Some pics of Samui 30 years ago, Chaweng beach looking North, Chaweng Beach road, Laem Din looking towards the ring road.

nothing there???

More pics, Chaweng Noi, The Ark Bar area, Samui ring road

I thought it would looked a bit more developed than this. So it looks like the development has been going at quite a speed.

Sure looks idyllic and all that.

Excellent pics, same era when I first came to Samui. Can't remember the ring road being concreted though and I am only going back about 26 years.

And some say it is paradise now!

There are still parts of the island which can be quite deserted.

There's also the neighbouring islands such as Ko Taen which sill still pretty much have conditions like that, as in no electricity, running water, etc etc....

The pics sure looks idyllic, till I wanna adjust my aircon because the midday sun is starting to get hot, then I realize there's no aircon... so no thanks.

Toilet is a squat toilet where you have to manually flush from a bucket with water after who knows how many people has been using it.

My paradise includes all the modern amenities which comfortable modern life provides.

There are still parts of the island which can be quite deserted.

There's also the neighbouring islands such as Ko Taen which sill still pretty much have conditions like that, as in no electricity, running water, etc etc....

The pics sure looks idyllic, till I wanna adjust my aircon because the midday sun is starting to get hot, then I realize there's no aircon... so no thanks.

Toilet is a squat toilet where you have to manually flush from a bucket with water after who knows how many people has been using it.

My paradise includes all the modern amenities which comfortable modern life provides.

Electricity then was provided

by the resort generator which was switched off at 11pm, but our bungalows had the first built in bathrooms and sit down toilets en suite for Baht 250 per day

I miss snow too, but only for 10 minutes:)

That is quite respectable bungalows even by today's standards!

Nice pics, thanks

Nice pics, thanks

The beachside plot on Chaweng where Centara now stands.

Nice to see how it used to be... thankfully there are still areas on some parts of Samui that are still like that... south, southwest and west sides!

It would be great to see more, Crusty, if you have!

great photos.......more please?

More pics, Chaweng Noi, The Ark Bar area, Samui ring road

I am with you on this one Crusty I was there first in 1984,85,86,87 and on and on loved it, and it was paradise,I first stayed in Chaweng Guest house next to the White House (now San Suse or something like that) and got bogged down on the Beach road it was just sand in then,Loved it but i was 30 years youger then,Still Here but living over the water now on mainland,There was about 10 bugalow resorts on the beach then,Had to go to Naton for a cheese sandwich and a milk shake in a place called The Birds Nest Where Coffee Corner is now,Thanks for the memores,Got any more pictures.

It would be good to compare the old pics with pictures of the same location NOW, but nice to see them anyway, Keep'em cuming....

great photos.......more please?

No electricity meant a daily morning trip to the ice factory in Nathon. No jetskis but I opened a sailing school and one of the perks was teaching topless Euro girls windsurfing.

Nice to see how it used to be... thankfully there are still areas on some parts of Samui that are still like that... south, southwest and west sides!

It would be great to see more, Crusty, if you have!

Chaweng Beach, The bridge over the klong at First bungalows, notice the wooden planks that were salvaged from John Fowler's junk that was wrecked on the reef where Ark bar now stands.

I was there in 1983 in Chaweng beach, good time, you can imagine it's completely changed in a few year even Koh Phangan which it's still my favourite island

Now it's Crystal Bay Resort at Ton Takien Beach ( Silver Beach ) . At that time it was The Terrace Restaurant. Approx. 1989

Nod, Crystal Bay looks a lot better back then than it does now. Shame there arent many nice places like this left unspoilt.

Nod, Crystal Bay looks a lot better back then than it does now. Shame there arent many nice places like this left unspoilt.

Yep !

I enjoyed these photos and various responses. Quite nice. Thank you for sharing.

This photo appeared on Facebook (not mine) and was shared with me. The caption says, it's how the first car – a pick-up, of course – came to Samui, loaded on two small fishing boats. It seems like originating from a private photo-album, it was shared from Thais, so perhaps from one who's family lived here at that time.
Maybe someone in the forum can help with a date (year)..?

It looks like it could be Maenam Beach (or Bang Por) based on Koh Phangan in the background. I would guess the time is sometime in mid 1970'ies, based on what I've been told.

Thought it might have interest in the tread with old pictures.