Koh Samui Wake-up Call

Beautiful of Koh Samui in the morning

After Koh Samui experienced its worst-ever blackout in late 2012, local officials have drawn up plans to address the power supply problem in the island and launch development projects to better serve the 1 million tourists expected to visit the island in 2013. Issues that need to be resolved, in addition to power shortage, include water supply, garbage collection, and flooding.

Funding on projects to further improve Koh Samui’s prospect as a travel destination appears as one major hurdle. From over 500 million baht in annual taxes that have been collected from local business enterprises, only about 50 million baht remain for municipal use in public works projects that will support Koh Samui attractions to tourists, according to former mayor Ramnet Jaikwang. 

This surplus, which comes after deducting regular expenses, is meager, the ex-mayor said, adding that a government subsidy is needed in order to provide the necessary solutions to the problems experienced in the island recently.

Ramnet estimated that the 50-million baht surplus from business tax collections can only cover the repairs and maintenance of existing infrastructures. Additional funds are required for improvements on the 54-kilometer circumferential road of the island, out of which only 17 kilometers have been paved, he said. The 150 tons of garbage that has to be collected daily is another urgent item in the list of Koh Samui things to do for the local government.

The supply of fresh water is an added pressing concern, which Ramnet raised. He said the municipality would be served well if five dams for water supply are constructed instead of having small mires to conform to the green policy in Koh Samui. The ex-mayor decried the regular flooding in the island, blaming the refusal of beachfront property owners and coastal hotels to build drains or sewers because these are potential eyesores or would adversely affect their businesses. Infrastructure guidelines must be developed along these lines so that road drainage can be constructed, thereby allowing rainwater to flow more rapidly into the sea, he proposed.

The power supply should likewise be improved, the ex-mayor said, to cope with the rapid rise in the number of tourists that the island hosts.  Ramnet also called attention to the issue of foreigners acquiring land in Koh Samui through Thai nominees. He said this situation needs urgent government action, which may require a policy change. Moreover, he called for long-term zoning to designate land use for tourist-related, residential, and financial for easier management and property valuation. 

The Benefits of Eating Organic Grub in Koh Samui

Eating right in Koh Samui (photo courtesy of flickr)

A healthy, laidback and exciting lifestyle is one of those Koh Samui attractions, which have successfully lured  vacationers throughout the years. The health and wellness industry of this charming little tourist destination is impressive, as numerous establishments incorporate the use of state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and special dietary programs.

Eating right is a key element in order for anyone to attain a happier and healthier lifestyle. In addition to the fact that Koh Samui weather conditions play a major role in growing healthy food, Samui farmers also exclude the use of extremely harmful pesticides and preservatives during cultivation periods.  

This is something that almost every major food corporation in the western world unfortunately doesn’t do. Canned goods, processed meat, packed fish, as well as “naturally-grown fruits and vegetables” are loaded with preservatives and other chemicals to prolong their shelf lives in order for their manufacturers to significantly widen their profit margins.

Other unnatural additives have also been included to reduce production costs to rake in even larger profits, and compete with their rivals. Allowing these detrimental elements to accumulate within the body is proven by scientific research to lead to the development of disorders such as diabetes, heart disease, brain tumours, cancer, and cardiac arrest.

Organic food – of which plenty may be found in Samui – don’t come with those nasty additives or preservatives to achieve better flavours or delay spoiling. They also have minimal exposure to pesticides that contain toxins – including lead, mercury, benzene and toluene -- which have been associated with allergic reactions, nerve disorders and cancer.

Aside from being insanely safer to digest, the nutritional value rendered by organic chow grown in this tropical island is comparatively greater. According to several recent studies, organic edibles have 29 percent more iron, 27 percent more vitamin C, and 14 percent more phosphorus.

Moreover, industrial broccoli was found to have significantly decreased amounts of vital nutrients, including 63 percent less calcium, and 34 percent less iron.

With all that said, its no surprise that people want to live a healthier lifestyle, which is easy to do in Koh Samui. Add this huge perk to the fact that the Koh Samui weather conditions are favourable throughout most of any year, a diversity of premier accommodations, a plethora of commercial/entertainment establishments, and plenty of nature reserves, and any individual would easily think that they truly are spending a vacation in paradise.

Drinking and Driving Don’t Mix in Koh Samui

Drinking and driving is not the smartest decision you can make in Thailand

When the Koh Samui weather conditions remain dry throughout the week, what’s the best thing to do in order to enjoy a lonely night? For many of this island’s visitors, that’d be heading down to a club and getting intoxicated with the local crowds.

As tempting as this may be for anyone belonging to the younger generation, sometimes its important to limit alcohol consumption, most especially when the party-goer chooses to drive himself home instead of hiring a taxi.

From the law’s point of view, the permissible limit of BAC levels for drivers is 0.5 grams. But for the bloke who had his driver’s license for less than five year, this limit drops down to 0.2 grams. The Thai government is doing everything that it can to reduce the number of drunk-driving incidents. Anyone that’s caught driving beyond the accepted BAC levels will either be heavily fined, or sentenced to jail – depending on how bad the accident is.

Thai police come equipped with breath test detectors for catching drunks. They also setup outposts throughout the entire country – Koh Samui included – and are given a greater level of freedom when it comes to dealing with woozy drivers.

It’s not surprising that the government is trying to clamp down on the issue, as studies show that there are roughly 25,000 deaths caused by intoxicated drivers every year. The frequency of such related accidents is even worse during festivals and special holidays, and reach as high as 800 deaths per day.

In the worst-case scenario, a vacationist could easily contribute to the statistic of dead motorists due to intoxication. He may even bump the annual figures even higher if he has passengers, or crashes into another vehicle or individual.

In other cases, the tourist may be lucky enough to walk away from the vehicular accident, with nobody – including himself – harmed. However, this leaves him in a world of trouble with the law. Again, he’ll most likely be made to be a hefty fine, or spend the night cramped in a jail cell with other sadistic inmates who’ve been waiting to get their hands on a foreigner!

When out partying, it’s always best to leave the car behind, and take a taxi home instead. Koh Samui government highlights the importance of setting limits for alcohol intake for the sake of personal safety, as well as the greater good of all.

Checking the Authenticity of Baht Notes in Koh Samui

Thai baht front top to bottom 1000 baht, 500 baht, 100 baht and 50 baht note

It doesn’t get any better than checking in at a luxury suite at ShaSa Resort and Residences, and spending the day visiting as many Koh Samui attractions as possible. However, a vacationist’s seemingly perfect holiday can easily be turned inside out if he makes the mistake of exchanging his cash for fake baht notes.

Police in Thailand have recently issued several warnings regarding the emergence of counterfeited dough yet again. Although the instances of these occurrences happening to tourists are statistically uncommon, there’s always that small chance wherein an individual unwittingly exchanges his money for knockoffs.

Counterfeiters have done an excellent job at creating fake bills, which closely resemble the real thing. Numerous cashiers are trained to identify fake currencies, and upon catching a customer paying facsimiles, they’ll be left with no choice but to contact local authorities.

Unwillingly using replica baht usually won’t entail trouble with the law, but it does mean a potentially long interview will be conducted in order to determine innocence. On the other hand, if the tourist happens to be caught knowingly using pseudo notes, then he or she could pay a fine of up to 30,000 baht (USD1000) and/or be sentenced to jail for 15 years.

To avoid the hassle of being interrogated by suspicious cops or spending a lengthy holiday in a dirty prison cell with other lawbreakers, the management at ShaSa Resort shares the following tips for distinguishing between the real deal and fakes: first, try wetting a portion of the bill. If it’s fake, then some of the colours will start running.

Authentic baht notes also have a holographic strip on the left hand side, which is typically larger than that of its unreal counterparts.

Here’s another helpful tip: compare suspicious notes with an authentic bill acquired from legit moneychangers at airports within the island or abroad. Even foreigners coming to Samui for the first time will immediately be able to detect a notable difference between genuine bills and their pseudo counterparts, so using this particular test as a “pre-test” to warrant the need for using the other tests mentioned earlier would definitely be helpful.

Before getting overwhelmed with plotting an itinerary for the Koh Samui attractions to visit, the management of ShaSa Resort strongly advises ensuring the authenticity of their baht notes first. To negate the risk of receiving fake bills, dealing with Thai banks or legit moneychangers is recommended.

Why you shouldn’t have your Photos Taken with Gibbons in Koh Samui

Picture of Thai Gibbon

Upon booking a stay at the luxurious Shasa Resort & Residences at Koh Samui, many guests often decide where to go or what to do in their bedrooms. Contemplating which of the many Koh Samui attractions should be visited first can be a daunting task for anyone riled up with the sheer thought of endless possibilities.

However, not all of these crowd-drawers are in the best interest of all parties involved, especially entrepreneurs who deal some sort of business involving the use of gibbons.

Although it is illegal in Thailand to extract these animals from the wild due to their dwindling numbers, businessmen are still placing orders for as many gibbons as needed to continue their businesses’ operations.

Nine species of gibbons within SE Asia are currently listed in Appendix 1 of the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In Thailand, the scarce number of these furry little beasts is attributed to several factors, including the destruction of their natural habitats.

In addition, ShaSa Resort management employees explain that these mammals are being poached for their meat, their medicine, and pet trade – all of which has the potential to rake in hefty amounts of cash, which is why the law of gibbon extraction is repeatedly broken.

In order to acquire gibbon babies, their protective mothers are shot dead. The stolen babes are then sold as expensive pets, or used in business establishments as attractions. At some bars, they’re locked up in cages as eye-candy for incoming customers.

By the time they reach the age of six or seven, these gibbons tend to get aggressive. Owners of these apes then resort to filing their canines down and placing a collar around their necks. Other entrepreneurs often resort to killing their “crowd-drawers”, and replacing them with newborn gibbons.

At popular beaches, vendors who approach tourists and offer them a chance to have their pictures taken (in exchange for a certain amount of money) with gibbons usually subject these animals to harsh living conditions. Moreover, keep in mind that up to ten gibbons can be shot dead in order to obtain a single baby gibbon.

The management of ShaSa Resort frowns upon such practices, and firmly believes that these beasts should have never been included in the list of legit Koh Samui attractions as displayed at other websites. To help put an end to this cruel trade, vacationists are advised to resist the temptation of having their pictures taken with the poor monkeys.