Tropicalevo

A genuine Thai driving licence is accepted in most civilised countries at professional car rental businesses. It is usually valid for a short period without an IDP, but not always. Usually max of 30 days. I have rented in many European countries on the Thai DL with no trouble. I have also used it in Australia. Once, at Heathrow, the guy at the car hire place (Europcar) had to check with a small book that showed DL's from all over the world. His only question on the Thai DL was 'which is the licence number?' I have never had to show my IDP. Even in Portugal where the car hire company has a 'IDP required for British citizens' on their web site. The Thai DL was accepted.

Unfortunately, MFP are the only party with integrity and it is hurting them.

The opposition are getting really desperate now. Very sad for the majority of Thai people.

Brilliant. True love for your family in this crazy world. Respect to you sir. ????

With help from Phua Thai?

Freedom comes with a price.

Where is the evidence for that please? I could not find any.

I quite enjoy the 'flowery' prose creeping into the articles and headings. Better than many comments by some folk.

She was a born and bred Brummie. Good idea to use the Funeral people. I have never seen one here on Samui. Yes, it was a lot of running around. Temple, police statin 3 times (we need another form) and the government hospital at least 5 times. And all of that was with the heads of the International school helping me. At least her Social Security payments paid for it all.

That photo is not a long tail boat. I think that on a long tail, it is push right to go left and push left to go right. ????

Not for residents.

That is pretty much what happened when my wife died. She died in her sleep at home. Things to watch out for. The police were notified of her death by the hospital that I took her to where they tried to revive her. The police came and checked the place to see if a crime had been committed. The hospital (private) then sent her body to the government hospital - supposedly for an autopsy. The private hospital also notified the British embassy who were very good and responsive. The government hospital would not release her body for the funeral until both the embassy and the police said OK. There was a bit of argy bargy as the government hospital wanted 'more paper work and fees'. I called on the Thai parent of two of the kids in my wife's class. He fixed the problem with one phone call and her body released to the temple. Guy in the morgue also wanted extra money but the Thai headmistress sorted him out in no time. Good luck.

I wonder if there will be a proper environmental study on the sea life between the mainland and Samui. To my knowledge, there are dolphins, turtles and coral in the shore area. Also, don't whales pass through that channel up to the Prachuap Khiri Khan waters?

This is probably an accurate view on living wills. I have one and I took it to my doctor at the local (expensive) hospital where I have my annual check ups. She said that she would honour it, but some places may not. There appear to be no definitive rules on that. I suspect that money may come into play here but that could just be me being cynical. I 'dress down' when I go to the hospital and my doctor knows that I self insure. I get discounts. Another hospital may keep you alive for the possible returns. Also, where do you keep your living will? I carry a DNR card and an organ donor card in my wallet, but not all medical staff would know what they meant.

And that is the problem for regular Russian citizens. It is a no win situation to live in Russia at the moment. If they start 'making a noise' whilst overseas, they suddenly fall out of windows or die from 'food' poisoning.

Santa who? All of the wells in Samui are drying up for the very simple reason that the government put in drainage. The land used to flood and slowly seep into the aquifers. Now the rain water runs into the sea thanks to the super dooper drains. The result is that Samui is now in a serious drought situation. That is why they had to put in pipes to pipe water from the mainland. Any more questions?

Apparently, 'the force' is not with everyone then. ????

I can confirm that the water divining method works. Drilling company came to my place, used the copper rods and said 'here'. They gave me a price and I said that I would call them. Next day I took two pieces of metal, bent the ends and tried it. It worked. I found two spots. One, the rods moved slightly. They said ' not much water or a long way down'. The second place the rods moved a lot. It was was there that they had suggested. Thinking that this was crazy (mumbo jumbo), I tried it on a couple of plots belonging to neighbours. I found the spot for the well both times - this was before we asked the drilling company.

Message for the OP. Do not make the move permanent at first. Come for a two month stay and look around the island. The island changes quickly. Lots of retirees here and still a relaxed lifestyle if you want it. Quite a few 'snowbirds' come here for 3 to 4 months in the European winter. If it doesn't work for you then you can easily go to the next place. phetphet's review is a good one and there are lots of other places to look at although Choengmon is my favourite beach area with lots of good restaurants. Plai Laem, Chaweng Noi, Lipa Noi etc etc The south and the west coasts are more quiet and not many tourists It is very much a 'village' life here but with supermarkets. (Including Waitrose.) 5 private International hospitals of varying quality. Insurance is a must. The government hospital has good doctors but long waits. Return flights to Bangkok are just under 5,000 baht each for residents. Similar prices to Phuket and to Pattaya. For the last 23 years I have been looking at this view. No regrets. Usually about 300 days of sunshine a year.

Most food delivery people that I see on the roads are looking at their phones as they ride. I am not saying that happened here but........

Just like cannabis?

And no one had missed him. Pool chap. RIP.

Well, that will push up land prices for a while - in the areas where the bridge makes landfall. Then hopefully, it will go the same way as all of the other 'fantastic' projects for Koh Samui. ???? The ski slope The marina The second airport The cruise ship terminal

The problem is that the MFP is the only party that has principals. They are trying to deliver what their voters wanted when they voted them in. Phua Thai just welcomed the party that were suing the PT leader for defamation.

A 'sweaty' pillow in an unaired apartment will grow mold. My pillow is usually very wet with sweat in the morning. I even have to turn it over during the night. I sleep under a ceiling fan as I do not us a/c (it affects my breathing - COPD.) I then air the pillow in the sun the next day. (On my window sill.) If there is a strong wind, the pillow always falls inside the bedroom. I have no problem with mold. Every couple of months or so, I send the pillow to the laundry. I agree with the OP. The only thing to do with those pillows is to chuck them. Next time that you go away put your pillows in the laundry and pick them up when you return?