womble

Let me explain...........

I leased a piece of land for 20 years.  I paid key money of several million when contract was signed and land taken over.  I also have to pay 500,000 baht per year rent.

Now the land originally was 5 rai and I had investors who were to pay for construction.  Then a problem arose.  The neighbours annexed a piece of land  (around 350sqm).  On the opposite side tessaban wanted to put some drainage in, so lost another 200sqm.

So now the land is smaller and there is a dispute with the neighbours (who are leasing) which is going to court.  This all took two years to resolve and several court appearances (abitration, not sure).  I'm pretty sure my landlord did a deal with the neighbours as the landlord let it slip that they are allowing them to annex the land providing it is returned to them in 30 years.  Surely they have just leased out land that is mine?  They were supposed to be seeking damages for me!!!

In the meantime I lost my investors, had a couple of other fall through because of the land dispute (who in there right mind invests in land under dispute until it is sorted.

Anyway I havn't paid rent for a couple of years as refused to whilst the court case was on.  Now the landlord says they are taking the land back due to non payment.

Can anyone advise me if they can take it back and keep $ i have paid so far.

The landlord is rich so they defo have the $.  I think they have a further deal with neighbours to lease to them once they re-posess from me.

What can I do?  Anyone have a lawyer they recommend.

This has wasted several years of my life and cost me a lot of $.............

Will I have to go through courts or is there an easier way.  Also how can I check up on the court case my landlord was supposed to be fighting on my behalf.  Is it recorded anywhere.  If the agreed to let the neighbours annex the land surely it puts me in strong position.

any advise greatfully recieved.

I havn't had gov water for months, still being charged 250 baht tho.......

anyway, i've never known a draught last so long.

Anyone else still filling up tanks or wells with trucks.

Last week I flew up with Bangkok air, ticket price was nearly 5k.  I just returned on nok air with the high speed cat for 1990 all inc!  More than half price and flying into don meung is a breeze.

When you take into consideration the time it takes to drive from swampy to Sukhumvit (thats where I stay anyway), and the fact you have to check in 1 1/2 hrs before your flight at swampy due to the huge walking distance.  It really isn't that much longer to go with nok air.  

In fact i'd say from hotel door (lower sukhumvit) to Nathon pier with Nok air VS Hotel door, swampy to samui airport with bkk air, difference in time is around 2hrs max.

The bkk air flights rarely leave on time, and I absolutley hate the way the herd you into the buses but even tho the first bus is full, no bus can leave till all the buses are full.  They leave you in the bangkok airways lounge for ages, then tell you the flight is boarding only to leave you in the horrible departure lounge that is freezing cold with really uncomfortable seats, just before leaving you standing squashed for ages on the bus waiting for the last person on the last bus.

My return was under 2k, compared to 5k flying up.  I can certainly put up with a short high speed ferry and coach ride for a return price of under 5k!!

Return for same price as 1 way.

Bangkok air is seriously damaging business on this island.

I have stood up for them for years.  They do provide excellant service, and samui airport is great.  What I dislike is the bangkok end.  Firstly the journey to swampy from where I stay.  Second the long walk in the airport.  Third the price of food in swampy, and then what i already mentioned, all the wasted time in the lounges and standing in the bus.  These are small complaints tho, on the whole bkk air is very good, the price is what pisses me off.

On all other routes they are priced sensibly as they have competition, the samui price is now getting silly.  At nearly 5k each way it is one of the most expensive flights for the distance in the world.  Perhaps kuwait-Iraq is more?

I think we should all boycott bkk air, sign a petition.  They make out they have cheaper seats available but when you try to book on internet they are all booked.  Then you get on the flight and it is half full!!!

The other thing that really annoys me is when I book a ticket and the telephone operator tells me I am on a Jet, then it turns out they have put me on one of those crappy prop planes.

Has anyone noticed that since the crash they lie and tell you props are jets.  I now ask for the landing time, that way you can tell whether it is atr or jet.  Quite often find myself catching them lying to me trying to get me on a prop.  5k for a one way flight on a prop plane.................


Anyway Door to door the difference is less than 2hrs, and for half the price I think that is well worth it.  Family of 4 now pays around 16-18k instead of 40k!!!!!!


IF we boycott we will defo force them to offer a decent price for expats, if we can convince enough tourists perhaps we can hit them where it hurts.  Remember they have a property fund that has to get decent returns.  If we can make a significant dent in those returns changes will have to be made.

Anyway after trying it out for the first time, I will no longer be using Bkk air unless they revert back to the old price of 2750 baht.  But in light of the cost of fuel I would be prepared to pay 3500 all inc.  No way will I pay nearly 5k for a 45 minute flight again!

Currently living in Koh Samui and the place just gets more and more expensive.  With a young family there are limited options for schooling and only one over priced hospital of any satisfactory standard.

My question is would a move to Somewhere up north such as Chiang Mai make $ go a lot futher?  I have 50-60k a month to support myself, the mrs and a 1 year old.  Costs will rise as the little one gets older and needs schooling.

I'm used to living on a salary several times the figure mentioned, but I wish to save so I'm looking at options that would make it easier to save as much as possible.

At present my rent alone is 30k, what sort of $ would a comfortable 2 bed in Chiang mai cost?  Here the 30k gets you a nice 2 bed with small pool.  

Would I be looking at the same up there or would similar be cheaper.

I have been in Thailand a while, but know nothing about the north.  I know issan is cheap, but i'm not keen on a move there.  I have friends in Chiang Mai + I like the idea of living somewhere that has all the department stores (for baby clothes etc), without the pollution of Bangkok or the sleeze of Pattaya.

I also like the idea of being able to drive up into the hills for the cooler air during the hot spells.  I'm basically just looking for somewhere that is a bit more family friendly, and a bit easier on the wallet.

I need to put $ away for school fees, so if a move up there would make it easier then it's be something i'd seriously consider.

I went to Chiang Mai 10 years ago and it was very obvious how much cheaper it was, perhaps this has all changed now and it's the same there as down here now.

Can anyone shed some light?

any answers much appreciated.

Been looking for Cocktail staff that speak good english for years, can rarely find.

Anyone know where to find good bar staff, best places to advertise?

Also stealing is a huge problem here in samui.

LEarnt from expericance never have people who know each other previously work together, and try to make a mixture of people from Issas, South, Bangkok.  Never from same town, you will end up with a gang.