What do you think is the best way to develop in future? Koh Phangan has a lot of potential besides beeing just a party place. Total votes: 37   develop more ECO Tourism type of attraction   get Phangan more Family Friendly   more exclusive upper class resorts   offer more daytime activities    (Display results)

Previous Topics: What are Koh Phangan's most serious Problems? What do you like most about Koh Phangan?

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02nd June 2005 - 10:21:33 AM

83 : Chillumpuffer

Simon Yes of course. I'm sorry to generalise. I do not know you or your business. I am sure there are many Farangs who still care for the enviroment and build bungalows in keeping with the island. Its just that, you know when you see a stretch of beach with 6 huts, a small resteraunt no electricity, and then you hear "upmarket development" it just really annoyed me. I enjoy this forum, and people should use it more often, even if it is to catch up on old friends and hear what's happening. but please do not let Phangan become Samui (or is that too late?)

01st June 2005 - 10:59:53 PM

82 : Simon

Hi Chillumpuffer, Even in most issues I'm with your opinion, but in one poit I have to disagree. '.. buy land off the locals, who i'm sure are very grateful of your greenbacks, build houses, rent them out to Tourists for a nice buck ...' I don't see this so much negative, (not only because it's my business ;-) because at the end this kind of development is some how still more enviroment friendly than building more bungalow resorts. And (farang) houseowners are more interested in proper waste disposal than the locals. And Andy ... please show me one of these "large underground reserve tanks" that helps the upper scale places to store enough water ... and besides storing is not saving. Rich people tend to waste more resources ... And Andy ... "ko phangan will never feel or look like Samui, purely because of its natural landscape/mountains/hills" ... Samui was quite natural too ... 30 years ago Simon

01st June 2005 - 06:20:59 PM

81 : Chillumpuffer

Seville Top notch man. I agree. I first went to KP in 1989. We stayed at Silvery Moon next to Booms Cafe between Ban Khai & Haad Rin. Our Bungalow was a rustic thatched affair with no electricity and it was wonderful. The water was from the jungle behind and we tried our very best to be as eco friendly as possible. Groups of us would clean the beaches from Haad rin back to Thong Sala. It was real community. I was horrified to hear that concrete had taken over. Fridges were the norm IN THE HUTS.An English Pub at Ban Khai !! Jesus. I Am sorry to say that I just can't go back to the Island that i made friends with locals and other travellers alike. It will just be too upsetting. Do you know what I mean? One thing that i remember doing and i bet no one does this: 1 Large Bottle Mekhong 1 Large Bottle Coke 2 Kgs Of Ice From The Ice Man in Thong Sala !!! a few glasses, some friends, the sounds of night. Priceless Seville, are you a long standing KP man ??

01st June 2005 - 05:46:20 PM

80 : seville

Andy, how do you suspect that development will be good for the locals with, "Up Scale Developement"? Maybe you should go and stay at some of the "small scale" bungalows, run by locals that have been there for generations and see how they are doing and how excited they are that for the last two years their place has been next to a construction site. My experience in the last two years is that tourist are still wanting bungalows for 200 baht, most of which are not, "backpackers", but people wanting to stretch their money so they can spend it on shopping and other activities. Or they want to spend a few months on the island and can afford to do so at $5.00 for thier bungalow. These are the people that come back every year and have watched local children grow up, been invited to weddings and cried along side the Thai at funerals. They tell thier friends about this great little island and the Thai families that they have and their friends in turn show up at the same place and are also welcomed in with big smiles. Go have a look around the up scale places and see how many rooms they have available. Most tourist that come to KP want to stay in rustic, free standing bungalows to get a sense of freedom to be away from it all and get a chance to make relationships with the Thai people. The big places like Drop In, Panviman and the like have more rooms then tourists. Koh Phangan has more then enough up scale places. Chillumpuffer is right the more low key type of tourist and bungalow owners where able to help each other out, createing a sense of pride and careing for the island. Where as the Club Med type vactioner only sits around wondering why someone doesn't clean up all the garbage on the beach. Developement has never in the history of the world, helped water shortages. While you may in your mind want to believe this to be true, it simply is not. I want you to explain to me how you are going to Help the local people with your plans. I'm not saying this to be confrontational, I'm interested in knowing how you see things. Are you going to only hire local people at your place? Panviman, Drop In and Sanctuary just to name a few only hire people from Burma, Issan or Thammarat. Are you going to give money to the schools? Are you going to provide a little house for the guy who very quietly sits infront of the store in Thongsala hopeing to get some spare change? Tell us a little about yourself Andy? I truely want to meet someone with a lot of money who cares about what is happening to the Island. 20 years ago the local people didn't have to worry about water from the "government". They just ran PVC pipe to the jungle. Now, thanks to development, they get to worry about if there will be water shipped over from Surrat Thani.

01st June 2005 - 01:23:35 PM

79 : Chillumpuffer

Andy What do you mean "sorry to the backpackers on a budget"? In the late 80's when "travellers" really started the Full Moon Parties, very low key intimate affairs, there were no capitalist's creaming the "backpackers" (as you so call them). Travellers would clean the beaches, help build and repair bungalows (for the Locals), even repair generators that brought electricity to the masses. It seems to me that the more "modernisation" will only ruin a once beautiful Island.(It's probably ruined already) The words Western/property/land interest smacks of capitalism. I suspect you buy land off the locals, who i'm sure are very grateful of your greenbacks, build houses, rent them out to "Tourists" for a nice buck. Tell you what? Why don't you go to Koh Chang. Plenty of opportunity to ruin that island as well !!

01st June 2005 - 09:46:15 AM

78 : greenspirit

Good news from Thailand…. The Greenspirit festival will be back on new year 2006 with a mindblowing 3 day psytrance festival.(30.12.05-01.01.06) After the devastating tsunami only days before the festival on New Year 2005, the organiser had to cancel the event on very short notice. some of the dj,s who where already in Thailand traveled over to Koh Phangan where a series of charity parties where organised in close working together with the Greenspirit team from Krabi. As a result there where substantial funds raised and donated to help the victims of the tsunami. This has increased the credibility of such events in the view of the official thai authorities and Stephan from Greenspirits in Krabi can now confirm a 3 day festival with names such as DJ Goblin (Psysex HOMmega), Azax Syndrom,DJ Shivajoerg,Trauma/Beat Hacker,Gataka/Sesto Sento,DJ Sabai Sabai and many many more to be held on new year 2005/6 in ao nang Krabi. The location is secure in any way as it is on higher grounds and not directly by the sea. More details www.greenspiritkrabi.com so far that much; there will be again a impressive lineup of international djs and liveacts as well as the fabulous asian djs to guarantee an unforgettable event in the stunning natural surrounding of Ao Nang/Na Thai. There will be many shops, foodstallls (inquiries are very welcomed) besides the fat soundsystem and nicely decorated nature paradise. camping just beside the dancefloor is free and sanitary facilities and showers will also be available. For sure a unique start into the new year under the stars on the golden beaches of one of the worlds most beautiful locations. also to mention that the location is not by the beach and uphill in a beautifull location. Last but not least we would like to thank all the ones who contributed to the tsunami charity events In Ko Phangan and especially Greenspirit Crew in Krabi, who after 10 months of preparation only days before the happening had to cancel and still found immediate power to help and coordinate the charity parties In Ko Phangan and make this years party happening. Big thanks goes to Thujon (Alchemy rec), Sabaii Sabaii (SpiritZone), Scotty (VooV), Antaro (SpiritZone), Pravah (Dragonloops), Sanuk (.;.), the Koh Phangan Team, Dj Leung, Dj Pat, Dj Note, JR, Dj Jao, Dj Opel and everybody who helped in this difficult time. Watch out for more news regarding the Greenspirit Festival in Krabi. www.greenspiritkrabi.com An event not to miss we see you on the dancefloor.

29th May 2005 - 09:10:50 AM

77 : andy

upmarket property development will prevent water shortages. Responsible builders will have large underground reserve tanks built below there property(as i will) with rain guttering around the roof. Those that pull from the govt water supply will encounter problems for sure.

29th May 2005 - 09:05:57 AM

76 : andy

the airport proposal on koh phangan has been approved so I understand but I also hear that bangkok airways have purchased the surrounding land around the proposed airstrip to prevent any private enterprise. conclusion therefore it will never happen. Also ko phangan will never feel or look like Samui, purely because of its natural landscape/mountains/hills. Development will be good for all locals and businesses. I think the western stronghold on the island with property land interest with ensure a careful tasteful modernisation will occur. So much so that this Island will become exclusive over samui. Sorry to the backpackers on a budget.

18th May 2005 - 05:09:34 PM

75 : seville

I just e-mailed an American women I know in Ban Kai to get some feed back from her. Don't sell the Thai people too short, some of the ones I know are very much aware of the inpending dangers and more and more are seeing it all the time. Shana's husband who is Thai from what she tells me is very much concerned and perhaps can help move things a long. That is if she is interested. I do agree with the lack of political interest, but right now everyone is screeming broke and money as you know is a big motivator. You know that Samui has just gotten the ok for a second airport. A website would be good, but I was thinking more basic like a flyer that could be taken around the island to the locals,of course in Thai and English. I'm in the states as you know, but will be back in about 5 months. Living on Had Tien I know a lot of long time westerners who would have some interest in this. Also there is the Green Conservation? group on the island. You know the group of businesses listed in Phangan Explorer. If they are truely what they say they are that would be a list of people to join in the movement. I have time to collect e-mail addresses of businesses on the island via the net. E-mail places, small resorts and whatever else I can find that isn't backed by big businesses. See what you have and maybe get in touch with people you know on the island, when you have time. We can maybe have some dialog and then send out a mass e-mail in English and Thai and what happens. Finding out who has the most influence on what happens on the island and how things are put into play. There are loads of tourists and expats everyday on Thaivisa.com talking about how they are looking else where to go for holiday. We need to convince the locals that turning Phangan into Samui is not what most people want. I'm really happy you are interested and will check in with you soon.

18th May 2005 - 03:30:04 PM

74 : Simon

But anyway I like it ... I'm in ... I could do the webpage and technical stuff and sponsor webspace ... Simon

18th May 2005 - 04:56:42 AM

73 : Simon

Yes, you can set your browser to thai lanuage in character encoding ... the webmaster of PhanganCity.org forgot to set the default language encoding. ... I can't read whats written there, but a thai friend translated a bit for me ... it's crappy. Just self promotion ... Your Idea is good, but I don't think many local thais using the Internet ... exept some for downloading porn. Also the general lack of interest in politics makes it difficult. The Airport is away just another wacko idea ... a few business crooks on the island are behind it and they are hoping to increase the property value (maybe of their own land). It's a economic madness ... two airport ... less than 40 km to each other ... on two small islands ... where can you find this elsewhere ...

17th May 2005 - 02:41:54 PM

72 : seville

I agree about nothing can get done without Thais behind the slow down. The idea would be to first try and get a group of Farangs together and then try and get the Thai people they know involved in the push to slow things down. Putting together a webpage and newsletter to go with it, in Thai. Getting the ears of the Thais who run the ferries would be a start concerning fighting against the Airport. I've gone to the website and the Thai is showing up wierd and is there a button for english? I have to check my lanuage settings to see why the Thai is not showing up.

16th May 2005 - 08:00:14 PM

71 : Simon

I don't want to sound too pessemistic, but I guess we "Farangs" sure can band together, it won't change a thing ... unless the local thais start to think about the development of the island in longterm. But again ... I'm not optimistic about that too. For the water shortage, there is no solution ... it's just not enough, sure people could start saving more water ... cancel Songkran ... but that won't happen. The problem just get's more serious every year ... Over Development is also difficult to fight ... the current administration seem to have the idea of reaching "Samui-Level" in the shortest possible time ... just look at the name of their website ... http://www.PhanganCity.org Interesting is the idea of setting up Traffic Lights in Thongsala, and if anybody cares about them. Also the megalomania project of building an airport is still not gone

16th May 2005 - 05:39:55 PM

70 : seville

Hey Simon, So back to my question, which is: Is there anyway to band people together and have the concerns of over developement be heard by those in control of what goes on, in terms of over building, water shortage and concerns of the local people and long term westerners that don't have the backing of huge cooperations? I saw that there was a big meeting with the police concerning safety and the like right after the boat accident. Do you have any ideas? I think the majority of the full timers feel this way, how do we get everyone together?

16th May 2005 - 10:14:03 AM

69 : Simon

I believe, opposed to the general drop of tourism in Thailand, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui increased their number of visting tourists, this year partly because of the tsunami problem at the end of last year, tourist looking for alternative 'upper class' destinations in the south of Thailand. But you are right the over-development is a real thread to the island and on the long term prospect for all tourist related business as well.

15th May 2005 - 03:37:16 PM

68 : seville

Do any of you folks living and making your living on the island, renting and selling property know of any plans for the island to address the shortage of water on the island and putting some kind of slow down on the development of big resorts? Tourism has been dropping every year for the past 3 and it's frightening to see all the new resorts popping up. They are also empty and it's simply insane to keep building. I live on the island part time and would like to see the people that have been living there the whole lives and the westerners that have been there for a long time come together to somehow turn things around to make the island a better place for all. Many of the chat and forums concerning the area are full of Tourist how plan on spending their time and money else where because of the build up on Samui and Phangan. I'm really interested in peoples opinions.

12th May 2005 - 08:37:51 AM

67 : Richard

Interested in land or development opportunities? Investment opportunities. I don’t need to tell everybody about how land prices are shooting up. Already small plots are at premium rates. If you are interested seriously in buying land, and either can’t afford to go it alone, not enough to buy and develop, don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket or just want to make sure you can the best possible deal going. Why not join a small consortium, I am at present getting small numbers of people together to buy bigger plots of land. The benefit of this is that you will get better purchasing power and secure deals at perhaps ½ that of a small plot, if you went in on your own. It also gives you more control over what happens around your land. I.e. that nobody is going to build a sewage works or big hotel right in front of you. If you are interested in finding out more. Please Email Richard on barebater@hotmail.com Regards Richard

06th May 2005 - 08:21:44 PM

66 : Simon

I updated our Weather Page ... it now shows Sunrise and Sunset Times and the Moon Phase Dates, so her you can see when the next Full Moon, Haft Moon and whatever Moon party will be ... http://PhanganIsland.com/weather/

02nd May 2005 - 07:14:50 PM

65 : simon

Chat Server installed and configured ... meet me in #kohphangan on irc.phanganisland.com Simon

02nd May 2005 - 07:07:30 PM

64 : Simon

marcellus, you are right ... I have to turn that IRC Chat thing on the new server on ... sorry I forgot ... Thnal for the hint

 

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