Jose

And what happend to Seatrans ferried coming from Don Sak to Koh Phangan, and more important, Samui to Phangan, it seems with cancellation of that service, Phangan took a step back in it's development, and it's connection with the outside world, why did that happen?

Rumour around here has it that a major local food distributor had a lot to do with canceling the only car-ferry service to Samui.

jose '-)

I live in ThongSala, which used to be a sleepy little town. There is still very little in the way of accommodation and/or entertainment which suits me fine. However it seems to have become the wild west for young Thais on motorbikes with no exhausts. All it needs is some effective policing.

ParadiseLost, you must have a sympathetic ear in high places.

Seen last Sunday afternoon, at the Ayudhya bank footpath by ThongSala's only traffic lights:

A dozen or so sorry-looking youths, rapidly dismantling and changing noisy exhaust pipes (on about five-six scooters) for more standard/quieter items, police overlooking the whole scene with book in hand.

jose '-)

I see two serious long-term time-bombs ticking away for Koh Pha-Ngan:

1) Asbestos: used in cement board roofing tiles almost everywhere, drilled, ground & smashed to dust - pieces found broken up all over the coastline;

2) PVC plastic (specially when burnt) and other potentially toxic refuse, contaminating land and water tables.

All other development-based problems are relatively temporary.

It may not happen in our lifetime, but cement will eventually crumble back to sand, trees may grow back given enough time - nature will ultimately reclaim what man has "borrowed".

It's never too late to help out these poor creatures.

When we picked up our little 4-6 week-old pup from the local temple, he was all skin and bones. He could hardly walk or eat, and we took him straight to PhaNgan Animal Care, where these good people gave him a 50/50 chance of making it to the end of the week.

Two-three weeks of some TLC, and the little guy is now three times the size, and full of life.

It's never too late.

jose '-)

I bought a new sim card for my old phone two weeks ago, and somehow ended up with an unwanted service - F.M.90

I don't even know what these 5 Baht messages are about - my mobile cannot display any graphics or play mp3s, so I just get a lot of gibberish on my mobile's text display.

Repeat requests to the call center to stop this annoying service just results in more frustration - apparently they cannot cancel it without a contact number.

Can anyone kindly help with a contact number for F.M.90?

Many thanks in advance for any help.

In the unlikely event the buyer passes away

looks like they are offering a measure of immortality too.

Last year the wife and I stayed at Rung Arun Resort in Bantai (Koh Pha-Ngan) for three lovely months. The resort is quiet (no roads nearby), central to the whole island, has its own spacious clean beach (i.e., they have not built bungalows to the edge of the water), swimming pool, friendly family-oriented staff, and is run by a respected local school teacher couple.

See directions here.

Heaven on earth - I would strongly recommend Rung Arun Resort.

Please say hello from me when you get there.

jose '-)

I tried and gave up.

<Sigh...> what can we do?

There must be some incentive out there to avert this kind of thoughtless/destructive behaviour.

Surely bungalow & resort operators must see that this is not good for business, or for anyone else for that matter...

j '-)

The traditional burning of rubbish on the islands to reduce garbage size, is nowadays creating major potential long-term health problems when plastics and other toxic materials are added to these fires. PVC plastics, batteries and other toxic material fumes are often related to many health problems, including cancer - not to mention the detrimental effect this has on tourism.

Any suggestions on how the locals (islanders, workers, expats) may be able to be educated/persuaded on this most important health issue?

jose '-)

Road speed reduction schemes in Bantai (Koh Pha-Ngan) should be a safety priority.

The number of times that I've almost been wiped out by oncoming 4wds overtaking slower traffic, on the wrong side of this narrow road at 100 Kph+...

Speed bumps may or may not be the optimal solution - badly constructed ones will just aggravate a bad situation.

Another option for traffic calming measures may be the use of road chicanes and/or chokers -> see Traffic Calming Library.

jose '-)

The algae could also be the result of increasing untreated sewerage discharged into the sea, either directly through illegal pipes or from septic tank overflows. Notwithstanding the disrupting effect of the Bantai pier, Coral reef ecosystems such as those found in Bantai/Bankai are very susceptible to pollution damage.

And as from the locals taking sand from the beach, below is an example of (personally witnessed) environmental vandalism:

August 2005.

Workers at First Bay (Bantai, KPG) dig twelve large holes on "their" beach, and use the illegally acquired sand for their bungalow paths (for that "beachy" feeling). Not content with the environmental damage that they've caused, the beach holes are then filled with non-compostable rubbish such as broken cement bricks, plastic and metal.

Granted, they did try to burn some of their beach rubbish, but unfortunately only succeeded in turning the beach sand from pristine white to black.

Kind of gives "Eco-tourism" a new meaning...

jose '-)

ts, you've missed my point about drugs in Thailand. I'm not condoning nor condemning the personal use of drugs, nor do I wish to comment on their effects.

A holiday in Thailand often brings about a sense of freedom which can sometimes result in careless behaviour, often resulting in grief. It's very easy to fall into a sense of "paradise complacency".

That carefree joint smoked in your hammock by your beach bungalow, can easily result in an arrest and consequent police nightmare. I've seen this many times, both the euphoria before and nightmare afterwards.

As for using the Lonely Planet for any sort of serious travel guide in Thailand, p-please...

jose '-)

Girlx, the road trip from Nathon pier to Tesco Lotus is a tedious (and sometimes dangerous) 20Km trip. The same trip from the Big Buddha pier is only 3½Km.

If you are coming from Thong Nai Pan in Koh Pha-Ngan, I would go left at the Bantai 7-11, enjoy the roller-coaster ride to Haad Rin Pier (only 1Km longer than the same trip to Thong Sala), and take the much shorter (and enjoyable) slow boat (40min) to Big Buddha Pier.

A cheaper, overall quicker, safer, more enjoyable option.

jose '-)

Depending on your length of stay, the best plan of action may be to base yourself in a comfortable/quiet/central location, and explore Koh Pha-Ngan from there.

If you need specifics, my favourite all-time resort is Rung Arun Resort in Bantai - the wife and I stayed there for three months last year, and it is central to the whole island. Rung Arun Resort directions here.

Other worthwhile spots/activities:

Go at least once to the small & secluded beaches at Than Sadet, snorkel at Mae Haad, climb the tallest mountain ( Khao Ra, 600m+), visit the numerous temples, spend some time with the locals, try the wonderful fruits (even Durian), watch the glorious sunsets and moonrises from several picturesque spots.

Not recommended except for the occasional visit:

Haad Rin (Full Moon Party town).

Take really good care on the roads if riding a bike.

Drugs of any sort can turn a wonderful holiday into a nightmare.

jose '-)

The best:

1) Can be paradise on earth;

2) KPG's people: many locals, some workers, some visitors.

The worst:

1) Can be hel_l on earth;

2) KPG's people: some locals, many workers, many visitors.

jose '-)

My apologies if you perceive my comments as personal attacks - that is not my intention.

I have drawn attention to the dramatic East Timor disaster because the violent breakdown of society perhaps should be a major concern to all here, specially long-term expats.

In any case, I am fishing for possible solutions to avert a problem of this magnitude, that as unlikely as it may now seem, would have disastrous consequences for all if it ever occurred here.

My feeling is that the social fabric that allows us to live in harmony, is both strong and fragile.

It is human nature to bond into social groups, but at the same time, fear/greed/ignorance/poverty/hunger can be quite destructive to any society.

With some tangential evidence that all is not well in Samui & Pha-Ngan, what could be done to avert any potential problem?

jose '-)

... it's only a matter of time before Koh Samui suffers the same fate

These are your words, not mine.

Perhaps it would be better if you took another look at my original post - I'm interested in resident opinions on whether gang violence could happen here, as it is happening around the world, and as may be happening in other parts of Thailand.

As for your attempts to engage with me on a personal level, in case you haven't noticed, it definitely does not interest me the least.

jose '-)

For those with their heads still buried in the sand:

Youth gang violence in the USA, Canada, Australia.

If governments in these prosperous Western nations can't protect their own citizens from crumbling local communities, what chance if it ever happened here?

jose

Somchai Jones, open your eyes - the deterioration of societies is happening worldwide, and is not just a failed-state phenomena.

It is even happening in one of the arguably most stable societies: Australia.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1657069.htm

And as environmental and economic conditions deteriorate in the long run, expect more of this.

jose '-)

The only solution is education and law. education to prepare them to do business in a modern enviroment and Law inforcemnt by the police. if one kid gets send to jail and the punishment is severe then the others will think twice.

This has been implemented in Las Vegas. where they have one of the best education systems in the US.

Yes indeed, America has an excellent education system:

jose '-)

I imagine that we've all seen footage of the angry/reckless/destructive behavior of "youth gangs" looting and burning houses in Dili over the last few weeks.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP254092.htm

At the same time, there are reports that housebreakings and petty theft has increased lately in Samui & Pha-Ngan, mostly around school holiday periods.

I wonder - could youth gang violence sprout here someday?

And if so, what could be done now to create a social environment where this kind of destructive mass behaviour may be averted?

jose '-)

No chance of a tsunami hitting this side of Thailand - too many land bits between here and the nearest marine seismic zone near The Philippines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Quake_e...ers_1963-98.png

A typhoon cutting a path through this area and raising the sea level by two or three meters - that would be a more likely looming disaster.

jose '-)

Interesting article about corruption, and the resulting damage to society and country:

Why Poor Countries Are Poor

Let's hope this situation will never eventuate here in LOS.

jose '-)

If there is an ultimate truth, then only it is the ultimate truth by definition Same applies to Enlightenment .. if it is "the shore that has not shore beyond it" then it must be the absolute furthest.

Would you agree that by "ultimate" and "no shore beyond" this implies a finite reality, with a beginning and an end?

Bhikkhus, the round is beginningless. Of the beings that travel and trudge through this round, shut in as they are by ignorance and fettered by craving, no first beginning is describable.

SN 15:1

So, perhaps if there is no beginning nor end (except in our minds), then it is unlikely that an "ultimate" anything exists.

No ultimate truth - just different views of One truth, all distorted to some degree by our conditioning.

jose '-)

Mai pen rai, Khun Jean...

I hope you find a good home soon, to allow you and your family to live a peaceful life.

Please come back and write about it here when you do.

jose