Hi All, I'm after some advice from you ladies out there. My wife and I are both Brits who are working in the Middle East. We are having a house built in Koh Samui, ready December. She will live there but I have to work for another couple of years[drew the short straw] but holiday 4-5 times a year. Now my concern is her personal security. She is middle aged, quite strong willed and used to being on her own for long periods. The house is in a small developement and although it doesn't have security as such, the Building Company has it's offices and staff accomodation there. She is past the night clubbing type scene and will be content to sunbathe on the beach and get the house and garden as she wants it. There will be deliveries to the house and I'm worried that word might get around that she is on her own. A pet dog would be an idea but she will be out of the country 2 months of the year- is there a kennels on the island? Any tips much appreciated

dear Petesar

I have been living on Samui permanently for the last 3 years and one year out of it completely alone, only with my dogs, and in a rural area with no close neighbours.  Don't be too much worried about your wife's security here, it seems quite safe with her staying in a housing area with the staff living on premise. but I would advise to get to know the next police station and some policemen working there and keep their phone number, just in case. It made me feel pretty safe to have the house fitted with iron lattice windows and doors so I could lock myself in if necessary and of course the dogs who would bark if anyone approached. fortunately there has never been any incident and also I haven't heard of any either.

there are kennels here if really necessary but maybe you could agree with some neighbour to take care of your pet for the 2 months, better for the dog if it could stay in its home.

if you need a watch dog, I could provide one... actually I am looking for a good place for one of my male dogs as he is not accepted by the leader of the pack and they are fighting very badly. but I guess that's another thread...

every month there is a ladies' meeting her on the island with women of all ages and origins, that might be an interesting source for your wife, good fun and a nice chat anyway!

see you soon!

chok dee

elfe

Dear Elfe, thanks that was a quick reply thought it would be ages. Just been speaking to my wife-Sarah- who lives in Dubai and I'm 500 miles from her, she is so excited about moving to the Island. She doesn't know that I am asking advice for her, the truth be known she is probably more capable of looking after herself than I am, but I still worry.  The Ladies' meeting sounds good as long as it involves lot's of drink and no baby talk!! We have always had a dog as one of the family, so I guess that won't change. My thoughts are that the more people we meet, talk to and befriend then the easier and happier it will be for my wife. What do you think?  

Anyway really nice for you to take the trouble to talk to me. Thanks.

Pete.

Pete - no prob, it's a pleasure!

as soon as you are staying here you will get to know many people, I always found it easy to get contacts, just from the fact that we are farangs here. the ladies' meeting is definitely a looot of drinks and food and chats about everything.

keep posting, anything you'd like to know, I gladly try to answer.

best

elfe

Hi Elfe, what do you do about a visa run from Samui? Does anyone know if I can buy a new moped instead of renting. Taken over from Hubs, he worries too much. Show's what he know's, I'd rather have a cat [guard cat!!]. Looking forward to meeting you Elfe. Best wishes

Sarah.

Sarah, You will have no problem buying a new moped, just head on up to Honda in Maenam & speak with them, they speak fairly good English, if you want a second hand one, then make sure you get a green book (for tax registration) & also a photocopy of the previous owners id card & signed document from them saying they are seling the bike. I think you can also pick this document up at honda too. So many farang do not get this paper work & it means that the bike is not yours & the registered owner can come & take it away anytime they please.

For visa runs, it depends on what type of visa you have but you can easily get to HadYai/Penang from Samui, booking a ticket at any travel agencie.

Enjoy Samui & whenI'm back I'll pm you for a drink (am in UK for a month)

Thanks for that Boo. Really love this site, just trawling around and starting to recognise names. Thought you were very funny giving that moron what for, when youv'e finished with the anti-cellulite cream pass it on to me. What a tosser!!

 Going back to a thread that I find fascinating- fat middle aged Brits throwing themselves off balconies in Pattaya. Sure beats the expense of a divorce court. Enjoy your UK break and showing my ignorance again, what does pm mean?

Sarah

No ignorance shown, I didn't go there for the first year I was in Samui!

Hinta Hinyai is the grandfather, grandmother rocks, the ones that look like anotomically correct men & ladies bit's, if your not sure just have a look in one of the tourist maps you can pick up free. V funny to see also, good for photos if you get the right angles! (Wait till you go there & you'll know what I mean)

pm is private mail, I'll send you one when I'm back & pass on the cream. Don't think he got the sarcasm though, bless him. Never mind I'll make it simpler next time!  

It is illegal for a passport to leave the Kingdom without its owner. I read in the News Reports that some Officials caught some such passports in Transit a few months back - but I am not aware of what happened to the Passport Owners - does anyone know?

Roger

dear Sarah

good advice from Boo concerning buying a motorbike, don't throw your money out of the window by renting one long term.

yes it is illegal to have your passport sent, I would refrain from doing that once you have time to do your visa run by yourself, it is quick and cheap going to hat yai and/or Penang and always a nice change. if you decide to go to myanmar for visa run, you could even make it back in about 20 hours, if the schedules are on time...

I've read these articles too about passports being caught and they said the owners would have to leave the country. am not sure about that but at least a high fine would have been paid.

when will you arrive in Samui, let me know and I'd love to go for a few drinks with you.

see you soon

elfe

(also I really do hate the journey to had yai as I don't do well on buses!)

See the girls at Asia Travel in Nathorn for visa's. 8,000 bht.

Take the large bus "if you must" go the penang route as it sucks big time otherwise.

Upstairs is a great quiet restarant that plays good jazz when you need a break.

I would ""never recommend"" a motorbike on Samui unless it was to someone I REALLY didn't like and even then probably not. For a few thousand dollars it's worth getting a caribean used. You can rent one new for 12,000bht a month, or less, so why deal with the idiots on the road as well as weather? If you've been on Samui for any length of time you don't really want to tell anyone you haven't seen the mangled body of someone in a bike accident do you? It's not worth the risk in my opinion. Ever go up to the top of the mountain on a bike?

Hope that's helpful

Mr Vietnam  

dear sarah,

the woman's luncheon,  is generally the first saturday in the month, and definately no baby talk, go down to the Rising Sun in Lamai, and ask for details from the woman who own's it, she'll be very helpfull and a lot of fun.  It is something I have really enjoyed, and have met so many different types of woman there, and everyone gets on so well.  I hope to meet you there, when I arrive back,

Cold, but it's finally hot now

Hi, hey folks did I read this right.  Buying a used vehicle such as a car even from a dealer such as Honda may not be yours legit?  Or even a bike?   Whoa what is going on here.  If dealer has possession of such item of merchandise how in the world can the former owners come as say that is mine?  If the dealers got the bike or car, owners obviously gave up said vehicle or bike, unless they put a new twist here that they are selling such on the owners behalf etc.  Please explain to me in more detail of this topic because I was planning to buy a good used vehicle once in Bangkok or in Nahkon Sawan.  I want to protect myself from these so called con artists.  Investing my money in getting a vehicle is second most important to buying home, or Condo, or Apartment.  I would appreciate it.   Thanks   DaveYo  :blues:

Oh and why not for women to have baby talk.  It is a females second nature to talk of about babies.  Listen guys, women are much different than us, so they talk of things that would make us males sheepish.  So if girls want to talk about babies and the like and whatever, let them, it is considered female domain.   Hope you girls continue to talk of babies.  It makes me comfortable and very secure indeed, and I can fall asleep on the bosoms.  ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.  DaveYo  :blues:

Hello elfe and Boo and cold and all the girls, hope everyone's well and happy. A new month and one less to December. Got a couple more questions: 1. apart from my husband why are men such prat's- no only joking that's not one of the question's, maybe just an observation eh!!

We reckon that we can get some lovely furniture on the Island, but couldn't find a good big comfortable suite. Do you know if Surat Thani has any furniture shops like Index etc? Can you order stuff thro' TescoLotus. Where do the big hotels get their beautiful suites. Otherwise it's a stop in Bangkok on the way out, but don't need the expense.

I have to arrange health insurance, any ideas?  Can I buy a mobile pay as you go phone to phone worldwide. Last but not least I am so looking forward to joining you, oh and Dave Yo you would have great trouble falling asleep against my bosoms!! Must go, having a Stolly night. Best wishes,

Sarah.

Thanks Petesar, I do believe you might be right,   , so anyway, for your mobile, buy the DTAC, for world wide use, or you can buy the Orange, which is a bit cheaper, and yes you can buy health insurance which comes as a life insurance so to speak, and the price is not bad monthly depending on your age, which of course you need a full medical before you get it.  

As of the furniture, well I am not sure with you being on the island, but I do know if you go to Bangkok to something like the World Trade Center Shopping Mall, they do have some nice furniture shops, and I am sure they will deliver it for you.  As to the other places you mentioned, I am not certain of about them.   As of the hotels getting their suites and stuff, they too buy it from the outfits more likely directly since their orders are large of quantity, and I am sure they bypass the basic stores so to speak.  Hope your furniture shopping is a happy one.     since males hate shopping anyway we go nuts :laugh:   Take care :cool: :blues:

Hi sara, Sofas, not sure but it depends on what your looking for, if its a classic english upholstered style, then, yeah, I think bangkok might be the place, but I've always liked the big bamboo jobbies they sell in Nathon, theres a big open air shop on the right hand side as if you were driving from Bophut just as you come into nathon. A bit pricey but long lasting & look so good, comfortable too, my friends have one & pratically live on it!

Insurance, I know a couple who went through bupa, again on the pricey side but if you ever need it then it's gonna pay you back ten fold. I tend to go for the yearly travel insurance through my bank in the Uk, does the basics like legal, medical, air rescue home etc but thats because I'm out the country for a couple of months every year, & I'm gonna jinx myself now, but if i'm ever ill just stay in bed till it goes (did this once with dengue, the doctor thought I was mad, when after 5 days I went to see him & still had a temp of 41degrees!, hey, what can I say, i'm a tough old bird!)

On a personal note, booked flight back & arrive in BKK on 7th September, can't wait, I now think I must have been on some kind of drug when I started work back here, oh well, money, money, money, as the abba song goes.  Take care & see you all next month for a big p*ss up.

Hey Boo, you mentioned Dengue Fever here. Yikes.  I dread catching it and hate the thought of what it does to you from what I read.  It is a nasty one and gives you a pure headache for a whole month.  From what I understand it does take a month to just recover from that fever alone.  Heavens forbid if one catches something else during the interim.  That is why the Doctor told you that your were mad.  Basically he was saying you took a heck of a chance on your life.  Dengue can kill you.

On the brighter side of it, now for the most part you are immune to Dengue fever.  You have build up the antibodies on it.  As for me I am naked as a jaybird and vulnerable to that one bite from the squito.   It is not so much as dealing with the fever itself, it is the darn headache one has to deal with for a whole blasted month.  Talk of using ASPRIN by the bottle weekly.

Anyway thought I make a comment on the Dengue issue. Hehehehehe.    :laugh:    :blues:

Hey Dave Yo, I had no idea I had dengue when I first went ill, just thought I had flu or something & then by the time I knew that it was something really bad I couldn't even lift my head off the pillow, the fever stayed with me about another 2 weeks after that & it was another month or so before I could eat anything that didn't have the taste or consistancy of cardboard (Ive been told this is a common thing with dengue!). It was a nightmare & luckly for me at the time I was living next door to one of my bestfriends & she kept me topped up with energy drinks, soup, feeding & letting the dog out & generally taking care, my now fiancee was then my very new b/f & he came round as well to administer cold compresses & neurofen & bless him, the state I was in, it was a wonder he wanted to even be with me after that, greasy  hair, sweaty body, sore red eyes & a lovely rash, not to mention the bone ache! (it must be love, ha ha). Your right though, I'd recomend that anyone feeling a bit achy & feverish get straight to the nearest doctor/hospital, cause unfortunatly, dengue in the southern islands is still around & I think I was really lucky, but as I said, tough old bird! :cool:

Hi Boo, just read your message.  Oh and by the way, the last I heard some time ago there may be no vaccination shots available that I know of to get ahead of time, and if there is I can tell you right now I sure as heck is going to get it  before my official move to thailand.  I plan on checking on the web here today on that subject.   I think that will be a very smart wise thing to do, since being in that region and also in the Philippines Dengue is around and those squitos do let you know they are there.  Seems to be because of the huge amounts of heavy rains being so prevalent in that section of the world and the amount of water they get, no wonder those squitos love it to death and breed like crazy.

Hmmmmm, if there is such a thing as a vaccination to boost oneself up on it, and it being available, I would suggest a nice post being put up on the Visa board to recommend to all the expiates that are going to be staying in the Asia region for any extended length of time to get these shots ahead of time to save themselves some grief!!!

(Similar to getting flu shot vaccinations which mimicks the same kind of sickness, and causes you to have the same symptoms of the flu, and causes you to build up antibodies against the real thing.)

Since I am in the USA, I am not even sure they have such shindig of a program up over here.  Will check it out shortly and find a way to get those shots.  Heck, I would not mind being sick over here for a couple of weeks and keep in mind Boo this is only partial strength (being the weaker version) itself.  You had the real full blown one!!!

Now if one of those squitos do get a bite from one of their infamous bombing runs straight to my booty, at least I will only be partially sick or not get it at all, since the vaccination helped me get those antibodies built up.  This is the biggest key to that disease.

Can I borrow your blood supply???????   Hehehehehehe  

 :laugh:   Take care   :blues:

Boo, I just looked it up.  Sigh, there is no vaccine for Dengue, and whats worse there are 4 different viruses of Dengue and they are about like 5 to 10 years away from a vaccine for it.  

Anyway, it is understood that a second infection of this Disease can really be fatal.  So even tho you got it once you still have to prevent other infections of the Dengue again, cause each step gets worse and one can bleed from the face and body skin.  Gawd, this is close to being like the hantavirus which is very deadly and give the same conditions of the bleeding of blood out of the body.

This Disease is DEFINITELY NOTHING TO BE PLAYING GAMES WITH so to speak, and now I am wondering if you experienced any bleeding phase of your past Dengue?  If you did, the next phase of such infection if you get it again will kill you without a doubt, unless caught in its early stages of the onset of Dengue.  I do believe you are in stage 3 or 4 now, if you had any bleeding from your last one.  If not, BE CAREFUL TO NOT GET THE SECOND DENGUE INFECTION.  Read up on it by typing in Dengue fever on your web and go to CDC site.

Thought I post this now and also let you know my friend.  Take care   DaveYo   :blues:

dear Sarah

...

yes it is illegal to have your passport sent, I would refrain from doing that once you have time to do your visa run by yourself, ....

I've read these articles too about passports being caught and they said the owners would have to leave the country. am not sure about that but at least a high fine would have been paid.

elfe

Sarah / Elfe

Please Read:

http://www.thaivisa.com/339.0.html

Roger

anyway, it is understood that a second infection of this Disease can really be fatal

Anybody seems to have dengue in Samui and Phang Ngan.

I had dengue last year in Phuket, and a friend of mine had twice in Samui. I stayed not so bad as Boo, but my friend at the second infection nearly passed away (he had the shock syndrome)I read a lot and asked doctors, and yes the second infection can be fatal, but nonetheless the mortality rate is still very low. If caught by a sudden high fever, one should get to a hospital, because there is no other cure than replacing fluids, because you don't actually bleed with dengue (unless serious cases with hemorrage), but the capillars loose impermeability and the plasma leaks through the walls, so the doctors just replace the fluids.

And one more thing never, never take nurofen, aspirin or similar, because these medicines make the blood more fluid and with these can have hemorrages. Only paracetamol can be taken to reduce fever and pain.

Buasaard, your friend is extremely very lucky to be alive.  I can almost be rest assurd from what i understand of Dengue, that catching and having the third infection pretty much will do you in for good.  I can just imagine the awful headache he had during his recovery.

So it is us ourselves that we have to practice some extra preventive maintenance being mindful of this at all times to lessen the chances of us catching or getting Dengue.  One of them is not venturing outside during the early morning hours and in the early evening hours.  (Just after sunrise, and just before sunset.)  That is when the squitos come out in force for feeding time.   Of course add to this of the seasonal aspects of when Dengue starts and ends.   The other part is being around large bodies of water which is most common and high weeds and forests.    We have to consider the external elements that are in existence, which can and will increase the chances of catching Dengue.  Don't forget to avoid bad areas or living sections which is a very high spot to catch it.

Just out of curiousity what was the hospital bill in this particular case?  

I think you might be right if you do get a sudden fever say within 8 to 12 hours, you pretty much might have the Dengue and its best to head right away to the hospital pronto.

Other than that, I guess one has to have a bit of luck and be able to be smart about themselves as to where they are at and to where they go.   All of that plays a role on this disease.

??? :blues:

So it is us ourselves that we have to practice some extra preventive maintenance being mindful of this at all times to lessen the chances of us catching or getting Dengue.  One of them is not venturing outside during the early morning hours and in the early evening hours.  (Just after sunrise, and just before sunset.)  That is when the squitos come out in force for feeding time.

Dave Yo,

I wish you wouldn't ramble on and

- with quite good intentions I am sure - mislead people.

I have always understood that the Mosquitoes

that you are talking about - that like Dusk & Dawn

- are those that spread Malaria.

I think I am right to say that

Dengue Mosquitoes are around during the day.

Roger

Roger, I hear ya, but I just simply re-quoted an item coming from the CDC, of their advisory as per se.  That is not in any way my opinion, but as one takes their point to view, it does make some sense to some point.

:blues:

Almost one year later and everything has worked out great. So you doom and gloom merchants can bugger off. Stopped visiting the site because you were so depressing and negative. Well ya boo sucks to you all !!.

Beautiful house in Samui and beautiful wife occuppying it. Great company who built it and great neighbours. Warmest regards to Boo and friends who at right from the beginning gave us good advice. Don't suppose anyone will read this old thread, don't care just happy.

Hi Pete & Sara, Glad everything is working out alright. Very right that you didn't listen to the prophets of doom & gloom. Unfortunatly they are everywhere & really like to tell you what for I wish you both great happiness in your new paradise (sara don't forget to gloat often to your mates back home) & I'm sure now you know the score on most things & can get on with enjoying life.