Tropicalevo

From what I have seen here, yes. Sales price is always high but the amount declared for paying tax is usually lower. The government valuation is closer to the declared 'sales' price.

I do not disagreed with your comments abut the man. All of the promises that he is making favour big businesses. Your wife could be correct. One house in company name. One in the name of my Thai business partner. The land is the most expensive on Samui. Before Covid - 35 mil per rai. I am not sure these days. (I paid 3 mil per rai a very long time ago and people told me that I was crazy to pay that much.)

And then there is the real world. I have lived here on an island for 23 years and yes, I regularly have to replace laptops because the USB ports cannot be changed. (About every 4 - 5 years.) To me, that is a small price to pay for 23 years of living in paradise. 🌴🍹⛱️ 🍻 And I get 12 months of cleaner air.

Doesn't artificial mean 'not real'?

And Samui relies on it more than most but increased traffic could lead to more deaths. Samui has one of the highest death rate per capita for motorbike riders, and the safari truck conveys are infamous here for being 'reckless'. From a previous article

According to the paper that must not be quoted, there will be at least 47 cruise ships visiting us this year. Oh Joy! Welcome back to the safari truck conveys racing around like mini Alex Albons, as well as all of the heavy coaches and mini van convoys. Thinking back, there was one plus about Covid here on the island.

Not sure why you will not buy online from InvadeIT. I live on Samui and I buy pretty much everything from them. Computers, large screen monitors, printers etc. Never any problem. Quick efficient and courteous service (from Phuket). I bought a desktop PC from JIB shop here on the island - rubbish. Keeps restarting and the staff do not know why. USB ports are rubbish as well but we do have high humidity here seeing as we are on an island.. My laptop is now the main PC and the desktop is a back up.

I have been paying Land and house tax for a few years now here on Samui. 18,000 baht + last year for two houses. The first year had 90% discount. Second year was less. Now full price. When they catch you, there are penalties for late payment. It will be back dated. It all depends if your property was registered correctly when it was built. Most weren't. Mine was. Don't blame Sreta - it was Prayut.

You can check TOPS online. Cream of potato is on the list. Just need to check the local branch by logging in. https://www.tops.co.th/en/search/cambells soup

The reason for this thread was because I have a lot of 'interaction' with the cashiers/finance department at the hospital. I always push for a discount (I am a resident here) and they always agree (eventually). I wondered if, in this case, they had not actually processed the credit as a form of devilment and were hoping that I would forget it. I never received a transaction slip for the debit card credit. I always receive one when I pay with the debit card. 14 days and still counting.

It is normal for a 'use by date' on pay as you go phones. It releases phone numbers back into the system (and makes more money for the provider).

Not if you have fat fingers like me. Phone keyboards are the bane of my life. I have one finger that has been surgically reattached and it takes on a life of its own when near a phone keyboard.

Wrong. No hotel. The ATM's were all in different locations on the island.

You have my sympathy parallaxtech. I built three small pool villas - with a number of different builders. (One for the first and two different ones for each of the other two.) All are 'almost' to spec and overall I am happy with the results. Lived here 23 years. Apart from general maintenance issues - no problems. I also have a business managing villas and have come across a large number of other builders. I will send a PM of a couple that might be able to help. Both are British. The very good Thai builder that I have worked with left the island during Covid unfortunately.

Of course it favour developers. That was the PM's former business. See Straits Times amongst others. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thailand-s-new-pm-srettha-thavisin-a-political-novice-who-brings-business-acumen-to-the-job

As they say in Newsrooms the world over "Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story". In this case, I believe that the truth is even more sad. But hey - engine less submarines are more important than the young of today and their education - Yes?

Try this site - lists all ferries and very reliable for picking up tickets. https://www.phanganferries.com/ You will have to get to Thongsala for a 07.00 or 08.00 ferry. The Haad Rin Queen is too late.

Methinks that one should consider the membership of the UN. There are 56 Muslim nations - most, if not all, anti Jewish. There is 1 Jewish nation. Votes are likely to be a tad biased against the Jews???

What does SA say about HAMAS's 'chilling' intent to commit genocide in Israel?

It has already started but the west is in denial. China and Russia are pulling some impressive strings. Even NZ is not safe any more because of China in that region. China will probably protect most of SE Asia as it has interests here.

Things were different in the days gone by. A friend lent a significant amount of money to a Thai lady with a gambling debt. She had a parcel of land and offered the title deeds for security. Long story, but she did not pay off the loan and the family demanded the title deeds back from my friend. He said 'pay me first'. They refused and took him to court as it was an illegal loan. In court, the judge said to him 'you realise that what you did was illegal?' He replied that he was just trying to help. He won the case and the family had to pay him the money.

But very few Thai loan sharks seem to be arrested. I wonder why that is?

This guy is full of bull manure and is just bankrupting Thailand. Dear Mr PM - look at the burning first. How on earth do you force people to use mass transit systems without banning ALL vehicles.

His family probably own Chatuchak

Just a bit of a warning. In the last few weeks there seems to be an increase in the dreaded 'ATM eating the cards'. This week alone, three guests have reported card losses and asked for our help in getting them back. Most seem to be ATM's for Krungsri Bank. All in different locations. (Bangrak, Maenam and Chaweng.) In my infrequent trips to the bank I have seen tourists at the desk trying to have their cards returned, and about a month ago, two different ATM's, that I use regularly, refused my card and told me to 'go to my branch'. Has anyone out there encountered this problem.