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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat
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    Back To Chaweng Samui

    About 25 years ago I moved to Thailand to open a western restaurant at what then was Chaweng Guest House. The whole place was very slow and laid back. I came back 8 years ago with the family and could see it had changed, but it pissed down rain non stop for 30 hours so we just left days
    Looking in from the sea

    So 25 years ago it looked like this

    looking down the beach from the Chaweng Noi junction

    My old bungalow, just started the landscaping.


    a row of bungalows down to the beach.

    Now for today.

    The new bungalow I am in. The placement is the exact same as the old one.

    Interior
    balcony, nice one

    Half the bath

    The same row of bungalows as years ago, but all upgraded.



    The pool

    Nice the way they kept two coconut trees in the pool

    The view down the beach just before sunset.

    Sunset, a jazz guitarist on the beach, full moon rising as well


    More to come, I feel like a cold beer.
    Last edited by aging one; 17-03-2014 at 04:29 PM.

  2. #2
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    Really looking forward to this thread bro!

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
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    Oh yeah, any members on Samui that would like to meet up just give me a pm, I will be here till friday and have wheels to get around.

  4. #4
    I am in Jail

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    Thats how i remember samui, such a beautiful island, would still prefer to stay in those huts lights out 8pm, boats coming to the shore with the fresh fish, hardly anyone on the beaches, getting bad looks if we ventured out to eat somewhere else, waiting two hours for your food but when it came well worth the wait.

    Not many places like that left now.

    great pics thanks

  5. #5
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    How about the prices, AO?

    Can you still get a bungalow on th beach for 150 baht? Is the little rickety bridge across to the the Reggie Bar still there?



    This still looks pretty nice; nicer than I thought it'd look.

    I went back a few years ago, the taxi stopped in the middle where those few bars and the green mango used to be, now looked like Bangkok, so I told the driver to continue on to lamai... The beech looks smaller, more built up, but not bad.
    Cycling should be banned!!!

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bettyboo
    The beech looks smaller, more built up, but not bad.
    This will be expanded on. Nature and humans changed the beach that is for sure. Bottom line is dont mess with mother nature. Sadly the subject of raw crude oil will come up as well. Lots of rigs off here now, none before.

  7. #7
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    I had a stint in Chaewang in 95, it was a brilliant place ..

  8. #8
    I'm in Jail

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    Faark, this is a blast from the past, I haven't been to koh Samui for about25 years to. I would really love a trip back to see what's changed(lots by the look of things) damn shame Bangkok airways monopolise the airport making it expensive to fly in , fuk it though I might just bite the bullet and do it anyway. Go have a beer with Gus, another top TD punter who has a resort there, sorry can't remember the name

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
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    I took the longer and cheaper way Bkk to Nakorn Sri Thammarat on Air Asia, nice bus for an hour and twenty minutes to Don Sak and then and hour and a half on the ferry. Left at 7:00am was on the island at 11:30. From Don Muang which is 10 minutes from my house. 2800 Rt bought a week before travel. All the way to Samui and back. Room and car are complimentary which is very nice.

  10. #10
    I'm in Jail

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    I've got to get from Laos to Bangkok first, so when alls said and done its a couple of airfares ,and a lot of transit. getting easier and cheaper to fly out of Vientiane these days though, or the other option is to jump in the car and drive to udon and fly Nokia or airasia got a cheap ticket to Guangzhou this week and will take the train to hong kong, travel threads are the meat and potatoes of TD I reckon, thanks for takin the time

  11. #11
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    Get a flight to Surat and I will pick you up (including family) and drive you to the ferry at Donsak.
    Samui has changed a lot just in the last 5 years. Used to take me 20 minutes to drive from Chaweng to Nathon. It's nearer double that now.
    Sorry I missed you AO. I will be there 1st April in Lamai for a boozy meeting with old friends.
    Heart of Gold and a Knob of butter.

  12. #12
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    The jazz guitarist, really lovely ambiance here ao.

  13. #13
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    wasnt my favourite part of Samui by a long stretch, the heavily congested Chaweng Beach and surrounding area.
    Full of tatooed sex fiends on steroids. That was peak time at Christmas though.

    nice thread AO, looking forward to more pics

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat klong toey's Avatar
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    Had to take shelter by those buildings once with Gert and a load of other people.
    Early afternoon turned dark like it was 8pm wicked storm lasted over an hour no one could move,until it cleared.

  15. #15
    I'm in Jail

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    Cheers Chass, may just take you up on that offer

  16. #16
    Cacoethes scribendi
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    Great stuff AO! I did not make it to Samui before '04. I remember parts of Chaweng quite well. Other parts are just a blur. I am looking forward to see if I recognise anything from your pictures. Keep it coming please.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat
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    So walking down the beach towards Chaweng center you soon notice how upscale the beach has become. Also because the owners have encroached so far onto the beach sea walls are now built by some resorts. The most popular with the European crowd seem to be these villas with private pools.


    The loungers are directly facing the sea.


    Lots of big jetskiis but the waves have been up so no rentals.

    One of the oldies Cabana Beach House, still pumping out the tunes from the 70's and 80's at full volume.

    A deserted resort, all the building are gone, but the pool remains, still with what looks like decent water.

    Wedding photos on the beach, but the groom had never worn a tie before and was having major problems.
    If you can read it Tapas Bar...


    For many years the Pansea Chaweng was one of the better resorts, this is it now. New development coming.

  18. #18
    splendid and tremendous
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    Excellent. Keep it coming. Of the whole island please, AO. Or is that too greedy?

  19. #19
    loob lor geezer
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bettyboo View Post

    Can you still get a bungalow on th beach for 150 baht? .
    150 baht !! Pretty high so stuff there Betty. First time I went with some fluff from Soi Cowboy I think we paid 100 baht for a tent shaped shack with a 20 baht light bulb that occasionaly worked. Showers were in a communal block 50 yards from the bungalow. No tarmac road around the island and the ride into town was pretty bumpy. First patango I ever ate was in Surat Thani, waiting for the boat to the island. First ancient coffee too.

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat
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    Slap, I will but first I have to get my bearings. Its all so changed. I just tried to drive my truck to the other end of Chaweng, but somehow went over the hill and ended up at Choeng Mon beach and Bo Phut. Was nice not having a clue where I was.

    I will head out again later.

    This is how I remember Nathon, I have a feeling it is going to be very different indeed.

  21. #21
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by aging one
    Lots of big jetskiis but the waves have been up so no rentals.
    That's the best conditions to take one of these machines out. Great fun in big waves.

    Have a great time and regards to your family from the Loy Toys.

  22. #22
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    Hi Ao

    PM sent, it would be great if you could drop by.

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    Be getting a tad warm down on Samui Eh AO.

    I'll never forget hitting that Island in 87. Thought I had landed in Heaven.

    They built the airport in 88 and that's when Samui went nuts.

    Koh Phan-Gan was good though.

    Anyway there's still spots on Samui that are still fairly quiet but Chawang definitely ain't one.

    Go with the flow EH and never say...........

    You should of been there 30 years ago.

    Say hello to Gus for me.

  24. #24
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    Terry I was here over 35 years ago, here is a shot of me a Canadian friend and the owner of Samui Paradise when he was 13, he is 48 now and head of the Hotel Association of Samui.


    same guy his wife and son at dinner Monday night.


    I am uploading more photos now as I wait for the sun to move and take a bit more, got burned yesterday.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat
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    My buddy is Pae, his dad was Kamnung who passed away about 2 years ago. He left this truck, and it is mine to use. Its really a good feeling to have people enquire what the hell am I doing with his truck. He was the man 35 years ago. Navy boats would stop off shore of Chaweng and dump oil barrels. I did not know what was up until they got to shore. No oil just every kind of contraband you could think of. Really was a fun time unloading those boats. His truck


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