Koh Samui welcomes tourists visiting on Chinese New Year

SURAT THANI, 8 February 2016 (NNT) – Koh Samui Island is welcoming the increase of tourists, inbound during the Chinese New Year festivities, visiting the island's holy shrines for good fortune.

Many Thai-Chinese citizens and international tourists are visiting Ko Samui Island today on the second day of Chinese New Year celebrations considered to be the ‘travel’ day to pay respect to the island’s Guan Yu Shrine.

Most of the visitors are wearing a read attire, the color which is believed to promote fortune, and travel with their families. Most visitors have reported that they prayed for a better economy, to bolster trade, for healthy, and for the country to be peaceful in the new year.

Guan Yu Shrine on Ko Samui Island is the sacred place according to the Chinese belief, and was erected 159 years ago.


-- NNT 2016-02-08

Samui Merchants Give Up on Govt, Repair Own Road
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter


Souvenir merchant Samran Lungkum, at right, and Chaweng Beach locals come together Monday to repair their road. Photo: Samran Lungkum / Facebook

SAMUI — Tired of waiting for the authorities to repair a small chasm in their road, a group of merchants on Koh Samui on Monday took matters into their own hands.

Located at a three-way junction near Chaweng beach, the 50-centimeter by 1-meter hole has caused many road accidents for local residents and tourists, which spurred local merchants to finally do it themselves.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1455083197


-- Khaosod English 2016-02-10

Chinese man drowns in Samui despite the best efforts of kind tourists to save him

KOH SAMUI: -- On Tuesday 9th of February at around 3pm a Chinese man was spotted in the ocean close to the Fair House Resort in south Chaweng.

Showing no signs of life a tourist dragged him into the shore before he and two other tourists performed mouth to mouth resuscitation on him for around ten minutes until the ambulance arrived.

The kind tourist told the Samui Times “Yesterday evening at about 1500, a man who I think was from China, was taken in land from the ocean, he showed no signs of life. We and other tourists did month on mouth for about ten minutes before the ambulance arrived. The man was taken from the beach and put into the ambulance.

I was surprised to see that they did not use a heart starter on the man. I had been giving the man mouth to mouth, another tourists was giving him heart massage.” Despite the best efforts of the kind tourists the man was unable to be revived and was taken to Nathon Hospital.

This is not the first Chinese drowning this year. All visitors to Koh Samui are advised to be cautious about swimming in rough seas and asked to pay attention to red flag areas.


-- Samui Times 2016-02-11

Speedboat from Koh Tao sinks on its way back to Samui

KOH SAMUI: Yesterday, 12th February, a speedboat carrying 25 Chinese tourists and three boat crew sank on its way back to Samui after completing a day trip to Koh Tao diving and snorkelling.

The boat, owned by In Sea, got in to trouble between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. Grand Sea Tour and Lomlak boats came to their assistance and rescued the passengers and crew.

Early reports suggest the boat was over loaded with SCUBA diving tanks. More information will be published as it is received.

Source: http://www.samuitimes.com/speedboat-from-koh-tao-sinks-on-its-way-back-to-samui/

-- Samui Times 2016-01-13

Hundreds caught up in huge traffic jam in Samui

KOH SAMUI: On February 12th hundreds of people were caught up in a massive traffic jam from Maenam to Bophut.

Traffic from Maenam to Bophut was slow as usual thanks to the weekly walking street market however by 7pm traffic was backed up and at a standstill from Maenam all the way to the massive traffic jam in SamuiFishermans village traffic lights. By 8-30 the queue was backed up the Santi Buri resort west of Maneam and did not clear until gone 10pm.

One driver in the queue by Maenam Soi 5 told us “ it took us 30 minutes to get from Soi 5 to Soi 3 at this point we turned off and went home to get our motorbike, we were over an hour late for a dinner appointment, we have never seen traffic like it”. 

Another driver, who came to a standstill by Santi Buri and hour later said “it took me one hour to get from Santi Buri to Soi 5, it is utterly ridiculous””.

So far no accidents have been reported, the cause of the queue has been put down to heavy traffic at a busy time of year on the island and the walking street market traffic.

Many residents have been complaining of heavy traffic on the roads especially around the Maenam Walking Street Market on Thursdays and the Bophut Walking Street Markets on Fridays, however the north coast of the island seems to suffer from heavy traffic between the two villages from around 4pm each day.

It is becoming clear that the islands ring road is struggling under the weight of increased traffic in high season, with no plans for a second ring road it seems there is no end in sight and queues will become ever more common place on an island never designed to cope with the amount of cars presently on the island.

Source: http://www.samuitimes.com/hundreds-caught-up-in-huge-traffic-jam-in-samui/

-- Samui Times 2016-01-13

German Drowns in Rough Seas on Koh Phangan
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter


Photo: Joe Christiansen / Flickr

SURAT THANI — A 46-year-old German tourist drowned after reportedly ignoring a rough seas warning yesterday on Koh Phangan.

The wife of the unidentified deceased said they traveled from their bungalow to Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach where her husband went to swim in the sea. Later she heard him shouting for help.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1455772747

-- Khaosod English 2016-02-18

Urgent request to all O negative blood donors for Koh Tao man

An urgent appeal has been put out to help a Koh Tao man who is suffering from Lukemia who has O Negative blood. The man is in need of an extraordinary amount of blood due to needing a transfusions over the next month.

If any of our Samui Times O negative donors are in, or prepared to travel to Bangkok to donate please contact us for more details or go directly to Thai Red Cross Society or Chulalongkorn Hospital (which are just next to each other).

Editor@samuitimes.com


-- Samui Times 2016-02-19

Bike helmet laws to be enforced in Koh Samui from March 1st

KOH SAMUI: -- A new motorbike campaign is getting under way in Koh Samui and will come into full force on March 1st.

All those on motorcycles are required to wear helmets and that goes for pillion passengers too! Posters are going up around the island to notify residents and visitors to the island that both the rider of the bike and passengers must wear helmets, those drivers failing to abide by the law will fined 500 baht for themselves and 1,000 baht for their passengers!

-- Samui Times 2016-02-19

Urgent donations needed for medical bills of a British Ex-pat in Samui

KOH SAMUI: -- British Ex-pat John Law is seriously ill in Koh Samui, his son Joseph Law in the UK and his mother are desperately looking for help to pay for his medical expenses, keep him alive and ultimately take him back to the UK.

A Facebook page called “let’s get Joe’s Dad home” has been started, a crowd funding page on Go Fund Me and Joe’s story has been on the ITV News.

It is understood that John had complications after having a toe removed in Thailand, some metal was left in his foot after the operation and that caused a very serious infection. Joe says he needs funds to pay the hospital for his Dad, who was not insured, or he may never see his Dad alive again.


-- Samui Times 2016-02-22

Samuis garbage disposal crisis continues



KOH SAMUI: -- For several years now Samui’s garbage disposal problem has been escalating out of control. With an incinerator that has been out of action for years piles of toxic, rotting garbage continue to pile up at the disposal plant at Huathanon.

Rivers and ponds in the area are polluted, toxic and contaminated, the garbage plant itself has bene left abandoned, the windows are smashed and the staff are long gone.

Since our report in April last year nothing has changed, only the amount of rubbish has increased along with the smell and the risk of disease.

In 2008 an ultimatum was issued from the Governor of Surat Thani to bring in contractors to deal with the problem, sadly it appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

A Samui Times reader has sent us the latest photograph of the not so pretty side of paradise.
 

-- Samui Times 2016-02-24

Seven year old Swiss boy dies after being electrocuted on Samui beach

SURAT THANI: -- A seven year old Swiss boy has died after being electrocuted by an exposed power cable as he played on a beach in Maenam, Koh Samui.

The boy, who had been staying on the island with his parents and younger sister, was playing in the sand when he came into contact with the buried power line.

Swiss news site 20min.ch reports the incident happened on February 14th.

Despite receiving CPR at the scene, the boy tragically died the next day in hospital. The family have since returned to Switzerland and have requested privacy.

Swiss media reports there have been a number of incidents on the island related to poorly laid power cables.

Source: 20min.ch

-- © thaivisa.com 2016-02-25
 

WARNING! A dangerous robber (aggressor) attacks lonely women on Koh Samui



Reports on local Facebook sights are warning of a dangerous robber operating in Koh Samui.

This post is made by Russian community on Samui.

Last week, we have seen at least 3 incidents with a local(?) aggressor attacking women. All the cases happened on the shortcut road from Maenam to Lamai (through jungles, Soi 1 in Maenam). All of them were done in a daytime: two times — about 12-2 PM, one time — about 5-6 PM.

Two times the story was the same: he waited for a victim on a secondary road, then drove behind and watched, then drove to a victim, cut her off and started to blackmail (asking for money).

* First time (25th of February) he stopped a girl, threatened her and asked for money but luckily she cheated him and went forward on the bike. He was following her for 5 minutes on a high speed, then drove to her and tried to ram her. She stopped and started to talk, then distracted his attention and tried to go away for the second time. Happily, a car appeared, she stopped it and explained everything. Aggressor spoke with a Thai driver of this car and convinced him that nothing happened. A girl left while they were speaking.

* The same day (25th of February), the same aggressor attacked other Russian girl who was jogging on Maenam Soi 1. He throttled her, tried to bring her in the bushes. She tried to resist and cried. Happily, some motorbike was passing by and aggressor let the girl to go away.

* The third case happened on 29th of February, near Lamai area (in the mountains). He followed a girl on the bike, cut her off, showed her a knife and started to blackmail.

All the girls visited police station and made applications. However, policemen don’t seem to pay enought attention to the cases.

All lonely women running/driving on the Maenam-Lamai shortcut can BECOME A VICTIM of this aggressor!

DISTINCTIVE MARKS of this aggressor. He is skinny and tall. Speaks Thai and a little of English. Dark hair, haircut similar to Lenny Kravitz. Big popped eyes. He uses a very old motorbike of dark color. Two times he was in an orange polo.

PLEASE, HELP US TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION! We want to:
* let all the women know about these cases and the place — to be very CAUTIOUS in this area;
* find other victims of this guy;
* join our forces to engage policemen (two applications are already done and accepted) and deal with it.


-- Samui Times 2016-03-02

Missing person Koh Samui



The Samui Times have received a report of a missing person in Koh Samui. Konsta Benjamin was out with his travel companions last night when at around 10pm he complained of feeling unwell.

He said hew as going to back to the Chaweng Hill Apartment but never arrived. His travel companions gained access to his room this morning with the help of the cleaner but found it empty.

If you have seen this man or have any information with regards to his whereabouts please contact editor@samuitimes.com


-- Samui Times 2016-03-03
 

Koh Samui airport to be renovated



KOH SAMUI: -- Koh Samui airport has been scheduled to receive a major renovation that is due to start in May or April this year. The changes, designed to ease bottlenecks, are anticipated to take anywhere between 12 and 18 months.

This will be the largest undertaking at the privately owned airport since the last renovation around ten years ago. The cost of the improvements are thought to be around the 600 million baht mark and will streamline passenger flow and enhance passengers comfort and convenience.

Reports suggest that the 2,100 meter runway and taxiway will not be included in the renovation plans as they are currently sufficient for the air traffic using the airport.

The capacity of the airport is also not of any concern, last year it handled around 2 million passengers and has the capacity to handle over double that figure, the upgrades are really designed to streamline passenger transit rather than increase the capacity.

Last year Bangkok Airways received permission to increase the number of flights going through Koh Samui from 36 to 50. The airport currently handles around 45 flights a day, mainly operated by Bangkok Airways.

Reports suggest they aim to increase that to 80 by convincing the authorities the increase would have no impact on noise pollution for the local community.

-- Samui Times 2016-03-04

Frenchman arrested for growing cannabis on Koh Samui

Thaivisa Reporters



SURAT THANI:-- A Frenchman caught red handed growing marijuana in Koh Samui on Sunday claimed the ten plants in his kitchen were for personal use.

Bo Phut police, however, thought differently and Jirou James Marcell Andy (sic), 50, was duly charged with production and possession and arrested. In addition to the plants a quantity of drug paraphernalia and other evidence was also seized.  

Acting on a tip off tourist police and officers from Bo Phut led by investigator Surachet Hakpan surprised the Frenchman at his rented house in the northern beach area of the holiday island of Samui. Police suspect that he was selling drugs to tourists as well as the general public.

In his kitchen they found flower pots containing at least ten plants with specialist lighting apparatus used for growing the drugs indoors. He told officers that the drugs were for himself but this was rejected when several packets prepared for sale were also found in the house along with other drug materials.

He was charged with production and possession of a class 5 drug (marijuana) before being taken away for further questioning.

Source: http://www.dailynews.co.th/regional/385386

-- Copyright Thaivisa.com. Do not republish any more than 3 paragraphs without the express permission of Thaivisa 2016-03-13

VIDEO: Foreign tourist’s lucky escape from near fatal road accident on Koh Samui
Thaivisa Reporters



KOH SAMUI:-- A driver on Koh Samui has been praised after reacting quickly to avoid colliding with two foreign tourists who had crashed their motorbike.

The incident occurred on 11th March at Thaweerat Phakdee Road in Bophut when the foreign driver of a red and white motorbike lost control and fell into the middle of the road.

The incident, which was captured on camera, sees the motorbike suddenly brake and lose balance causing the tourists to fall down, hitting the surface of the road.

Travelling behind the motorbike was a black Isuzu car which is forced to apply the brakes very quickly, missing the foreign tourists by a matter of inches.

As the footage continues, the female tourist then gets up and tries to help her boyfriend to stand but he is unable to until a Good Samaritan comes along and moves the motorbike to the side of the road. The female tourist, supporting her boyfriend, takes him to sit by the side of the road.

This video clip has been widely shared online and generated a lot of positive comments. The happy majority are praising the driver of the Isuzu MU-7 whose acute alertness enabled them to stop just in time and and avoiding what could have been a very serious accident.



Source: Sanook News


-- Copyright Thaivisa.com. Do not republish any more than 3 paragraphs without the express permission of Thaivisa 2016-03-14

62 year old lady killed in early morning shooting in Samui
 


KOH SAMUI: -- On Tuesday 8th March at 5.20 am a 62 year old Thai lady was shot on her way back home from a market in Samui. Police found 8 9mm shell casings at the scene.

The shooting is believed to be part of a long running family dispute. The police are continuing with their investigations in her death and according to news reports the deaths of other members of her family.

Source: News Ch7
 

-- Samui Times 2016-03-15

Frenchman Slams Motorbike into Garbage Truck, Dies
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter
 


SAMUI — A 26-year-old Frenchman was killed after he rode a motorcycle into a parked garbage truck early this morning in front of Samui Town Center.

Rescue workers had trouble freeing the man, who struck the front of the truck so hard at about 3am on Thursday that his head entered and became stuck in its grill.
 
Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1458190419
 

-- Khaosod English 2016-03-17