Koh Samui

travelgirl · #1 19-03-2006, 18:06

On my last trip to Ko Samui at Chaweng beach i was disturbed my all the different music being belted out on Chaweng beach by different "chill out" bars scattered all along the beach.

I felt like i was in ibiza and that the thaialnd i know and loved was and is slowly disappearing to be replaced by euro/ibiza culture that i was trying to run away from in the first place

Coolhand · #2 19-03-2006, 18:17

I agree with you there, that Koh Samui resembles Corfu more than it does Thailand.

But what was there on Samui before the tourists arrived? If all that is being done is to provide a place for tourists to go, whilst keeping the rest of the country, relatively, unspoilt, then I am all for it.

Its a win-win situation - no-ones livelihood is spoilt, the thais who want to work in tourism set up in Samui and earn lots of foreign dosh, the tourists get their pizzas, pub quizes and all day english breakfasts, Thailand gets lots of foreign income.

Can you imagine Samui without tourists?

Coolhand · #3 20-03-2006, 00:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by klavg01

Good post Faulty, I agree completly with you, nothing positive is coming from traveltroll, maybe it is better for her to go in politics

Yes, but she/he is right for once, chaweng beach is shite!

Allybabba22 · #4 20-03-2006, 02:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolhand

Yes, but she/he is right for once, chaweng beach is shite!

Dont agree about the beach itself in Cheweng to be honest Coolhand, It was really nice and quiet there when I stayed in the Samui Lagoon Bay right out on the beach there last April, It was 10 times nicer than Patong Beach, And was really quiet there aswell, No complaints whatsoever...

On the other hand, If you are talking about the nightlife in the centre of the town, Well then I agree totally as that definatly has the Ibiza or more like Santa Ponsa/Playa Del Ingles feel to the place, Nothing like Thailand really....

barfly · #5 21-03-2006, 01:27

I hate Chaweng these days and yes, people do suffer because of it-the locals. Samui is very prone to water shortages and while the locals don't even have enough water to wash in the hotels and gardens have their sprinklers on full time.

Hansel · #6 24-03-2006, 13:09

I would not think the locals suffer because of the tourists; there might be water shortages, but on the other hand most locals are now gainfully emplyed in the hotel industry and make 10 times more than in the "good old" days with backbreaking work on a fishing boat or in a coconut plantation.

I guess it is the cost of development...

LivinLOS · #7 24-03-2006, 13:26

And I would imagine they lived with rainwater collection and absolutely minimal water provisions like most of rural Thailand that doesnt have tourists even now.

You can realistically thank the tourist boom for the very utils they do now have.

barfly · #8 24-03-2006, 18:07

I just think it is a pity that in droughts when water is shipped over from the mainland that virtually none goes to the locals. I would like to see their drinking and washing water come before watering hotel lawns.

LivinLOS · #9 24-03-2006, 18:28

Sure.. But then who pays to have the water shipped over ??

A buyers market surely ?? If it was down to purely local money it would not be cost effective so its still the tourists benefiting the place..

Only have to look at how basic life is on islands where there isnt a tourist industry yet to see that when it comes to amienaties and services its a massive improvement.

Steve237 · #10 31-07-2006, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelgirl

On my last trip to Ko Samui at Chaweng beach i was disturbed my all the different music being belted out on Chaweng beach by different "chill out" bars scattered all along the beach.

If anyone knows of a nice hotel/bungalows on the beach near to any decent proper chill out bars, please let me know!

marc26 · #11 31-07-2006, 20:19

i didnt like chaewang at all. too congested!
i loved lamai though, a real nice beach feel to it

falanger · #12 31-07-2006, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc26

i didnt like chaewang at all. too congested!
i loved lamai though, a real nice beach feel to it

hi,im the same as you,first trip stayed in lamai and the beach was lovely,stayed in chaweng just over a month ago and dident like it at all

.....chaweng is ruined by tourism..my mate wanted to go into an irish bar when we were there but w why tf would i want to pay 800euro(flight) and travel 6000 odd miles to go and sit in an irish bar when i can walk out my front door at home and go to 1 across the road.....

IRISH JONNY · #13 01-08-2006, 00:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by falanger

..my mate wanted to go into an irish bar when we were there but w why tf would i want to pay 800euro(flight) and travel 6000 odd miles to go and sit in an irish bar when i can walk out my front door at home and go to 1 across the road.....

WAY TO GO MATE...ALL THEY DO IS EXPLOIT USBY CHARGING EXPENSIVE PRICES FOR THE DRINK !!!!!!!!!!

IJ

Bobby · #14 03-08-2006, 14:07

I've been only one time to Samui and really hate that place. I stayed in Chaweng. The beach was very dirty and everything was very expensive.
Lamai is better IMHO (at least, for the beach and the nightlife).
The airport is a must see.

marc26 · #15 04-08-2006, 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby

I've been only one time to Samui and really hate that place. I stayed in Chaweng. The beach was very dirty and everything was very expensive.
Lamai is better IMHO (at least, for the beach and the nightlife).
The airport is a must see.

i had a more tranquil feeling at lamai beach than anywhere else in thailand, maybe hua hin also
but i really loved lamai

Isabellla · #16 04-08-2006, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby

I've been only one time to Samui and really hate that place. I stayed in Chaweng. The beach was very dirty and everything was very expensive.
Lamai is better IMHO (at least, for the beach and the nightlife).
The airport is a must see.

Me too.
I stayed in Lamai during Christmas time and New Year. I didn't like it.

Isabellla · #17 04-08-2006, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc26

i had a more tranquil feeling at lamai beach than anywhere else in thailand, maybe hua hin also
but i really loved lamai

I would prefer Hua Hin rather than Lamai.

Stayed 1/2 parto of my holidays in Hua Hin Hyatt and then Sofitel Central in main part of Hua Hin
Sorry

Mai Chob · #18 04-08-2006, 22:17

Travelgirl....DO YOU THINK THE PLACE YOU NOW LIVE IN WAS MORE NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL than it is now? Go over to Krabi or up past Kao Lak and youll find your paradise.......................................... .........start a guesthouse, expand it till its a hotel and guess what happens???? Im all for concentration when it comes to development....I hate total mindless development everywhere on the Spanish scale...MAI CHOB!!!

faultytowers · #19 04-08-2006, 22:22

If you look at travelgirl's details , it will explain a lot.

Quote:

travelgirl
Banned user [11230]
New user

BigC · #20 09-01-2007, 15:23

i don't know how far back are we talking becuase when i first come samui. was about 5 years ago. the bars were open till 6 am. now they shut about 2 am. the only thing that drives me mad is that black moon party that blasts out all the way to bohput. it is almost like having a club in my back garden. don't live in bohput now but i feel sorry for people that bought houses near chaweng lake.
samui has something for everybody. i used to see people complain in the local paper about the seedy red light parts. there again there are beaches that are un touched deserted.

there are places without bars and clubs. u just have to look.

i don't like going out to bars and clubs so i don't go chaweng beach in the evening. i prefer a quite 1 with the miss in bohput.

it is alwys better to have more choice than just be stuck with one option.

Scotty · #21 15-01-2007, 20:41

The wife and I stayed on Caweng Noi at the Impiana Resort. Great Hotel with a genuinely mellow beach bar and great service. Next to the hotel to the south were three beach restaurants with great food at good prices. I know Thailand has something for everyone, but that did it for us.

We could walk along the beach to Chaweng if we wanted. Only took 20 mins and sure beats paying 200 baht to a taxi driver who is clearly taking the p#@s.

BigC · #22 17-01-2007, 22:09

200 baht! thats a discount! cheaky git wanted 600 off me for a 10 minute drive. i prefer just using my trainers now. reather lose weight than loose money to those street robbers.)

i also herd that samui has almost enough people to turn samui into a city.

which means that the money that it makes through tax will go back into the island instead of through surratthani.

in a nut shell. i hope that in 5 years all the major problem like bad smells and bad road and bad electric, lack od interet connections will be the thing of the past.

which would mean cleaner beaches and better quiality of life.

sorry strayed of the subject a little bit. i am buzzing.

TopCat94 · #23 12-02-2007, 04:16

I love the idea of having everything so close by in Chaweng beach area. They do lack the 'massage' places tho =X