real estate B U Y I N G • R E N O VAT I N G • I N V E S T I N G • L I V I N G
T HAIL AND
Art Works
Oriental Living & Loft by Oriental Living
Personal Profile Stuart Maxwell Foulkes
Solar City
Reconciliation Ecology
Asia’s boutique airline
find us at Bangkok Airport
VERANO RESIDENCE Villas of Sanctuary
Island Real Estate
Amazing Beachfront land in sichon • 3.4 Million THB/ 1200 SQM
• Sichon, Nakhon Si Thammarat
• 40 Minutes to Nakhon International Airport • 2.5 Hours Away From Koh Samui
• Invest In One Of Thailand's Most Developing Areas amazing beachfront investment properties in sichon, nakhon si thammarat
RE/MAX Island Real Estate : 1/39 Moo 6, Boonjumnong Complex Koh Samui, 84320 Thailand
Island Real Estate
BUY 购买 SELL 出售 RENT 租赁
Sales : +66 (0)80 041 0420 Rentals : +66 (0)92 373 9099 Holiday Rentals: +66 (0)92 286 6676 Email: hong@remax.co.th www.remax.co.th/islandrealestate www.buykohsamui.com 苏梅岛绝佳投资机会, 绝佳海滩地出售
Nobody in the world sells more real estate than re/max ®
because home is where your heart is
furniture / decor /+ more opposite Big C Samui
tel: +66(0)77 423 877
www.oriental-living.net
A touch of paradise in the heart of Koh Phangan Located close to the beach, the Villa is perched on a cliff-top at Thong Lang Bay overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Designed as an exclusive tropical retreat, the villa is ideal for families or groups of friends looking to escape the hecticurban world and indulge in a stylish yet relaxed environment. For Sale & Rent • Four bedroom en-suite • Spectacular panoramic views • State-of-art western kitchen • Private infinity-edge swimming pool • Contemporary design • Sunken lounge • Video & Sound system • Total land area 1206 sqm and 350 sqm interior • Fully furnished inc. linens/towels • Private parking space (for up to 3 cars)
Rental price starts from $400/night Sales price is on request +66 (0) 62 895 9924 thonglangvilla @ThongLangVilla www.thonglangvilla.com thonglangluxuryvilla
Located Northwest of Koh Phangan 2 minutes to the Thong Lang beach 5 minutes to Mae Haad 10 minutes to Chaloklum Bay 15 minutes to Thong Sala 25 minutes to Haad Rin
EDITORIAL
EDITOR'S LETTER Dear Readers, Sitting here looking back on the High Season December January issue it’s was a bumper edition that would be difficult to beat. But Samui being Samui there is always something new and exciting happening. So, this edition is showcasing first of all “Solar City”, an all new eco-friendly building project that uses alternative energies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide houses with very low utility charges. These beautiful villas in the Chaweng Hills are more than 85% self-sufficient in electricity and water, particularly thanks to rain water collection and solar panels. We take a closer look at the property Designs of Horizon Villas and Horizon Residence under the Horizon Developments, two absolutely impeccable developments in Choeng Mon. Our Property Report editor Mr Stuart Maxwell Foulkes comes out of the shadows and we find out a little more about his life and work in Thailand in our personal profile. We even have the first article in our Island Scoop on a very worthy project the Samui Elephant Sanctuary which is the first ethical elephant sanctuary in Koh Samui, Southern Thailand. For those of you admiring the cover, it’s from Verano Residence and they are now starting on Phase 3 after Phase 2 has only one villa left for sale, and you can see further details about this exciting project inside. We even have details of a lady only bootcamp coming to Samui each year. And there’s more, lots more but now it’s up to you to open the Samui Bible of Real Estate and find what you are looking for. Enjoy
Published & Distribution Satayu Publishing Co.,Ltd. Publisher Office สำ�นักงาน Satayu Publishing Co., Ltd. 34/9 Moo 4, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Thailand. Mobile: +66 (0) 89 772 1589 Director กรรมการผู้จัดการ Yuwares Khathipphathee yu@satayu.com Advertising ฝ่ายขาย Staci-Lee Howard +66 (0) 86 950 2291 sales@satayu.com Yuwares +66 (0) 89 772 1589 yu@satayu.com Editor บรรณาธิการ Crispin Paton-Smith crispin@satayu.com Graphic Design Chayanisa Wetchasart Satayu Publishing Co.,Ltd. Accounting ฝ่ายบัญชี acc.satayu.publishing@gmail.com +66 (0) 89 772 1589 Legal Advisor ที่ปรึกษาด้านกฎหมาย Surin Puangpakdee from NSP & Laws Firm Publisher License เลขมาตรฐานสากลประจำ�นิตยสาร ISSN 1686-8838 ใบอนุญาตจดแจ้งการพิมพ์ สศก ๑๔ นศ/๒/๒๕๕๓ Printing & Colour separation สถานที่จัดพิมพ์ Amarin Printing & Publishing Co.,Ltd. 376 Chaiyaphruk Rd., Taling Chan, Bangkok Thailand 10170 T: +66 (0) 2 244 9000 Disclaimer: All the information, discussions and opinions contained herein are not to be a comprehensive study nor to provide advice, legal or otherwise and should not under any circumstances be used as a substitute for specific advice, legal or otherwise, in respect of individual situation and circumstances. Go green and save paper, read our online magazine. www.samui-phanganmagazine.com Now you can also find us here :
Crispin JG Paton-Smith Editor
Bangkok Airways Asia Boutique Airline, Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Samui Airport Emirates Airline Lounges in Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounges in Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok Oman Airline Lounges in Muscat Airport, Oman and Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok
NATURE
Architects
Location : Choeng Mon Beach Unit Type: Pool Villa 5 bedroom Ownership: Chanote Land Title
Contact: 063 592 8956 email: nature_architects@yahoo.com
Phase 3 now available
"Large 3 & 4 Bedroom Villas available" Already under construction
Samui Be One Co., Ltd 110 Moo 3, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84320 Thailand M: +66 (0) 83 182 5430 (Eng - Fr - Th), +66 (0) 87 999 1234 (Chinese) T: +66 (0) 77 960 560, E: sales@veranosamui.com, W: www.veranosamui.com
LUXURY 3 & 4 bedroom Seaview Villas for Sale Construction of Phase 2 almost completed CHAWENG NOI, KOH SAMUI
Property Experts on Samui IVL Property specialises in the rental, sales and management of high quality villas across the island of Koh Samui. Our team of local and international specialists have hand-on knowledge and experience of the local property market, what the island has to offer and how to get the most from your holiday or investment.
Visit our website for a comprehensive selection of properties to rent or buy, or call us during office hours on +66 (0)77 417 113 or anytime on +66 (0)83 107 6984
www.ivlproperty.com
VILLA MANAGEMENT HOLIDAY RENTALS VACATION SERVICES
KOH KOON villa anar
Luxury 5 bedroom villa | Max 10 adults Direct beach access | Private swimming pool Two sea kayaks | Private chef
Villa Riva
Baan Hansa
Baan Lealay
Villa Akira
Villa Shadow
Secret Beach
Villa Malouna
Villa Malabar
Baan Capo
Villa Orchid
Villa Uno
Villa Sirocco
www.luxuryvillasamui.com, www.mamboretreats.com (Samui-Phuket-Bali-Sri Lanka), Email: rentals@luxuryvillasamui.com 1/36 Moo 6, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand 84320 Tel: +66 (0) 77 484 634
contents
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inside & out 22 Tips & Tricks How to Create a DIY Coffee Station at Home 28
Architect's Talk Considerations in Building a Samui or Phangan Beach House
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Island Home Art Works
34 Outdoor Living G.I. Jane Bootcamp
30
realty in focus 38 Legal Buzz Leasehold Ownership Structures Explained 42
Developer In-View HN Eco Construction- Solar City
48
Property Report Mortgage Finance to Invest into Crypto Currencies
50 Property Design Horizon Residence 56 Hot Property Nature Architects
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Personal Profile Stuart Maxwell Foulkes
64 Feature Verano Residence - Villas of Sanctuary
island life 70 Lifestyle Celes Beachfront Resort 74 Green Living/พื้นที่สีเขียว
ฟืน้ วิกฤติสร้างโอกาสตามแนวทาง
76 Green Scene Five Tips for Keeping our Koh Samui and Koh Phangan Beaches Clean 80
Island Scoop News From The Island
82 Home Help Homemade Glass Cleaner Tips
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56 life on the isles 84
Koh Samui Map
85
Koh Samui Living
88
Koh Phangan Map
89
Koh Phangan Living
the legal arena 94
Land Title Deeds
95 Chanote
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Tips for Starting the Biz English
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Tips for Starting the Biz Chinese
100
Tips for Starting the Biz German
102
Tips for Starting the Biz Russian
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Tips for Starting the Biz French
106
Building Regulations
108
Villa Rentals
directory 110
Island Contacts
SALES : +66 (0)80 535 1725 Rentals : +66 (0)81 737 6808 info@overseaspropertyportfolio.com www.overseaspropertyportfolio.com S A L E
S A L E
40% COMPLETE Type: Villa (S1329) Views: Sea
Bed/Bath: 4/4 Location: Chaweng Noi
Price: 5,500,000 THB
180° SEA VIEWS Type: Land (S1324) Views: Sea
Size: 1,450 sqm Location: Lamai
Price: 6,200,000 THB
R E D U C E D
S A L E
INVESTMENT Type: Villa (S600) Views: Garden/Pool
PRIVATE POOL VILLA
Bed/Bath: 3/3.5 Location: Bophut
Price: 6,500,000 THB
Type: Villa (S1325)
Bed/Bath: 2/2.5
Views: Garden/Pool Location: Choeng Mon Price: 7,000,000 THB
R E D U C E D
R E D U C E D
BEACH FRONT Type: Villa (S863) Views: Sea Price: 11,000,000 THB
Bed/Bath: 2/2 Location: Bang Por
SUNSET VIEWS Type: Villa (S949) Views: Sea
Bed/Bath: 2/2 Location: Taling Ngam
Price: 12,900,000 THB
SAMUI TOWN CENTER 119/20, Moo 1, Bophut, Koh Samui
“YOUR INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENT” Est. 2008
R E D U C E D
R E D U C E D
A MUST SEE!! Type: Villa (S076) Views: Sea
***QUICK SALE*** Bed/Bath: 4/3
Location: Bangrak
Type: Villa (S1167) Views: Sea
Bed/Bath: 4/4.5 Location: Maenam
Price: 17,900,000 THB
Price: 15,900,000 THB S A L E
R E D U C E D
SUNRISE & SUNSET Type: Villa (S1161) Views: Sea
Bed/Bath: 3/3.5 Location: Bophut
Price: 25,000,000 THB
BEACH FRONT Type: Villa (S1114) Views: Sea
Bed/Bath: 4/3.5 Location: Maenam
Price: 49,000,000 THB
R E N T
R E N T
1-12 MONTH RENTAL Type: Villa (S291) Views: Garden/Pool Price: from 30,000 THB p/m
Bed/Bath: 2/2 Location: Bophut
1-12 MONTH RENTAL Type: Villa (S1330) Views: Garden/Pool
Bed/Bath: 3/3.5 Location: Maenam
Price: from 75,000 THB p/m
P R O P ERT Y A N D LA N D SA L ES • R ENTAL S
ARCHITECTURAL / RESORT / AERIAL / STYLING / LIFESTYLE / FASHION ANNE SOPHIE MAESTRACCI - Professional Photographer
Ready To Shoot!
- Promotional film for luxury villas & resorts. - Corporate video. - 4K, drone, models management. www.cut-productions.com
inside & out | Tips & Tricks
How to Create a DIY Coffee Station at Home If coffee is as important in your life as mine it deserves a special spot in your kitchen. If you’re your coffee making in the mornings was as hectic as mine here’s how to create a DIY coffee station at home that becomes trendy and also damn useful. It was that one morning (being a coffee junkie), late, rushed and stressed trying to find everything I needed that I then knew my kitchen needed a dedicated area just for coffee. Since we were limited on counter space in our kitchen, there was simply no room for a real coffee maker. Creating a coffee station at home was the perfect solution to give me the space and excuse to buy that coffee machine I desperately needed.
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COFFEE MAKER Quite simply you can’t have a coffee station at home without a real coffee maker. If your one of those that considers spooning some dried powder as coffee into your coffee then you needn’t read any further. When I was looking for a coffee maker I wanted one with both an espresso maker and a steam froth function. Although I don’t use it nearly enough, I love having the ability to froth up some milk for a delicious cappuccino. If you’re willing to spend a bit more than the large retail shops but have the excellent after sales service have a first look at Boncafe in Bophut. They also have some of the best choices in coffee beans and an amazing selection of syrups to add. If you’re on a full budget there are some great offers always on Lazada.
COUNTERTOP FOR COFFEE MAKER Since we didn’t have any extra counter top space in our small kitchen (we didn’t have a pantry either!), we needed to create a countertop for the coffee maker. We did this by bringing in a vintage dresser. There’s also some cool ideas here with old office desks which normally have some useful shelving and slots to help with storage. We found one shortly after we moved to Samui second hand. It was in pretty bad shape, but it just need a little bit of tender loving care and now it looks beautiful!? The reason a dresser or desk is a great solution for your DIY coffee station at home is all the amazing storage…which brings me to my next essential item for your coffee bar…. STORAGE FOR MUGS You definitely need storage for mugs in your coffee station at home. We’ve got a bit a mug and that’s kind of an understatement and rarely are two alike. We store the mugs in the drawers of the vintage dresser or on shelving space above the machine. The colourful charade of mugs actually blends in and puts a bit of an old worldly feel on the whole set up. Also, we have mugs displayed on floating shelves and hooks on the wall above the dresser. This adds character and charm to our DIY coffee station at home. I loved arranging the shelves, and the vintage coffee signs in a gallery wall above the coffee station. EASY ACCESS TO COFFEE BEANS ETC One of the most important things to make your coffee bar functional is easy access to coffee beans, sugar and coffee powder. Having everything right on hand makes your morning coffee that much easier. CLOSE PROXIMITY TO RUBISH BIN & SINK Wherever you put your DIY coffee station at home, be sure you are only a few steps away from a rubbish bin & sink. You’ll need to dump out the old coffee grinds in the filter and fill up the water to make your coffee. You don’t want to be going down miles just to make the coffee. We put our coffee bar just on the edge of our kitchen. Put fresh flowers and lavender in a vintage coffee can on your coffee bar. I found one at a hardware store full of old nails, I think they thought I was crazy when I said I wanted to buy the tin. Looks great just for 50 baht! Less is More, unless it's coffee
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samui phangan real estate 
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For Sale
Villa Mojito A beachside vacation home with 10% annual rental income from the first day of ownership
Spacious, ready to move in 5-bedroom villa on a Chanote land Pool 12x4,4 | Sala by the pool | Covered rooftop lounge terrace | Cinema “under the stars� Incredibly child and family friendly Secure managed gated villa estate High quality construction by an experienced European construction team Cost-efficient all-inclusive villa management package No restrictions for personal use Onsite reception, restaurant (coming soon) and kids playground
Come to fall in love and stay! WWW.BANTAIESTATE.COM | Tel: +66 (0) 91 826 7392
inside & out | architect's talk
Considerations in Building a Samui or Phangan Beach House
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There is no denying that a beach house on Koh Samui or Koh Phangan is a great escape. The beautiful views and cool breezes are just a couple of the awesome things about beach front living and when you consider building your own house on your own little piece of paradise there are certain conditions you'll want to account for. One of the most important factors in building a home is location but this is especially true when it comes to building a beach house. You want to consider factors such as proximity to the water and also check local variances and beach erosion trends so you can select a safe place to build your home. Everything from location to materials should easily fit into your lifestyle whether you are working on your interior or exterior. Taking a few things into consideration as you build can make your beach house a home you will love for years to come. As we all know, Samui’s coastal areas may be subjected to severe weather. Consider obvious precautions like building your house on stilts to protect the house in case of flooding or storm surge (this can also give you a better view) and install storm windows and shutters so that you will be protected when severe weather and driving rain. Building a Durable Beach House Building your own beach house can be just like having your own piece of paradise. Consider the materials you will use in your design now and you can have a stress-free oasis for years to come. Remember that what makes your beach house your own are your little personal touches so don’t be afraid to experiment with your décor. It’s not hard to understand why a beach house has a more limited construction design. If you’re building on sand and are lucky enough to have a lot not too far from the ocean, your house will need a foundation specifically designed to keep it from literally being washed away. Next, the wind can pick up and send a veritable sandstorm hurling at your home. This may not be enough to carry your home away, but it can cause significant surface damage in some home exterior materials. On the other hand, many beach homes also face the threat of tropical storms. A combination of strong building materials and aerodynamic design should keep your home standing and in good structural shape even during strong winds that can hit Samui. Outdoor Living Spaces Despite the structural demands, there’s no reason you can’t have your dream beach house. It is often about accommodating livable outdoor space; screen porches, observation decks, patios, and other outdoor spaces expand your home’s floor plan without skyrocketing the building costs. In fact, it’s not unreasonable for as much as a third of your living space to be an outdoor extension of your home. Many beach house plans are designed for the home’s interior to enhance the feeling of openness. Take advantage of the beautiful weather and views at your beach house with a wraparound porch or deck. You can provide shade with retractable awnings, umbrellas, or a sun sail. Air can be moved through covered porches with ceiling fans and if you really want to turn your outdoor space into an entertainment area, you can even build an outdoor kitchen on your patio or deck. One of the best factors in living by the beach is that fragrant, refreshing sea breeze. Make sure your home has an open concept design in order to let light and air travel freely throughout your spaces. You can enhance ventilation by adding a sliding glass door and large windows that open on either side. You will get a nice breeze with good air circulation, keeping interior air from becoming stagnant. Furnishings That said, you don’t want to get so carried away you miss the essentials. Besides decent-sized kitchens and bathrooms, guest rooms are a good idea. Let’s face it: If you own a beach home, friends (both near and far) are going to be dropping hints about showing up for a visit. Plus, as much as you love the outdoors, the time undoubtedly comes when you want the climate-controlled comfort and ease of modern, indoor amenities. There are little things that you will want to think about when you are furnishing your home. Since you'll be visiting the beach and walking it on a day to day basis then you may want to opt for light colored decking/ flooring so that tracked in sand doesn’t show as much, and use flush thresholds to make sweeping it out easy. You also want to look for durable items that can withstand the rigors of indoor and outdoor living and washable slipcovers for your furniture.
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inside & out | island home
Art works
Interior design can be exciting and daunting at the same time. Whether you are starting from scratch or just refreshing what you already have as you could be about to spend some serious money. To help you with your decisions you have sought the advice of an interior designer and together prepared a mood board which will act as your road map to your interior destination. The exciting part is about to take place, choosing furniture.
You have seen some great things you would like to buy, but wait, have you considered what art you are going to hang on your walls? Haven’t thought about it yet? Okay, stop right there. Did you budget for art pieces when you were flashing out for your interior design? Because art pieces that hang on the wall or are placed within the room can be either expensive or affordable and price differences can be considerable. If you have spent most of your budget on furniture and fittings that naturally limits your choice if you want to make a grand statement with a piece of art later on. So, make sure you think about what art you would like and budget accordingly. Choosing art need not be difficult. Decide if you want to make a grand statement or just fill a space on the wall. Both are perfectly acceptable but the grand statement needs special thought. Size does matter here because if the piece is large the focus will be on that piece and less on the overall look of the room. But that might be exactly what you want. Whilst original art can be expensive, photographs are less so and a good way to dip your toes into the art market. Unlike originals or one offs, photographs can be bought in limited additions and therefore will suit most budgets. Buying from a dealer is a good way to start and a dealer will also help with the framing or recommend someone they know. Look out for photographic exhibitions in your area as these can be a way of discovering new up-and coming photographers or new work by established photographers. Also, prominent furniture and design shops will often sell art as well and they choose pieces that complement their furniture and design styles.
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Lastly, as with the furniture you choose, when you buy an art piece or picture placement is important and can make or break your design vision. Therefore, do consult with your interior designer as their experience will be invaluable and remember, experiment, move things around to see what works best for you. Adrian Rawle ORIENTAL LIVING & LOFT BY ORIENTAL LIVING +66 ( 0 ) 77-247675 / +66 ( 0 ) 77-423877 info@oriental-living.net www.oriental-living.net
HORIZON RESIDENCE CONDOMINIUM CHOENG MON, KOH SAMUI WHERE GOOD TASTE IS A LIFESTYLE CHOICE Overlooking a picture perfect paradise, the Horizon Residence location could not be better situated. Nestled in the heart of Choeng Mon and just a four minute walk to the most beautiful beach on Koh Samui, contemporary island living has never looked so good. Horizon Residence is secluded yet instantly accessible to the burgeoning scene of Choeng Mon and only minutes from the shopping and night life of Chaweng.
STARTING PRICE 3,900,000 THB FOREIGN FREEHOLD
HIGHLY COMMENDED BEST RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT (SAMUI) Horizon Residence by Residence Gold Company Ltd.
APARTMENTS • 55% of units sold/reserved • Sizes start from 45 Sqm • 1 & 2 Bedroom units • Direct foreign ownership • 8% Projected net rental returns • Show unit ready for viewing • Resort management & facilities
TOWNHOUSES
• Prices start from 8,610,000 THB • 85% of units sold/reserved • Sizes start from 123 Sqm • 2 & 3 Bedroom units • Secure leasehold ownership • 8% Projected net rental returns • Resort management & facilities w: www.horizon-residence.com e: info@horizon-residence.com t: +66 (0) 77 417 005 m: +66 (0) 85 660 2794
inside & out | outdoor living
GiJane Bootcamp
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She Who Dares Changes
G.I. Jane Bootcamp is designed to... change you both mentally and physically, the aim at G.I. Jane is to inspire women to achieve their personal best by rigorous exercise and healthy eating while having fun! G.I. Jane Bootcamp is designed as a team building program to get their patrons working together and making friends. At the end of your week you will return home with weight & inches lost but friendships and great memories gained. On completion of the Bootcamp your eating habits will have adapted due to the carefully designed diet and nutritional advice, giving you the tools to succeed further in your everyday life. G.I. Jane Bootcamp is proud to announce our 6th year bootcamp out in Thailand and it will be their 3rd year at the 'Easy Time Resort' Samui. Clients fly in from all over the world and they have ladies who love it so much they book every year. The camp is not just about health and fitness but is brilliant for your mental health as well. Many clients have genuine life changing experiences with G.I. Jane Bootcamp and when they leave implement positive changes in to their life's.
Koh Samui
The spectacular location of Koh Samui in Thailand has been chosen for its world-renowned hospitality and outstanding accommodation. You will be accommodated on a private complex; used only by G.I. Jane clients, with its own large swimming pool and just a few steps away from the beach. All bedrooms have air conditioning and own bathrooms. Your stay will include: accommodation in a shared room for 7 nights, fully inclusive of all food and beverages, full military training, 7 x 1 hour massages and off-site activities, plus transfers from/to Koh Samui Airport.
Cuisine:
All your dietary requirements will be met by our 'on site' Thai Chef; using only fresh produce and locally sourced from the island of Koh Samui. Thai cuisine is extremely healthy; yet very tasty. So be prepared to be impressed by our mouthwatering menu.
G.I. Jane Promise to You: Bootcamp Koh Samui will be a unique and exciting experience, with the added knowledge that you will still be trained by our amazing British Military Trainers, who will be flying out, especially for this. The Bootcamp will still have the same rules and regulations and will still be run as a military bootcamp, with the added attraction of the beautiful scenery and sunshine. If you work hard during your time, you will not only drop a dress size, look and feel amazing, you will also have a life changing experience. All trainers are military trained and are fantastic at encouraging, motivating and inspiring their ladies to get the very best from their time at the camp. We are also brilliant fun and make sure every day is filled joy and laughter.
About Us
Since their inception in 2008, G.I. Jane's have been honored to help hundreds of ladies of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes achieve their goal of losing weight; and most importantly keeping it off! Bootcampers leave feeling fit, healthy, revitalized and rejuvenated. G.I. Jane's do not believe in diets and do not claim to be a quick fix. For us it is about training your mind; as well as your body, so you can maintain a healthy life style when you leave camp. But G.I. Jane’s Bootcamp is not just about weight loss; clients come to us for a number of different reasons and how you feel about yourself can affect all aspects of your life. We have helped ladies overcome: low self-esteem, relationship break ups, bereavement and so much more. Think of your time at the Bootcamp being an investment in YOU! The bootcamp experience is tough not only physically but also mentally but G.I. Jane's fantastic staff and your fellow bootcampers to pull you through you will surprise yourself and achieve things you never thought possible. Although bootcamp is hard it is also designed to be fun, empowering and life changing. G.I. Jane want you to leave not just looking good but feeling good because when you feel good you always look good. Places are Limited to 14 places and a 30% deposit will reserve your place, Tel: +44 (0) 208 301 4353 info@gijanebootcamp.co.uk
LOCATED IN CHAWENG Maenam Bangrak
Chaweng
Lamai +66 (0) 77 423 503 info @ oceanisamui.com www.oceanisamui.com 36 
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FREEHOLD PROPERTIES 6 private sea view villas Chaweng hill (8min to Chaweng center) Approximately 200m2 on 580m2 land European premium quality Infinity pool 2 Bedrooms: 7.95 MTHB 3 bedrooms: 8.95 MTHB
realty in focus l legal buzz
Leasehold Ownership Structures Explained Many developers of leasehold apartment projects in Koh Samui and Koh Phangan offer to prospective buyers an ownership structure which is often described in marketing materials and on project web sites as a 30 + 30 + 30-year renewable lease. It is important for would- be second home to buyers to fully understand what rights over the property they are actually acquiring when they enter into such lease schemes. The following article examines the concept of the 30 + 30 + 30-year lease and identifies some important issues which can affect an investor’s security of tenure in residential leasehold structures. In accordance with Thai law, a registered lease is limited to a term of 30 years. Section 540 of the Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand states that: “The duration of a hire of immovable property cannot exceed 30 years. If it is made for a longer period, it is to be reduced to 30 years. The aforesaid period may be renewed, but it may not exceed 30 years from the date of renewal”. Land officers will refuse to register any lease with a term of more than 30 years. Clearly a 30 year lease is not a particularly attractive investment to an investor who is looking to secure the use of a property in the long term and the future value of the property will diminish as the lease draws closer to its term date. In order to allow buyers to occupy the leased property for a term of more than 30 years, many developers provide buyers with a contractual promise to grant contractual options to the buyer allowing the buyer to renew the lease for multiple (usually two or three) subsequent lease terms of 30 years each. The lease renewal options usually take the form of a series of clauses in an Addendum to the Lease Agreement to the effect that immediately upon the expiry of the initial registered lease term, the parties shall immediately register a new lease on precisely the same terms for a further term of 30 years or the longest registerable lease term at the time of each contractual renewal. The rental for each contractual renewal is usually limited to no more than the costs of registering the subsequent leases. It is important for buyers to ensure that the legal provisions for the renewal of the lease are as robust as possible and that the procedure set out in the addendum to the lease agreement for the registration of the lease renewals are clearly defined. The identity of the person or entity granting the lease (usually called the Lessor) is an important consideration for investors and can have an impact upon the likelihood of the lease being renewed at the end of the initial 30-year term. Buyers should be aware, for example, that if the Lessor is a living person, it may not be possible for the buyer to enforce the lease renewal options against the heirs of the Lessor in the event that the Lessor dies during the initial 30-year registered lease term.
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The security of the lease renewal can be enhanced if the Lessor is a limited Thai company. Legally speaking, a limited Thai company is a “legal person” in the sense that it can be sued in the same way as a living person if it fails to perform its obligations under a lease contract, however, unlike a living person, a limited company cannot die or disappear. Notwithstanding the benefits of leasing from a limited Thai Company, the Thai company itself must be correctly and legally formed and properly maintained during the lease term. If the Thai company is not properly maintained, for example, if it fails to be submit its audited balance sheet in each tax year, the Thai Company could be “struck off” requiring a court order to be re-instated to the company register. It is important for buyers to understand that the land office will refuse to register any lease which contains reference to the contractual renewal options. As mentioned above, the longest registerable lease term in Thailand and 30 years and this is the maximum lease term that can be registered. Reference to any additional lease term in the lease agreement will be viewed by the official registrar at the land office as an attempt to register a lease for more than 30 years and will be rejected. Accordingly, the contractual lease renewal provisions must be contained in a separate agreement to the lease agreement. A number of leading property developers in Koh Samui offer a more sophisticated “Protected Leasehold Structure” to buyers in residential developments. In addition to the registered 30-year lease with lease renewal options, the investor is also provided with a share in an offshore company which in turn owns shares a limited Thai company which owns the project land and grants the lease to the each of the buyers. This structure allows the owners in the project, collectively, to exercise control over certain important decisions of the land-owning company relating to the land, such as (in certain circumstances), the lease renewals. In conclusion, leasehold investments are a secure and viable means of acquiring an interest in real estate in Thailand for a term of 30 years. Any scheme which purports to provide a right to occupy property for longer than 30 years must be carefully designed and implemented. Buyers must be made aware of precisely what they are acquiring and the limitations with the structure. This article was written by Tanun Rungwiwattanakool, Attorney of Limcharoen Legal (Samui)), please contact our Koh Samui offices on 0935759675 or e-mail Samui@Limcharoen.com
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BLUE HILL RESIDENCE
Long Term Promotion
3 Bedrooms with a floor area of 200 sq.m with partial sea views, communal swimming pool and tropical garden. The property is located in a very peaceful area in the South of Lamai. On the first floor there is the living room, kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom and a very large roofed terrace. On the second floor there are two spacious double bedrooms, both with private bathrooms and a panoramic balcony with sea views. • Peaceful location • Only 700 meter to the beach • 3 bedrooms / 3 bathrooms • Modern Thai Style Design • Communal pool, Tropical garden and parking • Selling price: 11.9M THB • Rental price: start from 3,345 THB per night
purple orchid villa
Price Reduced
This alluring 3 master bedroom villa is located in the South of Lamai in a very cozy area. The villa is on 2 levels: 2 master bedrooms en-suite, overwater walkway, 2 spacious terraces and stairs with waterfall on the first floor. On the second floor grand master bedroom en-suite with a double-seated Jacuzzi, an open space area with a modern kitchen and living room with a magnificent sea view terrace. On the ground floor there is the house system room, the storage room and a beautiful swimming pool with bar and plunged stools. • The villa is fully furnished with Thai Style Interiors
from Chang Mai. Footprint 360sq.m | Land Plot 830sq.m 3 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms Swimming pool with suggestive sea view Air conditioning and Unlimited Free Wi-Fi Access all over the property • Selling Price: reduced from 11.5M to 10.5M THB! • Rental Price: starting from 4,200 THB per night • • • •
Blue Building Co. Ltd., Lamai Tel. Marco +66 (0) 828 195 815, Diego +66 (0) 870 461 314, Email: hill@samuibluebuilding.com
samui's best investment value and opportunity • 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedrooms with seaview • Keys in your hand within 12 months
• Contemporary style • Easy access
SWAY VILLAS PROJECT IN PLAI LAEM
• 2 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms • 144 sq.m footage • Stunning sea views
• Luxury facilities • Private beach access • Modern style
Luxury Suite for Rent in Laem Set
• • •
Total of about 10 rai of land From flat plots to the hill top with sea view Different size plots with own Chanotes
AMAZING LAND IN PLAI LAEM
• • •
Floor Area of 100 sq.m and Plot Size from 360 to 430 sq.m 2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Lush tropical garden with a large communal pool
BLUE COCONUT VILLAS
Start from 5.9M THB
AR03
Start from 5,845 THB/Day
• Convenient location and perfect access • Electricity and concrete road access • Plot of 580 sqm for 2M THB LS06
• • •
Air conditioning and Unlimited free Wi-fi Access all over the property Friendly staff 24/7 Rental Price start from 1,890 THB daily
VS05
• 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms • Stunning jungle and ocean view • Floor plan of 600 sq.m
Start from 2M THB
• saltwater pool • Yoga and massage available • 400 meter to the beach
MODERN POOL VILLA IN BANG POR VR08
• Already 25 years on Chaweng Beach Road • About 100 seats available
5.9M THB
FROM 15.000 THB daily
• Roughly 250 sq.m floor plan • Professional staff included • Rental contract till 2021 renewable
FAMOUS ITALIAN RESTAURANT FOR SALE CO06
6.9M THB
www.samuibluebuilding.com If you are looking for anything about construction. www.samuiblueproperty.com If you are looking for buying or renting your dream villa www.samuibluevilla.com If you are looking for villas hotel
realty in focus l developer in-view
HN ECO CONSTRUCTION
Solar City Reconciliation Ecology
More than 85% self-sufficient in electricity and water, low energy Villas in Chaweng Hills. What is Reconciliation Ecology? "Reconciliation ecology is the science of inventing, establishing and maintaining new habitats to conserve species diversity in places where people live, work and play." Humans now occupy more than 83% of earth's land surface. By occupy I don't mean that humans can actually be found living on every square meter of that 83%, but rather that humans have changed the land surface in some way that will affect the flora and fauna of the area. Surely that number has already increased since it was first estimated in 2002. This means that there is an ever-dwindling amount of land left over for the millions of other species that inhabit our planet. HN ECO CONSTRUCTION recognized that this small amount of land left over was not nearly enough to sustain the majority of the species on our planet. Specializing in eco-construction, eco-renovation and renewable energy, HN ECO CONSTRUCTION offers construction to European standards and uses alternative energies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide houses with very low utility charges (particularly thanks to rain water collection and solar panels).
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On Koh Samui island, this ECO movement began over a year ago. More and more professionals and private individuals are trying to find alternatives to fossil fuels. That’s why they ask HN ECO CONSTRUCTION to install photovoltaics systems. Using the latest generation of equipment and with full after sales services assurance they can overcome the Thailand grid instability and also have the potential for many savings.
SOLAR CITY is the 1st comprehensive eco-friendly building project in Koh Samui. samui phangan real estate 
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Solar City is an intimate building project in Chaweng Hills composed of 7 villas of 1 to 5 bedrooms with private pools and a wellness area, close to all amenities. Built in an idyllic and quiet setting surrounded by lush vegetation, with mindblowing 180 degrees’ sea views over Chaweng to Plai Laem Bay by day and by night. All 7 plots have full services, water, well and rain water collection, electricity as solar panels for utilities, and each one with an access road and that breathtaking view. The Club House has a 26m lap pool, Jacuzzi, fitness center, snacks and small shop.
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Become a green energy producer, reconcile ecology, comfort and savings giving you a faster return on investment due to very low utility charges.
WEBITE: www.samuisolarcity.com YOUTUBE: SAMUISOLARCITY FACEBOOK: SAMUI SOLAR CITY OFFICE: 9/22 Moo1, Maenam, Koh Samui 095 361 4559 (Eng) 095 361 4489 (Fr) Mail: hnconstructionsamui@gmail.com FACEBOOK: HN ECO CONSTRUCTION
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ช่วยกันลดโลกร้อนด้วยการแยกขยะ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
KEEPING OUR ISLANDS BEAUTIFUL STARTS WITH YOU !
SOLAR CITY 1st eco-friendly building project in Koh Sami SOLAR CITY 1er projet immobilier ECOLOGIQUE à Koh Samui
www.samuisolarcity.com SAMUISOLARCITY SAMUI SOLAR CITY
Chaweng Hills Club House access with 26 meter lap pool, fitness center, jacuzzi, snacks and small shop (without any cost !) Accès au Club House avec grand couloir de nage de 26 mètres, salle de sport, jacuzzi, petite restauration et commerce de proximité (sans aucune charge !) From 1 to 5 bedrooms 1 bedroom = 3,9 M* 2 bedrooms = 7,99 M* 3 bedrooms = 9,49 M* * starting from
More than 85% autonomous in electricity and water = low energy house Plus de 85% d’autonomie en électricité et eau = MAISON PASSIVE.
Come to visit your house in Virtual Reality Venez visiter votre maison en Réalité Virtuelle
HN Eco Construction 9/22 Moo1 Maenam Koh Samui Tel: 095 361 4559 (Eng), 095 361 4489 (Fr) Email: hnconstructionsamui@gmail.com Facebook: HN ECO CONSTRUCTION
Mortgage Finance to invest into Crypto
Currencies power when using pensions, Crypto may have provided an alternative income.
2018
is now upon us and well under way to becoming a hot year for Thai Property Finance.
As mentioned within the December & New Year magazine edition, the Chinese market was booming for Thai real estate transactions and already, we are seeing an ever increasing demand this New Year. Whether a 45 Sq.m. riverside condo in Bangkok, a luxury 650 Sq.m. penthouse overlooking the ocean in Pattaya or, a seaview beachside villa on our sun drenched shores of Koh Samui, the requests are coming in thick & fast. As Chinese staff working within Thai institutions become more widely known within the marketplace, this trend can only continue to grow in both the near & foreseeable future. One other growth area which I had touched on within my last few articles is where Thai property owners have been Refinancing existing Thai property which had been bought with cash and now, looking to use the Mortgaged funds to invest into Crypto currencies and leverage up on their investments. For those that did so the start of last year, the profits which would have been made, could now provide a platform to retire and live the final days of life in luxury within Thailand or overseas, particularly for those who invested heavily into the scene. A loan could easily have been paid off by now and with dream sized profits to live from. Particularly since the THB currency is still relatively strong in comparison to overseas currencies, which might have deflated any spending
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For 2018, as Crypto currencies are now becoming more widely adopted and mainstream, there are still the 2 sides to each tale which perhaps are becoming more prevalent. Is it a Bubble….. Is it a Ponzi scheme….. Is it going to Crash…. These same questions are widely debated repeatedly and split many Governments, Corporations, Banks and Individuals, over the response. For those that may have Mortgaged a home to invest heavily into an unknown Crypto currency scene, this is taking things to a new level of risk OR is it simply a leverage up on investments and belief in the future of money… All is still unknown. Certainly, those that may have mortgaged last year, on paper (or on computer….) could be deemed as doing relatively well… prices have rocketed to the moon and beyond… As a lender on Thai property, the main thing to usually plan for, is growth on net interest income, which means maintaining a performing loan portfolio where clients pay instalments on a monthly basis, on time, without delay until such time when the loan is paid off and then, the chanote/title deed is handed back to the borrower. The lender made a baht based loan on a Thai baht based property and the borrower most likely paid for instalments from income earned through employment or through previous fiat currency investments such as property acquisition and using fiat currency rental income as the source of repayment. This new world we are in, where a mortgage may have been made with the entire proceeds going into Crypto therefore, is a new kind of investment to make which could fall flat any day or, at any second. From a lenders perspective, let’s take a THB 10,000,000 property which was used to raise THB 5,000,000 of cash to
invest into the Crypto currency scene. If the client could not maintain the monthly instalments, than the lender would (after any legal process) take the property, sell at auction and most likely raise enough capital to pay off the outstanding loan of just half the original value of the property. The lender made money on the set up, over the duration (with an interest margin until non-payment) and would ultimately close the loan account without loss since all fees incurred will be deducted from the sale price, in theory! It would however have gone down as a non-performing loan but ultimately the lender would most likely have recovered any short term loss on paper after a little headache. From the borrower perspective, the THB 10,000,000 used to purchase a property in the first place may have taken several days, months or even years of working hard from 08:00 - 18:00 Monday to Friday/Saturday to save and save, in order to accumulate enough wealth to purchase the property in the first place. Whilst still working and earning a decent income, a borrower is able to afford a monthly instalment on any proposed Mortgage set up and is prepared to risk losing, the last however many years of working hard savings because, the mainstream news, social media and practically every daily news feed, is highlighting how millionaires are being made overnight, by Crypto currencies. If I invest THB 5,000,000 today, I will be a multi-millionaire tomorrow and never have to worry, ever again… This seems to be the market sentiment and everything goes up and up and up… Tomorrow, if the “what if it is a bubble” scenario actually happens and it bursts, this THB 5,000,000 mortgage on property which you had spent years to save up for, is now going to become a longer reality of debt. If one is in a secure guaranteed 10 year job and income, no matter what happens, this is of course no problem. Certainly as an expat in Thailand, things like health care, schooling & long distance overseas flights to family members do not come cheap. If after heavily investing into the Crypto scene things go “pop”, than these family orientated essentials will feel more even more costly! An optimistic approach about the future of money, may however believe, a bubble is not going to burst because, it is not a bubble OR, even if it did burst, it would not disappear completely since the ideas behind block chain technology and crypto currencies will still hang around and be adopted, only with a correction that will come back to new all-time highs in the future.
Mainstream media will generally focus on the top performing coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum & Litecoin etc. and when they see Bitcoin take a correction, all of a sudden it is reported as a major crash creating fear in the marketplace to such a point of tomorrow, everyone’s money will be gone (which could very well happen on a major hack). Towards the end of 2017 and start of 2018, ALT coins (everything other than Bitcoin) have been in the spotlight for unimaginable investment returns. Coins such as XVG (Verge) came from out of the blue, to top 5 volume coins at one stage and is now trading within top 20 (at time of writing) and with claims to offer secured privacy in transactions. It has been reported that Bitcoin could ultimately be traceable to the owner, whereas this new breed of privacy coin, can obscure not just the sender and receiver but also the IP addresses making any transactions private at the choice, of the coin owner. This kind of coin may have been comparable to a “penny share” of old school stock exchanges, going to top 20 of all coins. Imagine mortgaging a family home to invest into this kind of extreme high risk investment, the lender may not worry but the wife might if it goes pear shaped... In summary, my articles last year were perhaps on the pro, crypto currency scene and was, a very easy way to make digital money through Mortgaging Thai property as collateral. 8.325% annual condo interest rate or 12% annual pool villa interest rate Vs 1,000% gains on digital currency… was a good deal…? For 2018, as mass adoption continues, being mindful of the ultimate risks involved should be on all radars. The classic phrases of “only invest what you can afford to lose” and “start small and multiply up” are mentioned repeatedly by existing Crypto investors and nobody wishes to take responsibility for other peoples investments it would seem. Many will say how well they are doing but, not mention anything about how to do it or, on what loses had been made at some stage through trial and error to get there... Each individual is prepared to take different levels of risk and all individuals are at different stages of life. Mortgaging a Thai property to invest into Crypto from an already multimillionaire status is a different kettle of fish to putting your only property and family home on the chopping block with school fees and family health to consider. Think carefully is of course the message. further information on how to "Finance Property & For Condos in Thailand", please feel free to email stuart@ mbkg.co.th OR, call 66 (0) 81278 5382 OR, Line ID stuartmaxwellfoulkes, I shall than be happy to assist.
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realty in focus l property design
Horizon Residence, Koh Samui’s premier development, located only a 4-minute walk to Koh Samui’s most beautiful beach, “Choeng Mon”.
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HIGHLY COMMENDED BEST RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT (SAMUI) Horizon Residence by Residence Gold Company Ltd.
Horizon Residence has been designed around the concept of healthy living. Healthy for the guests and residents, due to the 2 large swimming pools, fully equipped gym, and our close proximity to Choeng Mon beach, and also healthier for the environment, as we have actively sought ways to reduce the buildings “Carbon Footprint”. An Alu + an Aluminium composite will be used on the exterior of the buildings, which will dramatically reduce heat within the units, therefore reducing the usage of air-conditioning, and reducing the need to re-paint the exterior of the building. The insulation used in the walls, will also trap the cold air in the units, and produce far better sound insulation than normal brick walls. Each unit’s front door, will have rubber seals to stop cold air from escaping, which will also add to the sound insulation. The large interior communal staircase, with the eye-catching skylight, will have a pond at the base which will help cool down the area, negating the need for air-conditioning.
The Horizon Residence location could not be better situated, the airport is only minutes away, as are the main restaurants, bars, shopping areas, and the night life of Chaweng. Horizon Residence is offering its owners a fully managed investment and lifestyle opportunity. The stunning 45 apartments and 13 town houses will offer an unrivalled build quality, with a contemporary design. Providing modern living in an idyllic setting, the beautiful gardens and inviting pools will encapsulate the surroundings, and provide a peaceful environment for owners and guests to enjoy. The high-quality accommodation and ambient communal areas, including 2 communal swimming pools, a bar/ deli, gym, and a professional team of hotel experienced staff, will ensure that Horizon Residence will be a great place to stay for the abundance of tourists and owners that prefer the independence of staying in a “home from home”. Sport is essential to a healthy living and exercising regularly is recommended to all. For those reasons, Horizon Residence have decided to make the gym an important part of their facilities. Every person staying in a luxury condominium development like Horizon Residence should be able to exercise whenever they want. Their gym is easily accessible on the ground floor and is fully equipped with high end equipment.
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Apartments: - Purchase from 3,900,000 THB - Rent from 2,420 THB/night - Studio, 1 bedroom & 2 bedrooms Townhouses: - Purchase from 8,610,000 THB - Rent from 5,445 THB/night - 2 bedrooms & 3 bedrooms Why Horizon Residence? - Foreign Freehold - Gym & 2 Swimming pools - Shuttle service - Back-up generators - Full management services - Premium build and finishing - Onsite convenience store - Walk to Choeng Mon beach Horizon Residence are also happy to provide our owners and guests with back-up generators, a water recycling plant, a shuttle bus to the beach, elevators and soon an onsite convenience store to facilitate their day to day life. Location is always at the forefront of a property purchasers mind, and in this regard the Horizon Residence does not disappoint. Located 4 minutes’ walk away from Choeng Mon beach and restaurants, and within a short drive to the Samui International Airport, International Schools, Central Festival in Chaweng, Fisherman’s Village and the Santiburi 18 Hole International Golf Course, it is no wonder why Choeng Mon is the preferred location for discerning tourists and residents alike. For more information +66 (0) 77417005, +66 (0) 85 660 2794 INFO@HORIZON-RESIDENCE.COM WWW.HORIZON-RESIDENCE.COM
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realty in focus l hot property
NAture Architects
This villa is under construction on Choeng Mon Beach. About 4 months to completion The buyer will be able to choose the final finishings (bathroom, kitchen, tiling) and designs
25,000,000 THB Land Size: 600 sq.m Villa size: 490 sq.m 56
samui phangan real estate
HOT PROPERTY
Location: Choeng Mon Beach Unit Type : Pool Villa 5 Bedroom Ownership: Chanote Land Title Contact : 063 592 8956, E-mail : nature_architects@yahoo.com
SAMUI PROPERTIES.,CO.LTD
HOT PROPERTY FOR SALES
Fully furnished Fully fitted western kitchen Security system Natural swimming pool Tropical landscraping
Ref-no : LH004Y16 3 Bedrooms villa with Sea view Private swimming pool , Fully furnished
3 Bedrooms villa Garden view Private swimming pool , Fully furnished
3 Bedrooms villa Garden view Private swimming pool , Fully furnished
“ WE SERVE ALL PROPERTY NEEDS ”
Ref-no : HF002Y17 Ref-no : HR122 3 Bedrooms house Fully Furnish Tropical Garden Location Land Size Floor Area Access Price Sale
: : : : :
4 Bedrooms villa locate in Bophut Private swimming pool
Villa with seaview for Sale 4 Bedrooms + Pool + Fully furnished
Bang Rak 0 Rai 0 Ngan 66.25 Sqw. 125.00 Sqm. Public 4,800,000 THB
4 Bedrooms villa located in Lamai Private swimming pool
5 Bedrooms villa located in Chaweng Private swimming pool
4 Bedrooms + Pool + Fully furnished Garden view private swimming pool
realty in focus | personal profile
Stuart
Maxwell Foulkes
Welcome to this edition of Personal Profile and we are very thrilled this issue to have Stuart Maxwell Foulkes as our guest. Stuart might be a name you have noticed as he has already become quite an integral part of the magazine with his interesting and informative articles in our Property Report. We thought it was about time to let you get to know Stuart a little more and find out about his life and work in Thailand.
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Stuart, please tell us where you are originally from and when you came to Thailand? I come from a little village just outside of Plymouth in the South West of England. The region is also home for Ivor Dewdney Pasties, Plymouth Gin and of course, the famous Devonshire Cream Tea, which consists of Scones, Clotted Cream with Strawberry Jam, alongside a Pot of Tea which must come with a cup and Saucer. I moved to Thailand back in January 2010. Where are you now based? That’s a good question. Both Bangkok & Jomtien see a lot of me, though the main residence let’s say, is in Jomtien on the Eastern Seaboard. What is it you actually do? Matrix time is passed, by helping both Foreigner and Thai obtain finance, with property or land as collateral. Whether in Bangkok, Jomtien, Phuket, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai or Koh Samui etc. Finance can be both made and closed, with relative ease. Property inspections, marketing and managing client expectations, form the largest part of work. Where did you gain all this experience? Previous to Thailand, I had moved within a top 5 UK bank over a span of almost 10 years of which 8, were spent offshore between Isle of Man, Jersey and finally Hong Kong. None of which could have prepared me for how to get things done in Thailand! It did however provide a “solid background” for opening new doors to gain local Thai style experiences. Thailand has had much bad press about foreigners owning property, how do you feel that what you’re doing is something to change that? Being positive minded, I tend to miss any negative news and focus on moving forward. Corruption might appear evident for any newsworthy stories though also depends on what you are looking for and what frame of mind you are in. I believe for every wrong doing, there is an equal good thing happening somewhere, it just doesn’t make the news as won’t sell headlines. Offering finance to foreigners means we do Lender Due Diligence, which at-least is something to check legalities and formalities when using our services. Where do you feel that many foreigners go wrong? Going with the flow, having patience and not expecting anything to go in a straight line is useful. The lifestyle of Thailand is more relaxed, the sun is out, the sea is warm and has blue sky above the palm trees. For many, to come from a direct, professional environment where logic and speed comes as a standard, it will be difficult unless can understand things work differently here and adapt.
The Property Market in Thailand is still a good investment? Would you agree? As a lender offering finance to all would be buyers, yes, it’s a great investment, the more the merrier and you know where to come for finance. For someone looking for a property whether as an investment or home what would you advise? Do your own research, trust only a few and always do due diligence. There are dream properties around with some at only a fraction of what it would cost “back home”, though could turn into a nightmare if not properly done. As a lender, we carry out our own due diligence before we lend on anything, so certainly if you are mortgaging with us, a little comfort could be taken in the fact we are not going to hand over any cash unless, we were secure in the collateral. We also have a pre-approved list of condo’s which means we are fine for that project. When you eventually finish working and retire, where will you settle? I always fancied a little beach cafe with decent music, overlooking turquoise waters, underneath a blue sky and bright sun on a relatively small island which is connected to the outside world, but not too much connected… Guess that would-be Koh Samui then! I do however miss my parents and UK family loads, so could quite easily be tempted back to the little village back home, where I have strong fond memories. Last but not least, do you think that Cryptocurrency has a good future in Thailand or Asian? Traditional banking feels more and more dated now Cryptocurrency has come along. Whether Crypto is the ultimate Ponzi scheme OR, is the future of money, is yet to be told. Being able to send a coin which has some kind of perceived value from Thailand, to Australia, to UK, to Japan, to Dubai or even in theory from planet to planet, in just a matter of seconds at a fraction of cost is surely a good thing… Having the option to either transact publicly or privately is surely a good thing when doing business… For now, I see the cash based countries making rapid strides into Crypto more than traditional western style bank orientated countries. A future of Crypto and 50% less banks in 5 years wouldn’t surprise me. Stuart M. Foulkes Expat Team Head / Credit Analyst MBK Guarantee Company Limited 444 12th Fl. MBK Tower, Phayathai Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Mobile +66 (0) 81278 5382 Fax: +66 (0) 2620 7879 E-Mail 1 - stuart@mbk-center.co.th E-Mail 2 - stuart@mbkg.co.th Web - www.mbk-center.co.th Line ID - stuartmaxwellfoulkesa samui phangan real estate
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Baan Lily
LUXURY 5 & 3 BEDROOM VILLAS FOR RENT We feel our beautiful villas offer great style and elegance at an excellent price. All of our villas have spacious open plan living areas, bespoke furniture and are set in landscaped tropical gardens with private pools. Conveniently situated between Bophut Fisherman’s Village & Chaweng.
Baan Batur For reservations please contact Helen +66 (0) 879228381 Fore more information please see our website www.luxuryvillasiam.com samui phangan real estate  63
realty in focus l feature
A Villa and Sanctuary Verano Residence
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W
hile most developments on Koh Samui tend to opt for a very minimalistic and very modern design, the developer and architect at Verano Residence have bucked the trend by going for a mix of tropical modern styles. Each expansive villa combines modern luxury with tropical elegance to deliver a sophisticated sanctuary for families or groups of friends. Each villa sits on fully landscaped plots, ranging between 700 and 1,250 sq.m, which gives plenty of privacy between each villa and gives the real feeling of owning a private villa on a tropical island.
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The interiors, while open plan with over 3 metre high ceilings, are a combination of South East Asian influences and Western modernism. However, each owner buying while under construction has the possibility to modify and personalize the interior design to suit their own style.
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This, in addition to the fact that the outside look of each villa blends well with nature, is one of the many reasons of the success of Verano with only 1 villa left in Phase 2. Phase 3 is already under construction with a mix of 13 three and four bedroom villas with completion of the first villa of Phase 3 expected to be end of 2018. The development of Verano has been carefully planned in stages so as to create a quality set of residences that will stand the test of time in design and functionality. 10 Villas are already completed! Once you purchase your Verano home, you have the option to reside and keep your villa or enter your villa into a professional management company program. Details can be obtained at sales@veranosamui.com or by calling Vincent Brun +66( 0) 83 182 5430
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AV
4K
AV Installation System Limited Partnership Panya Phlanisong (Poe) Managing Director
2/19 Moo.6, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Tel +66(0) 89 971 5775, +66(0) 87 889 8627 Email:info@av-installationsystem.com, www.av-installationsystem.com
Audiovisual & Electrical system Sales, Installation and Service with home automation
Island Life | lifestyle
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Celes Short for Celeste. Celes truly draws its inspiration from the definition of the word which refers to blue sky. Set on the serene Bophut beach with breath taking panoramic views of the ocean and Koh Phangan. Celes spreads 270m across the beach making it the only five star resort with the longest beachfront on the tropical island of Koh Samui. Harmoniously combining the modern structures of the beautiful surroundings, Celes is an exquisite result of elegance and simplicity from the very first step into the resort down to the rooms, every detail at Celes embodies tranquillity and luxury comfort. All rooms and villas at Celes are complete with a touch of sophistication and all the essential amenities for your comfort, they are readily equipped with entertainment systems and complimentary Wi-Fi. You can also personalise your stay with their exclusive amenity and pillow menus.
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At Celes you can fully indulge in a variety of facilities and services for an unforgettable holiday and unique experience. The property features a beachfront, outdoor salt water pool, fitness centre, spa and restaurant. Celes also offers on-site activities such as Thai cooking lessons and Muay Thai classes. For offsite activities their friendly staff can assist you with recommendations and reservations. With stunning views, a remarkable design and exceptional service, Celeste is unquestionably an irresistible choice for your getaway. Celes can organise trips to the neighbouring islands and the beautiful Angthong National Marine Park. All manner of watersports are readily available including scuba-diving excursions and certification courses, you can also enjoy their swimming pools with seaviews right there in the middle of the resort which have specially designed areas for children to ensure your relaxation and their safety. There are a total of 68 rooms and Villas separated into two zones. Botanical Zone has 50 rooms each having their own terrace or balcony and 18 villas with outdoor gardens and swimming pools. The Seagrille Restaurant has an all-day dining service, serving you international dishes every day from 07:00hrs to 20:30hrs. Whether you are looking to satisfy your hunger or tickle your taste buds their experience chefs have a carefully crafted food and the drinks menu for inspiration from around the world.
Celes Beachfront Resort is located on the pristine Bophut beach only 8 km from the airport and all the important amenities. With stunning views of Koh Phangan the beach is one of the most beautiful things you will ever experience and at 270m long it is the longest beach front of any resort on the island. Celes Beachfront Resort 175/3 Thaveerat-Pakdee Road, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surathani, Thailand. Tel: +66 (0) 77 900 999 Fax: +66 (0) 77 900 555 Email: info@celesresorts.com Web: www.celesresorts.com Facebook: celesresorts IG: celes_beachfront
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ฟื้นวิกฤติสร้างโอกาสตามแนวทาง “ปราชญ์กสิกรรมธรรมชาติ”
Blogpost โดย นฤมล
“เกษตรกรรม” เป็นอาชีพทีห่ ล่อเลีย้ งคนไทยมาช้านาน ประชากรส่วนใหญ่ ประกอบอาชีพทางการเกษตรและมีวถิ ภี มู ปิ ญ ั ญาทีเ่ กีย่ วข้องมาโดยตลอด แต่เกษตรกรส่วนมากกลับมีฐานะที่ไม่ดีท้งั ๆ ที่พวกเขาทำ�งานหนัก บาง ครอบครัวแทบจะไม่มอี นั จะกินทัง้ ๆ ทีพ่ วกเขาทำ�อาชีพเพาะปลูก อะไร คือสาเหตุของความล้มเหลวของระบบการเกษตร และอะไรคือทางออกที่ ยัง่ ยืนของปัญหานี้ เพียงไม่กท่ี ศวรรษทีผ่ า่ นมาวิถกี ารเกษตรได้เปลีย่ นแปลง ไปอย่างสิ้นเชิง เป้าหมายของการผลิตไม่ได้เป็นไปเพื่อการบริโภคในครัว เรือนและชุมชนอีกต่อไป แต่เป็นไปเพื่อผลกำ�ไรเป็นสำ�คัญ การเกษตรเชิง อุตสาหกรรมให้ความสำ�คัญกับการเพิ่มปริมาณ รูปลักษณ์ภายนอกของ ผลผลิต และการนำ�เทคโนโลยีราคาแพงมาใช้ การเปลีย่ นแปลงนีไ้ ม่ได้ท�ำ ให้ เกษตรกรมีชีวิตความเป็นอยู่ดีข้นึ อย่างที่พวกเขาเข้าใจ ตรงกันข้ามการใช้ สารเคมีเกษตร การนำ�เครื่องจักรมาแทนที่การเกื้อกูลกันในชุมชน กลับ เป็นการเพิม่ ต้นทุนให้กบั เกษตรกรและยังเป็นตัวการสำ�คัญในการทำ�ลาย ระบบนิเวศ นอกจากต้นทุนที่สูงขึ้นแล้วเกษตรกรยังถูกซ้ำ�เติมจากกลไก ราคาทีถ่ กู ควบคุมโดยผูเ้ ล่นรายใหญ่ไม่กร่ี าย ผู้ใหญ่สมศักดิ์ เครือวัลย์ เคยเป็นหนึ่งใน เกษตรกรผู้ล้มเหลวจากการทำ� เกษตรกรรมเชิงพาณิชย์ทพ่ี ง่ึ พาสารเคมีเป็นหลัก แต่สามารถพลิกวิกฤติมาส ร้างความมัน่ คงให้กบั ชีวติ ได้อกี ครัง้ ด้วยการเดินตามวิถแี ห่งเกษตรพอเพียง ทีใ่ ห้ความสำ�คัญกับความจำ�เป็นขัน้ พืน้ ฐาน การสร้างความเกือ้ กูลในสังคม และธรรมชาติ แทนทีก่ ารมุง่ แสวงหาผลกำ�ไรเป็นสำ�คัญ 74
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“ฟืน ้ วิกฤติสร้างโอกาส ปราชญ์กสิกรรมธรรมชาติ” จากบทเรียนที่ได้รับทำ�ให้ผ้ใู หญ่สมศักดิ์ หันมาให้ความสำ�คัญกับปัจจัยขั้น พื้นฐานนั่นก็คือ อาหาร แนวทางของผู้ใหญ่คือ “ชอบกินอะไรก็ปลูกอัน นั้น” (แทนการปลูกพืชเศรษฐกิจเพื่อไปขายเอาเงินแล้วจึงนำ�เงินนั้นไปซื้อ อาหารอีกที) แต่การจะมีอาหารทีด่ นี น้ั ก็จะต้องมี ดิน น้�ำ และป่า เป็นพืน้ ฐาน ผู้ใหญ่สมศักดิ์จึงปลูกพืชแบบผสมผสาน ตามแนวทางป่าสามอย่าง ประโยชน์สอ่ี ย่าง ซึง่ เป็นการนำ�พืชนานาชนิดมาปลูกร่วมกัน ไม่วา่ จะเป็นไม้ กิน ไม้ใช้ หรือแม้แต่สมุนไพร เพือ่ สร้างความเกือ้ กูลทางธรรมชาติ อนุรกั ษ์ ดินและน้�ำ การทีม่ พี ชื หลายชนิดไม่วา่ จะเป็นพืชอาหาร ไม้ใช้ ไม้พลังงาน (ไม้ ทำ�ฟืน) และสมุนไพร จะช่วยให้เกษตรกรสามารถพึง่ พาตัวเองได้มากขึน้ และ ยังช่วยลดรายจ่ายทำ�ให้พวกเขามีอสิ ระทางการเงินมากขึน้ ด้วย
จากปัญหาสูป่ ระโยชน์
ถ้าไม่พน่ ยาแล้วจะจัดการกับแมลงได้อย่างไร หนึง่ ในคำ�ตอบนัน้ อาจเป็นการ ใช้น�ำ้ หมักชีวภาพ หรือน้�ำ ส้มควันไม้ แต่จะดีกว่านัน้ หากเราสามารถเปลีย่ น ปัญหาให้เป็นประโยชน์ ซึ่งผู้ใหญ่สมศักดิ์ก็ได้ใช้วิธีอันเรียบง่ายซึ่งก็คือการ เลีย้ งกบเพือ่ กินแมลง เพียงแค่ขดุ บ่อเลีย้ งกบเล็ก ๆ แล้ว เปิดไฟล่อแมลง เหนือบ่อในเวลากลางคืน แมลงศัตรูพืชก็จะกลายเป็นอาหารอันโอชะของ กบอย่างง่ายดาย นอกจากจะเป็นมิตรกับสิง่ แวดล้อมแล้ว ยังได้อาหาร และ สามารถสร้างรายได้ให้กบั เกษตรกรอีกด้วย
ทำ�ปุย๋ ...เรือ่ งขึ้ ๆ
การทำ�ปุ๋ยเองเป็นหนึ่งในปัจจัยสำ�คัญในการลดต้นทุนการเกษตร ซึ่งผู้ใหญ่สมศักดิ์ได้ทำ�ปุ๋ย สองสูตรคือ ปุย๋ หมัก และน้�ำ หมักชีวภาพ โดยปุย๋ หมักนัน้ ส่วนหนึง่ จะเป็นผลผลิตทีไ่ ด้จากการ ทำ�หมูหลุม (ซึ่งอาหารหมูจะมาจากพืชผักที่มีอย่างเหลือใช้ภายในสวน) และอีกส่วนหนึ่งจะ ทำ�จากวัสดุเหลือใช้ในท้องถิน่ เช่น ซากมันสำ�ปะหลัง และซังอ้อย ซึง่ เกษตรกรสามารถหาซือ้ ได้ในราคาไม่แพง ส่วนน้�ำ หมักชีวภาพก็จะทำ�จากผลไม้ทม่ี อี ยูอ่ ย่างมากมายในสวน และส่วน ผสมเดียวทีต่ อ้ งซือ้ คือกากน้�ำ ตาล การทำ�ปุย๋ นีเ้ องทีเ่ ป็นตัวช่วยให้ผใู้ หญ่สามารถปลดหนีไ้ ด้ ใน ปัจจุบนั ปุย๋ ก็เป็นรายได้ส�ำ คัญทีผ่ ใู้ หญ่น�ำ มาหล่อเลีย้ งศูนย์ "พลังงานก็พ่งึ พาตัวเองได้ จาก
ห้องครัวสูห่ อ้ งเครือ่ ง"
ก้าวข้ามเรื่องปากท้องไปอีกขั้น น้ำ�มันเหลือใช้จากการปรุงอาหาร ผู้ใหญ่สมศักดิ์ยังสามารถ นำ�มาแปรรูปเป็นน้�ำ มันไบโอดีเซลสำ�หรับเติมรถยนต์และเครือ่ งสูบน้�ำ ได้อกี ด้วย วิธนี น้ี อกจาก จะช่วยลดการพึง่ พาพลังงานสกปรกจากภายนอก และช่วยกำ�จัดขยะได้อย่างดีเยีย่ มแล้ว ยัง ได้เทียนไขเป็นผลพลอยได้อกี ด้วย "พลังงานก็พง่ึ พาตัวเองได้ จากห้องครัวสูห่ อ้ งเครือ่ ง" ก้าวข้ามเรือ่ งปากท้องไปอีกขัน้ น้�ำ มันเหลือใช้จากการปรุงอาหาร ผูใ้ หญ่สมศักดิย์ งั สามารถนำ� มาแปรรูปเป็นน้�ำ มันไบโอดีเซลสำ�หรับเติมรถยนต์และเครือ่ งสูบน้�ำ ได้อกี ด้วย วิธนี น้ี อกจากจะ ช่วยลดการพึง่ พาพลังงานสกปรกจากภายนอก และช่วยกำ�จัดขยะได้อย่างดีเยีย่ มแล้ว ยังได้ เทียนไขเป็นผลพลอยได้อกี ด้วย ศูนย์กสิกรรมธรรมชาติสองสลึงของลุงผูใ้ หญ่สมศักดิ์ ได้เปิดอบรมให้บคุ คลทีม่ คี วามสนใจเกีย่ ว กับการทำ�เกษตรอินทรีย์ตามแนวเศรษฐกิจพอเพียงมานานหลายสิบปี ทุกครั้งที่มีการอบรม ผูใ้ หญ่จะสอนให้ลกู ศิษย์รเู้ ท่าทันกระแสทุนนิยมและรูจ้ กั ตนเองให้มากขึน้ ให้เปลีย่ นเป้าหมายที่ เป็นเงินทองมาเป็นปากท้องของตนก่อน เมือ่ ช่วยเหลือตนเองได้ตามสมควรแล้ว จึงนำ�ผลผลิต ไปแบ่งปันให้กบั คนใกล้ตวั เพราะสร้างความเกือ้ กูลในชุมชน จากนัน้ จึงแปรรูปและขายเอากำ�ไร หากทุกคนร่วมมือกันเพียงเท่านีเ้ ราก็จะสามารถสร้างการพัฒนาทีม่ น่ั คงและยัง่ ยืนได้ แต่สง่ิ ที่ สำ�คัญทีส่ ดุ คือ “เราจะต้องลงมือทำ�” เราสามารถนำ�โครงการนีม้ าปรับใช้ในเกาะสมุย เพือ่ เป็นแนวทางฟืน้ พัฒนาเกาะสมุยต่อไป http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/th/news/blog1/blog/60899/
island life l green scene
Five Tips for Keeping Our Koh Samui and Koh Phangan Beach Clean For those of us who live and work in Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, we know what every high season brings. Millions of people from all over the world flock to our amazing beaches during year. While the increased crowds are fantastic for local businesses, it does put an added stress on keeping our most precious asset clean. Below are five easy trips to keep our beaches clean, all through the year! 1. Bring Reusable or Recyclable Containers Pack your own food or drinks in recyclable or reusable containers. This will not only save you money but also reduce your environmental impact. An ice chest with reusable water bottles will keep you and your friends/ family cool and hydrated the entire trip! If you have to use single serve containers make sure to throw them away ASAP to prevent the trash from blowing away and possibly ending up in our ocean. 2. Avoid Plastic Bags and Polystyrene Containers Polystyrene, commonly referred to as Styrofoam, does not biodegrade and contains toxic chemicals that can leach into the food we eat and ocean water, should it become marine debris. When released into marine environments, polystyrene cells breakdown into small soft-pellets that can resemble fish eggs, which cannot be digested by marine wildlife. Single-use plastic bags are just as harmful. Plastic bags can entangle and suffocate marine wildlife. A wellknown example includes sea turtles choking on plastic bags after mistaking the bags for sea jellies. The thin walls of a single-use plastic bag are also more susceptible to breaking down into small plastic flakes, which marine wildlife can mistake for food. This is especially concerning because plastic has an “adsorb” property, which acts as a toxin magnet. These toxins can steep harmful chemicals in the water and enter the marine food chain from the bottom-up.
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3. Buy Local Whether it's souvenirs or tasty food for your beach day buying local will help to reduce the stress on the environment by reducing packaging and shipping costs that are part of shopping with larger retailers. Chaweng Beach for example has a wide variety of local vendors who sell just about anything you could ever need. 4. "Green" Sunscreen Sunscreen is a vital part of any beach day, but did you know that certain sun blocks have a negative impact on our environment and your skin? When chemical-based sunscreen washes off in the ocean, it can leave behind residues that are harmful to marine life, particularly coral reefs, according to a 2008 study published in Environmental Health Perspective. Active chemical ingredients can also penetrate your skin, which poses a potential health risk, according to research conducted by the non-profit Environmental Working Group. Opt for a biodegradable, mineral-based sunscreen for protection that’s healthy for you and the planet. 5. Get Involved in a Beach Clean Up Unfortunately, not everyone will follow all of these tips. Keeping our beaches clean extends beyond your family's day at the beach. There are numerous organizations and companies in Samui, such as 100 Degrees East, that organize and put on tons of beach cleanups all year round. However, you don’t have to wait for an organized event. Make a habit of cleaning up when you’re at the beach, or you can adopt a beach with a group of friends and make it an ongoing project. These easy steps will help keep Samui’s Beaches beautiful all summer long.
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International Property Show 2018, Dubai, UAE The Middle East’s Biggest Property Sales Platform for Local and International Real Estate Markets - The 13th edition of the International Property Show, an innovative event held annually in Dubai for international and local companies involved in sales and promotion of real estate to individual and institutional investors. Supported by the Dubai Land Department (DLD),International Property Show is the leading consumer event in Dubai making it a perfect platform for both International and local real estate markets to showcase their residential, commercial and mixeduse real estate products and to conduct serious transactional business. With the stability of the UAE real estate market, which continues to show a clear sustainable growth, IPS 2017 is set to be the most exciting show yet, providing consumers and real estate professionals from here and around the world with a ‘one-stop shop’ opportunity to capitalize and take advantage from the best property deals locally and internationally.please contact exporoad for exhibition stand design. With the UAE property transaction value increasing 38 per cent year-on-year, IPS 2015 is poised to become the most exciting show yet, providing consumers and real estate professionals from around the world with a one-stop shop opportunity to explore, invest and benefit from the best property deals locally and internationally. Date: 9th-11th April 2018 www.internationalpropertyshow.ae/
Samui Elephant Sanctuary
After a year of building and overcoming many challenges the Samui Elephant Sanctuary has now proudly opened its doors to the public. To go against the traditional way of handling elephants takes passion and determination but this is exactly what the Salangam family has achieved to make this change and a better life for their elephants. Samui Elephant Sanctuary opened on the 16th January with an inaugural ceremony for their first three elephant’s Sri Nin, Katoon and Kham Sean who will no longer have to go through life with a saddle on their back. This is a must visit if you come to Samui, to view these majestic animals in their own environment without being mistreated and forced into work. Open daily: 09h00 - 17h00 Email: samuielephantsanctuary@gmail.com Tel: 061 907 2111
Koh Samui Charity Fun Midnight Run SCHEDULE 14h00: opening of the onsite registration tents 18h00: closing of the onsite registration 21h00: press conference with all medias 22h00: concert at the Reggae Pub 23h30: race briefing 23h45: closure of the roads by local Police 23h59: count down Midnight: Start of the Race! 00h45: Arrival of the first runners 01h15: Award ceremony 01h45: Arrival of the last runners 02h15: Closure ceremony 02h30: Party time! The date is set for the 6th Charity Midnight Run organized by the Thai Hotel Association (THA) and the Thai Association of Koh Samui (TAKS) on the island of Koh Samui. The run will take place on Saturday 24th March 2018 at Chaweng Beach. Participants will run 5km or 10 km around the buzzy and lively streets of Chaweng Beach. The organizers are expecting between 1000 and 2000 participants for this 6th race and hope to see the charity run become one of the most popular events on the island! Proceeds from the event will be donated to some very worthy causes: firstly, to Koh Samui’s new School for Autistic Children and secondly to the Green Project supported by the Hotel Associations. The Mayor of Koh Samui together with the presidents of the THA and the TAKS, along with the PR team of Bangkok Airways and all the participating sponsors will be there to hand out trophies and awards to the winners. Many spectators will turn up to cheer and join in the celebrations as the competitors’ race along the Chaweng beach road and the crowded streets of the Green Mango then cross the finishing line at the Reggae Pub. This Charity Run is set to become one of the main features in Thailand’s calendar of social, sporting and charity events. Definitely this is an event not to be missed! The venue for the Charity Run is that shrine to Bob Marley, the famous Reggae Pub located on the banks of Chaweng Lake. For the Midnight Run, the Reggae Pub will turn into a veritable fortress of fun sporting an open-air dance floor with music spun by foreign DJs and a towering two-storey affair with long bars, pool tables and a live-music stage.
The race will start at midnight on Saturday 24th March 2018 exactly from the atmospheric Reggae Pub. Runners with their families and friends wearing fancy dress will inaugurate this 6th Koh Samui Midnight Run. This is the island’s only race to be held at night, allowing runners to enjoy cooler temperatures whilst racing through Chaweng centre’s lively neighbourhoods on 5 and 10 kilometre routes. The 5-km run will be one loop around Chaweng: from the Reggae pub around the Chaweng lake road, into Chaweng beach road, through the Soi Green Mango & The Sound Club, back onto the main road to turn right at the Try Out clothes shop, then back to the lake with the finishing line at the Reggae Pub. The 10 km Run will be the same as the 5km, but with 2 loops around Chaweng. PRICES FOR PARTICIPATION The prices are the same for both the 5 and 10 km race! A registration form pdf file can be found on our registration page and should be filled in. Application Fee: To apply for the 5 and 10 km runs there are two (2) fee options 1. 500 Baht 2. 1,000 Baht - includes entry to the Grand Raffle 3. 1,500 Baht - for late registration on race day- includes entry to the Grand Raffle The Grand Raffle will take place after the awards ceremony! The first price will be a brand-new scooter! We recommend that you pre-register in order to enjoy our best participation price and receive your race number and T-shirt.
This will be the place where all runners and supporters will gather to start the race.
All pre-registered participants will receive a race number and a Midnight Run 6th Edition T-shirt.
Khun Pee Sak, the owner, is delighted to welcome the first Koh Samui Midnight Run and is looking forward to backing the event for many years to come. The Reggae Pub will be open till late in the night as we expect racers to hang out here for a couple of beers after the race!
If you work for a hotel or association on the island, your hotel can sponsor your participation for 15,000 Baht and receive 10 registrations for you and your colleagues and friends. Or for 20,000 Baht you can receive 20 registrations for you and your colleagues and friends. www.samuimidnightrun.com
island life | home help
Homemade Glass Cleaner Tips
and Using Newspaper to Clean Glass Windows Best Tool for Wiping Windows You've probably heard this before, but the best homemade "rag" for windows is plain black-andwhite newspaper. It's free, it's recyclable, and it leaves glass and mirrors without streaks and lint. Cotton rags and paper towels leave too much lint, and paper towels are a waste of paper. How to Do the Newspaper Method 1) The only two products you need for this method, of course, are water and a couple of pages from an old newspaper. I’d recommend using the normal oldfashioned black-and-white papery kind, though, not the colored shiny pages used for ads and store flyers. 2) Then, dip the newspaper into a bowl of water, or run it under the faucet, and squeeze out any excess water so it is just damp and not dripping wet. 3) Then just scrub away at the window like you usually would. Unless it’s really, really filthy you probably won’t have to scrub too hard. 4)Then, just take a dry page of newspaper and polish the glass with it until all the water drops are gone and it looks clear and shiny. Put the newspaper into the recycling bin, and you’re done!
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Bonus Benefits of the Newspaper Method: No extra cost use old newspapers you’ve already finished reading Non-toxic no chemicals, no anything except for water. No streaks no leftover product residue No lint newspaper doesn’t leave dusty lint behind like paper towels No waste unlike paper towels soaked with glasscleaner, the newspaper can be recycled. I’ve heard of frugal household cleaning methods, but this is just about as frugal as it gets. The housewives of the olden days really knew what they were talking about. Happy cleaning! Making your own Glass Cleaner Solution A lot of things will work as a homemade glass cleaner, from rubbing alcohol to vinegar to soapy water. But single ingredients alone tend to have their own drawbacks. For example, vinegar does a decent job removing dust and water spots, but it doesn't cut through a lot of sticky stuff, and it tends to streak more than other cleaners. Rubbing alcohol is a potent cleaner but it's harsh and strong-smelling so it's not a great glass cleaner by itself. Combining ingredients is the secret to making a homemade glass cleaner that cleans well without streaking—just like the store-bought formulas.
Mixing Homemade Glass Cleaner Carefully mix together your cleaning ingredients in a new, empty spray bottle. Do not reuse a spray bottle that previously had another kind of cleaner in it. This eliminates the possibility of a toxic chemical reaction between the new ingredients and the old cleaner. Label the spray bottle as "glass cleaner" and keep it safely stored where curious pets or children will not have access to it. Basic Homemade Glass Cleaner Formula Mixing alcohol and white vinegar together makes a quickly evaporating glass and mirror cleaner that can complete with the cleaning power of national brands. This same recipe can also be used to give a nice shine to ceramic, chrome, and other hard surfaces. Note: Do not use vinegar on stone or other materials that can react with or be etched by the acid. 1 cup rubbing alcohol (Can buy at all the local pharmacies) 1 cup water 1 tablespoon vinegar (The cheap white one from 7/11 is perfect for this) Homemade Glass Cleaner with Corn Starch Yes, cornstarch. Why it helps is anyone's guess, but a lot of people with formerly filthy windows swear by it. There are a couple of tricks to using this formula: 1) shake the spray bottle well before spraying on the cleaner to mix up the solution, and 2) continue wiping until the glass is clear; if you leave the cleaner on the surface, the cornstarch leaves a residue. 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 2 cups water Microfiber Since you're interested in simple, homemade glass cleaners, it wouldn't be right not to mention the option of plain water. This is the exception to the previously mentioned advice about mixing ingredients for the best performance. Water is an excellent glass cleaner if— big "if"—you also have a very high-quality microfiber glass-cleaning cloth. The best microfiber cloths are made of 70 percent polyester and 30 percent polyamide. They also can cost upwards of $15 or $20 each. But if you wash and dry them properly (without fabric softener) and keep them in good condition, they'll clean glass with plain water just as well as another homemade cleaner setup. Cheap microfiber cloths don't have the same cleaning power and usually aren't worth the trouble; if you have a cheap cloth, you're probably better off with a blended solution and newspaper. samui phangan real estate
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The Ridge Anamaya Samui Emerald Villas IVL Property Mandalay Beach Villas
Callisto Villas
Minigolf Petcharat Marina
Nautilus
The Seasons Horizon Homes/ Horizon Residence/SIL Architects
Samui Living Company Satayu Publishing
RS Built
Mandalay/Onyx Realty Luxury Asia Lifestyles Remax Island Real Estate Samui Exotic Properties
Panorama Group
Archi Studio Seara Sports Panorama Group
Angthong Sunset Villas Panorama Group
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Verano Residence
Century 21
Pool & Shade
Makro
CD&P
Kanda Residences
LIVING IN KOH SAMUI
Image Courtesy of Samui Aerial Mapping
Despite being only 230km2 Koh Samui is one of the world’s top holiday destinations, pulling in tourists from across the globe... so popular in fact that people often don’t want to leave! The beautiful beaches, laidback lifestyle and plentiful amenities are just a few of the attractions that inspire people to pick up house and relocate to this idyllic island. Whether you are considering a permanent move or a holiday home, Koh Samui has plenty of exciting real estate opportunities to be snapped up. Attracting 1million+ visitors annually, Koh Samui is unique in that it appeals to a large variety of tourists including young back-packers, families, couples and high-end luxury travelers - as such the island takes on multiple personalities providing a considerable offering of accommodation, entertainment, shopping and dining. This can prove advantageous to those wishing to move as although one area might not suit there is bound to be a contrasting locality relatively close by. Samui bridges island life and comfortable western living perfectly, allowing residents to benefit from the relaxed ‘barefoot’ atmosphere whilst also indulging in their expected home comforts. The island has developed considerably over the years and now boasts a full range of service amenities and facilities. When it comes to ease of living the island boasts a good range of shopping facilities with Tesco, Makro, Big C and Tops supermarkets. Frequent 7-Elevens, Family Marts and Tesco Express make day-to-day shopping easy as well as the numerous fresh markets in each
area offering reasonably priced local cuisine alongside fresh fruit, vegetables, meats and fish. The retail market in Samui has shown considerable expansion over the last few years - most notably in the form of the recently opened Central Festival Shopping mall showcasing a delightful mix of local crafts and entertainment beside high end shopping and dining experiences. The mall caters to all budgets from designer fashion brands like Jim Thompson and Jaeger to high street brands such as Uniqlo and Aiiz. The Central World department store stocks international brands in clothes, accessories, toiletries and electronics. Chaweng, Bophut and Lamai also have busy shopping high-streets; Bophut in particular boasts an eclectic mix of boutique and luxury stores, most prominently in the newly built and stylish ‘The Wharf’ Shopping area. Known internationally for its comprehensive list of fine dining experiences and involvement of top class chefs, Samui is the first stop for many foodies exploring Thailand. The island hosts a plethora of 5 star dining establishments boasting top-class wine selections, artfully created dishes and opulent surroundings. Fortunately, not all eating experiences need pull so heavily on the purse strings, Samui offers a range to suit all budgets from boutique bistro’s, casual dining and, not forgetting, the impressive selection of local Thai restaurants offering a more affordable eating experience. Koh Samui is also a forerunner in the health food market, with many businesses successfully promoting specialised dining including raw, vegan and gluten free options. samui phangan real estate
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As with dining, the nightlife in Samui is diverse and works hard to cover all bases and preferences. Long-standing sophisticated beach clubs like Beach Republic and Nikki Beach serve top class food and beverages in chic poolside surroundings. For a livelier scene the bustling Chaweng high street, with it’s all-night bars and clubs attracts flocks of young travelers every night and regularly hosts international DJs and performers. Bophut’s small cobbled streets brimming with boutique bars and beachside restaurants is the perfect retreat for laid back, upmarket cocktail sipping. Lamai lies somewhere in between the two, appealing to both families and young people in search of a slightly less intense night out. Lipa Noi is favoured for romantic getaways, offering a secluded, yet still well catered option. Finally, displaying a delightful ramshackle charm, Nathon is a glimpse into a more authentic Thai residential experience away from the tourist route. For families moving to Koh Samui there is a wide choice of well-established nurseries and schools. International School Samui (ISS), Oonrack, Panyadee the British International Scool or Lamai International School provide reliable, internationally accredited education of high standard mostly following the English National Curriculum. There are a growing range of clubs and weekend activities available around the island to keep everyone in the family busy, including sporting clubs such as: football, dance, ju jitsu and horse riding and also more relaxed family days out at Coco Splash or Pink Elephant amusement park. Koh Samui is now easily very accessible both from within and outside Thailand; flights arrive and depart direct to Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and there are also two ferry piers serving the mainland. With this ease of access and so much on offer, Koh Samui has now become as much a place to live as it is a place to visit. It is a multi-faceted residential island with an enviable range of services and facilities to choose from, all of which combine to provide ‘Samuians’ with the perfect long-stay or permanent residence. With regard to real estate on Koh Samui, traditionally development on the island has been more abundant on the Northern and Eastern coasts mostly due to the proximity of busier towns, golf courses and of course the airport. These areas are significantly lucrative in terms of rental potential, and currently the most secure in terms of resale, as most tourists and buyers are still focusing on this part of the island. However, over the past few years the west coast has seen accelerated development, including a number of luxury hotels and resorts, so would certainly present an exciting opportunity for purchasers. While buying property in a foreign country is always going to be a big jump, investors in Samui can feel secure that they are investing in a rising market with solid foundations. As property offerings continue to improve in terms of scope and quality, Samui has attracted purchasers internationally, most numerous originating from China, Russia and the Middle East. Virtually all investors have seen their investment increase in value – capital appreciation varying from 15-20% annually or up to 90-100% from the launch of a project to transfer of title! The range of properties on offer has also diversified greatly, while once thai style villas and lower lying land was the main option now there is an ever growing number of western style condominium buildings, townhouses and luxury mountain villas. The rise in real estate has ensured that the property sector is soundly supported by professional services, such as English speaking lawyers; reliable real estate corporations; quality construction companies and efficient building suppliers. However it is still important to choose carefully and consider legal requirements at the time – please see back pages for more details on upto-date requirements. It is highly suggested that you speak with a qualified agent first if you do desire to invest in the island.
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life on the isles  l  koh phangan map
LIVING IN KOH PHANGAN
Image Courtesy of Koh Phangan Luxury Villas
Are you a discerning traveller? Wish to relax? Want to be active? Yearning for the element of balance? Then you need to look no further than incredible Koh Phangan where you will find meditation, yoga, saunas, detox and wellness centres to Muay Thai boxing, kayaking, wakeboarding, kite surfing, beach volleyball, paddle boarding, zip lining, elephant trekking, archery, diving, snorkelling, wave riding, free diving, horse riding, trekking trails, hiking trails, mountain biking, rock climbing and fine dining all at your fingertips. Koh Phangan, accessible via boat/catamaran from mainland Suratthani or a short ferry ride from Koh Samui, may be synonymous for the Full Moon Party contained at the southern most tip of the island, however, Koh Samui's pretty little sister has so much more to offer for all discerning tastes and budgets. Blessed with an abundance of waterfalls, the most famous of which must be Than Sadet Waterfall visited many times by the revered Great Rama V who left his royal seal engraved on a rock which can still be seen to this day. The late and beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej (also known as Rama IX - as he was the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty) had also visited Koh Phangan thus this island holds a spiritual connection to the Thai nation and tourists alike.
Buddhist Monks realised Koh Phangan's tranquillity and spiritual importance and subsequently settled in Wat Phu Khao Noi just outside of the main town of Thong Sala as one of the first temples on the island. Within an area of approximately 167km2 with over 70% being unspoilt mountainous and tropical forest many more temples are nestled coherently within the islands natural flora and fauna offering a feast for the eyes of all visitors. Koh Phangan being relatively undiscovered and undeveloped still has the postcard perfect secluded deserted beach coves awaiting discovery via the traditional mode of transport, the long tail boat or for the more intrepid explorer by hike. You truly feel that you are the first to leave a footprint! In that vein Koh Phangan's beauty is emerging as an attractive destination for weddings and events. Due to Koh Phangan's granite structure, there are several small mountains where it's possible to trek/hike. The highest being Khao Raa at over 600m above sea level taking 2-3 hours to realise the summit. There is a bounty of wildlife from monkeys, wild boar, exotic reptiles to stunning birds of paradise not forgetting the spectacular coral reefs that envelop the plentiful bays where the amazing underwater world is accessible for snorkelers and divers equally.
Image Courtesy of Kerry Manning
Luxurious chartered yachts circumnavigate this idyllic isle daily. Soaking up the bountiful canopy from off shore then anchoring to witness a stunning sunset that Mother Nature delivers time and time again. Koh Phangan, situated within the Gulf of Thailand in the province of Suratthani is the centre of the Samui Archepelago. Shouldering Koh Samui and Koh Tao it is not only “worth a visit” it is an essential enhancement to your Kingdom Of Thailand visit. The versatility found on the island of Koh Phangan is a draw to visitors of all walks and ages. The original back packers of yesteryear have now grown up and are the new breed of diverse visitor, with their families, who are investing in this slice of paradise. Image Courtesy of Kerry Manning
Found predominantly in the more relaxed north and west of Koh Phangan you will see a more authentic Thailand with top end luxury villas aesthetically constructed and enhanced by the native flora and dramatic landscape. An integration that is refreshing and in keeping with traditional Thai styles and values to which a certain clientele look for.
Image Courtesy of Koh Phangan Luxury Villas
The indigenous populace continue to harvest cashew nuts, coconuts, squid and fish however there is a harmonic co-dependence between the local and expat communities, unlike neighbouring islands, a balance that is invigorating to witness. Benefiting from the creature comforts of a Makro, Big C, Tesco Lotus Supermarkets, Home Mart, Home Pro, a choice of delicatessens plus fine dining, Koh Phangan is moving forward at a slow but steady pace. The island of Koh Phangan is a phenomenally special destination, some would say a national treasure. It is surely a gem in the Gulf of Thailand.
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space for Additional Build
the legal arena l land title deeds
LAND TITLE DEEDS IN THAILAND There are two main types of land ownership in Thailand which we should explain
RIGHTS OF POSSESSION Firstly there is the right of possession, for example, land that has been used by a family for generations to the benefit of the land and they have possession rights of the land under the civil and commercial code. Such titles are Sor Kor 1,Tor Bor 5 , 6 or Sor Por Gor 4. These titles basically are only family possession rights and generally only used for farming. These titles can not be bought or sold and no building rights or legal acts would be allowed on the land. I do know of cases where families being in possession of certain pieces of land for generations have been able to upgrade them to regular land title deeds but this is not generally the case and any serious investor would not normally give any credibility to these titles of possession.
RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP Usually we are looking for land title deeds giving right of ownership not possession. Here there are basically three title deeds:- Chanote, Nor Sor 3 and Nor Sor 3 Gor. The most sought after titles are the Chanote and the Nor Sor 3 Gor as both these titles have legal documents of Rights of Ownership and can be sub-divided into smaller plots and planning permission and any such legal acts can be carried out immediately on the land.The only difference with the Nor Sor 3 is that although legal documents are issued for the land it has not been accurately surveyed which can lead to problems in verifying actual land area. And if any legal act is to take place on this land it must be published for at least 30 days. As we have been saying all the way through if it is not clear 100%, seek the advice of a legal professional in this field, as there are also many other issues that are important to consider such as servitude, access and rights of way.
LAND MEASUREMENT & SURVEY Land in Thailand is measured in Rai, Ngan and Talang Wah. • 1 Wah= 4 sqm • 1 Ngan= 100 Wah or 400 sqm • 4 Ngan= 1 Rai or 1600 sqm In comparison to Western Standards: • 2.50 Rai= 1 Acre • 6.25 Rai= 1 Hectare
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the legal arena
TIPS FOR STARTING A NEW BUSINESS Are you planning to start your own business for the first time in Thailand? If so, we hope this useful information will help put your business on the right track. The simplest and easiest sort of company for foreigners to form with a small business is a Thai Limited Company. In Thailand, a Limited Company is a company with up to 100 shareholders, who share the same business purpose and is formed with a Capital divided into equal shares.
GETTING STARTED To set up a company, you must first have the memorandum that can be acquired at the registration office. To properly register, you are required to provide the authorities with details of your company and list a minimum of three shareholders (who can either be Thai or foreign nationals or both). At least seven days after you first approach the department, you can call a shareholder’s meeting to reach an agreement on the purpose of your business and set up the company’s operational rules. Having agreed on the purpose of your business, you can then apply for business registration at the same department. If you cannot agree on company rules, you can refer to those stated in the Civil and Commercial Code’s partnership and companies section.
SHARES Besides the issues of business registration, you must also make sure that your company’s shares are worth no less than 5 baht each. These shares can be transferred or even sold if the company has no regulations on this matter. Every shareholder must be given a share certificate, a document that guarantees their status as a shareholder. Should anyone wish to transfer their shares to another party; they have to fill in the share transfer form that confirms the deal between the transferor and transferee. The company also has to have in its possession a register of shareholders that contains a record of all the company’s shareholders. The book is evidence that will identify the company’s shareholders.
SHAREHOLDERS AND CHAIRPERSON A Limited Company’s shareholders can be either Thai or foreign nationals or both, but the percentage of shares held by foreign national plays a significant role in determining the nationality of your company, which may impose serious limitations on the company’s rights, such as landownership. If less than 49% of your company’s shares are held by foreigners, your company is considered a Thai company.
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However, if foreign nationals hold more than 49% of the shares, your company is a foreign company. The significant differences between Thai and foreign companies operating in Thailand lie in their rights to buy and own properties or other businesses. It is therefore important, especially for those in real estate and development businesses, to know and remember that unless your company is Thai, you are restricted in the ability to possess and obtain land and property in this country without an exemption granted by the government. Foreign companies are also restricted to certain activities and to proceed with certain operations the company will have to apply for permission from the government. In such instances, applications will be considered case by case. They will also face tough scrutiny and strict restrictions on their right to operate and ability to run their business. These companies will be treated in the same way as foreign nationals seeking jobs in Thailand. If you are registered as a Thai company, you are automatically granted the right to purchase and own properties and other business and will be treated the same way as a Thai citizen. However, according to new legislation that has recently come into effect, the Land Department’s staff are now required to thoroughly investigate your Thai shareholders’ sources of income. Thai shareholders in a company wishing to purchase properties in Thailand have to declare their income and provide the authorities with evidence that proves their ability to co-invest with other foreign shareholders in the same company. Only those successful in convincing the authorities are granted the right to purchase and possess land. Companies with approval from the Land Department can then proceed with their applications for land title deeds or other certificates of use and possession.
LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER A company limited has to have its own board of directors to act on behalf of the company. This panel will, however, act under the regulations and agreements approved by the shareholders. Appointing directors or removing any of them requires shareholders approval. At the end of the company’s financial year, within five months, it shall be the duty of the company to present the balance sheet to the Department of Business Development (DBD). If your company fails to present the balance sheet, the company will be fined up to 50,000 baht and the company’s board of directors may also be fined up to 50,000 baht. If the committee refuses to pay the fine, the police can appeal to the court for a warrant and file a lawsuit against the resilient parties. Withdrawal of the company’s business registration is also another penalty the company may face, should they not provide the authorities with the necessary statement. Information courtesy of Khun Surin Puangpakdee Senior Lawyer NSP&Laws Firm +66 077 458 204
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Translation courtesy of Jade Fang Jman Marina +66 08 1893 8366
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Translation courtesy of Marion Siepe
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Translation courtesy of Thai Property +66 08 6948 4443
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Translation courtesy of Laurent Samui Phangan Properties +66 08 9587 2850
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the legal arena l building regulations
BUILDING REGULATIONS ON KOH SAMUI In order to build on Koh Samui you must first obtain a building permit from the municipality office and your building must meet certain requirements, depending on the location of the land on which you wish to build. There are 4 defined areas for land depending on its distance from the beach. (See diagram on opposite page)
STAGE 1. Land up to 10 Meters from the beach. The law states that no construction is permitted within this area. STAGE 2. Land up to 50 Meters from the beach. Within this area you are permitted to construct a single storey building only It’s height cannot exceed 6 Meters (including the roof) and the building cannot exceed the maximum allowed area of 75 Square Meters.
STAGE 3. Land up to 200 Meters from the beach. Within this area you are permitted to build up to a maximum height of 12 Meters (including the roof). The maximum allowed size is 2000 Square Meters.
STAGE 4. Land located more than 200 Meters from the beach. Within this area, building of up to 12 Meters in height (including the roof) can be constructed.
In addition, all buildings must now be constructed with peaked roofs, flat roofs are no longer permitted.
Information courtesy of Manit Tajew (Senior Lawyer Miklaw Associates)
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ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS ON KOH SAMUI AND KOH PHANGAN There are defined areas relative to the distance above sea-level (i.e., reference to height above sea rather than set-back from shore-line), pursuant to the Regulations of Resource and Environment, 30th May 2557 (2014) (“Environmental Regulations”). Level 1 - Land less than 80 metres above sea level. In general, no additional rules apply in this level, subject to rules relating to hotels (50 percent of hotel land area must be left un-built on and “green”), residential projects consisting of 10+ units (must have water and waste treatment facilities), in addition to rules relating to water-dams, golf courses and airports. Level 2 - Land between 80 – 140 metres above sea level. Within this level, a single family home may be constructed on land that is 100 square wah or greater (if the land is less than 100 square wah, construction is prohibited). Structures cannot exceed 6 metres in height and must leave 50 percent of the land un-built on and “green; must have an architectural design based on traditional Thai, tropical or local aesthetics; must have a roof consisting of 80 percent of the total building area, and that matches the natural surroundings; and must include an approved water-drainage system, to prevent flooding. Level 3 – Land greater than 140 metres above sea-level. Within this level, the same rules apply as in Level 2; and in addition, structures in Level 3 cannot exceed 90 square metres. Slope Rules In all levels mentioned, where the land has a slope of between 35-50 degrees, only a single family home is permitted, which cannot exceed 6 metres in height and 80 square metres in area, and which must leave 75 percent of the land un-built on (50 percent of the un-built land area must be “green” with native trees). Furthermore, the land area must be 120 square wah or greater, otherwise construction is prohibited. If the slope is greater than 50 metres, construction is likewise prohibited. Information courtesy of Jeffrey Martin of Limcharoen Legal www.Limcharoen.com
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realty in focus l villa rentals
V
illa rental is fast becoming the preferred holiday accommodation option for a vast majority of vacationers to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Renting a villa as a family or group of friends can prove far more economical in the long run than hotel accommodation and can afford you the luxury and privacy you seek on a holiday without breaking the bank. For longer term lets, there is a multitude of options from private owners to agent lets ranging from basic to 6 star luxury – all you need to do is spend some time finding the right villa for your long-term living needs. Holiday villas are generally fully furnished and include a full western kitchen with appliances, towels and bed linens, water and electricity and will normally include a maid service who will come once or more a week to change linen and tidy the villa, as well as a maintenance person to take care of the gardens and pool if included. There are a host of other optional services on offer such as a private chef, babysitting, pre-arrival shopping, laundry, driver or car hire, butler, island tours, personal training, massage and spa treatments, Thai cooking lessons...simply do your research and ask lots of questions when selecting your villa to see what is available to you during your stay. If booking your villa from outside of Thailand, it may be wise to use one of the more established
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and recognised agents to ensure you are getting what you pay for. While it may seem cheaper to go directly through the home-owner, agencies usually have representatives in Samui and Phangan who can advocate on your behalf. That can include minor repairs or even moving you to another property if you’re not satisfied with your original choice. That’s something that the owner can’t help you with. Prices can vary greatly depending on the location of the villa (closer to the beach or beach-front means you will pay for the access and view!), the size/bedroom numbers, the facilities, services and the standard of the villa - with several levels of luxury available! There are hundreds of villas available on the islands starting from basic, mid-level, luxury and beyond – it’s truly reliant on your budget and your requirements - either way, you will not be stuck for choice. Generally a deposit of 50% or more is required to secure the villa of your choice prior to your holiday and the remainder paid in full upon arrival, this may vary from agent to agent. Read the rental agreement very carefully to make sure you understand what’s provided as well as any and all conditions, exclusions, inclusions, costs and penalties. When you decide on the ideal holiday villa to suit your needs, you can relish in the fact that you will enjoy privacy, space and of course the beautiful tropical surrounds of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Happy holidaying!
HOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT ISLAND RETREAT
Photo Courtesy of Horizon Homes
Villa Letting agents ADVANCE INTER DEVELOPMENT............. 077 231 625
NIRVANA Villa...............................info@nirvana-villa.com
Blue Building....................................... 082 819 5815
OVERSEAS PROPERTY PORTFOLIO....... 080 535 1725
CENTURY 21 ZAZEN............................... 089 866 8931
ONYX REALTY......................................... 093 878 2824
EATS & RETREATS................................... 089 866 4515
PALM GROUP ASIA................................. 085 795 9393
EVER ASIA ENTERPRISES....................... 093 575 4757
PHATHONG RESIDENCE.........................089 813 5715
HORIZON HOMES..................................... 077 417 005
REMAX ISLAND REAL ESTATE................ 080 041 0420
HORIZON RESIDENCE............................ 085 660 2794
SAGE LAND & HOUSE............................. 089 016 9750
INFINITY RESIDENCES & RESORT............ 077 914 050
SAMUI BEACH VILLAGE............................ 077 418 256
IVL Property.......................................... 077 417 113
SAMUI ESCAPES....................................... 077 425 136
KALARA INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES..... 077 246 100
SAMUI PROPERTY CENTRE.................... 087 180 7247
KLIK ASIA.................................................. 089 866 4515
SAMUI EXOTIC PROPERTIES.................. 091 043 1204
Koh Phangan Luxury Villas.................. 077 374 354
SAMUJANA.............................................. 080 886 4226
KOH SAMUI LAND & HOMES.................. 089 474 1837
Seanado Property & Management.. 062 686 2888
KOH SAMUI PROPERTIES......................... 077 484 770
Silk........................................................... 077 423 766
LUXURY VILLAS AND HOMES................... 077 427 648
THE SEA.................................................... 077 960 567
LUXURY VILLAS SAMUI........................... 084 842 7506
Thong Lang Villa................................ 062 895 9924
LUXURY VILLAS SIAM............................. 087 922 8381
Vauban Real Estate Samui.................. 077 963 146
LAEM SOR VILLAGE................................ 081 406 1065
Villa Maya............................................... 077 417 113 samui phangan real estate 
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ISLAND CONTACTS PROPERTY DEVELOPERS/ ESTATE AGENTS 10 STARS REAL ESTATE...................................... 086 273 1117 ADVANCE INTER DEVELOPMENTS .....................077 231 625 Ample samui.......................................................096 979 6442 ANAMAYA SAMUI.................................................... 077 417 113 ANGTHONG APARTMENTS....................................077 430 326 ANGTHONG SUNSET SEAVIEW VILLAS.............089 972 1539 APOLLO BEACH CLUB ........................................085 906 2630 AQUALINA SAMUI.................................................081 837 6001 Ariya Samui.........................................................062 686 2888 AZUR SAMUI.........................................................098 050 2120 BAAN FAA SAI BY ANGTHONG HILLS...................086 256 555 BAAN RAK TALAY .................................................. 077 430 326 BAN TAI ESTATE...................................................094 598 8475 BAANSUAY LAND & HOUSE..................................077 426 967 BAMBUH................................................................086 061 4280 BAN SWEET COCONUT.......................................089 500 9800 BASE DEVELOPMENTS.........................................077 961 762 BAVARIA VILLAS ................................................. 083 590 6190 Bay Residence Koh Phangan ..................... 086 074 9219 BEACH REPUBLIC................................................ 089 011 9538 BLUE BUILDING PROPERTY ..............................082 819 5815 BLUE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION .................... 087 046 1314 BLUE SEA RESIDENCE .......................................083 593 3967 CALLISTO LUXURY VILLAS.................................081 893 5996 CD&P......................................................................081 924 9574 CENTURY 21 ZAZEN PROPERTIES....................093 580 3072 CHAWENG BAYVIEW RESORT...........................077 414 071-5 CHAWENG COVE BEACH RESORT......................077 422 509 DHEVATARA PROPERTY........................................077 430 326 ECO REAL ESTATE ASIA........................................077 961 991 EMERALD RESIDENCE........................................081 903 8003 EVER ASIA ENTERPRISES..................................093 575 4757 EXCLUSIVE VILLA ................................................084 708 1501 HILLSIDE VILLAGE...............................................081 903 8003 HOLLYWOOD VILLA..............................................083 396 0244 HORIZON HOMES...................................................077 417 005 HORIZON Residence...........................................077 417 005 Infinity Residences & Resort Koh Samui.....077 914 050 IVL Property........................................................ 077 417 113 KOH PHANGAN LUXURY VILLAS..........................077 374 354 KOH PHANGAN HOLIDAY HOMES......................087 898 3918 KOH SAMUI LAND & HOME..................................089 474 1837 KOH SAMUI PROPERTIES.....................................077 484 770 KALARA INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES..............077 246 100 KIRIKAYAN...............................................................077 247 867 LOTUS TERRACES...............................................089 972 3043 LUXURY LIVING KOH SAMUI...............................091 034 3808 LUXURY VILLAS AND HOMES...............................077 427 648 LUXURY VILLA SAMUI..........................................084 842 7506 LUXURY VILLAS SIAM..........................................087 922 8381 LUXURY PROPERTIES KOH SAMUI......................077 423 503 MANDALAY BEACH VILLAS.................................093 878 2824 MANDALAY SAMUI DEVELOPMENTS ................093 745 0566 Marina Bay Samui.............................................098 742 6760 MINI GOLF.............................................................081 787 9148 NARESH..................................................................077 426 944
NAUTILUS..............................................................082 427 4888 Nature Architects.........................................063 592 8956 NIRVANA Villa.... ..................................info@nirvana-villa.com OCEANS VIEW RESIDENCE..................................077 423 503 OCEAN 11 BEACH FRONT RESIDENCE.............089 813 5715 OCEANIS SAMUI.....................................................077 423 503 OVERSEAS PROPERTY PORTFOLIO ................080 535 1725 ONYX REALTY ......................................................093 878 2824 PALM CREEK RESIDENCE...................................081 374 0014 PALM GROUP ASIA...............................................085 795 9393 PANORAMA GROUP SAMUI.................................083 597 8633 PEARL PROPERTY...............................................081 370 2480 PHATHONG RESIDENCE.....................................089 813 5715 PLUMERIA PLACE..................................................077 430 043 REMAX ISLAND REAL ESTATE ...........................080 041 0420 REPLAY SAMUI ..................................................... 077 448 201 RESOTEL GROUP INTERNATIONAL...................081 737 3076 SAMRAN GARDENS.............................................089 474 1837 SAMUI BURI BEACH RESORT............................077 447 275-9 Samui Emerald Villas....................................098 437 5231 SAMUI ESCAPES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT..... 077 245 136 SAMUI EXOTIC PROPERTIES................................077 484 962 SAMUI Living Company....................................093 697 6647 SAMUI PHANGNAN PROPERTIES.......................081 979 0679 SAMUI PROPERTY INVESTMENTS.....................087 886 6437 SAMUI PROPERTY CENTRE ...............................083 182 5430 SAGE LAND & HOUSE..........................................089 016 9750 SAMUI RESOTEL BEACH RESORT.......................077 422 374 SAMUI BE ONE CO., LTD...................................... 077 960 560 SAMUI BEACH VILLAGE.........................................077 430 326 SAMUI DIAMOND PROPERTIES..........................087 895 4132 SAMUJANA............................................................080 886 4226 SAITARN SAMUI....................................................094 805 7799 Seanado Property & Management...........062 686 2888 SHAnti Samui......................................................092 470 4817 SIAM IMMO COMPANY.........................................081 850 6475 SINTHORANEE PROPERTY...................................077 414 222 SKYPIA SAMUI......................................................098 742 6760 Solar City..........................................................095 361 4559 STEJ’Y PROPERTIES AND DEVELOPERS.........095 739 6170 SUNWAY VILLAS...................................................091 043 7977 TALING NGAM TROPICAL VILLA..........................089 651 0302 TANAPA HOME......................................................086 944 0476 THE BAY SAMUI.................................................... 084 111 7500 The Green Place Residence........................093 574 8735
THE ROYAL MOUNTAIN........................................081 956 1636 THE SEA KOH SAMUI.............................................077 961 982 THE SEASONS......................................................080 776 5822 Thong Lang Villa.............................................062 895 9924 THONG NAI PAN ESTATE.....................................083 391 8159 TROPICAL HOME.................................................082 179 3933 VANAYA LUXE PRIVATE VILLAS..........................093 745 0566 Vauban Real Estate Samui..............................077 963 146 VERANO RESIDENCE..........................................083 182 5430 VERTICOLOR SAMUI .............................................077 914 000 Villa Maya............................................................. 077 417 113 VILLA TAWAN........................................................094 598 8475 X2 RESIDENCES...................................................082 495 2525
LEGAL SERVICES LIMCHAROEN LEGAL...........................................093 575 9675 BLUMENTHAL RICHTER & SUMET.......................077 231 732 CHARNDELL DISPUTE MANAGEMENT................02 514 9170 DFDL Legal & Tax.................................................077 960 757 MANIT ASSOCIATES...............................................077 458 135 NAI ANDREW PARK..............................................081 830 4462 NSP & LAWS FIRM..................................................077 458 204 SUKHOTHAI INTER LAW........................................077 430 642 VITTAYA BUSINESS LAW OFFICE ........................077 484 470
LIGHTING SYSTEMS CREATIVE SYSTEM PROJECTS ........................ 080 698 6811 JMAN LTEK LED-LIGHTING................................. 081 893 5996 AV INSTALLATION SYSTEM.................................089 971 5775
HOME & DECOR CERA......................................................................084 648 5333 Happy + Co..........................................................091 159 9673 I.P.M. SAMUI..........................................................081 894 4093 Loft by oriental living...................................077 247 675 ONE STOP SOLUTIONS.......................................081 893 4935 NUTTARAT DECORATE .........................................077 920 266 ORchId house Design & interiors ............091 159 9673 ORIENTAL LIVING...................................................077 247 675 Pure Samui.........................................................092 652 4248 SLEEP NAKED............................................. www.sleepnaked.hk SURAT BAANSAUY...............................................081 691 1719 SUNFLEX ASIA...................................................... 077 414 412
SECURITY SYSTEMS B-SMART SYSTEMS...............................................077 248 362 CREATIVE SYSTEM PROJECTS ........................ 080 698 6811
AUDIO VISUAL INTERIOR DESIGN AV INSTALLATION SYSTEM.................................089 971 5775 AVIVA........................................................................02 685 3676 CREATIVE SYSTEM PROJECTS ........................ 080 698 6811
GARDEN & LANDSCAPE BOTANICAL DESIGNS LANDSCAPING...............084 315 9742
KITCHEN HARDWARE FRANKE KITCHENS................................................02 236 9777 HAFELE...................................................................077 423 580 IKON KITCHEN......................................................061 549 7855 IPM SAMUI.............................................................081 894 4093 ONE STOP SOLUTIONS.......................................081 893 4935 RS VENTURE.......................................................02 662 3571-3
SWIMMING POOLS CP POOL..................................................................077 234 410 DESJOYAUX............................................................077 247 588 JD POOLS................................................................077 427 356 PARADISE POOL INTERIORS.......085 863 9729 / 062 223 1546 POOL & SHADE.......................................................077 423 460 TSP POOLS.............................................................077 234 034
DESIGN SERVICES Archi Studio......................................................089 972 2445 ORCHID HOUSE DESIGN & INTERIORS ............091 159 9673 Samui Aerial Mapping.....................................090 158 3501 SAMUI GRAPEVINE..............................................080 620 9964 SIL ARCHITECTS..................................................083 690 9700 THAI REVIVAL DESIGN.........................................089 612 0684 WEB MARKETING AND RESERVATIONS............089 866 4515
PHOTOGRAPHY ANNE SOPHIE SAMUIPICS..................................080 102 9791 CHRONOS DYNAMICS.........................................081 894 4513 CLAUDIO / FANTASYATWORK.COM ...................087 270 4972 cut productions.............................................080 102 9791 HELICAM AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY.....................089 874 7464 ORIENTAL LIVING...................................................077 247 675 Samui Aerial Mapping.....................................090 158 3501 SKY PIXELS...........................................................080 102 9791
ENGINEERING SERVICES EASTERN TECHNICAL ENGINEERING
077 295 316
HOME SERVICES ADEPT ASIA...........................................................081 978 3712 AUTOMATIC GATE................................................081 892 1066 CERIS LAFARGE ROOFING...................................02 586 5600 ECO PEST CONTROL...........................................085 791 2496 EUROPEAN RAIN GUTTERING..............................077 423 073 FAR THAWEE PORN............................................077 245 570-1 INFINITY HOME MANAGEMENT............................077 426 608 NITE STONE............................................................077 247 769 ODOR CLEAN........................................................087 976 9589 ONE STOP SOLUTIONS.......................................081 893 4935 SAMUI squeaky clean windows..................087 013 7650 SEARA SPORTS......................................................076 355 040 SUNFLEX ASIA........................................................077 414 412 Termite Tech..................................................... 095 428 1121 THE STONE DOCTOR..........................................087 282 4930 The Clean Team................................................064 415 9439
FINANCE SERVICE
MAINTENANCE SERVICE AirAsia...................................................................02 515 9999
GFS AUSTRALASIA...............................................085 795 9393
ADEPT ASIA...........................................................081 978 3712
MBK GUARANTEE................................................081 278 5382
MANAGING SAMUI..................................................077 430 010
INSURANCE SERVICES
The Clean Team................................................064 415 9439
CT TRADING INSURANCE.....................................038 420 618
BANGKOK AIRWAYS ...........................................077 422 512-9
ENSURE ASIA..........................................................077 417 015
PROJECT MANAGEMENT ADEPT ASIA...........................................................081 978 3712 DMA........................................................................085 790 1520 RS BUILT ..............................................................086 271 0156 SAMUI ARCHITECT.............................................. 085 782 1852 SIL ARCHITECTS..................................................083 690 9700 STERLING CONSTRUCTION THAILAND.............085 233 9630 Nature Architects.........................................063 592 8956
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES Nature Architects.........................................063 592 8956 ADEPT ASIA...........................................................081 978 3712 BLUE BUILDING...................................................... 077 430 411 EXIM STUDIO..........................................................02 934 7921 KOH SAMUI CONSTRUCTION.............................089 510 2040 Luxury VILLAS & HOMES....................................077 430 326 PALM CONSTRUCTION..........................................077 961 991 P&W CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.................077 238 182 RS BUILT ..............................................................086 271 0156 SEA B.C...................................................................077 960 584 STERLING CONSTRUCTION THAILAND ............085 233 9630 TROPICAL BUILDERS.............................................077 602 262
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samui phangan real estate
SQUEAKY CLEAN WINDOWS..............................087 013 7650
OTHER BLUECHIP INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY..........089 651 0020 FIREWORKS SAMUI.............................................087 263 4371 KLIK ASIA...............................................................089 866 4515 SAMUI RESCUE..............................077 421 444/087 263 4371 TESCO LOTUS........................................................077 245 400 TS-TEAK.................................................................081893 4935
LEISURE SAMUI 100 DEGREES EAST DIVE CENTER.....................077 245 396 BLOOD DONORS KOH SAMUI....... .......blooddonorskohsamui.com castaway guesthouse.................................. 081 968 5811 celes beachfront resort............................077 900 999 CHANTARA JUNK BOAT.......................................087 064 3126 Escape break......................................................077 458 100 health republic.................................................077 458 200 Kupu kupu Phangan..........................................077 377 384 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SAMUI...................077 484 548 MAGNOLIA SPA.......................................................077 601 133 TROPICAL MURPHYS.............................................077 413 614 MINI GOLF CHOENG MON...................................081 787 9148 MOBY DICK IRISH BAR........................................081 892 1990 OCEAN 11 BEACH FRONT RESTAURANT............077 245 134 OCEANS ELITE CHARTERS...................................077 427 244 Panviman Resort Koh Phangan...................077 445 101 RAJDHEVEE CLINIC...............................................077 430 702 THAILAND LEARNING CENTRE ..........................086 625 2546 WECI & COMPUTER INSTITUTE............................077 233 101 ZAZEN BOUTIQUE RESORT & SPA.......................077 430 345
the green place koh samui
Treat yourself to the dream villa in a luxury residence Your sea view villa :
- Start from 7,5M THB - From 2 to 5 bedrooms in coconut grove (from 180 to 300 sqm) - Private infinity pool - European high standard construction - Chanote land title
The residence : -
Underground electricity network Optic fiber Security 24/24H, CCTV Located 5 min from the beach Near Santiburi Golf in MAENAM
www.thegreenplacesamui.com
info@thegreenplacesamui.com brice@thegreenplacesamui.com
+66 (0) 987 203 890 +66 (0) 971 874 301
PROPERTY
Experts on Koh Samui IVL Property specialises in the rental, sales and management of high quality villas across the island of Koh Samui. Our team of local and international specialists have hands-on knowledge and experience of the local property market, what the island has to offer and how to get the most from your holiday or investment.
Visit our website for a comprehensive selection of properties to rent or buy, or call us during office hours on +66 (0) 77 417 113 or anytime on +66 (0) 83 107 9684
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