Evening gents and lads

 

Last year when my friend moved to Koh Samui from Bkk (due to big lockdowns) she still didnt know the island and she enjoy doing fun youtube videos, we made one together.
We came up with a story where she needs to pass like a welcoming ritual and pass some fun challenges to become one of locals. Mostly to show how beautiful samui is.

Its been some time but its nice to reflect back last year, when island was isolated. it was chill and clan ???? 

Have a look and take a trip around our island with Kwang.

 

 

Ex moved back from Samui to Bangkok.

The traffic jams in Samui were no better than in Bangkok. 

But the locals were threatening to kill her (over relatively minor disputes), and Thais (and farang who follow the news) know that people on Samui actually do this. In Bangkok,  she had never been threatened. 

"A Island Girl"

Lots of credibility here.

9 hours ago, Lorry said:

Ex moved back from Samui to Bangkok.

The traffic jams in Samui were no better than in Bangkok. 

But the locals were threatening to kill her (over relatively minor disputes), and Thais (and farang who follow the news) know that people on Samui actually do this. In Bangkok,  she had never been threatened. 

I went back to Samui in 2014 after a long absence and was very disappointed to see how built up it was on the way from Nathorn (sp?) to Chaweng. 

 

at Chaweng we took a walk on the beach only to find that somebody had built a concrete monstrosity almost down to the waterline. and then put deck chairs in the sand in front of that. one of those stupid "beach clubs" that the vacuous types seem to enjoy. it was either wade in the shallows to get past or cut through the silly place. they were pumping out annoying doof doof music at 10 am.

 

this was inevitable I guess but I won't be going back in a hurry. I'm glad I got to see it in the late '90s when Soi Green Mango was a muddy, potholed mess ????

9 hours ago, slabejmarek said:

our island

you don't look "Chao Samui" LOL.

Chill and clan? A Gen Z phrase. I consulted the dictionary. Chill, yes. Clan? 

 

Often bruises and scars will identify you as a local, from a motorbike accident. We called them Samui tattoos. 

 

We left after paradise got way over developed. I don't miss the locals with their jaded attitudes. Though that may have changed, as Samui took quite a hit. 

 

It is a gorgeous island. Either on the beaches or up in the hills, once you get away from the Ring road. 

Edited September 30, 20223 yr by spidermike007

44 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

 

this was inevitable I guess but I won't be going back in a hurry. I'm glad I got to see it in the late '90s when Soi Green Mango was a muddy, potholed mess ????

Was there in the mid 90;s.  Only beach huts and a few bars in those days

25 minutes ago, fulhamster said:

Was there in the mid 90;s.  Only beach huts and a few bars in those days

that's what I was expecting but by the time I got there in mid-1997 it was already quite developed. but still a great little place, especially at Lamai Beach after a tropical storm. we were able to body surf there for about a week afterwards ????

Samui was great, back in the early '90s, as a place to spend a night or two before moving on to Koh Tao for a few months of quiet tranquility.

Not any longer.

Been living here 4 years.  Stuck in a traffic jam maybe 3 times.  Never threatened.  

55 minutes ago, SamuiAddict said:

Been living here 4 years.  Stuck in a traffic jam maybe 3 times.  Never threatened.  

Same here but lived here 22 years.

Never stuck in traffic - I ride a bike. I would never do that in Bangkok!

11 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Never stuck in traffic - I ride a bike. I would never do that in Bangkok!

Live in Pattaya now, full face helmet, six lanes on Sukhumvit, 155 aerox to get up to 60kmh in 3sec 

I used to go to Samui with my Thai girlfriend, now wife, in the 1970s. Absolutely gorgeous. We would hire  hammocks on the beaches for 20 baht a night. No cars, very few people. I will never go back.

A long winded way to try and promote a YouTube video.

I'm down in Lamai (Samui) right now.  Very quiet, nice beach, very friendly locals.  

 

Just waiting for my business visa before I return to the delights of the civil war in Myanmar...

I really don't understand the hate towards Samui.  Yes its changed in the last 20-30 years, of course it has, same as everywhere.  But it still has its quiet areas and less developed places.  Stay away from Chaweng and Lamai and head to the South/West Side of the Island and you'll find it much quieter and much more "traditional".   The only time the traffic gets a bit busier is during rush hour - which is normal for anywhere.   Its still an amazing place.

 

I have lived on Samui for over 15 years.

 

Yes it has changed, but the Ring Road has improved massively even though it is still undergoing major improvements.

 

There are still many beaches to go where you may be totally alone (if you know where to look)....Which fortunately most tourists do not!

 

These are views from my garden at dawn!

 

 

 

 

Edited October 1, 20223 yr by Troy Tempest

45 minutes ago, Troy Tempest said:

I have lived on Samui for over 15 years.

 

Yes it has changed, but the Ring Road has improved massively even though it is still undergoing major improvements.

 

There are still many beaches to go where you may be totally alone (if you know where to look)....Which fortunately most tourists do not!

 

These are views from my garden at dawn!

 

 

 

 

Great photos. You're cat ?

When I came to Samui in 2001 - yes, I know it's late for an old hippie to arrive here, but unfortunate that's the facts - expats talked a lot about old time, which was 10-15 before, and that Samui had changed so much...????

 

Now I meet people that arrived here later than I, talking about "old time", which was 10-15 years before, and that Samui has changed so much, which it has; especially since I came here first time...

 

I recently visited my home country - for a few days only - it had changed so much and too much for me, it was better in good old time, so I happily returned to Samui that had changed less...

On 9/29/2022 at 5:47 PM, slabejmarek said:

We came up with a story where she needs to pass like a welcoming ritual

LIKE LIKE LIKE.

Gen Y - that inserts the word LIKE wherever possible, but not needed.

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

Great photos. You're cat ?

Thank you....and yes...Her name is Pest!

Edited October 1, 20223 yr by Troy Tempest

2 hours ago, Troy Tempest said:

These are views from my garden at dawn!

 

Lovely photos thank you.

This is the view at sunset that I have to put up with.

 

5 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Lovely photos thank you.

This is the view at sunset that I have to put up with.

 

Beautiful!...and thank you too for sharing.

 

I guess you are on the North West of the island?

 

Edited October 1, 20223 yr by Troy Tempest

1 hour ago, Troy Tempest said:

Beautiful!...and thank you too for sharing.

 

I guess you are on the North West of the island?

 

Yes - just before Six Senses.

I have been coming to Samui since 1994. The demographic changes as some countries get richer or poorer and can afford to travel further, or tourists move on to the next hip destination.

 

Since the Covid lockdowns were partially lifted and the government pushed Thais to travel more in their own country, more and more Bangkokians have been visiting Samui. At one point, some places like Sala Chaweng, and Coco Tams were full of almost 100% Thai tourists.

 

Now the numbers of European and US tourists are on the up again. Traffic is heavier mainly because of that. Also the inevitable tourist motorbike accidents.

 

All that being said. Even though Chaweng is looking busier nowadays. It still looks a bit of an eyesore as one drives through.

Many more new businesses seem to be opening up everywhere on the island now.

On 10/1/2022 at 10:53 AM, Thingamabob said:

I used to go to Samui with my Thai girlfriend, now wife, in the 1970s. Absolutely gorgeous. We would hire  hammocks on the beaches for 20 baht a night. No cars, very few people. I will never go back.

I have a Swedish friend that moved to Samui 1974, the first car was the school bus. 

He was the only one one the island that could drive so he became the school bus driver. 

22 hours ago, Troy Tempest said:

Thank you....and yes...Her name is Pest!

So you're not a cat ???? 

3 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

So you're not a cat ???? 

I'm a Cool Cat....But not a Feline!