Amazed.

[Rooo]

Amazed at the lack of info of late. Usually a few discussions take place or links available re what is happening on the island.

Anybody heard about Samui Festival?

Anyone got affected by the storms?

Any road closures took place?

Any flooding?

Hope you all kept safe.

[sketcher]

Maybe everyone's left already!

[samuijimmy]

I know some of us are getting fed up with the constant negativity on the Samui KP KT parts of this forum...

I do not need to mention names,... but there are several who seem to have an "axe to grind"... in my opinion because they made bad choices or just refuse to adjust....

Here is some news ....During the current blustery weather, Lomprayah ferry terminal in Maenam is closed.... departures and arrivals are in Nathon until the weather calms down again... This would not affect people getting bus pickup, but would affect those driving to the terminal by bike...or car and expecting to park...

Ring road to Chawang this morning seemed pretty good, after yesterdays rain.....

There was a marathon race in Nathon, last week end.... no one mentioned...

Chinese New Year coming up soon....

What else do you want to know ???......

[PoorSucker]

Samui festival.

http://www.samuifestival2016.com/english/

You missed it.....

Edited January 27, 2016 by seedy
large foto

[crusty]

I know some of us are getting fed up with the constant negativity on the Samui KP KT parts of this forum...

I do not need to mention names,... but there are several who seem to have an "axe to grind"... in my opinion because they made bad choices or just refuse to adjust....

Here is some news ....During the current blustery weather, Lomprayah ferry terminal in Maenam is closed.... departures and arrivals are in Nathon until the weather calms down again... This would not affect people getting bus pickup, but would affect those driving to the terminal by bike...or car and expecting to park...

Ring road to Chawang this morning seemed pretty good, after yesterdays rain.....

There was a marathon race in Nathon, last week end.... no one mentioned...

Chinese New Year coming up soon....

What else do you want to know ???......

Yes dead silence for days but a steady Easterly gale gusting 45 knots has taught us to stay home as Samui roads are prone to flying billboards, trees and power lines crashing across the road. Meanwhile the locals were discussing the resorts on Koh Tao washed into the sea, Nathon ring road submerged and all ferries and airline flights halted. Samui Rescue and ambulances screaming through Hua Thanon at the rate of two every minute BUT NO NEWS !

Here is a pic of an illegal and inexperienced beachbar encroaching on Chaweng Beach, all furniture and fittings washed away. Som Num Na !.

[Rooo]

What else do you want to know ???......

What did you have for breakfast?

[evadgib]

Belated Aussie day greetings Rooo

Threads on the various subjects on TV in which regular posters specialise or have an interest (photography, birdwatching, health, computers & a great deal more examples) remain informative and very helpful but local forums and some others too are becoming increasingly plagued to the point where the more serious among us would rather seek local news elsewhere. I have no idea how thaivisa can address this, but hemorrhaging long term members and the knowledge they bring to the forum at the current rate must surely give cause for concern.

Edited January 26, 2016 by evadgib

[plum77]

I have also been amazed at no new stories, but agree some threads descend into a slanging match and maybe some people have decided to avoid the forum

. I am only visiting this island and I must say I have loved it with all its quirks. I only need to look outside each day( well maybe not the last two days) and thank my lucky starts that I am sharing this wonderful experience with my husband and two young sons.

Please take time to think if what you are saying or posting is going to help someone...that is usually the reason they are on the forum in the first place.

Enjoy this wonderful island as I will have to leave it all to soon.

Plum

[crusty]

Belated Aussie day greetings Rooo

Threads on the various subjects on TV in which regular posters specialise or have an interest (photography, birdwatching, health, computers & a great deal more examples) remain informative and very helpful but local forums and some others too are becoming increasingly plagued to the point where the more serious among us would rather seek local news elsewhere. I have no idea how thaivisa can address this, but hemorrhaging long term members and the knowledge they bring to the forum at the current rate must surely give cause for concern.

Good point. Even today TV's breaking news is seven days old as usual !

[PoorSucker]

What did you have for breakfast?

With no electric, gasoline, tourists, ferries and airport closed we have all regressed to eating coconuts three times per day.

It's like the old times, Welcome back Samui bashers.

[plum77]

What else do you want to know ???......

What did you have for breakfast?

I had Greek yoghurt and honey and coffee

[samuijimmy]

What did you have for breakfast?

With no electric, gasoline, tourists, ferries and airport closed we have all regressed to eating coconuts three times per day.

It's like the old times, Welcome back Samui bashers.

Be careful what you wish for PoorSucker! ...

My breakfast is same same every day.... OJ, cornflakes and a big mug of coffee!

More breaking news... . Power went out in Ban Por for about an hour this morning, at 7.30 a rare event these days!

I just saw some images of Thaling Ngam area from yesterday, looked way worse than the image by Crusty, shown above ^

Apparently Nathon got some flooding yesterday... half covering motorbikes from what I was told.... I assume along the waterfront along the one way? I forgot to ask!

I have some images of the rough seas at Lomprayah Pier in Maenam from yesterday, but have misplaced my card reader .... so can't post them ....

Lunch will probably be a ham sandwich.... before someone asks..... I've not decided on dinner yet!

Edited January 27, 2016 by samuijimmy

[SilentReader]

Anyone know if the car ferries are operating today as normal?

[longtom]

You are right Roo, the Samui Festival was a huge event for the Thais, 'bike for Suthep' (I better don't comment on that) followed by 'selfies with Suthep for 100ThB', Karabao concert, one famous Thai actor who everybody wanted to see, a big Thai boxing event, all that with 100s of Thai police from the mainland. No word of that on TV.

Then storm and high sea Sunday night and Monday, doing quite some damage to beach properties between Nathon and Bang Po.

Just another weekend in Paradise

[samuijimmy]

Anyone know if the car ferries are operating today as normal?

Not heard but I would imagine it's going to be a rough ride, which every ferry one takes....

Perhaps call Seatran call centre and ask http://www.seatranferry.com/en/index.php number is posted!

Or Google the others....Lomprayah or Raja ferries to find numbers to call !

[Rooo]

I caught the ferry over from the mainland yesterday @ 5am rough ride. Seas much calmer today.

[smokie36]

What did you have for breakfast?

With no electric, gasoline, tourists, ferries and airport closed we have all regressed to eating coconuts three times per day.

It's like the old times, Welcome back Samui bashers.

I used to love your Grateful Dead covers...get the guitar out!

[crusty]

Belated Aussie day greetings Rooo

Threads on the various subjects on TV in which regular posters specialise or have an interest (photography, birdwatching, health, computers & a great deal more examples) remain informative and very helpful but local forums and some others too are becoming increasingly plagued to the point where the more serious among us would rather seek local news elsewhere. I have no idea how thaivisa can address this, but hemorrhaging long term members and the knowledge they bring to the forum at the current rate must surely give cause for concern.

Three boat accidents yesterday involving Chinese tourists in Koh Phi Phi (again), Krabi and Koh Chang but NOTHING mentioned on Thai Visa "news". Yes time to source local news elsewhere and this is where Phuketwan excelled..

[robsamui]

The reason is that there are thousands of community-minded people here, and not just 20 or so.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/389315034467102/

R

[Rooo]

The reason is that there are thousands of community-minded people here, and not just 20 or so.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/389315034467102/

R

Had a look, great for free adverts which is 90% of the posts.Sorry 99%.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Rooo

[robsamui]

Actually, Roo, ThaiVisa must be feeling this right across the board - you've only got to think back to how busy this forum was 10 or more years ago to realise what's been happening. And the very fact that you've posed the question in the first place shows you're wondering what's going on . . .

Your assessment of the Facebook Community Pinboard (on which, incidentally, you'll come across many of those who used to post on this forum, and some who still do) was evidently a rapid scan where you didn't actually read anything that was being posted, but just scrolled down to get an impression.

I've just had an analytical look at what some of the 9,700 (nine thousand, seven hundred) members are actually writing about.

1. Community-based questions: What's happening with the ferries? Where can I get my dog injected? Anybody know where I can get/buy/find something. Anyone got a contact number for upholstery cleaning? When is Samui Bike Week? What's happening with Samui Festival? Anyone got a whatever for sale? Help I lost my cat. Looking for a house to rent in XXX. Advice on buying/registering a vehicle etc.

2. What's-on type of posts. What band is playing here or there - other live entertainers in pubs and bars. Restaurants featuring special offerings/discounts/sunday lunch details. Community events like Green markets and schools open-days or stage-plays. Playgroups. Gym and fitness centre courses/promos.

3. Items offered for sale. (Individual items are permitted but the admins remove repeated business posting or spam) Posting here is actually ineffectual, as there three dedicated Samui for-sale Facebook groups where people go to buy or sell.

In a five-minute scroll down the page, totaling the number of posts from each category, we get this:

1. Community = 31 posts

2. Events/bars/restaurants = 11 posts

3. Items advertised for sale = 6 posts

I can only assume that the 11 instances of the big colourful pictures of the events/happenings/restaurant/ are more eye-catching than the 31 postings of people asking for help, advice or information in text only, with few attached images (this balance, by the way, is typically representative.)

But the next time that someone here might be amazed at the lack of info of late, with only a few discussions taking place or links available re what is happening on the island, you now the reason for this, and also know where to post your questions or scan for answers!

R

Edited February 2, 2016 by robsamui

[robsamui]

ps to my longer observations:

After its start in 2000, the legendary Friends Reunited have just circulated all its members, informing them that it is no longer viable and will close next month.

The reason? it can no longer compete with the instant access of Social Media, the universal use of mobile devices and, in particular, with competing Facebook Groups.

R

[Rooo]

Rob , you have to remember, that a few years ago Samui Forum was busy, but not in a very nice manner. Cast back your memory at the amount of trolling & arguments over absolutely nothing.

These people were a disruption & deterrent to this forum. Over time they were vetted out or found greener pastures to ply their nonsense.

Sure the readership of TV has changed over the years, being involved with it * a member since 2004, I have seen it change.

Readers are still there, so is the wealth of archived information if people bother or wish to tap into. Still have the same old questions , where do I get a Bank Account or where do I buy this & that, but you will also find that the search function is used more & more.

This is not apparent to you at a glance, sure social media is there, so far as I have seen from many Facebook pages, yes questions are being asked & answered, by what expertise that I am not sure.

Just a quick glance at the figures for the last 60 minutes on Thaivisa:

1 users are online (in the past 60 minutes)

1173 members, 4988 guests, 0 anonymous users (See full list)

• 9,713,861 Total Posts
• 209,560 Total Member

Not shabby for a quiet site don't you say?

Thaivisa is still evolving & will continue to do so, the whole Forum does not evolve around Samui

For your information, I am no longer a moderator or have any vested interest, but I try to give credit when it's due.

[Rooo]

Actually, Roo, ThaiVisa must be feeling this right across the board - you've only got to think back to how busy this forum was 10 or more years ago to realise what's been happening. And the very fact that you've posed the question in the first place shows you're wondering what's going on . . .

Your assessment of the Facebook Community Pinboard (on which, incidentally, you'll come across many of those who used to post on this forum, and some who still do) was evidently a rapid scan where you didn't actually read anything that was being posted, but just scrolled down to get an impression.

I've just had an analytical look at what some of the 9,700 (nine thousand, seven hundred) members are actually writing about.

1. Community-based questions: What's happening with the ferries? Where can I get my dog injected? Anybody know where I can get/buy/find something. Anyone got a contact number for upholstery cleaning? When is Samui Bike Week? What's happening with Samui Festival? Anyone got a whatever for sale? Help I lost my cat. Looking for a house to rent in XXX. Advice on buying/registering a vehicle etc.

2. What's-on type of posts. What band is playing here or there - other live entertainers in pubs and bars. Restaurants featuring special offerings/discounts/sunday lunch details. Community events like Green markets and schools open-days or stage-plays. Playgroups. Gym and fitness centre courses/promos.

3. Items offered for sale. (Individual items are permitted but the admins remove repeated business posting or spam) Posting here is actually ineffectual, as there three dedicated Samui for-sale Facebook groups where people go to buy or sell.

In a five-minute scroll down the page, totaling the number of posts from each category, we get this:

1. Community = 31 posts

2. Events/bars/restaurants = 11 posts

3. Items advertised for sale = 6 posts

I can only assume that the 11 instances of the big colourful pictures of the events/happenings/restaurant/ are more eye-catching than the 31 postings of people asking for help, advice or information in text only, with few attached images (this balance, by the way, is typically representative.)

But the next time that someone here might be amazed at the lack of info of late, with only a few discussions taking place or links available re what is happening on the island, you now the reason for this, and also know where to post your questions or scan for answers!

R

Sorry looked at it again, scrolled through for pages on end, still mainly adverts with a smattering of inquiries.

[rwdrwdrwd]

Edit: NVM - I think there's room for them both, not really a contest at the end of the day.

Edited February 2, 2016 by rwdrwdrwd

[robsamui]

Roo - that's all fair enough - and as rwdrwdrwd observes, there's room for both.

Those are some impressive figures - just over 1,000 members on the Samui forum ;-)

But the significant one - and the difference between TV and Facebook - is the "1 member online in the last 60 minutes".

R

[Rooo]

Roo - that's all fair enough - and as rwdrwdrwd observes, there's room for both.

Those are some impressive figures - just over 1,000 members on the Samui forum ;-)

But the significant one - and the difference between TV and Facebook - is the "1 member online in the last 60 minutes".

R

supposed to read

users are online (in the past 60 minutes)

1173 members, 4988 guests, 0 anonymous users (See full list)

[robsamui]

Chuckle . . . anyway, got an answer to one of your questions, at least - the reply back from the Facebook Community Pinboard - with no pictures - was:

I've heard it mentioned now several times - some kind of island event called The Samui Festival. Can't find any info on this. Anyone know anything about it?? When? Where? What?? wink emoticon

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Yvonne Broadbent I think it was on over the weekend of 23rd Jan in Nathon - I saw lots of street stalls between the pier & the post office where the road was closed off.

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