Samui Phangan Real Estate Magazine December-January

eal estate 

BUYING • RENOVATING INVESTING • LIVING 

10 WAYS 

TO HAVE FUN IN YOUR 

GARDEN 

SUPERIOR INTERIOR 

DINING FIT 

FOR A KING 

SEEKING LUXURY 

luxury villas & homes shows you the way

ทรงพระเจริญ ยิ่งยืนนาน 

ทรงพระเกษมสำาราญ ตลอดกาล ตลอดไป 

ด้วยเกล้าด้วยกระหม่อมขอเดชะ 

ข้าพระพุทธเจ้า บริษัท สาตายุ พับบลิชชิ่ง 

จำากัด

EDITORIAL 

Published & Distribution 

Satayu Publishing Co.,Ltd. 

Publisher Office สำ นักงาน 

Satayu Publishing Co.,Ltd. 34/9 Moo 4, 

Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Thailand. 

Tel/Fax +66 077 484 616 

Mobile: +66 08 9772 1589 

Director กรรมการผู้จัดการ 

Yuwares +66 08 9772 1589 

Advertising ฝ่ายขาย 

Staci Lee Wearne +66 08 6950 2291 

sales@satayu.com 

Editor บรรณาธิการ 

Jade Moore 

editor@satayu.com 

Graphic Design 

Jeadsada Yuenyong 

Accounting ฝ่ายบัญชี 

Yuwares +66 08 9772 1589 

Legal Advisor ที่ปรึกษาด้านกฎหมาย 

Surin Puangpakdee from NSP & Laws Firm 

www.samui-phanganmagazine.com 

Publisher License เลขมาตรฐานสากลประจำ นิตยสาร 

ISSN 1686-8838 ใบอนุญาตจดแจ้งการพิมพ์ 

สศก ๑๔ นศ/๒/๒๕๕๓ 

Printing & Colour separation สถานที่จัดพิมพ์ 

Amarin Printing and Publishing Co.,Ltd 

376 Chaiyaphruk Rd., Taling Chan, 

Bangkok Thailand 10170 Tel. +66 02 422 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. 

*Distributed at Samui Airport 

EDITOR'S LETTER 

Christmas is all but a jingle bell away and the island is 

alight with celebrations, expectations and resolutions! 

This issue we look at dining and dining solutions, some 

key environmental issues and progress for Thailand and 

some more light hearted fun with some Christmas treats 

for you, your friends and family to enjoy. 

It has been an amazing year for Samui Phangan Real 

Estate Magazine, with a whole new team on board who 

have helped take the magazine in a fresh new direction 

and of course a whole new look, feel and revitalised 

content which has proved a huge hit with our readers 

as well as our clients. We aim to continue this path 

and keep on improving and increasing the magazine's 

appeal to both readers and clients alike. Onwards and 

upwards we say! 

We would like to take this time to thank everyone 

who reads our magazine, everyone who stocks our 

magazine and of course everyone who contributes 

to our magazine to make it the stellar success it has 

become. Without all of you we would not be here and 

we hope that you all continue you along for the ride 

during 2013! 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Jade, Yuwares and all of the team at Satayu Publishing

this 

issue... 

inside & out 

18 Retail Therapy 

Dining In 

22 Architect's Talk 

Feng Shui Your Dining Room 


Game Of Thrones 

30 Superior Interior 

Dining Fit For A King 

34 Food For Thought 

Festive Treats 


Fine Dine 

42 Outdoor Living 

Building Your Own Sala Part 2 

realty in focus 

50 Property Report 

Mild Growth 

52 Legal Buzz 

Construction 

56 Tax Corner 

Tax and Building Permits 

58 Island Scoop 

News From The Island 

92 

104 

76

62 Developer In-View 

Overseas Property Portfolio 

66 Villa Rental 

How To Find Your Perfect Island Retreat 

70 Personal Profile 

Stephen Ryder - Ensure Asia 

76 Feature 

Lime Samui And Luxury Villas & Homes 

island life 

92 Close Up 

The Larder 

96 Green Scene 

Solar Power Plant 

100 Eco Outdoor 

10 Ways to Have Fun In Your Garden 

104 Home Help 

Herb It Up 

life on the isles 

114 Koh Samui Map 

115 Koh Samui Living 

118 Koh Phangan Map 

119 Koh Phangan Living 

the legal arena 

122 Land Title Deeds 

123 Chanote 

128 Tip For Starting The Biz English 

130 Tip For Starting The Biz Chinese 

138 Tip For Starting The Biz German 

140 Tip For Starting The Biz Russian 

142 Tip For Starting The Biz French 

146 Building Regulations 

directory 

148 Island Contacts 

30 

34 

22

“Your Independent Estate Agent” 

Est. 2008 

FEATURE PROPERTY 

Ref : S144 

Location : Bangrak/Big Buddah 

Bedrooms : 3 

Bathrooms : 3 

Build : 175sqm 

Land : 207sqm 

A modern duplex, 

situated in an 

elevated position, with 

views spanning from Koh 

Phangan, across to Angthong 

National Marine Park and the lush 

green Samui hillside. 

An end unit, of just four duplexes, that 

provides privacy and sun from early in the 

morning to sunset. Your own, and privately 

positioned Jacuzzi, leads into a large communal 

swimming pool. The interior is fully furnished to 

a high standard and includes a Western fitted kitchen. 

A superb holiday home and/or rental investment 

opportunity that’s just a 5-10 minute drive from the 

international airport, Chaweng and Bophut. 

This property is priced at BELOW MARKET VALUE 

for a quick sale: 12,900,000 THB. Serious offers will 

be considered. 

To arrange an immediate viewing, please contact 

Emma on 080 535 1725 or 

emma@overseaspropertyportfolio.com 

www.overseaspropertyportfolio.com/property/ 

show/186

“Your Independent Estate Agent” 

Est. 2008 

RENT 

Townhouse • Choeng Mon • Ref: S297 

From 3,000 THB/night 

2 storey house plus mezzanine kitchen, very 

spacious, 2 beds, restaurant, communal pool and 

gym, 10 minutes walk to the beach. Ideal for families. 

SALE/RENT 

Villa • Plai Laem • Ref: S239 

11,000,000 THB / from 5,000 THB/night / 

40,000 THB/month 

Beachside terraced 3 bed villa with restaurant, pool 

table, pool with swim up bar in a small gated project. 

Great investment for rentals and ideal for families. 

SALE/RENT 

Villa • Lamai • Ref: S296 

20,000,000 THB / 10,000 THB/night / 

80,000 THB/month 

New 3/4 bed sea view modern villa, walking distance 

to the beach, private pool, open plan living, electric 

garage, maids quarters, peaceful location. 

Apartment • Bangrak • Ref: S306 

From 4,500 THB/night 

Spectacular sea and mountain views, central location 

for all ages and lifestyles. Top floor (4th), 2 bedrooms, 

western kitchen and wrap around terrace. 

Villa • Chaweng Yai • Ref: S295 

13,500,000 THB / from 5,404 THB/night 

Sea view villa with 2 beds, private pool and sala. Large 

garden to the rear, with a running stream and views to 

the lush green hillside. 5 mins to Chaweng. 

Villa • Bophut • Ref: S303 

50,000,000 THB / from 16,500 THB/night 

A truly one of its kind villa on Samui with stunning 

views and beautifully designed both inside and out. 

An exquisite and luxury haven in paradise. 

SALES • RENTALS • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 

RENT 

SALE/RENT 

SALE/RENT

Mobile : +66 (0)80 535 1725 

Office : +66 (0)77 425 679 

info@overseaspropertyportfolio.com 

www.overseaspropertyportfolio.com 

SALE 

Land • Bophut • Ref: S276 

8,500,000 THB 

3 chanote land titles (2,101sqm), all with exceptional 

unobstructed sea views, water and electric on site, 

concrete road, 5 mins to Fisherman’s Village. 

SALE 

Beach Land • Laem Set • Ref: S324 

12,000,000 THB 

1,127sqm beachfront land, spanning 22 meters 

and with stunning views over to Koh Taen and other 

islands. Government electric and private well on site. 

SALE 

Villa • Plai Laem • Ref: S155 

28,000,000 THB 

Spectacular sea views and sunsets. Single storey 

villa, 3 beds, private pool, small garden, easy to 

maintain, popular location, close to Six Senses Hotel. 

Villa • Bophut • Ref: S281 

10,000,000 THB 

Sea, lake and mountain views towards Chaweng, 

Villa and pool structure complete, 5 beds, maids and 

oversized living/dining area, high ceilings. 

Villa • Namuang • Ref: S299 

15,000,000 THB 

Modern and uniquely designed 3 bed villa on the 

hillside with open views, floor to ceiling windows in 

every room. Indoor and outdoor entertaining areas. 

Villa • Choeng Mon • Ref: S263 

68,000,000 THB 

Sea front villa in a private setting with 5 star facilities 

to hand including concierge, restaurant, kids club 

and gym. Perfect rental investment. 

119/20 Samui Town Center, Moo 1, Bophut, Koh Samui 

SALE 

SALE 

SALE

inside & out l retail therapy 

18 samui phangan real estate

DINING IN 

A dining room table is the centre point of any dining 

space and can transform a room from bla to wow in 

seconds, turning it into the talking piece for the area. 

There are so many styles of dining room tables from 

modern to traditional, wood to glass and mixtures of 

both – you need to find the style and shape to fit your 

aesthetic, needs and lifestyle. Here are a few choices 

to wrap around your dining chops... 

Visit www.oriental-living.net for these and other 

stunning homewares 

samui phangan real estate 19

inside & out l architect's talk 

FENG SHUI YOUR DINING ROOM 

In Feng Shui like the living room, a dining room serves 

as a social gathering place for friends and families. 

The difference being that in a dining room setting, 

the social experience is far more intimate. Secluding 

the dining room from the rest of the home provides 

a comfortable location for personal communication 

among family and friends. Feng Shui suggests that 

if you provide an environment free of distraction and 

you will strengthen aspects of your life including family 

and health. 

The dining room is a middle ground where Yin 

personalities must interact with Yang persona. The 

two types must balance in order to raise the comfort 

level of the room and promote quality conversation. 

A dining room in perfect harmony is functional, free 

of distraction, and welcoming to all personalities 

22 samui phangan real estate 

of the household including close family friends and 

relatives. Since the majority of your guests will never 

spend more than a glance inside this space, feel free 

to implement decorations that appeal to you and 

your taste. 

As for the best feng shui furniture arrangement, your 

goal is to provide for a clear, unobstructed flow of 

energy, while at the same time creating areas with 

warm, cosy, social and centred feng shui energy. 

Basically, as you stand at the entrance to your dining 

room, visualize energy as water flowing into the room. 

Would the stream of water flow freely and smoothly? 

Would it get stuck in many areas of your dining room? 

Will it rush right out the big window or another door 

aligned with the dining room door, if there is one?

FENG SHUI TIPS FOR WEALTH AND 

GOOD HEALTH IN THE DINING ROOM 

Dining Room Position: Ideal positions for the dining 

room are east, south-east, west and north-west of 

the centre of your home. Avoid a dining room that is 

north-east from the centre of the house. It is best to 

have two doors in the room facilitating the free flow of 

Chi but not on opposite walls and directly in line with 

each other. Your dining room shouldn’t be too close 

to the front door. If it is then try placing a screen or 

beaded curtain to obstruct the view of the door from 

sight. If at all possible use natural wood floors. 

Dining Room Colour: Earthy and natural colours 

are best suited for this room. Some colours which 

go well with this room are pink, peach, yellow, green, 

beige, sky blue, creams, off white etc. 

Dining Room Décor and Accessories: Make sure 

to use your beautiful table linens and good silverware 

from time to time as unused or stored utensils are 

considered bad feng shui. Simple shaped crockery 

is the best for using in this room. The ideal colour for 

table linen is blue in the north and green in the east. 

Also if you are watching your weight you can use 

blue table cloth, blue napkin, blue plate or blue mat 

as this colour helps to decrease appetite and health 

conditions like blood pressure. 

Dining Space: It is ideal to have all the four walls 

surrounding the table to create a relaxed and safe 

dining experience. It also encourages healthy 

conversations without distractions. In such an 

environment one also tends to eat more slowly which 

is good for the digestive system. But if the dining 

room is cramped it can create a feeling of pressure in 

family relationships and interfere with good digestion. 

Limit the amount of dining room furniture. 

Dining Room Lighting: Lighting is the most 

important element in creating a good flow of energy 

through the dining room and it should be gentle but 

not stagnant. Your table should have adequate light 

that is centred over the table so that you can see 

what you are eating. Candles can also be used when 

having a romantic dinner. However, candles can be 

used as decoration or accent lighting, but they should 

never be the main source of light. A crystal chandelier 

over the centre of the dining table can help to balance 

chi in the room, but make sure that it is centred over 

the table and not a chair. 



GAMES 

OF THRONES 

Gone are the days when your dining room chairs have 

to match your dining room table! These days you can 

play around with different textiles, different shapes 

and styles that have no resemblance to the style of 

your dining room table – mix antique with modern, 

mix fancy with plain – you can even use a set made 

of all different chairs to really create a statement. 

Whatever you do, have fun! 




1. Replica Panton Chair - Le Design 

2. Replica Eames Daw Armchair - Le Design 

3. Corin - Index Living 

4. Nils Chair - IKEA 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 


Ko Samui Properties offer independent advice on all 

types of real estate based on ten years experience on Koh Samui. 

Please feel free to consult us without obligation. 

Harry Bonning F.R.I.C.S • Mobile 081 741 6443 

Choengmon - Luxury Sea View Villas 

From USD 1.35 Million HH1464 

Bophut Hills - 4 Bedroom 

Sea View Villa 

Baht 35,000,000 HF 1234 

Fisherman’s Village 

Replay 

OVER 600 PROPERTIES ON OUR WEB SITE 

CONDOMINIUMS & APARTMENTS 

LOCATION OF OUR NEW OFFICES IN BANGRAK 

Scent Hotel Como 

Plumeria 

Ring Road GPS: 9.558074 0 N 100.046799 0 E 

Bangrak - 4 Bedroom sea view Villa 

Baht 25,000,000 HH 1492 

South Nathon - 4 Bedroom 

Sea View Villa 

Baht 23,900,000 HF 1411 

Baan Arisara 

Two I Bed Foreign 

Freehold 

Condominiums 

from Baht 3.1 m. 

CF 1472 & 1473 

to Big Buddha 

The Ridgeway - fully serviced plots 

Baht 6 - 15 million/rai LH 1395 

Choengmon - 3 Bed 

Ocean view Villa 

Baht 27,000,000 HH 1501 

Infinity Bang Po 

1&2 Bed 

Apartments 

from Baht 14 m. 

AH 1286

Celebrating TEN YEARS on Koh Samui 

Professional Advice from RICS Qualified Chartered Surveyor 

Visit us in our new offices 

Residential Sales and Rentals • Resorts and Hotels • Project Management 

3 Bed Villa with Pool - Bangrak 

Baht 13,000,000 HF 1499 

Chaweng Hills - 3/5 Bedroom 

sea view villa 

Baht 65,000,000 HH 1507 

Phu Chaweng - 3 Bed 

Ocean View Villa 

Baht 29,500,000 HH 1508 

A SELECTION OF LUXURY VILLAS 

3 Bed Villa with Pool - Bangrak 

Baht 16,000,000 HF 1497 

Ban Kao - 3 Bed Villa with pool 

Baht 6,950,000 HF 1506 

Large 2 Bedroom Villa with pool - 

Bangrak 

Baht 17,000,000 HF 1479 

KO SAMUI PROPERTIES 

58/11 Moo 4, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84320. Thailand 

Telephone: 077 484 770, 077 484 771 Telefax: 077 447 777 

Mobile: 081 741 6443 (English) 085 798 8682 (Thai) 

Email: contact@kosamuiproperties.com 

Web Site: www.kosamuiproperties.com 

3 Bed beach front Villas - Laem Noi 

USD 1.3m HB 1466 

Maenam - 3/4 Bedroom pool villa 

Reduced to Baht 11.50m HF 1401 

Plai Laem - 3 Bed Villa near sea 

Baht 12,950,000 HF 1448

inside & out l superior interior 

DINING FIT FOR A KING 

HOW TO DESIGN AN OPEN-PLAN DINING ROOM 

Dining rooms used to be known as very formal 

spaces, sometimes grandiose and generally always 

traditional in style. These days the dining room is a 

functional space that can reflect the way you live as 

well as your design aesthetic and still be functional. 

Here are a few rules to follow when designing the 

perfect eating space for your home. 

OPEN-PLAN LIVING 

With living space at such a premium, the area where 

you eat may also be used as an office, daily working 

space and increasingly dining areas are open-plan 

and often linked directly to the kitchen and are 

common amongst homes on the island as they are 

easy and effective for both day to day living as well 

as entertaining. 


In any open plan area you have to think how best 

to use and divide the space for different functions. 

Open-plan living done in the right way can be a 

sociable and rewarding way to live because when 

you haven’t got walls, you’re free of the conventions 

limiting most people’s design choices, and you can 

style your open space in any way you like! 

LAYOUT & FURNITURE 

This needs to allow for easy access when carrying hot 

dishes. Where will the table work best and what else 

do you plan to use the room for? Decide all the things 

that you want to use the dining area for and then you 

can decide on where to put your table and what size 

and shape will work best. You also need to decide 

which kind of table best suits your needs.

A round table works best for informal dinners, as 

there’s no head of the table. But if you’ll frequently 

seat more than 6, avoid large circles as they will take 

up far more space and it’s harder to converse across 

the table. 

Similarly, square tables really only work for four 

people. Buy one that extends to a rectangle for 

coping with larger numbers. 

Whatever shape you choose, you need to check that 

there’s enough space to pull out the chairs and to 

move around it comfortably. 

If space is very limited, use a corner table or a small 

table that fits into a bay window or a recess. 

When it comes to the surface remember that glass 

topped tables will increase the feeling of space. 

Wood tables need looking after and protecting from 

heat to stay beautiful. 

Remember all furniture, including your table has to 

work with the shape of the room and for the way 

you want to use your dining area. With any room it’s 

important to move your key furniture in first and for 

the dining room that will always mean the table. 

The table is so important in the dining room it is 

worth spending a substantial proportion of your 

budget on it. 


Old and new pieces can look really good together 

as long as you follow a few simple rules so don’t be 

afraid to mix styles and eras. 

Contrasting styles work best when the surroundings 

are understated. So think plain walls, plain floors. 

If you have a favourite item, perhaps a family 

heirloom, make this piece the starting point and work 

out your design from there. 

COLOUR SCHEMES 

Your dining room needs to be inviting to eat in and 

not put you off your food – so steer clear of anything 

too intense. 

In dining rooms there are some strong colours to be 

avoided. Pink and violet are appetite suppressants, 

so never use them. Also purple and black are 

both associated in our primal consciousness with 

poisonous foods, so they’re not conducive to a 

relaxing meal either. Nor are acid colours, especially 

green. Because blue is not a colour associated with 

any natural food, it won’t get the stomach rumbling. 


If you’re still nervous of going for strong colour you 

can make a real impact with different neutral tones on 

just one wall and leave the rest white or rich browns, 

coral and Terracotta work well, or a clean palette of 

all white/ all cream gives you the option to decorate 

more with furniture and accessories. 

FLOORING 

This also needs to tie in with open plan areas. It needs 

to be easily cleaned and non-slip. Floorboards are 

easy to clean and hard wearing which is perfect for an 

open-plan dining area but you could also go with tiles 

(big hard-wearing tiles work best, like slate) 

• Laminates 

These are the cheapest option and only mimic wood 

with a photo image bonded onto a resin wood back. 

• Soft Woods 

Like pine or spruce can be stained to emulate the 

colour of more expensive hard woods. But they’re 

easily damaged by stiletto heels or cigarette burns 

and need to be varnished. 

• Solid Hard Woods 

Such as oak, ash or beech look great and will 

improve with age. They are the most durable but 

they’re also the most expensive and they need to be 

professionally laid. 

LIGHTING 

Like any room the dining room will need general, 

task and feature lighting. There are three things to 

think about. 

Think about the fact that when you’re sitting at the 

table light casts a lovely warm atmosphere over the 

table top itself, so it’s lighting up over the table. 

You don’t want it be shining harsh glaring light into 

the eye so it mustn’t be too high that you can see 

the bulb. 

If you’re leaning across the table you don’t want to 

head-butt it. 

However you choose to lay out your open-plan area 

just be certain of one thing. It must work for you and 

how you live day to day, especially if you plan on 

using it as an integral part of your everyday living. So 

consider how it is you live, what it is you need and 

work your area to suit and most of all, have fun – 

dining areas no longer need to be boring and formal – 

they can truly express who you are as a single person, 

a couple or as a family!

The Emerald Tongson 

The Emerald Tongson Development results from a vision to create an innovative 

design with iconic modern, yet tropical architecture in an environmentally 

sensitive haven. This exclusive ocean front compound of only four 2 bedroom 

pool villas along one of the most inspiring shore lines of Choengmons Tongson 

Bay presents a new cool approach to exclusive tropical living. 

Features: 

• Car park with 4 lots 

• Common entrance lounge 

• Built to marine environment standard 

• Low consumption LED light features 

• Copper/Silver mineral pool treatment 

• Total villa size: 200-220m2 

JMan Marina Co Ltd 

Mobile: +66 (o) 8 1893 5996 

www.jman-marina.com Email: info@jman-marina.com 

8/10 Moo 5 Bophut Koh Samui 84320 Thailand

inside & out l food for thought 


Christmas is almost here and if you are planning on hosting a special day 

at home during the holiday season, here is a great way to add a little bit 

of flair and wow your guests (and keep the kids happy) with some sweet 

treats to get you in a festive mood! 

What you need 

• 24 cupcakes, baked in the flavour of your choice & cooled 

• Prepared vanilla buttercream* (use either homemade, or canned 

frosting works–about 2-3 cans, depending on how much frosting you 

plan on using) 

• Red food colouring 

Instructions 

• Separate about 3/4 cup of vanilla buttercream from the entire batch 

and place in a medium bowl; set aside. Meanwhile, in another 

medium-large bowl, add several drops of red food coloring into the 

remaining frosting and stir until you achieve a nice, rich red color. 

• Attach one piping bag with a large, round circle tip and place the red 

frosting into the bag. In another bag, attach a smaller open star tip 

and add the vanilla frosting. 

• Start piping the red frosting onto the cupcakes in a clockwise motion, 

piling high in an inverted cone shape (think the shape of Santa’s hat). 

Then, come in with the white frosting and pipe small stars, one at a 

time, along the edge of the cupcake and the red frosting, as well as 

one star on the top of the red frosting cone. You could also draw one 

single, slightly squiggly line along the perimeter of the hat, like I did 

(just depends on how detailed you want to go). 

Here’s an easy buttercream recipe - double the recipe for nice, 

piled-high hats. 

• 2/3 cup butter, softened 

• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

• About 2-4 tsp milk 

• About 4 cups powdered sugar 

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together butter and vanilla until smooth 

and creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup 

at a time, until a stiff paste is achieved. Add milk, 1 tsp at a time, until a 

stiff but spreadable frosting consistency is achieved. You don’t want it 

too runny, so only use the milk if it’s super stiff. Proceed with colouring 

as needed. 

Source: www.thedomesticrebel.com 



FINE DINE 

A dining room is never complete without some 

finishing touches to really capture the look and 

feel you are hoping to achieve. Give your guests 

interesting pieces to talk about over dinner, ones 

that complement the overall design. Or go for more 

subtle touches with a sleek centerpiece bowl or a 

wall hanging...your options are endless, but whatever 

you do, do not over crowd your dining space with too 

many elements, after all it should be the food and the 

company that are the highlight of the room! 




1. Badash Silver Snakeskin Bowl - Amazon Online 

2. Replica George Nelson Ball Clock - Nathan Rhodes 

3. Replica Front Design Horse Lamp - Nathan Rhodes 

4. Replica Tom Dixon Mirror Ball Pendant - Nathan Rhodes 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 


CRAFTED LIVING SPACES 

Oriental Living is a contemporary Asian furniture gallery featuring exclusive award-winning brands 

with an extensive range of handcrafted furniture and home decor objects. 

SAMUI 9/18 Moo1 Maenam, Koh Samui 84330, Thailand T +66 (0) 77 247 675 E info@oriental-living.net 

PHUKET 424 Srisoonthorn Road Cherngtalay, Phuket 83110, Thailand T +66 (0) 76 325 419 E info@oriental-living.net

inside & out l outdoor living 

BUILDING YOUR OWN SALA 

PART 2 

In the last issue, we looked at how to select your sala design, the materials required and how to set your posts 

and basic layout of your sala. This issue we look at the sala floor and how to correctly install and build your 

decking. 

SALA FLOOR FRAME 

Use 2×6 wooden joists to build the frame of the sala floor, as in the image. It is essential to install the joists 

every 16” OC, as to support the weight of the decking and to create a rigid structure. 

Smart tip: Use C-clamps and a spirit level when installing the joists into place. If you want to obtain a 

professional result, you have to make sure the joists are aligned and perfectly level. 


HOW TO ATTACH FLOOR JOISTS 

In order to secure the joists to wooden frame, you 

have two broad options. On one hand, you can drive 

4´-5´ screws trough the rims in the joists, or, you can 

use metal joist hangers. 

We recommend you to support the joists with metal 

hangers, but you can get the job done by inserting 

screws trough the rim joists, as well (don’t forget to 

drill pilot holes, before driving in the screws). 

HOW TO BUILD SALA FLOOR 

FRAME 

Next, you have to install the rest of the 4×4 posts that 

will support the top plate and roof, as in the image. If 

you want to build a durable sala, we recommend you 

to secure the posts to the floor joists, using 6” nails. 

Smart tip: Work with great care and don’t forget to 

plumb the posts before driving in the nails. In addition, 

use a tape measure to place the posts symmetrically. 

HOW TO BUILD A SALA DECKING 

After you have built the frame of the floor and installed 

the 4×4 wooden posts, you have to fasten the 2×4 

or 2×6 decking. We recommend you to buy decking 

boards designed for outside use, otherwise the floor 

of the sala will be damaged by the moisture. 

Smart tip: When installing the decking boards, place 

a nail between the slats, as to get consistent gaps 

between the boards. 

HOW TO BUILD SALA FLOOR 

As you can see in the image, we recommend you to 

drill pilot holes before inserting the nails. If you use 

screws, you can drive them in the boards without 

pre-drilling, but you have to use appropriate decking 

screws. 

Smart tip: You should fasten each deck board with 

two screws at both ends, to make sure they are 

secured properly. Work with great care, as to obtain 

a professional result. 

Next issue we will look at building your sala roof and completing your sala ready for you to enjoy! 

source: http://www.howtospecialist.com 


BAAN CHAO LAY HV099 

PRICE : ON APPLICATION 

BAAN LAE LAY HV099 

PRICE : THB 29,000,000 

Property Type : Ocean View Villa 

Location : Bophut 

Land Size : 1,576 sq.m. 

Villa Size : 900 sq.m. 

No. of Bedrooms : 4 

Facilities : Private pool, Gym, Sauna 

and Stream room 

Website : http://www.epsamui.com/ 

villa-for-sale-327.html 

BOPHUT VILLA HB045 

PRICE : THB 36,500,000 

Property Type : Beach Front Villa 


Land Size : 630 sq.m. 


No. of Bedrooms : 4 +1 

Facilities : Private pool, beach access 



LUXURY REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS 


Location : Lipa Noi 



No. of Bedrooms : 5+2 

Facilities : Private pool 

Website : http://www.epsamui. 

com/villa-for-sale-98.html#nogo 

BANG PO VILLA NEW LISTING 

PRICE : THB 35,000,000 


Location : Bang Po 



No. of Bedrooms : 4+1 

Facilities : Private pool, Jacuzzi 

Website : Coming Soon 

11/7 Moo1, Bophut, Koh Samui Suratthani 84320 Tel: +66 (0) 8 1968 3486, +66 (0)77 427 648 ext.108 www.epsamui.com Email: sales@epsamui.com

BOPHUT VILLA HV084 

PRICE : THB 35,000,000 









THE EMERALD RESIDENCE HB057 

PRICE : THB 18,000,000 






Facilities : Private pool, additional 1 

extra bedroom 



HEADLAND VILLA HB052 

PRICE : THB 27,750,000 

Property Type : Ocean Front Villa 

Location : Taling Ngam 




Facilities : Private pool and beach 

access 



BANG PO VILLA HV121 

PRICE : THB 13,000,000 






Facilities : Private pool, Library 

room and optional for another bedroom 




LAMAI VILLA HV117 

PRICE : THB 15,000,000 


Location : Lamai 







LIPA NOI VILLA HG069 

PRICE : THB 12,000,000 

Property Type : Garden View Villa 









LIPA NOI – 1.4 RAI B142 

PRICE : THB 33,000,000 

This beautiful piece of beach land is located 

in the south-west of the island. Featuring 

22 meters white sandy beach frontage with 

full infrastructure present. Benefiting from 

spectacular views to the West, and within a 

secure development with Chanote title. 

CHAWENG – 3,084 SQ.M. V175 

PRICE : THB 13,500,000 

Fantastic panoramic ocean views showing 

most of famous Chaweng Bay from these 

3,084 sqm. Located in one of the most 

privacy area which is on the top of the 

hillside area, and adjacent to Chaweng 

beach. This land is perfect for someone who 

would like breathtaking scenery the gulf of 

Thailand. 

THONG KRUT – 0.81 RAI B111 

PRICE : THB 15,000,000 

1300m2 Beach front Building plot with 21.9 

meters of frontage for sale. Title is “Chanote 

Title”, and has road access to the plot and 

electricity to the plot behind already. One 

of very few single building size beach plots 

currently available. We have a house design 

that would fit perfectly on this plot, inquire 

for more details. A very rare small beach plot 

available at a great price. 

BOPHUT – 1,376 SQ.M. V177 

PRICE : THB 4,000,000 

Breathtaking panoramic ocean views over 

looking Gulf of Thailand and view of Phangan 

Island. Perfect plot to build a dream luxury 

villa and great location for residence area. Just 

5 mins. to fisherman’ s village and 10 mins. to 

Famous Chaweng Area. Full access through 

the land with all mandatory infrastructure; 

water and electricity. Do not miss a chance 

to own this now!!! 


TALING NGAM – 3 RAI V173 

PRICE : THB 21,000,000 

3 rai (4,800 sqm.) stunning hillside land 

plot located in Taling gnam, exclusive and 

private area on the south west of the island. 

The land has sunset sea views across the south 

west coast of Koh Samui, views over Ang 

Thong National Marine Park and the famous 

Five Islands. Infrastructure in place; 3-phase 

electricity, concrete road and underground 

water. 

BOPHUT – 1564 SQ.M. V148 

PRICE : THB 4,250,000 

Located in bophut hill and close to bophut 

hill golf. This land surrounding by exclusive 

developments as sit on the best location of 

this area. Land come with 2 road acesses so 

multiple layout can be create. The owner got 

this land direct from original land owner and 

price is lower than the market value now. 


LEAM YAI – 26.3 RAI B005 

PRICE : ON APPLICATION 

This land is located on the northwest headland of the island. The 

land is on the hillside but slopes towards the beachfront, with 420 

metres of beach frontage. The site has great sunset and sunrise 

views and panoramic sea views overlooking Koh Phangan to 

the north. It is 800 metres from the ring road and 13-km from 

Chaweng and the airport; about 10-15 minutes drive away. 

This land is perfect for a hotel/resort project or vacation 

villas because of the tranquility and privacy. Set in beautiful 

surroundings, lush tropical green hillside forest and 

landscaped with an array of coconut trees. The site comes 

with full utilities such as Electricity, Water and Infrastructure. 

There are 4 Title Deeds to this property. 3 are Chanote & 1 is Nor 

Sor 3 Gor. 



BAAN PURI 

PRICE : PRICE ON APPLICATION 






Set in one of the most desirable and beautiful residential areas on the 

island Baan Puri is a truly exceptional villa. The villa is 6 bedrooms 

and 7 bathrooms build on 1800 Sqm. of beach land located in Lipa 

noi area with the stunning view of sunset & signature of Samui Five 

island. The stone wall and heavy wooden gates give a hint of the style 

and quality that awaits you inside this tropical oasis. Everything about 

this property exudes luxury and excellence; and a more spacious, well 

designed layout would be very hard to find. 



ealty in focus l property report 


HOME PRICE GROWTH 

MILDER AT PRESENT 

Thailand's property market is expected to remain stable, with the 

housing sector in Greater Bangkok starting to show signs of saturation, 

says the SCB Economic Intelligence Center (EIC). 

Developers are thus advised to study new opportunities in markets 

upcountry or abroad. 

EIC analyst Alisa Tamprasirt said while the rising home prices of the last 

four years have raised fears of a possible bubble, prices should not be 

taken as the only cause of the bubble. 

"A real estate or property bubble is characterised by rapid and continued 

increases in valuations of real property, causing speculation," she 

said. "But it's difficult to classify which demand is real and which is 

speculation." 

Ms Alisa said the Thai property market did not heat up as feared in the 

2008-11 period as opposed to the pre-crisis situation of 1993-96. 

The recent rise in home prices was driven by the country's economic 

growth, persistent low interest rates and higher costs for construction 

and land. 

But the combined growth rate for all four years was just 4%, deemed 

comparatively low versus 15% for 1993-96. 

Ms Alisa said today's housing demand is more stable than in the pre- 

1997 period. 

Mortgages are growing at 12% a year compared with a high of 25% a 

year during the pre-crisis period. 

Meanwhile, housing affordability is relatively high due to rising income 

levels. 

The housing supply does not show signs of overheating, as indicated by 

the current gross domestic product (GDP) of the property sector, which 

is growing by 3% a year on average. 

In the pre-crisis period, GDP growth of the property sector stayed 

relatively high at 10% a year. 

The upshot is that property growth is in line with economic growth, Ms 

Alisa said. 

Source: Bangkok Post 


ealty in focus l legal buzz 

INVESTING IN A THAI COMPANY 

ARTICLE 1 OF 2 

This article was written by 

Jeffrey Martin, 

Senior Associate of 

Limcharoen Hughes & Glanville 

(Samui). 

The next article will address 

the steps recommended 

to investors after they have 

acquires shares. 

For further information, 

please contact our 

Koh Samui offices on 

(0) 84 714 8800 or 

e-mail jeffrey@limcharoen.com. 

Other offices located in 

Bangkok, Phuket, 

Ho Chi Minh City, Bali 

and coming soon, Hong Kong. 


Real estate investors in Koh Samui and Koh Phangan often elect to acquire 

shares in an existing Thai company, which owns land and/or buildings, 

rather than procure the direct acquisition of the underlying assets. This 

article therefore explores the legal issues associated with investing in 

an existing Thai company, including tax considerations, legal risks, the 

Share Sale and Purchase Contract, and considerations in completing the 

transaction. However, as a number of the readers of this article are no doubt 

foreigners, a few preliminary comments are in order relating to foreign land 

investment in Thailand. 

Subject to certain exceptions, foreigners may not own land in Thailand, 

although foreigners are permitted to acquire long-term registered leases 

over land and direct ownership of fixtures on land. It is also possible for a 

Thai company to own land, and possible for a foreign person or persons 

to hold a minority interest in a Thai company which owns land. The Thai 

company must have at least three shareholders, a majority of whom must 

be Thai, and who must collectively hold the majority shares. In accordance 

with Thai law, the Thai shareholders must be genuine investors, and not 

mere “nominees” holding shares on behalf of the foreign investors, in order 

to “meet the numbers”. 

The foregoing issues are significant to foreign investors in Thailand, and 

therefore any foreign readers should keep these issues in mind while reading 

the reminder of this article. 

TAx CONSIDERATIONS 

A number of investors elect to proceed with a share acquisition, rather 

than an assets acquisition, in order to eliminate land office fees, duty and 

taxes. Indeed, the land office costs on the transfer of land and/or buildings 

can be significant; however, investors often overlook the tax implications of 

acquiring shares. For instance, the purchaser (and not the seller) of shares 

in a Thai company may be subject to a withholding tax, which the purchaser 

must remit to the authorities. 

In addition, an investor may inherit a tax liability if the company’s audited 

accounts have understated the assets values. In this event, should the 

company elect to dispose of its assets, the taxable gain will be based on 

the difference between the sale price of the assets and the book value of 

the assets. The taxable gain to the investor may therefore be inflated if the 

shares were purchased for a significantly greater price than the book value 

of the assets. 

LEGAL RISKS AND DUE DILIGENCE 

In addition to the above mentioned tax issues, investors should be aware 

that the acquisition of shares in a limited company carry certain risks not 

necessarily associated with a direct asset acquisition. In particular, investors

need to be aware that the “history” of a Thai company will follow it, regardless of whether the shares of that 

company change hands. 

At law, a company is considered a legal person, capable of entering into contracts, being sued and pursuing 

legal claims in court, amongst other matters. Therefore any litigation or disputes pending against a company will 

continue to be pending even after the shares/directorship of the company changes hands, as will any unpaid 

taxes, government investigations/proceedings, fines, penalties and similar matters. If a litigant is successful 

in suing a company, then it may enforce any judgment through seizure of the company’s assets. Investors 

should also be aware that where a company is liable for certain matters, the director/s of that company may 

be personally liable. 

Therefore before proceeding with a share purchase, investors should engage a law firm to conduct 

comprehensive due diligence into the underlying company, in addition to full due diligence into the assets of that 

company. However, investors need to note that it is usually not possible to inspect every aspect of a company’s 

history. For instance, while it is possible to conduct criminal and civil litigation searches against the company at 

the appropriate court house, it is not always possible to uncover unregistered disputes, where a party intends 

to sue the company but has not yet filed the necessary pleadings. 

Therefore investors need to recognize that there are inherent risks associated with investing in an existing 

company, which can be mitigated, but not eliminated by due diligence. 

CONTRACTS AND COMPLETION 

Provided the investor is satisfied with due diligence, it should enter into a binding Share Sale and Purchase 

Contract with the seller. The Contact should contain the basis terms, such as a description of the parties, 

the price, the target company and shares, and a completion date. In addition, the Share Sale and Purchase 

Contract should contain compressive warranties and representations made by the seller, representing that 

the company is not subject to any outstanding liabilities, taxes, litigation or disputes, investigative or other 

procedures by authorities in Thailand, amongst a great number of other representations that should be 

discussed in detail with your legal and tax representatives. 

Once the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement has been executed, it will be necessary to register the transfer 

of shares/directorship in the target company to the investors on or before the specified completion date. This 

“closing” should be done in compliance with the relevant provisions of Civil and Commercial Code and the 

company’s official documents including the Memorandum and Articles of Association. 

For instance, it is usually possible to register the transfer of shares in a Thai company by submitting a number of 

documents to the Department of Business Development (“DBD”), such documents having only been signed by 

the director/s, and not necessarily the shareholders of the company. Notwithstanding that the DBD will accept 

these documents and register the transfer of the shares, it is important to ensure that share transfer instruments 

have been executed by the outgoing shareholders, and that the appropriate shareholder and director minutes 

have been prepared, in order to comply with the Articles of Association and applicable laws, and also to ensure 

that the outgoing shareholders have consented to the transfer of shares. 


THAI REVIVAL DESIGN 

ARCHITECTURE 

ThaiRevivalDesign.com 

American/Thai architectural firm offers new Thai style home designs 

with beautiful Thai rooflines, modern floor plans, maintainence 

free materials and affordable construction cost. 

International contact in US: 

Ralf Amsden 

Tel: 001-603-964-5180 

Thailand contact: 

Somporn Khovitoonkij 

Mobile: 089-612-0648

ealty in focus l tax corner 

TAXES AND BUILDING PERMITS 

DUENSING KIPPEN 

is a multi-service boutique 

law firm specializing in 

property and corporate/ 

commercial matters and 

arbitration and litigation 

proceedings arising therefrom. 

DUEINSING KIPPEN 

is also the only such firm 

in Thailand that compliments 

its property and 

corporate/commercial legal 

expertise with a core 

tax law practice. 

DUENISING KIPPEN 

is also the only firm in Thailand 

with three Members (MCIArb) 

of the Chartered Institute 

of Arbitrators. 

DUENSING KIPPEN 

can be reached at: 

samui@duensingkippen.com 

or for more information please 

visit them at: 

www.duensingkippen.com 


Taxes and building permits: these two seemingly completely different issues 

in real estate transactions find their way together when it comes to the sale 

of real estate in Thailand. To understand how it is possible that these issues 

can become intermingled we need to recapitulate the taxable advantages 

of having a building owned and sold by an individual. 

Apart from specific business tax or stamp duty, as the case may be, the tax 

payable on transfer of real estate by an individual seller is personal income 

tax (“PIT”). Long ago Thailand adopted an interesting system of calculating 

the PIT payable upon transfer of such immovable property by an individual. 

Thailand did not enact a “capital gains tax” on the non-commercial sale of 

such immovable property. In fact, the PIT payable is independent of the 

sales price and, therefore, independent of any capital gain. The PIT payable 

is based on the land office appraised value. The calculation is made by a 

specific formula created by the legislature which takes into account the 

aforementioned base value, how long the property has been owned and 

the progressive tax rates applicable to individuals. If the seller so chooses 

this tax is calculated without including any other taxable income of the seller. 

And if so, the PIT payable is then independent of the capital gain achieved 

by such selling individual. 

However, in order to benefit from these advantageous PIT rules for individuals, 

obviously one must own the immovable property in question. Non- 

Thais may not own land in Thailand but they can own structures. But there 

seems to be some confusion as to how and when a foreigner is legally the 

owner of a building, and therefore among other things, eligible sell the building 

under the advantageous PIT rules. The reason for such confusion is the 

all too common but as we shall see utterly and legally incorrect assertion: 

“the party named in a building permit is considered to be the owner of 

that building” or some basic equivalent. By such “reasoning” some may 

have wondered e.g.: “is the contractor who applied for the building permit 

and then built the house its owner?” However, legally, this is simply not correct 

and betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the law. To understand 

why, we need to understand what a “building permit” is legally. 

The issuance of a building permit is an administrative order. An “administrative 

order” is defined by the Administrative Procedure Act (1996) as “an 

exercising of powers under the law by the competent officers with an 

effect of creating legal relations between persons in such a way to create, 

change, transfer, reserve, suspend, or which renders an effect to the status 

of rights or duties of a person, whether it be permanent or temporary, 

such as, ordering, permission, approval, decision of appeal, certification, 

and acceptance of registration, but excluding an issuance of rules.” 

The relevant law for the issuance of a building permit administrative order is 

the Building Control Act (1979) (“BCA”). What power does the competent

officer exercise under the BCA in issuing a building permit and to what effect? The administrative procedure 

is as follows. The applicant submits the application documents to the local administrative office. After a site 

visit and a verification of the application documents (e.g. construction drawings and specifications, etc.) and 

review of whether or not the contemplated structure is legally permissible, the local administrative office must 

either issue the building permit, or deny the issuance thereof and inform the applicant in writing with the reasons 

for the non-issuance, within forty-five days from the date of the application. Thus, the legal effect of this 

administrative order is merely the legal permission to a person to build a certain structure on a defined plot of 

land and that is all it is. 

What then is the relevant law that actually does create ownership rights? And more particularly, how does 

one actually legally own a building? Ownership rights are created through the Civil and Commercial Code of 

Thailand (“CCC”). Sections 137ff and 1308ff of the CCC describe what ownership rights exist and how ownership 

rights can be acquired by law. In the case immovable property, Section 139 CCC states that it is “land 

and things fixed permanently to land or forming a body therewith...[i.e., e.g. buildings]”. The CCC therefore 

provides that the land owner “automatically” by law becomes the owner of any structure permanently affixed 

to his land. However, it is also legally possible to own a structure on another person’s land. Preferably, this is 

accomplished by the registration of a “superficies” which is the legal right of ownership of a structure on land 

owned by someone else and it is the legal instrument intended by the law to create such a right of ownership. 

Note however, that even though property ownership is generally established and detailed in the CCC, the building 

permit is not mentioned. It is understood that on a practical level, it is recommended to receive the building 

permit in one’s name. The land department currently refuses to register certain rights if the applicant does not 

have the building permit in his name. Which is, in our opinion, began as an historical accident persisted due 

the lack of legal knowledge. And as an unfortunate result, this accident has developed into an administrative 

practice, reflected in incorrectly worded administrative forms; a practical reality for the time being but which is 

equally without legal foundation. 

Therefore, no building owner who has established legal ownership rights of a building through the construction 

of a structure on land under a superficies arrangement should be concerned if another person’s name is in 

the relevant building permit. Such a person will not be able to establish any ownership rights to such structure 

through that building permit. Unfortunately, the owner himself may face practical challenges with regard 

to taking advantage of the tax benefits afforded to an individual immovable property owner on transfer. The 

legal confusion of the land officials on this issue may mean that they will refuse to register the transfer without 

the true owner’s name also appearing in the building permit. However, one cannot and should not expect 

administrative officials to always “get it right” on the law even with regard to the specific laws they are charged 

with administering. Which is precisely why we have the administrative courts. Thus, the way forward for such 

an owner and for Thailand’s better future under the rule of law would be for this owner to challenge this legal 

misunderstanding in the administrative court. 


ealty in focus l island scoop 

A GARDEN LIKE NO OTHER - YOGARDEN! 

The Yogarden Samui is a new open-air, garden yoga 

studio located on the quiet Laan Thong, back street 

in Fisherman’s Village. The 80 year old teak house 

hosts a healthy café , kids art room and therapy room 

whilst there is a cosy, character filled garden café to 

refresh and chill-out. 

Bonnie Maclean and Ian Webster are the owners 

of The Yogarden and having been on the island for 

over 8 years the couple recognised a need within 

the community for a friendly accessible yoga centre. 

Combining their passions; hers of yoga and his 

of garden design and healthy food, a unique and 

welcoming Yoga environment was born. 

The Yogarden is now set to provide a vibrant space to 

island residents to practice yoga under the instruction 


of a host of experienced teachers, for community 

events and as a creative platform for people to share 

their talents and passions, such as music, art and 

cooking. Kids events will also be a key element and 

a babysitting service is available during yoga classes 

with advanced booking. 

The Yogarden is open for daily yoga classes with a 

variety of teachers and styles at 9am and 6pm. as 

well as pilates and other specialist classes, along with 

many workshops and community events. For more 

information visit www.theyogardensamui.com or like 

their Facebook page to keep up to date!

GO SAMUI VILLAS - YOUR NEW LUxURY VILLA PORTAL 

A new Samui-based rental company is leading the 

charge on the island – Go Samui Villas. 

Go Samui Villas has selected only the very best 

luxury Samui villas available and pride themselves on 

providing 5 star service, helping guests find the ideal 

villa for their next vacation. Providing a wide range of 

private luxury villas including beach front, sea view, 

garden view, hillside and resort style villas as well as a 

Elite Portfolio for those looking for that absolute WOW 

factor when nothing is ever too much. 

Go Samui Villas can also help anyone purchase a 

slice of paradise! Offering a range of villas available for 

purchase, they can help find a villa to suit any budget 

or requirements. 

A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN 

On the 15th September 2012, Secret Garden and 

Rik’s Restaurant, both well established and longrunning 

Bangrak businesses merged together to 

create what locals are touting a huge success! 

Secret Garden, located on the Bagrak Beach Road 

(opposite M&M’s Bar) is known for its well-appointed 

bungalow style accommodation boasting cable TV, 

CD/DVD players, refrigerators, in-room safe, free 

wireless internet and coffee/tea making facilities, 

positioned directly on the shores of Bangrak beach. 

Rik’s on the other hand has secured itself as a locals 

favourite, serving up consistently good western 

favourites such as Meatballs, Steaks, Chicken 

Kiev, succulent Salmon dishes, Salads and more.... 

without hurting your wallet! 

The newly launched “SECRET GARDEN BEACHCAFE 

- kitchen powered by RIKS” has seen these two 

notable businesses establish a winning combination, 

amalgamating to form a sure-fire winner. 

Go Samui Villas charge no yearly fees to villa owners. 

They simply take a small commission fee ONLY when 

they get a confirmed booking for your property. No 

hidden charges or fees! The same applies to any villa 

sales or property sales they execute for you! 

Go Samui Villas have a strong marketing team behind 

them as well as an expert SEO team to ensure your 

villa will get as much exposure as possible. They are 

constantly working on improving their footprint on 

the internet giving you the best possible chance of 

getting your villa booked or sold! 

Visit www.gosamuivillas.com for more information on 

finding the perfect villa rental, or if you’re interested in 

listing your villa for rental or for sale. 

Now open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with 

expansive ocean views, a fully-stocked bar to cater 

to any thirst and an amplified menu to satisfy all 

hungers, SECRET GARDEN BEACHCAFE - kitchen 

powered by RIKS is an absolute must-try for locals 

and visitors alike. 


ealty in focus l developer in-view 


THE INDEPENDENCE OF 

OPP 

Overseas Property Portfolio (OPP), established in 2008, is an 

independent real estate agent covering all aspects of the Koh Samui 

market. Their services include property sales, land brokering, villa 

rentals, property management, and of course professional legal and tax 

advice, to enable your purchase to run efficiently and smoothly. 

Owner and founder Emma Johnson was living and working in Spain for 

6 years but part way through her stay, was starting to see signs that the 

Spanish market was declining. Still based in Spain, Emma decided to 

expand her real estate nous to cover more emerging markets including 

Bulgaria, Cyprus, Turkey, Cape Verde and Calabria (Southern Italy) and 

for the last of her years in Europe was one of the first agents to enter 

the Northern Morocco real estate market. After much success, Emma 

was keen for a change and a new challenge, seeing Asia and specifically 

Thailand as the place to dig in her heels and submerse herself in Koh 

Samui and the stunning properties that abound. 

Emma's most crucial decision when she moved to Thailand, was to set 

up her own company rather than working for someone else. “I’ve worked 

for several companies and each one I’ve worked hard at to achieve 

not only the companies goals and what is expected of me but also my 

personal goals. I am very passionate about my job as I see it as my 

hobby. You’re working for a good part of your life so I feel its something 

you have to enjoy. Being in the industry for nearly 12 years now, I’ve 

learnt a lot and wanted to put all my experience into action. Also working 


for yourself than for someone comes with a lot of 

responsibility and I feel, is very rewarding.” 

Investing in a foreign country can sometimes be 

daunting, especially if it’s your first time purchasing 

property overseas or in a country you haven’t 

previously considered. Whether you are looking to 

buy a property as a rental investment, holiday home, 

relocation home or for retirement, Emma and her 

OPP staff are well-versed in the complexities and 

pitfalls, as well as the considerable rewards of Koh 

Samui and pride themselves on guiding you through 

the complete process to ensure your purchase 

proceeds effortlessly, efficiently and cost-effectively. 

Emma's goal with setting up OPP in Samui was 

to provide personal, professional, honest and 

straightforward advice. Working one-on-one with 

buyers, OPP carry that philosophy through on a 

personal basis with their sellers. Most importantly, 

they take the time to listen to you as a client and 

your individual requirements before making any 

recommendations. Emma says “Many buyers want, 

and rightly so, a good and reliable service, especially 

when they are coming from a western country. OPP 

works closely with its buyers, sellers and owners to 

enable the best response/outcome for all parties.” 

Working on the doctrine of being “Your independent 

Estate Agent”, Emma and her staff ensure they 

represent a diverse range of property related areas 

including Property/Land Sales, Long/Short Term 


Rentals and Property Management, working with a 

varied array of properties all over the island, ensuring 

that you always get the best of the best no matter 

what your requirements are. 

If you're looking to purchase, build or rent in Samui, 

Emma has some great advice “Do some homework 

before you come to the island. The internet is full 

of information but don’t get too bogged down in it. 

Email some real estate companies to find out what 

they have to offer as it is more than likely some agents 

will be advertising the same properties so find out 

which properties you will be visiting so not to waste 

your time. It's important that you bond with your 

estate agent too as they will be acting on your behalf 

in negotiations.” 

The key as Emma suggests is finding someone who 

will give you the support and guidance required for a 

successful purchase or rental from beginning to end. 

Most importantly is if you buy a property from OPP, 

they will not only manage it, but can also rent it for you 

on your behalf and OPP pride themselves on taking 

care of you throughout your relationship – put simply, 

they will not sell you something, take the commission 

and leave you hanging! 

So if you're looking for an independent estate agent 

who can guide you through all your property needs, 

simply visit www.overseaspropertyportfolio.com 

and let Emma and her reliable and resourceful team 

achieve what you need.

69/93 Moo 5, T. Maenam Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand 84320 

Tel: +66 (0)77 247 796, Fax: +66 (0)77 247 768 

Mobile: +66 (0)8 1921 1473 

E-mail: nite_stone@hotmail.com

ealty in focus l villa rentals 

HOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT ISLAND RETREAT 

Villa 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 

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

Samui Beach Village 

VILLA LETTING AGENTS 

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! 

ADVANCE INTER DEVELOPMENT 077 231 625 PHATHONG RESIDENCE 089 813 5715 

ADVANTAGE HOLIDAY VILLAS 077 418 891 PLUMERIA PLACE RESIDENCE 077 430 043 

BAM BUH 086 061 4280 RBC PROPERTIES 089 894 9088 

HORIZON HOMES 077 417 005 SAGE LAND & HOUSE 089 016 9750 

INFINITY RESIDENCES & RESORT 089 666 0610 SAMUI BEACH VILLAGE 077 418 256 

KALARA INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES 077 246 100 SAMUI DIAMOND PROPERTIES 087 895 4132 

KOH SAMUI LAND & HOMES 089 474 1837 SAMUI ESCAPES 077 425 136 

KOH SAMUI PROPERTIES 077 484 770 SAMUI ESTATE CORPORATION 077 414 222 

LAAN DARA SAMUI 077 414 204 SAMUJANA 089 894 9088 

LUXURY VILLAS AND HOMES 077 427 648 SAMUI-PHANGAN PROPERTIES 087 180 7247 

LAEM SOR VILLAGE 081 406 1065 THAILAND RETREATS 077 427 774 

OVERSEAS PROPERTY PORTFOLIO 080 535 1725 THE PARK 077 601 108 

PAI LEAM HOUSE 085 782 4910 THE PHUFAR RESIDENCE 081 535 9100 

PALM GROUP ASIA 085 795 9393 THE SEA 077 960 567 


ealty in focus l personal profile 


ENSURING 

YOUR FUTURE 

STEPHEN RYDER AND ENSURE ASIA DELIVER ALL 

YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS

• What brought you to Samui? 

Sadly enough it was insurance. I had visited before 

to see a friend who lived here. Then when I was 

back in the UK he had the idea that there was a 

gap in the ex-pat insurance market, specifically in 

Samui and suggested that I came out to set up 

some form of consultancy. 

• How did you end up in the insurance game? 

Full time - It was from the idea of the Samui 

opportunity. Prior to that I had always worked 

within corporations like Cisco Systems and the 

like and had also been involved with a small 

business enterprise, all of which touched regularly 

on insurance issues – as most things do. I have 

a degree in Economics as well, so was always 

predisposed to understanding insurance and the 

insurance market. 

• What kind of insurance do you offer? 

We deal predominantly with ex-pats, whether that 

be using Thai companies over here or companies 

based outside Thailand that specialize in the 

ex-pat market. We offer all types of insurance 

for health / medical cover as well as all types of 

property, vehicle and commercial policies. 

• How many different insurance companies 

do you represent? 

Difficult to say, as an independent company we 

are happy to deal with any company that suits 

our customer’s needs, so it actually changes all 

the time. 

• What are the payment options for insurance? 

In Thailand it tends to be annual payments, 

although there are some monthly options available 

on selected health policies, but not too many. 

With the specialist ex-pat medical insurance 

companies, they all offer monthly, quarterly or semi 

annual payments. 

• Are there any tips or tricks you would tell 

people when selected their insurance? 

The main thing is to know what you are covered 

for, which may sound a bit obvious, but it is 

unfortunately true that most people don’t read 

their policies and are normally not advised of 

what is excluded from their policy. As a company 

that deals mainly with ex-pats, I always try to 

find polices that are available in English and have 

English speaking claims departments. We also 

advise people from the start exactly what isn’t 

covered so people know what they can expect for 

their premium. 

• Is there anything people need to know 

about insurance companies? Anything 

hidden that we should really know about? 

It really is not too different from part of the 

previous answer. Most companies are set up to 

sell policies and turnover as many customers as 

they can – they will often ‘forget’ to advise people 

of the exact nature of the exclusions on each 

policy. Small print is very important! I should also 

mention that hospitals in Thailand can often ‘up’ 

the prices if they have an insurance company 

paying an ex-pat’s expenses, so it’s always worth 

checking these, as all insurance companies will 

only cover ‘reasonable costs’, which with our 

policies normally covers everything. However, if 

insurers find costs to be greatly inflated they can 

reserve the right to not pay the full invoice from the 

hospital, which could leave you to pay a portion 

(probably only small) of the bill. So if you are able 

to, keep an eye on the ongoing hospital fees and 

try to communicate directly with the insurers. 

• What makes Ensure different to all the 

others available in Samui/Thailand? 

Our business model is built on matching 

customers to the correct policy for them and to 

use companies we know have a good record of 

paying legitimate claims. We would rather not sell 

a policy than sell a policy that will not offer the 

cover we or the customer thinks is necessary for 

their requirements. 

• What is the strangest thing you have ever 

been asked to insure? 

Nothing too strange really, but I suppose the 

oddest requests I get – and I have had quite a 

few – are when people will ask if they can buy 

insurance to cover something that has already 

happened. I don’t like to think of people paying 

huge medical fees for example, if they are not 

insured, but I’m pretty sure the insurance industry 

wouldn’t survive the business model. I presume 

they have just misunderstood the definition of 

insurance……. I think ? ;) 

For more information please visit 

www.ensureasia.com 

or email Stephen@ensureasia.com. You can also 

call Mobile +66 (0) 8 4304 1681, Bangkok Office 

+66(0) 2625 3073 or the Koh Samui Office +66 

(0) 7741 7015 


รับฝากซื้อ-ขาย 

บ้านและที่ดิน, 

บ้านและที่ดินเพื่อเช่า 

รับจัดหาบ้านและที่ดิน, 

รับปรึกษาด้านการลงทุน 

Buy-Sale Land and House, Land and House for Rent 

Land and House Acquisition, Investment Consultation 

T: 077 426 936 F: 077 426 946 M: 081 691 1719 Patrick 081 958 5444 

www.bs-landandhouse.com E: info@baansuaylandandhouse.com 

118/1 Moo 1 Koh Samui Ring Rd. (Opp Big C), Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani

ARUN BLS 001 

Location : Bophut-Koa Pra 

Land Size : 1 Rai 1 Ngan 77.3 Sqw. 

Access : Public 

Title Deeds : Chanote 

Price : 4,000,000 THB 

MARK LAND BLS 004 


Land Size : 0 Rai 3 Ngan 91 Sqw. 



Price : 5,500,000 THB 

BANDARA BLS 002 





Price : 8,500,000 THB 

MONTILA BLS 005 





Price : 6,800,000 THB 

*ราคาดังกล่าวอาจมีการเปลี่ยนแปลงโดยไม่จำ 

เป็นที่จะต้องแจ้งล่วงหน้า 

SUTTILAK BLS 003 

Location : Angthong 




Price : 22,000,000 THB 

BAAN JINDA BHS 001 

Location : Bophut-BangRak 




Price : 5,500,000 THB

T: 077 426 936 F: 077 426 946 M: 081 691 1719 Patrick 081 958 5444 

www.bs-landandhouse.com E: info@baansuaylandandhouse.com 

118/1 Moo 1 Koh Samui Ring Rd. (Opp Big C), Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 

BAAN KWANTA BHS 002 





Price : 2,700,000 THB 

BAAN TALAY KEAW BHS 005 

Location : Bophut-BangRak 




Price : 9,900,000 THB 

CHANWENG SOI10 BHS 003 

Location : Chaweng 

Land Size : 1 Ngan 15 Sqw. 



Price : 5,500,000 THB 

SAKKWAN LAMAI BHS 006 





Price : 20,000,000 THB 

Mr. JIM HOUSE BHS 004 

Location : Bophut, Chaweng 




Price : 5,000,000 THB 

VILLA LAMAI BHS 007 

Location : Lamai 




Price : 8,500,000 THB 

*THOSE PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE

ealty in focus l feature 

LUxURY VILLAS & HOMES 

IF IT'S LUxURY YOU SEEK, IT'S LUxURY YOU SHALL GET 

Having built a reputation in Koh Samui since 2001 as 

one of the best luxury villa providers and establishing 

themselves as a true market leader, Samui Villas 

and Homes has transformed itself into a brand that 

pushes the boundaries of luxury properties, facilities 

and services. 

In partnership with Island Property Services Co., 

Ltd. (IPSL), the company recently announced the 

launch of the new Luxury Villas & Homes brand (LVH), 

bringing together both Samui Villas & Homes and 

their sister branch, Phuket Villas & Homes. 


"We decided to rebrand with the name Luxury Villas 

& Homes so there is more of a unified identity going 

forward," says Wayne Hue, Director of sales and 

marketing. 

The Thailand-based company was started over a 

decade ago, when it began managing a handful 

of private residences on the resort island of Koh 

Samui, before expanding its portfolio with the launch 

of Phuket Villas & Homes in 2007. In the coming 

months, LVH will be expanding its portfolio even 

further to include villa properties in Bali and other

esort destinations, which will all be marketed under 

Luxury Villas & Homes brand. 

"We strongly believe there is cross marketing 

potential to offer exceptional properties in a wider 

geographical reach to both our loyal client base, as 

well as to new guests," says Hue, before adding the 

company have also expanded it's marketing team 

to provide personalized services to both property 

owners and villa guests. 

The move coincides with a new look website and 

Social Media channels, which the IPSL believes will 

showcase a fresh and modern look to reflect the new 

chapter for the company. With feedback from villa 

owners and guests, the online portals were designed 

to be comprehensive and user-friendly, featuring the 

best private rental villas on Koh Samui, Phuket, and 

other sought after holiday destinations. Special offers 

and seasonal promotions are regularly updated on 

the Facebook page. 

"We are seeing demand for holiday villas increase 

steadily," says Hue. "Villas that tick all the boxes in 

terms of facilities, location and price do very well, 

and with guests looking for better, more competitive 


options, our ability to offer private villas as corporate 

retreats, and especially as wedding venues with a 

professional events team also helps us meet our 

guests' expectations." 

An in-depth knowledge and understanding of 

the resort real estate market has helped LVH 

build a strong reputation in the region, with a 

proven track record and a diverse, ever expanding 

portfolio of exceptional properties backed up by 

a comprehensive range of world class hospitality 

services. This ensures guests enjoy access to a range 

of unrivalled vacation homes, built to the highest 

standards with every possible need catered for. 

Enjoying an exceptionally high return guest rate with a 

vast majority of clients being recommended by friends 

and colleagues, Luxury Villas and Homes work hard 

to inspire a sense of community within their company, 

imparting a high level of trust and confidence in 

everyone they work with and pride themselves on 

integrity, independence and professionalism. 

Investing heavily in its staff, Luxury Villas and Homes 

also ensure the highest possible levels of customer 

service and attention to detail. Their recruitment 

and ongoing training programmes are focussed on 


achieving excellence with communication considered 

an essential tool for all staff with many being fluent 

in a variety of languages including English, Russian, 

French, German, and of course, Thai. 

As a company, Luxury Villas and Homes is seriously 

committed to minimizing environmental impact 

and develop their business in a manner that 

takes into consideration the balance between 

the natural environment, social responsibility and 

economic prosperity for the benefit of all parties 

concerned, including their guests, their associates, 

their neighbours and their stakeholders giving them 

an advantage over many real estate companies on 

the island. 

Showcasing what Luxury Villas and Homes is all 

about and their commitment to high level luxury 

and standards is their newest villa development 

Lime Samui. Part of a 12.5 acre development, 

Lime Samui is a collection of villas situated in the 

coconut clad heights above Samui's picturesque 

west coast. A secluded, peaceful location about 

15 minutes from the town of Nathon that offers a 

choice of simple shopping and dining options, while 

for more sophisticated entertainment seekers, the



world famous Nikki Beach club is but a mere 20 

minutes away. 

Perched in the hills above Koh Samui's quaint 

port town of Nathon, the villas offer breathtaking 

panoramic views across the ocean and offshore 

islands, including vistas over the incredible limestone 

peaks of the Angthong Marine Park and the 

legendary Five Islands. Further to this, the stunning 

sunset views can be enjoyed in and out of the villas 

as well as in or out of the infinity pools making these 

villas truly remarkable. 

The Lime Samui Villas have been built with an openplan 

design allowing for easy living and entertaining. 

Further to convivial living, the floor to ceiling folding 

glass doors allow you constant access to the 

impressive sea views and continue through to each 

of the bedrooms, all of which have their own private 

balcony to soak in the surroundings. 

Top class facilities are part and parcel of the Lime 

Samui Villas, where every requirement and need has 

been considered and accommodated for. With a 

private chef on hand to make meals of your choice 

throughout the day, a fully equipped Life Fitness gym 

on-site, a games room and billiards table for evening 

fun and a deluxe private cinema with a three-metre 

screen and built-in seating for 12-20 people – these 

villas have facilities to suit anyone and everyone. If you 

feel like venturing out and about, a Villa Manageress 

is on hand to answer any and all questions and assist 

you in finding and booking island adventures such as 

snorkelling, scuba diving, elephant trekking, safari 

tours and more. 

For families or groups of friends looking for that 

unsurpassed holiday escape that combines tropical 

island surrounds meshed with high end comfort and 

conveniences, Lime Samui Villas should definitely be 

high on the agenda and if Lime Samui Villas are not 

what you are seeking on your next vacation, then 

Luxury Villas and Homes are sure to have something 

that will make your holiday dreams come true. 

To find out more about Lime Samui and the other 

amazing villas on offer, visit 

www.samuivillasandhomes.com 


island life l close up 

STEP INSIDE... 

THE LARDER 

No fuss. No fancy terms. No pretension. The newest 

restaurant to join the leagues in Chaweng, The Larder 

is taking things back to basics serving up rustic fine 

dining – bringing together the finest produce in the 

most approachable and frankly, delicious manner. 

Executive Chef Martin Selby together with Food 

and Beverage Aficionado Damian Ahern decided 

Samui was lacking a down to earth eatery, where 

the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, without 

the food dropping in standard. “Our philosophy is to 

not rely on a stunning view to distract you from lessthan-average 

food. Forget about fancy table settings 

and elaborate décor. You will not find waiters with 

white gloves here...but what you will find is high-end 

food, served in a provincial and approachable way.” 

says Martin. 


With it’s official opening mid-December, The Larder 

positions itself a restaurant-come-bar... verging on 

gastro pub...... and not quite a wine bar. Martin and 

Damian have garnered themselves a following on 

the island and it’s no surprise as to why, their skills 

combined have reached perfection at The Larder, 

where they mesh modern British & European cuisine 

with international influences. A mix of comfort food 

and classics – the food has been revived, remixed 

and reinvigorated by merging modern cooking 

methods and techniques. 

The menu reads like a food lovers dream. Start 

your meal with their Duck breast and liver pate 

accompanied by red wine gel, honey roast beetroot 

& olive bread crisp or why not indulge in their Serrano

ham & rocket with soft boiled quails eggs, glazed 

cauliflower & aged balsamic. 

After more substantial fare? Then take The Larder 

Burger with it’s core of 100% Black Angus beef, 

melted onions, aged cheddar cheese served with 

onion rings, parsnip chips and lashings of beetroot 

& red onion relish. Your mouth-watering yet? What 

about Slow cooked belly pork with soy bean purée, 

green vegetables, egg yolk croquette, caramelised 

red onion & sage jus...or Crisp skinned Atlantic 

salmon with nori & roe, wasabi foam & wakami nage. 

Dining at its best. 

For those who love a great tipple with their dining 

experience, Damian Ahern conjures up the perfect 

cocktails to suit. Using unusual ingredients such 

as their house-infused bacon bourbon, or why not 

try their de-constructed bloody mary where they 

separate it’s ingredients to include some parts solid 

some parts liquid – giving drinkers a little bit of magic 

to enjoy. 

Situated at the very top of the Chaweng Beach Road 

(opposite Anantara Lawana) you can enjoy their 

luncheon menu or evening fare, with daily specials 

to boot. The Larder is a place where you can relax, 

let down your hair and fill yourself to the brim with 

unsurpassed food and intricate drinks without feeling 

like you have to wear your finest suit. 

For more information see www.thelardersamui.com 

Phone 087 883 8459 or 085 570 9602 

for reservations. 


Surat Baansuy Ltd. Part 

หจก.สุราษฎร์บ้านสวย (คฤหภัณฑ์) 

CURTAIN 

CUSHION 

FOLDING ARM AWNING AWNING TENSION MEMBRANE 

ด้วยช่�งที่มีประสบก�รณ์กว่� 

20 ปี 

จำ�หน่�ยและรับติดตั้ง 

ผ้าม่านทุกชนิด, มู่ลี่ทุกชนิด 

ระบบมอเตอร์ผ้าม่านทุกชนิด 

เบาะ, โซฟา, ผ้าใบ, หลังคาผ้าใบ, พรม, กระเบื้องยาง 

และ สินค้านำาเข้าจากต่างประเทศอีกมากมาย 

118/1 Robkoh Rd. Bo phut Beach Koh Samui (Opp Big C) 

Tel: 077-484-662-3, 086-479-3480 (คุณเปีย) 081-691-1719 

SOFA

We are expert in curtain services 

for more than 20 years 

Sale and Service 

Curtain, Roller Blinds, Bamboo Blinds, With Motor System 

Cushions, Sofa, Awning, Tension Membrane 

Carpet, Pvc Flooring, Import Product Ect 

Mobile: 081-536-6178 ( Mr. Jim) Email: jim@suratbaansuy.com 

www.suratbaansuy.com

island life l green scene 


LARGE-SCALE 

SOLAR POWER PLANT 

OPENS IN THAILAND 

A new solar power plant has now been officially opened as part of an 

Asian Development Bank (ADB)-financed project to help Thailand add 

more renewable sources to its energy mix. 

“By diversifying its energy sources and meeting some of its growing 

demand through renewables like solar, Thailand can generate fewer 

greenhouse gases and act as a model to other countries in the region,” 

said Christopher Thieme, Director in ADB’s Private Sector Operations 

Department. 

Two power generation plants, one with 10 megawatts gross capacity 

and the other with 34.5 megawatts, began commercial operation 

last month, and will sell 30 megawatts to the Electricity Generating 

Authority of Thailand and eight megawatts to the Provincial Electricity 

Authority. The plants are operated by Bangchak Petroleum Public 

Company (BCP). 

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over 

the plant’s opening ceremony. 

The project will help Thailand meet its target of tapping 25% of its 

primary commercial energy needs from renewable sources by 2021. 

Currently about 85% of the country’s energy supply comes from natural 

gas, coal and lignite. The project will also demonstrate the impact and 

sustainability of large-scale private sector solar power generation. 

ADB’s assistance is a 15-year direct loan amounting to $134 million 

(THB 4.2 billion), including mid-term risk participation from Mizuho 

bank. In addition to the loan, ADB is also providing $400,000 in 

technical assistance to help BCP develop, implement, and monitor its 

carbon neutral goals and provide training to other energy companies 

in zero-carbon emission strategies. 

Source: www.adb.org 


PUMP CHEMICAL 

ASTRAL VIRON P300 HIGH 

EFFECIENCY 

3 speeds pump 

High speed 2850 RPM/983w/282LPM/18 HEAD 

Medium speed 2410 RPM/675w/245LPM/13 HEAD 

Low speed 1900 RPM/345w/204 LPM/8 HEAD 

ASTRAL Victoria Plus Pump 

16,000 l/h 0.78 kw (1 Hp) 230 v 

21,000 l/h 1.10 kw (1.5 Hp) 230 v 

26,000 l/h 1.50 kw (2 Hp) 230 v 

34,000 l/h 2.20 kw (3 Hp) 230/400 v 3 phase 

ASTRAL Alaska Max Series 

0.75 Hp 

18.6 m3/hr (1.0 Hp) 

24.6 m3/hr(1.5 Hp) 

30.18 m3/hr(2.0 Hp) 

HURLCON CTX Series 

18.6 m3/hr (1.0 Hp) 

24.6 m3/hr (1.5 Hp) 

30.18 m3/hr (2.0 Hp) 

E Series Pool & Spa Pumps - Single 

Phase 

E 140 - 0.50 HP Pool and Spa Pump 




FX Flooded Suction Pumps - Single 

Phase 

FX 250 - 1.00 HP Flooded Suction Pump 




BX High Performance Pumps - 24 hours 

run-dry tested 

BX 1.0 High Performance Pump - Single Phase 




Submersible Pump-Plastic body 

Power Plus for clean water, flow 3,500 l/h : 200 W. 

Power Plus for clean water, flow 5,000 l/h : 250 W. 

Power Plus for dirty water, flow 7,500 l/h : 400 W. 

Power Plus for dirty water, flow 12,500 l/h : 750 W. 

Tel: 077 247 550-1 

Liquid Flocculant(Astral) 

Eliminate Colloidal Particles, Solving water 

cloudiness, Fast flocculent effect. 

ทำาให้สิ่งสกปรกรวมตัวและเร่งตกตะกอน - ทำานำ้าใส 

ใช้กับ pH ช่วงกว้างได้ - ระยะเวลาตกกะกอน 8 ชั่วโมง 

Solid pH Plus (Astral) 

Adjust pH between 7.2-7.6 

Solid state form for easy of use, non 

irritation 

ปรับค่า pH ให้อยู่ในช่วง 7.2-7.6 

ชนิดเม็ดแข็งใช้งานง่าย - ไม่ระคายเคือง 

Solid pH Minor(Astral) 

Adjust pH between 7.2-7.6 

Solid state form for easy of use, non 

irritation 

ปรับค่า pH ให้อยู่ในช่วง 7.2-7.6 

ชนิดเม็ดแข็งใช้งานง่าย - ไม่ระคายเคือง 

Extra Algicide(Astral) 

Algicide - Non foaming - eleminate odors 

Flocculant Effect 

กำาจัดและป้องกันการเกิดใหม่ของตะไคร่ 

ไม่เป็นฟอง - เร่งสิ่งสกปรกรวมตัวและตกตะกอนเร็ว 

พิเศษ - ทำานำ้าใส - ขจัดกลิ่นไม่พึงประสงค์ 

Brightener 

Algicide with brightener 1 L 

Algicide with brightener 5 L 

Chlorine Powder(Astral) 

90% Available Chlorine - Stabilizer powder 

Non Comburent 

90% คลอรีน - สร้างเสถียรภาพ ชนิดผง 

ลดการระเหยของคลอรีน -ไม่มีสารไวไฟ 

Chlorine Granural(Astral) 

90% Available Chlorine - Stabilizer 

Granulate 

Non Comburent 

90% คลอรีนชนิดเกล็ด - สร้างเสถียรภาพ 

ลดการระเหยของคลอรีน -ไม่มีสารไวไฟ 

Chlorine Tablet(Astral) 

90% Available Chlorine - Stabilizer tablets 

Non Comburent 

90% คลอรีนชนิดก้อน - สร้างเสถียรภาพ 

ASTRAL POOL SHOP 44/34-35 Moo 1 Maenam, Koh Samui Surathani 84330 Thailand 

Tel: 077 247550-1 Fax: 077 961556 E-mail: tsppools@gmail.com

New Arrive! 

integrated pH/ORP control 

SELF-CLEANING 

Save over 40% per month of pool maintenance ประหยัดค่าใช้จ่ายกว่า 40% ต่อ เดือน 

Less chlorine smell ไม่มีกลิ่นคลอรีน 

Industrial systems เหมาะสำาหรับโรงแรมทั่วไป 

Healthier and salutary water 

Chlorine control Automatic System ระบบตัดคลอรีน อัตโนมัติ 

PH Control Automatic System ระบบควบคุมค่า PH อัตโนมัติ 

E-mail: astralsamui@gmail.com, tsppools@gmail.com

island life l eco outdoor 

10 WAYS 

TO HAVE FUN IN YOUR GARDEN 

...AND ALSO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT! 


Gardening can be a lot of work, but it can also be 

fun and fulfilling. Gardens provide you with a hobby, 

a space to relax in and a place you can actually grow 

some of the food you eat! 

Here are 10 fun and eco-friendly ways to spruce 

up your garden, reinvigorate your love for all things 

gardening, whilst tipping your hat to the environment 

too! 

1. MAKE A RAIN BARREL 

Rain barrels are a great way to capture storm water 

run-off as well as a free source of water for your 

plants. It’s perfect for gardeners who don’t get 

consistent rain but plant items that need consistent 

water. They’re easy to make (or buy) and install, and 

the best part is you’ll be saving money by not using 

water from the tap. Check online for easy to follow 

clips and instructions – this is a great one to get you 

started - http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/howto-create-a-rain-barrel/index.html 

2. BUY A WATERING CAN 

You can always combine passions and shopping and 

gardening are no different. Here is an excuse to go 

out and buy yourself a fun, quirky or pretty watering 

can! They are not only practical but you can accent 

your garden with this decorative and functional 

garden essential. 

3. START GROWING STUFF...IN REUSED PLASTIC! 

Before sending the bottoms of soda bottles and water 

bottles off to get recycled or even worse, throwing 

them away, reuse them to start some seedlings 

instead of buying new, plastic seed planters. Cut the 

bottoms of the bottles off and drill some holes around 

the bottom to allow excess water to drain. You’ll be 

able to reuse your normal waste, save money on 

planters, and still be able to recycle the bottoms of 

the bottles when you’re finished with them. 

4. START COMPOSTING 

While it may not be the most fun you’ve had, having 

a compost is great for your garden, providing natural 

and rich resources continually. On the eco-friendly 

side, it reduces waste and reduces the amount of 

fertilizer you’ll use on your plants. To make it easier, 

make it bigger or get one that’s easy to turn. 

5. LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR GARDEN 

Learning about what you’re interested in is a great 

way to keep yourself energized in your garden as well

as making sure you know the best tactics and ways 

to handle certain plants and situations. To learn in an 

eco-friendly manner, check out the mass of ebooks 

available (many of which are free). Check online for 

thousands of sites to help you out, or buy an ebook 

here - http://www.ebooks.com/subjects/gardening/ 

6. DECORATE! (WITH REUSED ITEMS) 

Some people reuse old tires or old bed frames for 

a flower bed and create glass walls with old glass 

bottles. Check your garage for garden goodies you 

could use - you’re re-purposing stuff that might 

otherwise go into the bin, and you’re sprucing up 

your garden too. 

7. REARRANGE YOUR PLANTS 

No, you don’t have a large farm growing hundreds 

of acres of corn in your backyard, but it’s still good 

to mix up where you plant your veggies and flowers. 

It helps diversify the soil and it keeps you interested 

and aware of your garden. Of course, some plants 

just shouldn’t be uprooted, but others actually benefit 

from a change in scenery. You may just find that 

a certain tomato plant does multitudes better in a 

different location...try it and see! 

8. DO SOME WEEDING 

While weeding isn’t the most glamorous garden 

activity, it certainly has a positive effect on your 

garden. It not only makes your garden look good, but 

it improves the health of the plants whose nutrients 

are being sucked away. Plus, a lot of weeds aren’t 

native to the area, they’ve been transferred from 

different parts of the country (or the world), and 

they’ve gotten out of control because there known 

limiting factors don’t exist in their new surroundings. 

9. HANDLE PESTS AND WEEDS ORGANICALLY 

Using toxic, chemical pesticides, herbicides, and 

fertilizers in your garden is bad for the environment 

and bad for your health (especially if you’re using 

them near your fruit and veg patch). Try some 

organic alternatives or local methods to handle your 

gardening troubles. They may take a little more work 

or a little more learning, but they’re usually just as 

effective if not more effective than their polluting 

alternatives. 

10. PLANT SOME NATIVE PLANTS 

Plants native to Thailand, especially the south, have 

the best chance of thriving in your garden, and they’ll 

probably be the easiest to take care of, because 

they’ve evolved to grow in your area. Even better, 

you’ll provide the native wildlife with just a little more 

sustenance. Easy and good for the environment: it 

doesn’t get much better than that. 


island life l home help 

herb it up! 

Starting a kitchen herb garden is one of the best ways 

to add a dash of fresh herb flavours and fragrances 

to your recipes. They are also great fun to grow 

indoors and you don’t need a lot of space or skill to 

grow these great recipe additions. All you need is a 

sunny spot around your kitchen, like the window sill, 

or you may even grab a place in and around any of 

your rooms as well such as your laundry. It is quite 

easy to grow herbs indoor, though make sure there is 

proper sunlight available for your herbs wherever you 

place them. Include herbs which are regularly used by 

you in your food preparations, and those which are 

relatively easy to plant and maintain. 

To get your indoor herb garden going, you can use a 

couple of different methods. One is to park a planter 

filled with quality potting soil and your favourite herb 

seeds in front of a window that gets lots of natural 

sunlight. For this to be successful, the spot you 

choose will have to get six hours of sunlight each day 

and not be so hot in the afternoons. Think southern 


exposure here, where the plant leaves won’t burn. 

If you have a perfect spot, hopefully in your kitchen 

near where the action is, go for it. A bag of potting 

soil, some culinary herb seeds and some judicious 

watering, and you’re ready to go. 

If, like many of us, you don’t have the perfect 

herb-friendly conditions available, you can use a 

hydroponic kit instead. This soil-less set up uses 

liquid nourishment and special lights to produce 

perfect plants fast. Because herbs are among 

the most popular garden plants for this type of 

arrangement, it’s easy to find hydroponic equipment 

retailers that offer products specifically for indoor 

herb gardens. Look online for some cheap and ready 

to go kits! 

Whatever option you choose, the three main things 

herbs will need to grow lush and flavourful is good 

light, water and the right nourishment.

TIPS AND TRICKS 

• To get your herb garden started without any major 

problems, make sure to choose healthy plants, or 

grow your own from seed. This means that you 

should inspect plants before you bring them home 

and discard any that show signs of insect activity. 

If a plant looks suspicious, pass. 

• Give plants plenty of room. Plant descriptions and 

seed packets will offer spacing recommendations, 

and even though potted plants don’t typically grow 

to full size, give them generous accommodations. 

• Water plants regularly and make sure the pots 

drain thoroughly after watering. One of the biggest 

plant killers is stagnant water hanging around long 

enough to rot plant roots. 

• Turn plant pots frequently to keep plants growing 

evenly on all sides. 

• Go light on the fertilizer. Most herbs like moderate 

to poor soil. Remember, more house plants are 

killed with kindness than through neglect. 

• Wait for plants to reach 15 to 20 centimetres in 

height before cutting off any leaves, and only take 

about a quarter of the plant or less at any one time. 

After you’ve snipped a herb’s leaves, wait for that 

much or more to grow back before cutting again. 

If you’re a parsley or oregano fanatic, it might be a 

good idea to keep more than one plant going at a 

time. 

There are so many different types of herbs to choose 

from that you will not be starved for choice. Herbs are 

the perfect accompaniment to any meal and add that 

fresh flavour you seek and now instead of running 

down to the market, you can simply snip and add in 

the convenience of your own home! 


BEACH LAND FOR SALE 

LAND FOR SALE 

KOH SAMUI (Bang Kao) 

5 Rai and 231 Talangwah 8925 m2. 

(Chanote title) 

Bang Kao – also known as Laem Set beach - are 

amongst the least developed part of Koh Samui 

with only a few resorts and luxury villas spread at 

leisurely intervals along the beach. 

THB 7,500,000 PR. RAI 

OTHER ACTIVITIES NEARBY THE LAND: 

The Butterfly Garden, Buffalo Show, Tropical Zoo 

and the Aquarium 

DISTANCES FROM IMPORTANT PLACES: 

Airport .............................................. 40 minutes 

Seatran Ferry .................................... 30 minutes 

Raja Ferry ......................................... 20 minutes 

Golf Course ...................................... 40 minutes 

Chaweng Beach ............................... 30 minutes 

Lamai Beach .................................... 15 minutes 

For more information about this land please contact: 081 261 3083 

prajuapthaen@hotmail.com

life on the isles l koh samui map 


LIVING IN KOH SAMUI 

Koh Samui’s enduring appeal as one of the world’s 

top holiday destinations has inspired many people to 

relocate to the island, either choosing to make it their 

permanent home or spending extended amounts of 

time living what those in less blessed locations would 

understandably consider an idyllic lifestyle. 

In the last ten years, the island has developed into 

a full service destination and the range of facilities, 

amenities and services has therefore expanded 

considerably, making Samui one of very few places 

in the world where you can literally choose your 

preferences, both in terms of the way you pass your 

days and nights and also the amount of money you 

want to spend. 

Although the island’s tourist and residential worlds 

often collide, they can also be very distinctive. But 

in terms of choice, both groups benefit from the 

island’s incredibly diverse and eclectic offerings, 

whether in terms of accommodation, retail, dining, 

entertainment, health or adventure. As a long term 

resident on Samui, if you stop to consider the sheer 

extent of comfort and convenience on offer around 

the island 

today it’s sometimes difficult to remember that you 

are living on a small island in the Gulf of Thailand. 

As soon as you leave the beach you are spoilt for 

choice - shopping malls such as Tesco Lotus and Big 

C stock all the daily necessities and more, specialist 

outlets like Tops Supermarket and Villa in Lamai offer 

indulgent imported goods, while 7Elevens, Family 

Mart outlets and local shops make impulse buying a 

an easy option, even at 4 in the morning. A selection 

of fresh food markets also cater to an ever growing 

Thai community with everything from rice by the kilo 

to fresh Tiger Prawns sold by the kilo at what are very 

reasonable prices when compared to the deli 

counters of most western supermarkets. 

For those who prefer to dine out, Samui has 

developed a deserved reputation a s gourmet 

paradise with an enviable choice of restaurants, 

their menus often created by chef’s of international 

repute and wine lists that rival those in some of the 


world’s top city bistros. Excellent Thai food is also 

readily enjoyed, either roadside at one of the island’s 

many affordable local eateries or in more opulent 

surroundings accompanied by five star service and 

stylised, cultural designs and entertainment. 

The Samui party scene has also developed in leaps 

and bounds in the last few years, sophisticated 

Beach Clubs like Beach republic and Nikki Beach 


serve top class food and beverage choices in chic 

poolside surroundings. They also host regular parties 

with international DJs and performers. Western style 

pubs and nightclubs line the popular tourist strips, 

with sports bars like The Islander and Bondi in 

Chaweng showing live international sporting events. 

Those in search of a more healthy, green lifestyle 

on Samui can easily avoid the tourist bustle. The 

quiet beaches on the island’s south coast still feel 

relatively untouched by development and many small 

residential communities have emerged in places like 

Baan taling Ngam and Lip Noi, where the pace of life 

is slow and the tropical landscape still untroubled by 

crowds and commerce. Spas and wellness centres 

offer a wide range of treatments and therapies to 

rejuvenate tired souls, while yoga, meditation and 

other more spiritually inspired activities can be 

studied and practiced at various centres around the 

island. 

Families are increasingly well catered for on Samui 

and the island now boasts its very own International 

School (ISS), as well as several other learning 

institutions catering to to both Thai and expatriate 

students. The island’s clubs and organisations often 

organise family friendly gatherings, regular Walking 

Streets offer festival style outings and there are also 

several restaurants that cater for children’s parties. 

With so much on offer to residents, Samui has now 

become as much a place to live as it is a place to 

visit. It is now a multi-faceted residential island with 

an enviable range of services and facilities to choose 

from, all of which combine to offer permanent and 

long stay‘Samuians' one of the most appealing and 

diverse tropical lifestyle experiences on the planet.

life on the isles l koh phangan map 


LIVING IN KOH PHANGAN 

Stunning beaches, an affordable lifestyle and an 

appealing island environment have drawn a growing 

number of visitors and residents to Koh Phangan’s 

tropical shores. Many of the island’s visitors choose 

to stay longer than they originally planned and this 

has led to the establishment of a sizeable foreign 

community of long stay tourists, working residents, 

business owners and retirees. The number of foreign 

investors choosing Koh Phangan as their second 

home is increasing every year, with easy transport 

access, a fast developing infrastructure and a range 

of lifestyle and hospitality services all adding to the 

island’s growing appeal. 

Koh Phangan is a rare island escape just a short 

boat ride from Koh Samui’s more developed and 

commercial environment. This means residents and 

visitors can enjoy the unspoiled beauty of some of 

Thailand’s finest beaches while still having access 

to the comforts and benefits of a modern lifestyle. 

The recent growth in the number of luxury hotels 

and private villas on the island has prompted the 

emergence of more upmarket retail, dining and 

entertainment choices, with cool nightspots and 

restaurants opening in the more popular beaches 

like Haad Rin and Thong Nai Pan. As Koh Phangan 

evolves from a backpacker haven in to a full service 

destination, the island is attracting those with the 

spending power to combine natural escape with a 

sophisticated island lifestyle. 

The Thai government and its tourism authority has 

long been promoting Koh Phangan as an ecodestination 

in order to transform the island’s reputation 

from party venue to tropical escape, promoting Koh 

Phangan’s natural beauty and untainted environment 

to the world. Eco-adventures and marine based 

activities are widely available to visitors and residents 

with mountain biking, diving, wake boarding and 

jungle treks all on offer to encourage a more sensitive 

approach to island life that also minimises the impact 

on the island’s ecosystem. 

On a practical level, the opening of a modest Tesco 

Lotus Supermarket, combined with a significant 

increase in the number of foreign run businesses has 


had a real impact in terms on the ease of living on Koh 

Phangan. Designer boutiques, international cuisine, 

real estate agents and developers are all gradually 

changing the island landscape, yet the laid back 

lifestyle has thus far survived and the local people 

are known for their commitment to preserving their 

traditional culture. Whether selling the daily catch 


from their boats, chatting with friends in the shade of 

the village ‘sala’ or celebrating weddings with dances 

and local music, local people remain distinctively 

Thai in many ways. As for the foreign residents, the 

ease of life, natural beauty and diversity of lifestyle 

choices make Koh Phangan a unique destination as 

either a permanent or second home. 

REAL ESTATE OF KOH PHANGAN 

Koh Phangan’s real estate sector has grown as the 

island has developed and become more popular 

with visitors from around the world. Investment 

opportunities abound, whether it is raw beach 

and mountain land, off plan residential purchases 

or completed luxury villas for sale. Prices are 

considerably lower than they are on Koh Samui, 

which often attracts adventurous investors looking for 

an affordable slice of paradise. Restrictive ownership 

laws in Thailand, however, mean buyers are advised 

to go through reputable law firms when considering 

any purchases on Koh Phangan. As is the case on 

Koh Samui or Phuket, it is important for anyone 

considering an investment to thoroughly research the 

laws and regulations, as well as to ensure that any 

land titles are thoroughly checked and that the most 

secure method of purchase is found to guarantee a 

trouble free, long-term investment. It is advisable to 

research construction firms employed to guarantee 

that their reputation is solid and that any previous 

projects have been successfully completed.

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 


Bedroom Area (Passion 60.3 SQ.M.) 

Replay can’t be happier for the fantastic 

response its development, located in 

between the Fisherman’s Village and 

Bangrak, has had. The condominium, 

which has its own private beach, has 408 

units and Phase One of the unique and 

affordable complex is almost complete. 

Ownership transfers will begin as early 

as this month with the first batch of 

occupants moving in next month. Facilities 

now ready include the 400-square-meter 

swimming pool and a state of the art fitness 

center. 

SAMUIMODERNISM 

Building E Update Progress 16 October 12 

Phase Two, due for completion in the second quarter of 2013, will include 70 high-end 

residences, a small shopping center, an art gallery and an international restaurant. 

The project’s completion was slightly delayed due to the many changes, such as the addition 

of the gallery, shopping mall and restaurant that came up after the plan had been finalized. But 

all’s well that ends well, so to speak. 

The team behind Replay is looking forward to exciting times ahead starting with the formal 

opening of the first phase of the condominium project. The event promises to be a momentous 

occasion – it will be a great opportunity for Phase One residents to get to know each other shortly 

before they start moving in.

“See different thing, See thing differently ...” 

“See different thing, See thing differently ...” 

The team is also excited about the coming 

year. Replay recently acquired six more plots of 

land on the island and plans to develop a wider 

range of accommodation, including those 

geared towards locals who are starting to show 

an interest in investing in real estate along with 

their western counterparts, a move that is 

certain to bolster the confidence of the project’s 

foreign investors. 

The locations of the new developments 

have yet to be revealed. The team, however, had 

earlier released plans for a 72-unit complex in 

Cha-am near Hua Hin aimed at people wishing 

to live within driving distance of the country’s 

capital Bangkok. The development is aimed at 

young professionals who work from home but 

still need easy access to the capital as well as 

commuters looking for an alternative to living in 

the city. 

“The Cha-am project is expected to start 

construction next year” 

Telephone: +66 077 448 201 

E-Mail: info@replaysamui.com 

WebSite: www.replaysamui.com 

Passion 60.3 SQ.M. 

facebook.com/replaysamui 

Cozy 52.0 SQ.M. 

Room Studio 26.0 SQ.M.


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. 

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 coinvest 

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 




Translation courtesy of Jade Fang Jman Marina +66 08 1893 8366 




Translation courtesy of Marion Siepe +66 08 0041 5004 




Translation courtesy of Thai Property +66 08 6948 4443 




Translation courtesy of Laurent Samui Phangan Properties +66 08 9587 2850 


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) 



ISLAND CONTACTS 

PROPERTY DEVELOPERS/ ESTATE AGENTS 

ADVANCE INTER DEVELOPMENTS ....................077 231 625 

ADVANTAGE PROPERTY ....................................081 892 6372 

ANGTHONG APARTMENTS ...................................077 430 326 

ANGTHONG VILLAS.............................................089 972 1539 

AQUALINA SAMUI ................................................084 322 4680 

ARTRIUM SUITES ................................................087 607 6078 

BAAN FAA SAI BY ANGTHONG HILLS ..................086 256 555 

BAAN RAK TALAY ................................................. 077 430 326 

BAANSUAY LAND & HOUSE .................................077 426 967 

BAMBUH ...............................................................086 061 4280 

BANG MA-KARM LAND ........................................085 198 8918 

BANGPOR VILLA ..................................................081 341 4755 

BAN SWEET COCONUT ......................................089 500 9800 

BASE DEVELOPMENTS ........................................077 961 762 

BEACH REPUBLIC ............................................... 089 011 9538 

CD&P .....................................................................081 924 9574 

CHAWENG COVE BEACH RESORT .....................077 422 509 

CHAWENG SILA .....................................................077 430 779 

CHEONGMON GARDENS ...................................086 043 5438 

COUNTRYSIDE PROPERTY ...............................089 866 2062 

DHEVATARA PROPERTY .......................................077 430 326 

DREAMCOAST DEVELOPMENTS .......................081 082 9355 

ECO REAL ESTATE ASIA .......................................077 961 991 

EMERALD RESIDENCE .......................................081 903 8003 

EXCLUSIVE VILLA ...............................................084 708 1501 

FUNCTION HOMES ................................................077 430 540 

HALCYON SAMUI PROPERTIES .........................089 971 7194 

HILLSIDE VILLAGE...............................................081 903 8003 

HOLLYWOOD VILLA .............................................083 396 0244 

HORIZON HOMES ..................................................077 417 005 

INFINITY SAMUI ...................................................089 666 0610 

IPM SAMUI ............................................................081 894 4093 

KOH SAMUI LAND & HOME .................................089 474 1837 

KARMA SAMUI........................................................077 413 901 

KOH PHANGAN HOLIDAY HOMES .....................087 898 3918 

KOH SAMUI PROPERTY ........................................077 230 606 

KALARA INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES .............077 246 100 

KIRIKAYAN ..............................................................077 247 867 

LAAN DARA SAMUI ................................................077 414 204 

LAEM NOI LAND ...................................................081 903 8003 

LOTUS TERRACES ..............................................089 972 3043 

MANDALAY GARDEN ...........................................080 523 4488 

MANGROVE VILLA ..............................................081 374 0014 

MINI GOLF ............................................................081 787 9148 


MOBY DICK GUESTHOUSE ................................081 892 1990 

NARAI KIRI............................................................081 537 3088 

NARESH..................................................................077 426 944 

OCEAN 11 BEACH FRONT RESIDENCE ............089 813 5715 

OCEAN 13 THE RESIDENCES ............................085 885 3434 

OVERSEAS PROPERTY PORTFOLIO ...............080 535 1725 

PALM CREEK RESIDENCE ..................................081 374 0014 

PALM GROUP ASIA ..............................................085 795 9393 

PLAI LAEM VILLAS ...............................................085 782 4910 

PEARL PROPERTY ..............................................081 370 2480 

PHATHONG RESIDENCE ....................................089 813 5715 

PLUMERIA PLACE..................................................077 430 043 

PROPERTYBROKERSTHAI.COM 

RBC PROPERTIES ..............................................089 894 9088 

REPLAY SAMUI .................................................... 077 448 201 

ROYAL SAMUI HEIGHTS .......................................077 414 222 

SAMRAN GARDENS ............................................089 474 1837 

SAMUI BURI BEACH RESORT ...........................077 447 275-9 

SAMUI ESCAPES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ....077 245 136 

SAMUI ESTATES CORPORATION .........................077 414 222 

SAMUI PHANGNAN PROPERTIES ......................081 979 0679 

SAMUI QUICK SALE ............................................081 082 4030 

SAMUI SANCTUARY ............................................084 689 7081 

SAMUI VILLAS & HOMES ......................................077 427 648 

SAGE LAND & HOUSE .........................................089 016 9750 

SAMUI RESOTEL BEACH RESORT ......................077 422 374 

SAMUI BEACH VILLAGE ........................................077 430 326 

SAMUI DIAMOND PROPERTIES .........................087 895 4132 

SAMUJANA ...........................................................089 894 9088 

SEA VIEW LAND FOR SALE ..............................081 651 1444 

SHAMBALA SUNSET BEACH VILLA ....................089 972 1539 

SIAM IMMO COMPANY ........................................081 850 6475 

SINTHORANEE PROPERTY ..................................077 414 222 

TALING NGAM TROPICAL VILLA .........................089 651 0302 

THAI PROPERTY ....................................................086 948 443 

THAILAND RETREATS ...........................................077 427 774

THE EMERALD THONGSON ...............................081 893 5996 

THE MANDALAY VILLAS ......................................085 797 0477 

THE PHUFAR RESIDENCE .................................081 535 9100 

THE ROYAL MOUNTAIN .......................................081 956 1636 

THE SEA KOH SAMUI ............................................077 961 982 

THONG NAI PAN ESTATE ....................................083 391 8159 

TONGTIP MANSIONS ..........................................081 476 2646 

TROPICAL HOME ................................................082 179 3933 

VERTICOLOR SAMUI ............................................077 914 000 

VILLA SOPHIA & VILLA COCONUT .....................087 823 7371 

X2 RESIDENCES ..................................................082 495 2525 

LEGAL SERVICES 

LIMCHAROEN HUGHES & GLANVILLE ................077 246 185 

BIG BUSINESS .......................................................077 413 764 

BLUMENTHAL RICHTER & SUMET.......................077 231 732 

CHARNDELL DISPUTE MANAGEMENT................02 514 9170 

IPM SAMUI ............................................................081 894 4093 

DFDL .......................................................................077 246 081 

MANIT ASSOCIATES ..............................................077 458 135 

NAT ACCOUNTING .................................................077 246 249 

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 

WONDERFUL SERVICES ....................................081 086 5141 

LIGHTING SYSTEMS 

CREATIVE SYSTEM PROJECTS ....................... 080 698 6811 

FIBER OPTICS ........................................................077 448 077 

JMAN LTEK LED-LIGHTING ................................ 081 893 5996 

AV INSTALLATION SYSTEM ................................089 971 5775 

HOME & DECOR 

BEAUTIFUL WORLD ............................................081 956 0337 

CERA .......................................................................077 247 805 

ETERNAL FLAME .................................................089 772 1589 

GOLDEN DRAGON .................................................083 646 555 

NUTTARAT DECORATE ........................................077 920 266 

ORIENTAL LIVING ..................................................077 247 675 

SALAK THAI ............................................................077 234 368 

SEASIDE DÉCOR ................................................. 083 390 3711 

SURAT BAANSAUY ..............................................081 691 1719 

SECURITY SYSTEMS 

B-SMART SYSTEMS ..............................................077 248 362 


KUNINI ....................................................................077 230 839 

AUDIO VISUAL INTERIOR DESIGN 

AV INSTALLATION SYSTEM ................................089 971 5775 

AVIVA .......................................................................02 685 3676 


GARDEN & LANDSCAPE 

BOTANICAL DESIGNS LANDSCAPING...............084 315 9742 

HELICONIA LANDSCAPE GARDEN ....................081 090 5489 

KITCHEN HARDWARE 

FRANKE KITCHENS ...............................................02 236 9777 

H.A.FELE.................................................................077 423 073 

IKON KITCHEN .....................................................089 972 2789 

I.P.M. SAMUI .........................................................081 894 4093 

KITCHEN STUDIO ..................................................077 423 073 

RS VENTURE ......................................................02 662 3571-3 

SWIMMING POOLS 

CP POOL .................................................................077 234 410 

DES JOYAUX ..........................................................077 247 588 

JD POOLS ...............................................................077 427 356 

PURA POOLS .........................................................077 960 565 

TSP POOLS ............................................................077 234 034 

DESIGN SERVICES 

3D ARCHITECT ..................................................... 077 238 962 

ARCHITECTUAL VISUALISATIONS .......................077 247 862 

BOTANICAL DESIGNS LANDSCAPING...............084 315 9742 

OPEN DESIGNER.................................................089 890 4960 

SAMUI GRAPEVINE .............................................080 620 9964 

SIL ARCHITECTS .................................................083 690 9700 

THAI REVIVAL DESIGN ........................................089 612 0684 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

ANNE SOPHIE SAMUIPICS .................................080 102 9791 

CHRONOS DYNAMICS ........................................081 894 4513 

CLAUDIO / FANTASYATWORK.COM ..................087 270 4972 

HELICAM AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY ....................089 874 7464 

ORIENTAL LIVING ..................................................077 247 675 

ENGINEERING SERVICES 

EASTERN TECHNICAL ENGINEERING ................077 295 316 


HOME SERVICES 

AUTOMATIC GATE ...............................................081 892 1066 

CERIS LAFARGE ROOFING ..................................02 586 5600 

ECO PEST CONTROL ..........................................085 791 2496 

EUROPEAN RAIN GUTTERING .............................077 423 073 

EZ DOCK (THAILAND) ...........................................077 426 955 

FAR THAWEE PORN ...........................................077 245 570-1 

INFINITY HOME MANAGEMENT ...........................077 426 608 

JOHNSON HEALTH TECH .....................................076 304 040 

NITE STONE ...........................................................077 247 769 

SAMUI MASTER WATER ........................................077 427 726 

SEARA SPORTS .....................................................076 355 040 

SUNFLEX ASIA .......................................................077 414 412 

THE STONE DOCTOR .........................................087 282 4930 

TRUE VISIONS .......................................................077 231 490 

UNIVERSE LOGISTICS ........................................086 344 4989 

FINANCE SERVICE 

GFS AUSTRALASIA ..............................................085 795 9393 

INSURANCE SERVICES 

CT TRADING INSURANCE ....................................038 420 618 

ENSURE ASIA .........................................................077 417 015 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT 

ADEPT ASIA ..........................................................081 978 3712 

DMA .......................................................................085 790 1520 


RS BUILT .............................................................086 271 0156 

SIL ARCHITECTS .................................................083 690 9700 

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES 

ADEPT ASIA ..........................................................081 978 3712 

BLUE BUILDING ..................................................... 077 430 411 

EXIM STUDIO .........................................................02 934 7921 

PALM CONSTRUCTION .........................................077 961 991 

P&W CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ................077 238 182 

RS BUILT .............................................................086 271 0156 

SAMUI VILLAS & HOMES ......................................077 430 326 

SEA B.C...................................................................077 960 584 

TROPICAL BUILDERS ............................................077 602 262 

MAINTENANCE SERVICE 

ADEPT ASIA ..........................................................081 978 3712 

MANAGING SAMUI .................................................077 430 010 

SQUEAKY CLEAN WINDOWS .............................087 013 7650 

OTHER 

BANGKOK AIR WAYS .........................................077 422 512-9 

BLUECHIP INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY .........089 651 0020 

FIREWORKS SAMUI ............................................087 263 4371 

SAMUI RESCUE .............................077 421 444/087 263 4371 

TESCO LOTUS .......................................................077 245 400 

TS-TEAK ...............................................................081 893 4933 

LEISURE SAMUI 

100 DEGREE EAST DIVE CENTER .......................077 245 396 

BBC CAFÉ ..............................................................077 425 089 

CHANTARA JUNK BOAT ......................................087 064 3126 

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SAMUI ..................077 484 548 

HARLEY DAVIDSON BANGKOK ............................02 934 4855 

MAGNOLIA SPA ......................................................077 601 133 

MAX MURPHY ........................................................077 413 614 

MINI GOLF ............................................................081 787 9148 

MOBY DICK IRISH BAR .......................................081 892 1990 

OCEAN 11 BEACH FRONT RESTAURANT ...........077 245 134 

OCEANS ELITE CHARTERS ..................................077 427 244 

RAJDHEVEE CLINIC ..............................................077 430 702 

PAUL ROPP SAMUI ............................................086 270 3060 

WECI & COMPUTER INSTITUTE ...........................077 233 101

The Chantara Junk Boat is one of the most breathtaking ways to enjoy Koh Samui 

and her surrounding islands. With group trips three time a week to Koh Phangan 

and private tours available, what better way to experience 

the stunning blue waters of the Thailand gulf. 

Visit www.junk-boat-cruise.com 

For more information or phone 087 064 3126/077 426 741 to book now. 

Group trips three time a week : Tuesday, Saturday(9am-5pm), Thursday sunset trip(11am-7pm).

EXCLUSIVE 

VILLAS FOR 

EXCEPTIONAL 

LIFESTYLES

Samujana is an exclusive collection of spacious individual and decadent 

residences for sale with award-winning architecture that embraces its natural 

tropical environment. 

Perfectly perched on a Samui Island hillside with pure sea views, direct beach 

access and boasting some of Asia’s largest private pools, each uniquely designed 

villa offers an impressive photo scene of both sea, neighbouring islands, and hills. 

With seamless and attentive hospitality services, your Samujana investment 

promises to soar beyond expectations with fantastic rental returns in an everpopular 

Thai island destination. Immerse yourself in the splendour of Samui’s 

shoreline and experience Samujana. 

www.ownsamujana.com . own@samujana.com . +66 80 886 4226


ESTATE AGENCY • HOLIDAY VILLAS • SIGNATURE WEDDINGS 

Phone: +66 (0) 81968 3486, +66 (0)77 427 648 ext. 108 Email: sales@epsamui.com 

epsamui.com luxuryvillasandhomes.com thesignaturecollection.com theboutiquevillas.com 

Samui Villas & Homes Co Ltd. 11/7 Moo 1, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84320 Thailand

Samui Phangan Real Estate Magazine December-January

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?