Beng Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I am really wondering, why there are so many foreigners living on Samui today. Aren't there much better places in Thailand ?? What does Samui offer ?? Access: 2 filthy ferry lines plus rip off Bangkok Airways Beaches: poor water quality many muddy patches at the bottom, due to run offs from construction sites etc. Cost of living: highest rentals and food prices nationwide Health care: is wealth care (apart from Samui hospital and a few local clinics with limited abilities) Infra structure: frequent power cuts, poorly maintenanced roads, road signs and unefficient water supply Nature: deforestration rampant, litter everywhere, animals like birds and squirrels being eaten up by Isaan workers People: ignorant, unfriendly, cheaty, many criminal elements, Road safety: highest road accident rate of the kingdom, poorest road quality, very dusty Transport: no bus system, no meter taxis, songtaew rides expensive and slow (Chaweng-Nathon 60 min is a joke) Security: law and order basically non existing, unsatisfying police work Shopping: no choice, dual pricing at local shops and markets Judging from above categories, Samui fails big time, ennit ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motocrosser Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 MOVE THEN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldfinger Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 so, where is the place that satisfies you?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maccaroni man Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 the list seems to be compiled from an assortment of rants, i would bet the same type of list could be made of anywhere. so whats the point... in a short answer to the op samui is user friendly if you have the cash enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooo Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Asia not for you. Samui not for you. Can't let you in on the secret of why we live here. Hope to hear from you from your next destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 the list seems to be compiled from an assortment of rants Probably copied from the Phuket forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boater Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I am really wondering, why there are so many foreigners living on Samui today.Aren't there much better places in Thailand ?? What does Samui offer ?? Access: 2 filthy ferry lines plus rip off Bangkok Airways Beaches: poor water quality many muddy patches at the bottom, due to run offs from construction sites etc. Cost of living: highest rentals and food prices nationwide Health care: is wealth care (apart from Samui hospital and a few local clinics with limited abilities) Infra structure: frequent power cuts, poorly maintenanced roads, road signs and unefficient water supply Nature: deforestration rampant, litter everywhere, animals like birds and squirrels being eaten up by Isaan workers People: ignorant, unfriendly, cheaty, many criminal elements, Road safety: highest road accident rate of the kingdom, poorest road quality, very dusty Transport: no bus system, no meter taxis, songtaew rides expensive and slow (Chaweng-Nathon 60 min is a joke) Security: law and order basically non existing, unsatisfying police work Shopping: no choice, dual pricing at local shops and markets Judging from above categories, Samui fails big time, ennit ? thank you for stating what we already know, but you forgot to add in Girls, Samui has the worst selection of Brass and they Cost more then any other part of Thailand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itishothere Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) We are all obviously XXXXXXXX mad ennit. Edited September 12, 2011 by Rooo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdman Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 right, we all suffer big time. But there will be a light at the tunnel, there will be a ski sloppe. Until that then we will survive thanks to 199 Baht all you can eat Indian food of mercy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geekfreaklover Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Do the Isaan migrant workers really eat squirrels and birds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limbos Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I am really wondering, why there are so many foreigners living on Samui today.Aren't there much better places in Thailand ?? What does Samui offer ?? Access: 2 filthy ferry lines plus rip off Bangkok Airways Beaches: poor water quality many muddy patches at the bottom, due to run offs from construction sites etc. Cost of living: highest rentals and food prices nationwide Health care: is wealth care (apart from Samui hospital and a few local clinics with limited abilities) Infra structure: frequent power cuts, poorly maintenanced roads, road signs and unefficient water supply Nature: deforestration rampant, litter everywhere, animals like birds and squirrels being eaten up by Isaan workers People: ignorant, unfriendly, cheaty, many criminal elements, Road safety: highest road accident rate of the kingdom, poorest road quality, very dusty Transport: no bus system, no meter taxis, songtaew rides expensive and slow (Chaweng-Nathon 60 min is a joke) Security: law and order basically non existing, unsatisfying police work Shopping: no choice, dual pricing at local shops and markets Judging from above categories, Samui fails big time, ennit ? thank you for stating what we already know, but you forgot to add in Girls, Samui has the worst selection of Brass and they Cost more then any other part of Thailand OP, can't you afford to stay at Six Senses than Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beng Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Right Rooo. Samui not for me anymore. Lived there from 89 to 09 and saw it getting from a little paradise to a dump. Asia not for you. Samui not for you. Can't let you in on the secret of why we live here. Hope to hear from you from your next destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropicalevo Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) Do the Isaan migrant workers really eat squirrels and birds? Yep - that's why the Red Palm Weevil is able to spread like a plague of locusts and decimate the coconut trees in some areas. The squirrel is the weevil's only natural predator. (The workers also eat the monitor lizards, hedgehogs and frogs! ) Mind you, I am not sure why this would make Samui a bad place - the Isaan migrant workers are everywhere! Just adds fuel to the rant I suppose. Edited September 12, 2011 by Tropicalevo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angiud Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Do the Isaan migrant workers really eat squirrels and birds? Not only Isaan. Thong Sala market, Koh Phangan, a few months ago: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longtail2 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 People like Beng make me sick. Lost all your money have you ?? Now have to run the place down . Go back to your home land and good luck you may have a wake up call and remember the good times which you had in the Land of Smiles. Leave us here and we will try to rebuild the island and all it's faults which it has many but we don't need your negative comments broadcast. Make sure you book a oneway ticket !!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koheesti Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 So, no disputes to anything Beng listed, just the classic "go back where you came from" retort. That says a lot. Personally, after living on Samui 2 years I go back to see the friends I've made there. If not for them I would go someplace else I haven't been yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Do the Isaan migrant workers really eat squirrels and birds? Yep - that's why the Red Palm Weevil is able to spread like a plague of locusts and decimate the coconut trees in some areas. The squirrel is the weevil's only natural predator. (The workers also eat the monitor lizards, hedgehogs and frogs! ) Mind you, I am not sure why this would make Samui a bad place - the Isaan migrant workers are everywhere! Just adds fuel to the rant I suppose. I wonder what Isaan migrant workers taste like?...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 So, no disputes to anything Beng listed, just the classic "go back where you came from" retort. That says a lot. Personally, after living on Samui 2 years I go back to see the friends I've made there. If not for them I would go someplace else I haven't been yet. The place is changing.....fill in the blanks....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooo Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Right Rooo. Samui not for me anymore. Lived there from 89 to 09 and saw it getting from a little paradise to a dump. Asia not for you. Samui not for you. Can't let you in on the secret of why we live here. Hope to hear from you from your next destination. I agree with you the place is changing. This is not only exclusive to Samui. i am traveling across Thailand & neighboring countries. Asia in general is becoming more popular as a tourist destination. Some places have had a phenomenal increase in tourism & their infrastructure is also not coping.This is not a unique problem with Samui. just have a good look when you are traveling to other popular or out of the way destinations. You are thinking of Samui circa 1989, this is great, but we must be kidding ourselves if we thought it would stand still. Progress is inevitable, in this case too quick with a lot of ineptpeoplepl e at the helm with the sole purpose of making money. First & foremost, we must remember that Samui is an island in ,Asia , things do not happen as they do in the west Sure things are not up to scratch, but this a price have to pay for the overall neglect untill a couple of years ago. Just something that is confusing me Beng,on one hand you are saying it has changed from a perceived paradise, but then saying that services are not up to scratch. There are still many places where you can go & be out of the mainstream, many beaches or swimming areas that are not crowded. All your other points , have been hashed over so many times over the years The secret is adapting I suppose & be a bit more tolerant to change & learn to adapt.It is still a hell of a lot better then a lot of other places around the world. .Again I will reiterate that many points you have brought up are not exclusive to Samui, but to a lot of areas & cities throughout Asia.. Double pricing? Not only on Samui / Thailand, shop in Tesco Big C Etc..... same price for all, a lot of the time cheaper then the markets, just a suggestion. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koheesti Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I will note that although I'm not blinded by the "Samui is paradise" bug that when I last left in June of this year, driving up to BKK via Hua Hin that prices were cheaper on Samui than either Hun Hin or BKK. That said, the main reason I go back is the people I have met over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodcourt49 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 ..we have most items on your list here in Chiang Mai and in most other parts of Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodcourt49 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Do the Isaan migrant workers really eat squirrels and birds? ..does a bear shit in the woods! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropicalevo Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Do the Isaan migrant workers really eat squirrels and birds? Yep - that's why the Red Palm Weevil is able to spread like a plague of locusts and decimate the coconut trees in some areas. The squirrel is the weevil's only natural predator. (The workers also eat the monitor lizards, hedgehogs and frogs! ) Mind you, I am not sure why this would make Samui a bad place - the Isaan migrant workers are everywhere! Just adds fuel to the rant I suppose. I wonder what Isaan migrant workers taste like?...... They're yummie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maccaroni man Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I have driven to most parts of thailand except issan but i have been up to the golden triangle and down to malaysia, driven as many of the small country roads i could and IMO it is hard to find a place with the ease of living that samui offers. I do not need to speak thai, dont want to be stuck in traffic, want to eat a wide range of foods, want clean powder white beaches, want access to an international airport within a 5 minute drive, want to enjoy 5 star hotel amenities, want to visit a red light district and drink till dawn, want good 4x4 off road driving. there are many places i have not seen in the world and many people visit samui from those places because where they live does not have what samui does. What I want is available everyday on samui. when i take the ferry i stay in my suv and watch movies, if i fly on bkk air i shop for the best price and am in bkk within an hr. so really no matter where you live on the planet what makes it a place to be is IMO what it offers you. I just listed what and why samui is for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itishothere Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I do not need to speak thai, dont want to be stuck in traffic, want to eat a wide range of foods, want clean powder white beaches, want access to an international airport within a 5 minute drive, want to enjoy 5 star hotel amenities, want to visit a red light district and drink till dawn, want good 4x4 off road driving. Good point. All of those things are very accessible. A 10 minute drive can take you from a busy shopping centre to a deserted beach and then off to a night on the town. Yes, it does come at a price, but if you are careful you can control the spending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carmine Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I am really wondering, why there are so many foreigners living on Samui today.Aren't there much better places in Thailand ?? What does Samui offer ?? Access: 2 filthy ferry lines plus rip off Bangkok Airways Beaches: poor water quality many muddy patches at the bottom, due to run offs from construction sites etc. Cost of living: highest rentals and food prices nationwide Health care: is wealth care (apart from Samui hospital and a few local clinics with limited abilities) Infra structure: frequent power cuts, poorly maintenanced roads, road signs and unefficient water supply Nature: deforestration rampant, litter everywhere, animals like birds and squirrels being eaten up by Isaan workers People: ignorant, unfriendly, cheaty, many criminal elements, Road safety: highest road accident rate of the kingdom, poorest road quality, very dusty Transport: no bus system, no meter taxis, songtaew rides expensive and slow (Chaweng-Nathon 60 min is a joke) Security: law and order basically non existing, unsatisfying police work Shopping: no choice, dual pricing at local shops and markets Judging from above categories, Samui fails big time, ennit ? thank you for stating what we already know, but you forgot to add in Girls, Samui has the worst selection of Brass and they Cost more then any other part of Thailand Keeping it real boater! I have to say that there are some lovely ladies here at the moment and i could go on for hours but.....back on topic What smokie says is true but then again how aweful do you have to be to not stack up favourably against the UK since Tony and Gordan finished it off! My feeling are reasonably well known. Im no longer an admirer of the place but i've made my bed so i'll lie in it.... However, whilst i don't kid myself its a nice place, and i've long felt the locals are horrible in attitude, rude, downright nasty, and a number of other things i can't repeat) i'd much rather be here than there thats for sure. Secondly, I'm sure as hell not leaving without my money so i'm making the best of what Samui still offers until such time asi can go. Fact is, there are nicer places at a fraction of the cost where you ca sit at home, sweating in a power cut, just after you've been burgled and charged extra for your takeaway because you are foreign. One thing i do like is the exchange rate i'm going to get for my baht. And before all the boring tedious unimaginative "Go Then" posts arrive (motocrosser ) i would say i've enjoyed myself here for the most part and have no real complaints. The give and take between myself and Thailand has been a fair trade. There are just too many aspects of life here i choose to do without. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketcher Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Beng, have you by any chance been sharing your bed with Nalak? It seems your pillow talk has spread on to this forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattayaPhom Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Would love to see what all the fuss is about but at 10k Baht for a return air ticket from BKK suppose will never get there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Would love to see what all the fuss is about but at 10k Baht for a return air ticket from BKK suppose will never get there You could always get on the shitty ferry and spend some of the difference on a relaxing on board foot massage! Alternatively bring a six pack of beers and a spare singlet or two....should be able to find cheap enough in Pattaya..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe84330 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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