Dangerous koh Samui waterfall scam

[Andre0720]

People with high expectations should not come to Thailand...

[samuijimmy]

The guy has good reason to be pissed off. The guide was a con merchant. He knew what no tourist could not be expected to know in advance - that there WAS no waterfall and therefore was obtaining money by false pretences. If the footpath was as steep and hazardous as it sounds, the "guide" should have warned anyone who looked as if they might be at risk - and particularly parents with small kids.

OK, so it sounds like a lot of fuss over a 20 baht fee, but Bizwiz's intention was clearly good - to flag up a warning to others who might be conned or be put in danger. To sneer at him and make ridiculous assertions. such as he must have known the waterfall would be dry (which nobody who hasn't actually been there recently could - ie the "guide*) is to do him a disservice and totally miss the point of his posting.

But it wouldn't be the first time, would it?

He has no reason what so ever.... many people head up to the falls and other places at higher elevations on Samui as it is much cooler, especially during the hot season... there is jungle and farms that most people would never see... there are views of the sea, and if clear the mainland....

I bet most other people who went up there that day won't be posting that they were scammed...

There are a number of us posters on TV, on the Samui forum, that would have given information, had the OP asked at the time...

When I first came to Thailand, I found both Thai's and Burmese people very helpful.. and saw many things most would not see... had a great time and that is why I came back two times before deciding to move here... and for the most part I still find the natives friendly and helpful....

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Lack of rain is NOT a scam. Anyone with half a brain would be able to work out that waterfalls do not flow in the dry season. However right now would be a good time to be looking for waterfalls on Samui.

Plenty of waterfalls in Chiang Mai that run all year round.

Even in the driest parts of the dry season.

[martin81]

Samui is a not so big island so you cannot expect large waterfalls there. And then it also depends on season.

They do have some beautiful waterfalls in the north like in Doi Inthananon national Park. But you have to pay to get into the park.

And yes many places the paths are not too safe. I would not take a small child up the stairs.

But at Vachiratharn falls you don't have to walk far to see the fall. Very nice in rainy season.

[welsh1]

Thanks I think your done here. Thailand is for a hustler like me I've run gambling games in the sois with all sorts of animals so don't go giving advice on who Thailand is good for I think I'm more worthy to dish it out.Its not for children that's my point millions of family's with young children travel to Thailand not expecting a small thing such as a waterfall to carry a significant risk. So people travelling to koh Samui should be wary and at times overlook glamourised street signs etc

[darren84310]

Thanks I think your done here. Thailand is for a hustler like me I've run gambling games in the sois with all sorts of animals so don't go giving advice on who Thailand is good for I think I'm more worthy to dish it out.Its not for children that's my point millions of family's with young children travel to Thailand not expecting a small thing such as a waterfall to carry a significant risk. So people travelling to koh Samui should be wary and at times overlook glamourised street signs etc

I understand what you are saying, but why did you continue on a path with a 2 year old the moment you sensed it was dangerous?

Also you claim to have broken the law here in Thailand and what they are doing probably isn't breaking any laws..... if you're the hustler you claim to be then you should have recognised a hustle when you saw it, smiled and moved on.

[harrry]

Samui is a not so big island so you cannot expect large waterfalls there. And then it also depends on season.

They do have some beautiful waterfalls in the north like in Doi Inthananon national Park. But you have to pay to get into the park.

And yes many places the paths are not too safe. I would not take a small child up the stairs.

But at Vachiratharn falls you don't have to walk far to see the fall. Very nice in rainy season.

In Doi Inthananon you do have to pay to get into the park. In the south you have to pay for everything.

[MediaWatcher]

stevenl, on 20 Oct 2014 - 14:32, said:

MediaWatcher, on 20 Oct 2014 - 13:40, said:

jakethesnake, on 20 Oct 2014 - 11:55, said:jakethesnake, on 20 Oct 2014 - 11:55, said:

I'm sorry, but I find the OP's post about as easy to read as Thai. His proclivity for extreme run-on sentences and disdain for punctuation are quite off-putting.

Then why did you read it... then complain. it would appear you have more of a problem, than the OP does with English.

So he should have not read it and complain? He made the effort, so has every right to complain.

Poor English does NOT change the gist of the OP...best people stick to the story. What "effort" did he/she actually make...most others here understood the OP and have not found the need to whinge... You, stevenl, should allow jakethesnake to speak for him/her self... Have you for one second stopped to think English may not be the OP's native tongue...you are being overprotective of a pedantic snake.

[samuijimmy]

Samui is a not so big island so you cannot expect large waterfalls there. And then it also depends on season.

They do have some beautiful waterfalls in the north like in Doi Inthananon national Park. But you have to pay to get into the park.

And yes many places the paths are not too safe. I would not take a small child up the stairs.

But at Vachiratharn falls you don't have to walk far to see the fall. Very nice in rainy season.

In Doi Inthananon you do have to pay to get into the park. In the south you have to pay for everything.

Sorry but that is not true about having to pay to get into everything in the south ..... Why do so many people make uninformed statements ?

obviously many are ....

[samuijimmy]

double post so tried to delete

[Kan Win]

Lack of rain is NOT a scam. Anyone with half a brain would be able to work out that waterfalls do not flow in the dry season. However right now would be a good time to be looking for waterfalls on Samui.

Plenty of waterfalls in Chiang Mai that run all year round.

Even in the driest parts of the dry season.

Also all over Thailand

http://www.pbase.com/win13/waterandfalls

Win been there and photos are for you.

Win

[The manic]

Well think of it as a lesson learnt and all water undef the bridge!

[MiKT]

There are literally hundreds of nice and not so nice waterfalls in Thailand, many of them drying up in the rainy season and many being Extremely Dangerous in the rainy season. Many being completely free, others costing >>200 baht and very crowded during Thai holidays.

Most of all remember to keep well away from any waterfall area's during Rain season thunderstorms, as flash floods killing lot's of tourists/locals are common (not just in Thailand).

It is up to individuals to check for themselves (many good guide books) if a waterfall is worth the visit (many are very hard jungle treks). But as a rule of thumb, you have to be more than a bit on the way to the Doolally tap to take a 2 year old on any kind of jungle trek of more than @20 minutes length without checking on safe access/egress first or having a reliable guide/guidebook.

[ableguy]

If there was a waterfall at the to the alleged danger you put your family in would gave being justified???

.

Absolutely not again its the fact that 2 outa two waterfalls were corrupt and I'm warning others of this danger that's it.

I get it, sorry I;m just being cute

I am sure it would not be justified to you,

I believe your Op should had being that waterfall attractions are dangerous, and to make things worst, many times when you get to the top there isn't even a waterfall

To your defense a warning at the bottom of the climb, that at this time the waterfall is dry would have saved you and others a long climb, and some unnecessary danger.

True but your money is the most important thing to be considered by any Thai and it's much better in their pocket than yours , sad but true.