What Happened to Samui??

[eff_ewe]

It's their country, let them do with it what they want. If you don't like what happens there or the direction the country and its people are taking, go away and holiday somewhere else. They aren't there to create the environment you think they should create and maintain. Applying your morals and values in judging another country and/or culture will lead to nothing other than disappointment.

BTW, it is a minuscule percentage of the population that participate in the "vice" industry but yet you let that dominate your opinion of the country. You have a right to your opinion but your credibility is highly questionable.

Regards

[farang2x]

No, the Patpong farang is created by the farang people themselves, and started by them during the Vietnam war.
So, don't blame as a local issue.
Samui is a different but similar problem. Farangs have gone in there and over-developed the place. When Thai people ran it it was very nice!

[Hellboy]

No, the Patpong farang is created by the farang people themselves, and started by them during the Vietnam war.
So, don't blame as a local issue.
Samui is a different but similar problem. Farangs have gone in there and over-developed the place. When Thai people ran it it was very nice!

What a load of rubbish. The only people who have developed that place are Thais as they own all the land and nothing can be done without the Thai governments say so.

[nat]

My point of view is slightly different to everyone here in that I have learnt to adapt to it.

1) yes it \\ ////, it seems to happen to most tourist destinations in some way or another. Less greed and shortsightedness by all parties would help. Anyway, there is no point crying over spilt milk, it is all going pear-shaped and there is nothing we can do.

2) been to all these spots back in the early 90s and then have spent large amounts of time over the last 5 years in places like Phuket and Bali as I have friends who live there, also did an english teaching course in Phuket. I can still live in those places relatively troublefree!! You learn to adapt if you think outside the box. In both Thailand and Bali, they tend to set up tourist areas/zones where everything is a ripoff etc. You want to avoid these places, use them for what they are good for (the odd restaurant, bar, foreign goods, meeting tourists). But there is always a line of demarcation where this (artifical environment) ends and the peripheral areas start (i.e. places where the locals live, have normal shops and food). The simple fact is that there are always going to be locals and the locals will always need local shops, local food and local prices, don't forget that.

The keys to survival are:
a) get your own transport, eg. bike - immediately frees you from the web of local transportation rip off merchants.
b) get a map and ride around. Workout where you are and where the tourist (ripoff) areas start/stop. Also talk to locals and expats. Most big hotels will ave free maps you can take. Then explore out of these areas for regular local food, hotels and shops.
c) identify when the peak season is as it gets a bit out of control and crowded during these times, the locals also get a little ruder and more impatient with you if you have a brain and don't want to be ripped off etc. Just go to Chiang Mai during the end of the year in Phuket's case (or go home for christmas or something) and come back after it is all over then everything is peaceful again.

Remember, no matter how out of control these places become, it is always going to be possible to live cheap, eat local and meet nice people. You just have to be smart. South East Asia has the cheapest rates of scooter hire on the planet, so take advantage of this fact as it affords freedom from rip off.

If you want really nice beaches and no tourist trap mentality. Then spend your money on a yacht charter (with captain and w/wo cook) and sail to some great islands. Probably cost less than a 1 week Phuket land based rip off tour anyway.

[village idiot]

Thaiand is for sex tourists, that not my word for it by the way. Yes Thailand is bars bikes booze, not necessarily in that order but.
Anyone that thinks that tourist swill come to sit on a beach to read a book should take a look at Langkawi A muslim Island and looks like Samui but isnt . If talking to boys or sitting entirely on your own is your thing then please go there.

Thailand is what it is and always will be. Demolish the bars at your peril.

That is a very narrow minded attitude indeed, although it might apply to you and your type. But there are so many other things to do and see in Thailand, it is truely amazing.
However if sex is all that you and your type want, then go for it as it certainly is there. And yes, i was disappointed with Langkawi and will never go there again, it was dirty and "grotty"

[village idiot]

No, the Patpong farang is created by the farang people themselves, and started by them during the Vietnam war.
So, don't blame as a local issue.
Samui is a different but similar problem. Farangs have gone in there and over-developed the place. When Thai people ran it it was very nice!

What a load of rubbish. The only people who have developed that place are Thais as they own all the land and nothing can be done without the Thai governments say so.

Hellboy jan 10th .........100% agree with you on that one, the Thai "get rich quick" tribe started it by catering for the Viet Nam war R&R boys and its still controlled by the Thais supported by the next level of "get rich quick"..............THE THAI POLICE and certain POLITITIONS.

[naiharn]

First went to Samui in 1985 - it was really undeveloped and lovely.

Went back in 1989, and was staggered at how quickly it had changed (but still very nice).

Then went back again in 2006 - was expecting a huge shock and received it. I can well understand that there has been a lot of development, but it seems to be a completely uncontrolled mess. Away from the built up bits, the beaches are still nice, though the water was very unclean near my bungalow. Tons of rubbish in the water.

Those who blame farangs for this are talking through their hats. All the power is with the Thais - they own all the land, run the government, run the local administration etc. They are to blame for the lack of control.

N

[olsen]

Well....I don't know about Samui....I only visited Samui once last year...and it looked pretty much like Pattaya and Phuket....not nice at all
Actually I just posted my views on Phuket. You can write this post here:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1351

[nolikegohome]

nothing is permanent only change is permanent ( some farang quoted this a long time back dunno how he was )
but this a good way to look at it.
nolikegohome

[bikinibeach]

I have been a resident and business owner on a Caribbean island for 19 years. We discovered Samui 5 years ago. No place stays a "paradise" forever, but in comparison to the rest of the world, Samui is still a wonderful place.

The main difference between the Caribbean and Samui is the Thai people. Even at their worst, over tourism produced attitudes, they are kind, gentle and accommodating. Very different than the Antilleans who are loud, violent and care little for their environment while firmly declared as "Christians".

Of course the infrastructure in Samui needs to be improved, Of course the island's resources need to be protected. We have purchased a home and intend to spend more time in the land of smiles. There is much opportunity to develop eco-tourism in Samui, all the more reason to NOT write it off as being lost to "over use" and mismanagement. The idea is to enjoy the culture and "local" way of life, not to expect the island to conform and change. When we go to Samui, we eat much better in the local seafood restuarants than anywhere on Chaweng beach. We cultivate Thai friends and ride horses on the beach in the south. There is still plenty of nature to enjoy.

As tourists, we can influence the Samui culture in a positive way. And yes, I agree, too many dancing bars for my taste. They can't all survive and support the workers coming from the north. But good medical care, easy access and variety of product available make Samui a desirable location.

We visited Pattaya to spend time at the Equestrian facility there and dined out on one occasion. We will never go back to Pattaya, a very sad place indeed. It has all fallen in the hands of the Russian mafia so they tell me.