islandguy

I'm planning to be in the States later this year and both my US state license and International Driver's License have expired, leaving me with my Thai Drivers License. I would want to rent a car while I am there, and probably drive one of my parent's cars as well. Anybody have experience with this? I have looked at threads saying the International Driver's License is not the way to go. My Thai license has English as well as Thai. Also, I have not updated my old gold card profile with Hertz, or rented from them in the last 3 years, any experience with this? I would be driving in California, Hawaii, and possibly Nevada. Thanks for sharing your experiences or knowledge.

Anybody noticed what has happened with this project amidst all the flooding, erosion, and landslides on the island? I haven't been on the ferry or kayaking for months to see what the place looks like lately. Did hear that the employee hiring process had hit a pause.....any pictures from the sea onto the land would be appreciated :jap:

Most places you would be sure the bomb squad video was staged - not here

The work on the boulder looks pretty effective and much faster than I would have thought. Overall I have been pleasantly surprised by the efforts to fix infrastructure after the floods. One problem that doesn't seem to be getting attention yet is the many places where the force of the water has undercut the roads, leaving what is actually a concrete 'bridge'. Koh Samui, 'Island of a Thousand Bridges'! In 2005 a concrete truck crashed through just such a 'bridge' right in front of Tamarind Springs. It had been like that for weeks.

A client of mine from Singapore told me yesterday that her friend (who I met last week, English, I believe) checked into a hotel sometime last week. I think they said it was Chaweng but I am not sure about that part. They had to wade with their bags from the taxi to the hotel and that there was a body floating in the water near there, a victim of electrocution - allegedly.

Motorbike repair shops around the island seem to be doing incredible business!

Asked the security guy out front today and he said it would open in 3 days. He didn't look too reliable but I would guess he heard it from a higher up - maybe

Latest news is they have fast tracked the 6 subs to help out also..

Taling Ngam has had power most of the time (knock wood). Saw about 10 of the big concrete power poles down on one side of the road between the power plant in Pang Ka and the Elephant Gate. Repair crews arrived between my going by at 8am and returning at 10:30am. There are power poles on both sides of the road on that section.

Lamai looked totally without power and mobile (AIS) showed network busy when I tried to call someone in Lamai, but my friends received a call while I was there. Tesco Lotus closed and blocked off. Saw several sam laws full of gas bottles, don't know if they were just hoping or if they knew there was a supply to refill them.

Went this morning to help some friends with a little massage shop across from soi Grandfather Rock. Shop has been flooded for three days now (I think we got the last massage on Monday, they had cleaned up from Sunday night and then it started flooding again Monday afternoon). To my surprise they were all packed up waiting for a van to pick them up and take them to the Rajah Ferry port for evacuation by the Royal Navy! Didn't sound like a sure thing to me so I hung around for a while, sure enough they got a call saying that the evacuation was delayed because the highway near Chaiya (North of Surat Thanee town) was blocked by flooding (or maybe landslides, don't know). Packed them up in the truck and they are now staying in the unoccupied bungalow next to mine. Take care of those you can, it will most likely be your turn sometime

Can somebody rescue us poor stranded farangs here on the mainland ? Can't they do a 1 for 1 exchange ? So many tourists OFF the island and so many expats back ONTO the islands

Not going anywhere today but fingers crossed for tomorrow

Some pictures taken from the balcony in the hotel

Glad you have something to do to keep you from going stir crazy, Dunc, thanks for the pictures. What are all those things sticking up near the beach in the third picture, though?

Here on the West coast of Samui in the lee of the island it is much calmer. There are 5 Rajah ferries hugging the coast and three ocean going freighters as well. Yesterday saw a big barge and tug as well as one Sea Trans ferry offshore of Lipa Noi. Saw this from Taling Ngam, so probably more off of or moored at Nathon.

They better move it fast or the land office will issue a chanote title and someone will build a bar 7/11 on top

If true this is huge news. Would love to have confirmation so as to tell a friend who might try to battle through Lamai to get home to his family in Chaweng Noi.

Just got word that the road in Baan Taling Ngam that goes up the little hill next to the Baan Taling Ngam Resort (future Intercontinental, past Meridien) has been closed by a landslide.

Also highest tide I have seen in the last two years, water washing up onto the grass

7:30am in Baan Taling Ngam. We essentially are on an island between the ocean and the vastly overflowed pond behind us. Amazingly, still have power, water (in the pipes), and internet! Landlord said that while I might be able to get my high clearance 4W drive truck through the water to get to work I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SEE IF THE ROAD WAS STILL THERE UNDER ME. Very good advice, I expect there are multiple areas with collapsed sections of roads from the force of the water and poorly constructed drainage. And remember that moving water can easily push a car or truck that has been lifted up (floating) off of the road into dangerous situations. This is one of the most common causes of fatalities during floods. Also just heard of a tree down across the road in my neighborhood.

Here is a list of places to be wary of that I saw on my drive yesterday.

Saket to Baan Thale: going up big hill where they have cut away the hillside for fill dirt the road is filled with rocks and road wearing away at side

Entering Lamai from Hua Thanon side same big pond at curve of road where turn off to Grandfather Rock is...Row of shop houses behind (uphill) that curve are all flooded from water down the hill

Back road to Lipa Noi from Taling Ngam before the Raja ferry the windy section has strong water flowing over the road, can't see road. Very dangerous place, stay away.

How was the party at the Barracuda Bar? And where exactly is it?

Good luck all......

My wife just got back from Bangkok last week. It was no problem for her to have the declaration linking old and new passport put into her new passport at the Bang Na office. She appreciated that and the shopping upstairs as well

You (wife) would almost certainly have to have it done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the passport was issued.

She obtained in Bang Na, at the large office in the Central Bang Na building. Anybody have their phone number there?

I call the man in Nathon the 'Watch Adjan'.....:jap: He is the master of his little world there.

Across the street is the 'key Adjan'

Still happy with my 7 year old Toyota Tiger 4W/4D truck and would like to keep it in good shape. Where can I get replacement parts for the interior, such as door panels and seats? The rest of the interior is still fine, but I would prefer factory or second hand replacements rather than the custom made ones my local shop has offered. I will be in Bangkok for a couple of weeks in April not using the truck, or would be happy to order them to be installed locally. I haven't asked at my local dealer as I try to avoid their mistake prone work and high prices, but I have been happy with work done at Toyota Bang Na. Thanks for any suggestions.

One of the houses robbed on the beach in Baan Taling Ngam belonged to people I know. The very next day the police had caught the gang in Bang Por and the victims went over to the station and recovered their phone and camera - but not the cash. Quite surprising to have them caught. There were quite a lot of stolen goods there, they said, so having it happen the next day was coincidence. Still, the police do manage to show results sometimes, so better to report thefts.

There have also been extensive road drainage projects over the last 5 years. Yes, last year showed the weaknesses of the present system, and the whole situation regarding the grates is a mess, but there has been noticeable improvement with the amount of flooded road areas during heavy rains.

My wife's Thai passport expired on 21 March 2009 in which was her 10 year US visa that is valid until March 2015. When she was issued a new passport in July 2009 they put this endorsement on page 3 of her new passport:

Endorsement no. 00000/52

The holder has previously traveled on passport no. Nxxxxxxxx. issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Bangkok on 22 Mar 2004 which has been canceled and returned to the holder, the visas duly affixed still remain valid.

Dont know how those name changes will affect things.

Just checking back on this thread, thanks for the info. Any idea about how my wife could get this declaration added to her new passport now?

Thanks for the info, ScubaBuddha. This design is like a very very basic version of the yellow boat you picture. You are probably right about it being too flat on the bottom to roll easily. What about the idea of stuffing it with foam blocks and just skip the skirt? I would mostly be in flat ocean conditions. By the way, I used to surf Scupper Pro kayaks in Hawaii. Usually only 20 to 80 cm, but that is Hawaiian style counting :jap:

and more than once wiped out by waves considerably bigger - that is why sit on top ocean kayaks were always my choice!

The official USA statement is if a US VISA has not expired and new passport has been issued then present the old passport with US visa and the new passport.

Thanks for the two replies. Anybody have experience with entering the US with old and new passport?

A few years ago one of the US consuls recommended getting a new visa rather than doing this because of uncertainty with the officials at the border, but it has been hard to arrange seeing the visa section because of our location and schedule (as well as the usual difficulties everyone else goes through).

The guy near me who sells water tanks has a few small molded (polyurethane?) kayaks. They are a sit inside style with a molding around the center to hold a skirt. Quite short, I'm not even sure I will be able to get my long legs fully inside. It is only 7,000 baht and I'm thinking I might be able to throw it into the back of the truck and check out a few coves - but mostly for exercise. Anybody tried one of these? I have only used sit on top ocean kayaks but learning to eskimo roll seems possible if I can get a skirt - or just stuff it with foam and not worry in these flat seas. Any comments?