Tropicalevo

Impressive. Love the video.

It's a no-win scenario. Increased costs means that the ferry companies need to charge more. (I cannot remember there ever being a fare increase but my memory is not great.) Meanwhile, people and businesses on the island are struggling with similar increased costs and two years of no or little income from tourism. Solution - government subsidy but that is unlikely to happen.

The U Samui in Bangrak offers a deal by the pool. It is a minimum spend. I could not read the details on the board advertising it but a quick phone call to them would tell you.

The drain was on a golf course - next to the park. That can be clearly seen in photographs in The Times. The mother and calf had crossed a road to get to the golf course.

Are registered with immigration as living at that address. ie where is your visa based? If you are, then you do not need to register TM 30 reports for that address. This change came in a couple of years ago. You only need the TM30's when you stay in another province. (Hopefully UbonJoe will update us all shortly on this one.)

I have seen a guest start a car that had a flat battery - he squeezed the juice from a couple of fresh lemons into the battery. Left it for a short while and then started the car. Mind you, that was about 15 years ago.

I was informed by a BIB that all vaping is illegal (as are shisha pipes, hookah pipes whatever). They just do not bother to do anything about it - yet.

Sandbanks move with the tides. End of.

It is by DHL. Bear in mind that this is an illegal 'tax'. No receipts available. No emails answered. Just a demand and conversations by phone only. The goods will ONLY be released on payment of 'tax'.

Me too. I have lived here for 22 years and the scam is always DHL. They are getting more greedy. Friend and next door neighbour buys games on-line. Always says 'Please do not use DHL' Latest one last week used DHL. Game had just under 4,000 baht tax demand - it is tax exempt. There was also a 2,000 baht processing charge for handling the 'illegal' tax. The weight of the game was detailed on the documents (and weighs in) at 1.9 kilos. They are charging tax on 3.9 kilos. He has written to the supplier and the head of DHL worldwide but he is not expecting any changes. He has supplied the people at HO with a copy of the official custom's tax rules. As a comparison, he has just had a notification from the post office on paying tax on another game - which is taxable. (It contains model figures.) 350 baht tax demand by the post office.

And they are reducing the number of Sailings. I am told that this is in response to the governor telling them NOT to increase prices.

And very low tides at the moment. https://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Ko-Samui/tides/latest

And the journalists there are not afraid to tell the truth.

Not to mention two days of no alcohol. From what I have seen, tourists like to have a drink whilst on holiday. Imagine the scene - two days if sitting on the beach in the wind and rain, sipping a cup of cocoa.

If you are in Chaweng - sorry. No idea. Try beach clubs. There are a few there. In Bangrak quite a few used to allow outside guests. Tembo, Chi, Prana, Secret Garden etc. But now, in high season, again no idea. How about renting a room for a day - lower rates?

No alcohol allowed on the 13th and 14th of this month. The ban finishes midnight tomorrow.

But was that in Chaweng where the OP is based?

Very true and thinks are unlikely to return to as they were in pre-Covid times.

But I do not love them when they come into my house and poop everywhere.

I read that calls made by the number starting with +697 are often a scam. I have been receiving a few of these lately. They are ignored. The Thaiger 5 days ago — If a number starting with +697 rings you, don't answer. Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) says it is most likely a ...

Whilst not common (hopefully), this is not unusual. My business partner (now deceased) had a similar situation. Her mother is a compulsive gambler and was deep in debt. The mother tried to sell the granddaughter's virginity to clear the debt. Luckily, my partner found out about it before the event and took her daughter away from the grandmother. Very sad situation.

'Weed' is only legal for medicinal purposes and in certain forms. It is legal to grow it and to sell it. After that, it is as clear as 'a cloud of smoke'. It is not 'legal' to smoke weed. However, many 'experts' posting on Asean Now will say otherwise. The powers that make up the rules are still trying to put this particular cat back in the bag. The rules are currently 'vague' and the law is clueless.

Apparently, due to high seas, ferries to and from Samui were stopped at 14.00 today. The situation will be reviewed again tomorrow morning.

Simple solution. When you arrive at the hotel and they see that you are not Thai, there is a surcharge on your half of the room!????

Middle Eastern airlines are making a killing at the moment. The war in Ukraine means that long haul have to avoid the usual air space. So flights are longer and more expensive. Then you also have the increased fuel costs etc etc. The airlines in the Middle East are the shortest route now.