Big Waves And High Tides

[naomisri]

Anyone know if Tesco is open today and/or has any food (or Tops for that matter, is Chaweng at all accessible)? My husband went out to get breakfast this morning and returned with a couple of packs of ham, some cakes and some carrot bread

The resort that he works at is rapidly running out of food, they'll need to get in supplies and although I'm just taking his word for it (I haven't been out myself) there's not much around to be had. He went to 5 7-11's before he came back with my delicous breakfast!

The news last night reported another 3 days of rain, but it doesn't look as bad as it was last night as most of the water has receeded. My husband had to walk home last night as the car and bike wouldn't make it. I hope today isn't as bad rainwise.

Lamai has been surprisingly lucky with power. It went out yesterday morning for about 4 hours and then last night for a couple of hours. More people are venturing out today, but again - be really careful of the rubble/sand in the road, we got stuck in it yesterday - but we have a stupid saloon so if you have a 4wd or big wheeled truck you should be okay.

[sbk]

Our power was out all day yesterday. The road to Hadrin is broken in the middle, impassable, as well as the bridge in Ban Kai got washed out. We have a large hole behind our house that will need to be refilled.

Yes, we had lots of rain, yes it was pretty bad but Steve is right, it's hardly tsunami trouble-. Also, I must add that I think a major cause of all the difficulty on Koh Phangan (and probably Samui as well) is a serious lack of planning by the government which not only allows unimpeded development but doesn't seem to do any environmental impact surveys when constructing roads. Many peoples houses got completely flooded because the govt built a road without allowing for drainage. Buildings are going up indiscriminately without any care taken as to whether or not it is in a flood zone or a drainage area.

A bit more foresight and things could be better. HAH!!! You can see I am still a starry eyed optimist, eh?

[stevehaigh]

Our power was out all day yesterday. The road to Hadrin is broken in the middle, impassable, as well as the bridge in Ban Kai got washed out. We have a large hole behind our house that will need to be refilled.

Yes, we had lots of rain, yes it was pretty bad but Steve is right, it's hardly tsunami trouble-. Also, I must add that I think a major cause of all the difficulty on Koh Phangan (and probably Samui as well) is a serious lack of planning by the government which not only allows unimpeded development but doesn't seem to do any environmental impact surveys when constructing roads. Many peoples houses got completely flooded because the govt built a road without allowing for drainage. Buildings are going up indiscriminately without any care taken as to whether or not it is in a flood zone or a drainage area.

A bit more foresight and things could be better. HAH!!! You can see I am still a starry eyed optimist, eh?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

there were many people pumping out their houses last night and you are right, people are building low houses in low laying flat land all over the place. for a few thousand extra bhat, they could build on stilts, avoid flood problems, have somewhere to store junk and get up away from the yung a bit. my living area is 6 meters above ground level and i rarely have bug problems.

[sbk]

Well, I have to say, after hearing about and seeing the damage on the island that for many people it was more than an inconvenience. We were lucky, we only had minor damage but some people have lost their entire house. Most of those are people who can ill afford a replacement. It might seem to be a mere inconvenience compared to the tsunami but for those who have lost everything it is certainly just as devastating. The smaller scale compared to the tsunami does not make it any less difficult for those affected.

The biggest problem on this island is the lack of controls in building--people fill in large areas with dirt and build their house on top of it--thus blocking the flow of water and flooding their neighbors. The govt builds roads without providing adequate drainage or even studying the flow of water in the rainy season. there seems to be unrestricted growth on this island and the floods and droughts will only increase as more and more people move onto the island overtaxing an already overburdened infrastructure.

[girlx]

i agree with you SBK, it seems especially KPG is ignored by the government until they want the publicity from one of their full moon party crackdowns. i was able to go around a bit in thong nai pan today and was astounded at how much damage there was, mostly with roads which are makeshift to begin with.

supposedly this storm should abate tonight, but we will be hit with another big one on monday or tuesday.

[naomisri]

I totally agree with you SBK, as does my husband. He was ranting on about the lack of planning by the tessaban when okaying plans about 2 months ago and low and behold what has happened now. Unfortunatlely the large amounts that they receive when they grant building licenses etc. may be just a little too tempting to say "no".

In some places people have lost their homes. There are people sleeping in Wat Silahoo and Wat Lamai - they are accepting donations including clothes and towels if people want to contribute. A lot of my husband's staff have lost everything to the rain and still can't get in to their houses to get what they can. Some have small children and last night many slept in the massage salas at the resort.

The roads will clear eventually, but in lots of places sand and dirt have been washed away so that there are big drops where dirt roads previously joined the cement roads. They are already starting to fill them in. Lots of big trees are down on Lamai beach and in places the sand has just washed away. It won't take long for Samui to get back normal for holiday makers, but the staff and local people will have it a lot harder trying to replace all of their belongings with no insurance.

I would urge the customers that are here now to bear with the staff at the resorts they are staying with. Lots of staff haven't turned up for work as they are trying to sort out their houses and schools are closed and someone has to look after the children. People are complaining about toilets not flushing when a lot of sewage systems will be totally backed up with dirt and sand, not to mention flooded. Supplies are running low, but Lotus has plenty to stock up with, if nothing else, so food availability should be better soon.

These problems will get solved, but it will just take some time. Please be kind to the people trying their best to take care of you. They are suffering through this too and doing their best to get you through it.

[sunlaree]

aaww i just booked for the hotel room and air flight this Christmas time till the early january next year...oh my Buddha

[limbos]

SBK,

Unfortunately you're right, a lot of the problems can be prevented with a little bit of planning.

On Samui the wash off off the mountains is incredible! Will anybody wake up and change construction sites and way of constructing. I don't think so.

Word has it 2 people died in Lamai. These are rumours! People washed away in their small makeshift houses.

Thai news reports various dead in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

[naomisri]

sunlaree

I think things will be back to normal by Christmas. Don't worry the sun is shining today. Samui is still perfect for a Christmas gettaway!

[Noodles]

Woke this morning to sunshine and blue skies.

[Rooo]

Interesting the talk about backfill.The land they filled along the coast road blocked the natural watercourse, debris all over the road,big gullies on that block now.It has blocked the water enough to threaten dislodging 2 big boulders.Come to think of it he might not care as he has 2 big X's marked on them for demolition.We definetly need more hotels & restaurants on that road, you can still see the water lmao let's just block all the scenic views.If you have ever driven past there you will know what I mean.

[sbk]

Haadrin road is completely closed due to a major rock/mudslide. Anyone with any brains (except, obviously the govt and the road construction co) could see it coming.

Sunny today, cleaning up debris. Still have a big hole behind our bathroom but eventually, once things dry up a bit, it will be filled. Next dry season my husband and father-in-law have finally agreed to do something permanent to protect our house. Men, they never listen

I heard about the next one, it is another depression forming in the Phillipines, it may or may not head this way. Here is the weather.com satellite map:

[girlx]

yeah i read it hits tuesday and wednesday, and then hopefully that's it! (wipes brow, fends off madly bored puppies)

[sbk]

Chaweng beach road this morning, according to Thai Rath newspaper

[think_too_mut]

sunlaree

I think things will be back to normal by Christmas.  Don't worry the sun is shining today.  Samui is still perfect for a Christmas gettaway!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I used to think there were 5 places in Thailand that can offer a robust tourism services.

Now, it's only 4. Samui is off the list.

No natural disaster, just a strong rain and the Mickey Mouse, so called "tourist spot" has caved in.

El-chippo built bungalows, no city planning, just Thai rubbish, an exhibition within a refugee camp.

What if I were there with my family? If the baby needed something? The services have never been good anyway, but I can't believe a rain would make the place unlivable.

Just cancelling a visit of my American friends, it was for the end of March 2006. Can't explain to them that a rain (not a declared disaster as Katrina) could make them stranded, flooded and deprived.

Good bye Samui.

Edited November 27, 2005 by think_too_mut

[JimmyGreaves]

Just been through all this in Hua Hin. We were flooded for 10 days. Furniture and many belongings lost. Bungalow built low lying. Lucky we are staying in a rented place. But have definetely learned a lesson if I decide to buy! The worlds weather is definetely changing!

[Rooo]

Think too mut, about time you did some THINKING.Anywhere in the world,if you would have had that amount of rain in that short of time you would have had flooding.No matter what infrastructure you have it WOULD NOT have coped.Go visit Sydney or Sunshine coast in Australia it happens there.

As it is, the waters have receeded very fast. Emergency services were here helping & I am sure if you needed help it would have been forthcoming.

As for cancelled flights? Very wise move.Why endanger peoples lifes?

Natural events take place anywhere & the force of nature cannot be controlled .I agree some better planning could have prevented some of the damage but no need to have that KNEE JERK reaction & wipe Samui of the map.

You might as well wipe all of Thailand & every other place in the world .

By the way 90% of the lost properties wre ILLEGALY built on the banks of natural water courses .

[Rooo]

Oh , by the way it is RAINY season ,on a trpical island .Go figure Think too mut.

[snoophound]

Samui is overbuilt and underplanned and serviced.

Unscrupulous falang investors have made a killing on Phangan.

Land there was giveaway prices 5 years ago.

Even the new roads look very unsafe and will prob wash out or be prone to slips.

Its definitely a lack of proper local government planning and of course rating.

Thais need to consult with succesful local bodies in falangland if they want to Falang investment to continue.

Oh , by the way it is RAINY season ,on a trpical island .Go figure Think too mut.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Rooo]

I agree with you snoophound,but some of the comments made are so overboard.Farangs cause problems with developments then complain.

In any modern society it has taken a very long time to get wher they are & they still have problems.Samui & thailand are on a steep learning curve , they will make a lot more mistakes before they get it right.Thai culture is different , their approaches are different their & so is their reasoning.

A lot of people on forums , are just happy to find a reason to criticise.

[stevehaigh]

i was thinking about going to tesco today. is the road from nathon to chaweng ok for a little honda?

the weather in KPM is absolutley lovely this a.m. it doesn't get and nicer than this.

[Rooo]

Steve, you might have to go the other way.You could strike trouble at Maenam.Haven't been that far ,going for run will let you know.

[naomisri]

Steve - by the time we got to Bophut from Lamai yesterday the husband turned back the car. As far as I know between Maenam and Bophut is best driven in a 4wd. The other way round there really isn't any flooding. The South side of the island on the ring road is practically untouched as far as we could see yesterday. I wonder why...? Perhaps the lack of development may have something to do with it?

Rooo is right - they are on a steep learning curve here. A lot of the local people my husband knows at the tessaban have previously owned/do own land, tailor shops, hairdressers, restaurants etc. etc. They were the ones out on the roads yesterday being called to check out the worst spots. These people are elected by local residents, but as far as I know have a limited knowledge of architecture, planning and geography. I'm sure, to begin with at least, most of them don't initally have an expert knowledge of planning and environmental strategy.

This is still their island - where they were born and grew up - they have to find a way of dealing with issues on a local level while also dealing with these HUGE developments. They are elected on the basis of respect of local people and appearing successful as well as policy. Thai reasoning IS totally different to Western reasoning and we're not going to "get in there and take over" so we will have to just respect that that is the way it is.

I know hundreds of people who come to Samui every year and LOVE it. They don't expect the world and the majority leave totally satisfied customers.

Edited November 28, 2005 by naomisri

[taxexile]

On Samui the wash off off the mountains is incredible! Will anybody wake up and change construction sites and way of constructing. I don't think so.

Word has it 2 people died in Lamai. These are rumours! People washed away in their small makeshift houses.

anybody know if any falang land agents or builders got washed out to sea.?

In any modern society it has taken a very long time to get wher they are & they still have problems.Samui & thailand are on a steep learning curve , they will make a lot more mistakes before they get it right.Thai culture is different , their approaches are different their & so is their reasoning.

A lot of people on forums , are just happy to find a reason to criticise.

learning curve , dont be so naive.

thai culture , dont be so patronising to our hosts.

the reason that the north of the island has been flooded and damaged is down to one thing and one thing only.

the incredible greed of the islanders selling land , the incredible greed of the developers building cheap and selling high , the incredible greed of the authorities with vested interests unwilling to enforce common sense standards for fear of losing some money and not being able to pay off their gambling debts and the stupidity of (investors) buyers paying european prices for third world quality construction behind fancy wood panelling and expensive looking wallpapers on denuded hillsides on an island known for week long deluges at this time of the year.

roos comments are par for the course for someone who rushed to get on the gravy train only to find it might be delayed substantially by signal failure or even halted completely by derailment.

[eljeque]

"""Farangs cause problems with developments then complain."""

The foreigners causing the problems with the developments are not the ones on this board complaining, but more likely it is the buyers of property.

There are not any foreigners on the planning commissions or in the government here, so foreigners are not the ones making the decisions as to whether or not a development can be built. Yes, foreigner developers are making under the table payments to government officials in order to build developments on land that has not been filled enough, or that sits in the middle of a rive overflow. Yes, foreign developers are selling these properties to unknowing foreign buyers.

The govvernment is the one responsible for the problems. But, in this case, the government takes not responsibility and instead takes money under the table. Also, the government does not choose to hire urban planning specialists who are capable of designing the city to functioon well, but instead hire their family members or others who can se that the most profit can be made for a contract to build a storm drain or road.

[Rooo]

Tax,I in no way patronised my hosts.Go back to previous postings my friend & look at some of the island bashing you have served.

You hate Samui, it did not suit you, so what are you on about?Lmao.

For YOUR information ...... TAXEXILE....... I DID NOT OR WILL NOT get on gravy train ,unlike yourself I am independently self sufficient & self funded & not as your name suggests ... running away.

Tax welcome to the real world, where people do trade & sell & make profits, unless you still want them to run around in native gear to suit your whims.

Back to the main issue , the island is clear from Nathon to tesco trhough Lamai.

Maenam post office to 1rst turn Fisherman's villagestill lots of water , emergency workers & army there trying to clear it.

[Soph]

Finally back at work after being trapped in Lamai for the weekend!

I just wondered if anyone could confirm reports that a little boy and possible more people were killed in Lamai near the Pavillion when the power cables fell down - I had lots of people telling me various stories, but none confirmed.

[taxexile]

Tax,I in no way patronised my hosts.Go back to previous postings my friend & look at some of the island bashing you have served.

You hate Samui, it did not suit you, so what are you on about?Lmao.

For YOUR information ...... TAXEXILE....... I DID NOT OR WILL NOT get on gravy train ,unlike yourself I am independently self sufficient & self funded & not as your name suggests ... running away.

Tax welcome to the real world, where people do trade & sell & make profits, unless you still want them to run around in native gear to suit your whims.

Back to the main issue , the island is clear from Nathon to tesco trhough Lamai.

Maenam post office to 1rst turn Fisherman's villagestill lots of water , emergency workers & army there trying to clear it.

i have nothing against development , trading and profit and i have no wish to see samui preserved as some sort of time warp theme park for nthe amusement of tourists.

my view is that samui is becoming ruined for the average person like myself by the greed of developers , business people and those who deal and authorise them.

spoilt to such an extent that it is not a particularly pleasant place to be in day in day out. fine for a holiday but no place to live.

i apologise and take back my remarks about you jumping on the gravy train if they are inaccurate.

my island bashing is based on what i observed and know from two years living there , and i stand by all that i have said.

sound business practice and ethics just do not exist there , its all about making profit for the short term by providing as little service and value as possible.

some people may be happy living in and feeding a system like that. i am not.

[Rooo]

Tax,thank you. I have agreed with you before on a lot of issues regarding the island.The most frustrating thing is there is no quick fix to what has been done.

Samui community NEWSPAPER not the magazine, have interviewd a lot of local officials & I think some of issues are starting to sink in ,there was even a directive from Bangkok re land re zoning ,with a freeze on title changes of some plots until end of december.I think & I hope that they are starting to pay attention to the problem facing the island.

Building codes are ( or so the say ) more strictly enforced.

So I think the more people that write to the paper with issues the more concerns will be listened too , as it is bilingual.

[taxexile]

i hope you are right.

in spite of my rants about the place i have a great affection for the place and met some good people there , both thai and falang.

i do know that it is not all bad there.