JettieG

When I left Samui in 2006, the locals were already worried about the water tables coz of all the new villas with infinity pools being built. Based on Google street views, it seems the whole island is almost cheek by jowl in buildings and bungalows, and all those residents & tourists use a lot of water. Hope you get lots of rain.

Too many little emperors and not enough princesses in China after the one-child policy and most families killed their daughter in hopes of getting a son. A new life of drudgery for these or any non-Chinese brides.

Never took a night ferry. Samui Marine & reg police commandeered a dive instructor friend to help with search & recover in the late 1990s - it was too late for search and rescue in high seas for the night ferry passengers coming from Koh Tao. It was the only time I allowed anyone to smoke dope on my balcony.

WTF? Chinese cops policing Thai streets? Is that to protect or to monitor Chinese tourists? No matter, no country should allow foreign control over their laws.

Thank you KhunPer for info and Maenam photo of Khun Gai & her Mother, who I remember well. Yes, that little bucket for making change, but you had to check your change! I have some photos of them somewhere. Lived in one of two small houses off the bike lane to the west. Gai ran over once asking my help to get rid of an Italian girl in the pharmacy clad only in a g-string. She is a great lady and occasionally got fed up and said she was coming for a gin & tonic with me at one of the local pubs.

Yowza! Green Mango is still rockin? I left Samui after about 10 yrs in Maenam in 2006. Did a google street search of the village and OMG, the only thing I recognize is Gai's Pharmacy. I pray that Gai is still there. I wonder if her daughter Nong Dan got her wish to be a vet. Looks way too busy for me now, but hope all expats are enjoying the life. Do the White Herons still fly to and from Ang Thong everyday? I think their nesting habitat was razed for villas in Big Buddha many years ago.

A Benz EV parked on a street in my area just self-combusted. Just need one to do that in a jam-packed parking lot and you got an inferno.