehold titles on 49% of total available units.)

Try Horizon homes in Cheong Mon,

they are to build around 100 condo's/apts..

Had a brief look at these apartments but they are very over priced for off plan ! Also I do not think they have the correct condo licence for foreign ownership , and will be lease hold

The new development ' the nest. ' might have a condo licence , it's in the right area and owned by Thais , but due to the location and the very high possibility of flooding I would be inclined to purchase there

The park in Chong mon had a condo licence ( although they are town houses ) and I believe they have a few resales there , as well as whispering palms condo in chewang , who have a couple of studio and 1 bed resales on foreign ownership

You should re read your post Boater, in the 3 paragraphs you state, think, might & i believe ! So you actually 'know' nothing then?

Correct , I don't think they have a condo licence as I haven't personally checked with the land office , the nest might have a condo licence as the location and build would suggest they might , but again I haven't personally cheeks at the land office , and I believe they might have resales at the 2 developments as they previously did and do advertise being for sale , but again I haven't personally checked ...

A bride's big day became even more memorable when an elephant invaded the wedding ceremony and put her head in its mouth.

After the Australian woman tied the knot in the Thai resort of Phuket, she walked up to the exotic uninvited guest.

But when she was a few feet away, the three-year-old Indian elephant wrapped its trunk around her and pulled her towards its mouth.

Shock: An Australian woman getting married in Thailand ended up getting too close for comfort to a watching elephant

Intimate: The three-year-old creature grabbed the bride with its trunk and took her into its embrace

Munch: The elephant put the woman's head in its mouth in a moment captured by filmmaker Abraham Joffe

The surreal moment was met with screams of laughter from guests and other bystanders.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2460753/Hilarious-moment-elephant-brides-HEAD-mouth-wedding-day.html#ixzz2hnRLGapd