Blackout Forces Samui Business Owners To Get Creative

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SAMUI

Blackout forces business owners to get creative

Wannapa Khaopa,

Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong

The Nation

KOH SAMUI: -- Tourists, residents and businesses on Koh Samui have had to go into power-saving mode as the blackout on the island crept into its third day yesterday.

An executive of a resort spa there, meanwhile, has turned crisis into opportunity by inventing activities to calm her guests after the lights go out.

"After the sun sets in the evening, for our guests there's nothing to do. So we've provided them some activities suitable for the silent environment, including meditation, candlelit dinners and discussions - for example on green issues," said Wanwalee Tantikarn, the executive who is also president of the Thai Spa Federation.

Her spa had only about 10 guests yesterday. Normally, it serves 20-30 people. Although it has a standby generator, it cannot supply electricity for all equipment, especially refrigerators and air conditioners.

"We have to adjust our management to make our guests as comfortable as possible," she said.

She told her spa federation's members via email and Facebook to count their losses before coming to a meeting in a few days.

Tharitthada Molee, 30, a hotel employee, said his hotel had spent more than Bt100,000 on petrol for its generators. Also, he had to save his mobile phone's battery for necessary use.

"Most of the restaurants, shops, night entertainment venues and convenience stores have closed down. People have crowded into areas with electricity while other areas without power look like deserted towns," he added.

Amornpan Somsawasdi, a Samui resident working in Bangkok, said her family managed to call her on Wednesday after recharging their mobile phone at the airport there.

"They told me fresh food in the neighbourhood was difficult to find, so they've survived mainly on instant noodles," she said.

"During the high season in August, there were many outages in my area, Tambon Bokud, that damaged my electric fan and rice cooker. Many luxury hotels have sprung up. They consume a lot of electricity," she said.

Wanwalee and Amornpan called on authorities to immediately give clear information to people on the island so that they can plan properly how to deal with power failures.

-- The Nation 2012-12-07

[fish fingers]

shd maybe stay like this... wd become a better place!!

[Fatherfluffybottom]

"After the sun sets in the evening, for our guests there's nothing to do. So we've provided them some activities suitable for the silent environment, including meditation, candlelit dinners and discussions - for example on green issues,"

Id say the guests were thrilled with them ideas to keep them entertained, nothing like a good debate on 'green issues' while your on holidays.

Anybody for a warm beer?