islandguy

I am forever hearing yee cip as cii cip at the market and handing over more money than needful. I couldn't say it is never taken, but have been handed back the over amount many many times. When not dealing with tourist transport my impression is of mostly honest Thais. I once had a taxi driver in Bangkok leave the hotel and then return in 5 minutes (when some new 100 baht bills had stuck together) to return the overage.

The OP's point is a good one, although rather sanctimoniously phrased, IMO. I have certainly learned more by paying attention to the Thai point of view than they have learned from me. However, the high number of people crippled and the many people killed by preventable 'accidents' is a good reason to think that some Thai ways would be better changed. I think having compassion for others' suffering is a good reason for Buddhists to be open to change some culturally specific practices and ways of thinking here in Thailand, as in so many other countries. Does every group have to learn by suffering or can some things change because of the mistakes other cultures have already made that caused those cultures to make changes?

Check the car ferry schedule, you may have to go back to Donsak each time and not sure about how often a car ferry goes to Koh Tao.

Hi Carlos. Weather report shows high winds this week, Seatrans has larger and less old boats, something to keep in mind. I was at the Raja ferry port a couple of times in the last two months to pick up friends and there was a sign for a van that said 200 baht to anywhere on Samui both times. Have heard a tout on the boat tries to sign you up for a much more expensive van ticket. If this is actually the case it is a big improvement from before. Mole, when did you have the experience you detail here at the Raja port?

Depending on what months you plan to be in Thailand you might want to think about rainy season weather. Phuket has a long rainy season (March to October, not heavy for the entire time) and Samui a shorter rainy season (October to early January). Some years not quite those months, but that is the historical pattern. Both are pretty developed and expensive for Thailand, but lots to do and easy to find Western comforts compared to some of the sleepy but cheaper places.

You can look at a tide chart to see how high the highest tides of the year will be. What the tide chart won't show you is what else will be happening during those hours. Year to year erosion varies greatly because the damage from the sea is a combination of factors. We get these higher tides during the stormiest and rainiest times of the year here on Samui. Tide level + wave height created by high winds + flood rains flowing from the land and rivers into the sea will create greater erosion and damage to seawalls and buildings than the same high tide on a calm day. Last rainy season it was mostly calm during those high tide periods. You can build walls, build on columns, and put tons of rock in front, but the sea tends to win those battles eventually. Best strategy, IMHO, is to build back from the shore line and plant lots of trees and bushes (some lovely mangroves, anyone?). Not most peoples' fantasy of the dream beach house. Also good to remember that if your neighbors put in a really impressive wall next to your property it will transmit the force of the water right at that corner of your property - sort of like the annual dumping of fill dirt around houses here to transfer flooding from inland to one's neighbor's house!

Are you still in need of this desk? I wonder if an alternate solution might be to have two different desks, one stand up and one sit down. If you are using both a pc and a laptop you could network them to change desks without much trouble. If you are only using one laptop that would be easy to transfer. You could have two power cords for the laptop set up if you wish (nice to have two anyway, the bad electricity here is hard on cord/transformers). Having one or two fixed height simple desks/tables made would not be very hard here on Samui.

Quote: "All of them are English, with little or none of the language corruption of American 'teachers'."

Thanks for giving me one more reason to celebrate the 4th of July this year.

The island is full of 'First Car rebate' cars that were bought to rent out. Every little travel agent either has or knows of such cars. It should be very easy to rent one even with the (reputed) suspicion that a Thai national is more likely to try to steal a rental car than a foreign national.

If you take the Raja ferry buy a round trip ticket. This ( used to) gives you a priority on your return leg. Confirmed reservations are with Seatrans and you need to obtain a card, not a quick process.

Were there signs In Ranong directing you to the the Club Andaman? When I drove there it was not at all easy to find the first time. Otherwise, my experiences a few years ago agree with everything you have said, glad you enjoyed a some great touring.

Can anybody recommend someone for a small roofing job? Just need to have some sections of roofing renailed at leading edge where it is pulling up with the wind. It is an overhang so not a critical place for leaks but a two story roof. Also would like to put in a section of guttering, so probably a one day job for one good worker (and probably a helper). Happy to pay to better quality so nobody falls off or through roof!

Once drove down a dark road and passed a farmer holding a rope. The rope curved down and then up. Couldn't see the all black buffalo attached to the rope until I was even with them. Should require all buffalo on roads to have reflectors on their behind!!!!

There are a few good 'floating markets' on the Samut Prakan and Chonburi side of Bangkok. Original old building on the side of a klong. Big attraction for Thais. Not close to central Bangkok. There is another closer to town but in the Mon district, which is also an attraction and closer to town.

Here is a link, sounds like it has gotten much busier, but the old fashioned food sold there was really arroy.

http://www.thai-blogs.com/2008/11/09/bang-nampheung-floating-market/

I also really love the Jim Thompson House.

After a few years of never getting past the third bite (ahhh, ummm, ewhhh), grew to love ripe durian. In my wife's family half love it, half hate it. One sister has us bring her some (if we drive up only, we put it in the bed of the truck) and another sister forbids it in her house. Very individual like or dislike. My Malaysian friends swear up and down that theirs is the best. Jackfruit also has quite a smell if you leave some in the fridge. Durian reduces your body's ability to metabolize alcohol, good reason not to mix it with drinking.

The guitar shop at Maenam Traders building near the Dusit Hotel also has a coffee business with good well roasted Chiang Mai beans. Also sold at K. Boys shop across from the 7-11 in Tong Krut.

Many of Boots products are sold with a buy two get one free promotion. She probably was surprised you didn't want this discount and was suggesting you get two - and one free.

Thanks. A story like the OP is why some girls when they see a farang approaching their counter may say to the other girl: I handled the last obnoxious farang -- now it's your turn.

Yesterday at a Big C I took a single bottle of shampoo to the Pharmacist / Boots cashier as you must pay separate for Boots merchandise. I did not have anything else. Giving her the bottle she asked me "one"? holding up a single finger. I ask her "how many do you see?" she still looks a bit unclear. then I ask her if she graduated pharmacy university. Yes I did. I say "logic says there is 1 bottle" (I can read/write Thai and pronounce near native)

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I went in before and then after the 30 day period and received the appropriate stamps after telling K. Nok I had an international airline ticket for later that same week. There was no delay in their usual timeline in my case. I saw him check some papers before affixing the stamps, may have been the fax you speak of in your post, Guava Girl . Hope you are not inconvenienced by this, .

He had an interesting start in show business as a (young) child Elvis impersonator in Hawaii. Seems to have gotten through some pretty rocky stuff and to currently have his head straight and career in gear.

The form I recently filled out for this purpose asked when I would leave and return Thailand (had a box to check for single or multiple entry). No way they actually checked that info before processing, but they did ask.

I think they are just giving first crack to members of their frequent flyer program before throwing it open to others.

I am waiting to be able to finish my extension of permission to stay. Have the initial 30 days and the next 11 months part supposed to be ready by Feb 10th. Has Immigration been slower than usual with getting the ok to approve these? Thanks for your personal experiences in the last two months. And yes, I know it is often a crap shoot as to when you will actually get it done by them under normal circumstances.

Please let me know where the Cultured, Upper Class Russians are; The ones I have met

must be the Siberian Crowd..".Me Russian I do what I want"....falling down drunk, rude, loud

and "pissing on the lawn type....." I would enjoy meeting the Moscow Russians, but I believe

the Vacation in other parts of the world.

While I also met many cultured Russians in Moscow, they were a minority (in my experience) there. The social interactions on the streets in Moscow seemed marked by more suspicion, cynicism, and distrust compared to the American, Thai, and Latin American cultures I am familiar with. Russia is a tough place. I don't include comparisons with the many other cultures I only seen during briefer exposures. When Russians feel that they have been cheated here (often justified, more often not justified), they seem to react more aggressively than most of the other tourists the Thais are used to.

I tend to agree with you that, with strangers, Russians are wary and mistrustful. I can only suggest an explanation of it being a hangover from years and years of oppression and internal spying. For example, Russians rarely smile without a reason - I was told that this was because people who routinely smiled were considered to have some secret, and were thus susceptible to investigation or worse. Living in that sort of environment can, I am sure, make you extremely wary of everyone with whom you are unfamiliar.

That said, once you are welcomed into the trust of a Russian, you are treated like the most honoured of guests. It took me a while to understand why Russians referred to their peers as brothers and sisters - it is because the bond of friendship between Russians (or with a foreigner and a Russian) is like that of siblings. I feel honoured and privileged that I have such friendships.

Very true, and I was touched by the occasions I experienced this sincere acceptance. What was said about Russians studying, reading classic literature, and being interested in music and the arts I would also agree with from experience. When they are interested in something, they apply themselves to learning it to a degree that is very impressive. Certainly a smart and tough group of people. Still not interested in going back to Moscow, and totally understand why some small Thai businesses prefer to avoid their aggressiveness style while here as tourists.