mandalaysamui Blog

It Does Matter How Perfectly You Live

2012-02-02T10:26:00.000+07:00

"Attuned to Thailand’s dynamic architectural culture, Mandalay Beach Villas harmonize with the rich heritage of its surrounds."

This progressive project reflects the very latest European thinking on contemporary modern living, tailored for the Koh Samui experience. Well known as award-winning developer of unique contemporary homes, Mandalay Samui envision a confident form that encompasses bold geometry and an inspired use of light and shade.

Mandalay Beach Villas provide an impressive, cutting edge visual experience. The architects have introduced a distinctive and cohesive design aesthetic across the seven three bedroom luxury villas. Mandalay Beach Villas are an impressive balance between form and function, inside and out, modern and tropical. The rectangular forms and vertical fins that articulate the building’s façade offer residents privacy and frame views over the white sand beach. Beyond the façade lies a lush tropical garden that provides natural light and a private place to relax.

2011-12-17T17:00:00.002+07:00

Mandalay Villas Awarded “Highly Commended” in the Category of Best Residential Development (Samui) at Thailand Property Awards 2011

The 2009 Best Villa Development (Samui) winner is awarded in third consecutive year with completion of the Mandalay Villas project.

For the third consecutive year, the Mandalay Samui Developments company was in the running for the highest honor presented by the prestigious Thailand Property Awards. After winning the Best Development (Samui) Award in 2009, and awarded “Highly Commended” in 2010, the company has secured a spot again on the short list for this accolade after the recent completion of their Mandalay Villas project.

The 2011 Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards were held on December 6th at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok. A highly anticipated event in the country’s business and social calendar, the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony was attended by more than 600 CEOs, managing directors, developers and other senior management figures from the national and regional property sector.

With 31 dedicated categories, the awards have become a benchmark for quality in the property industry and the evening’s winners included Thailand’s best condominiums, villas, commercial and housing developments, as well as awards for best architecture and interior design in the Kingdom’s residential, hotel and commercial sectors.

As a special contribution to the flood recovery effort taking place in and around Bangkok, the Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards, in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, also conducted a fundraiser in order to raise THB400,000 for the construction of two new houses for flood victims in Lopburi.

“We were thrilled to be in the running for the 2011 Thailand Property Awards, and it is a true testament to our efforts to produce full-service luxury properties with high end quality and value for the money. We believe the reward is in a job well done with great attention to detail. However, receiving such an award is also incredibly gratifying.”

Mandalay Samui actively works to develop quality residential properties in excellent locations in Koh Samui . The company consistently selects sites that promise excellent property investment opportunities and long-term capital growth. Mandalay Samui also offers consistently brilliant living arrangements to customers and clients with excellent building amenities that promote low risk property investment decisions. The attention to detail is apparent, particularly in regards to the modern contemporary architecturethat has become the company’s signature. The unique Koh Samui property developer designs projects to create practical and safe living arrangements with intelligent ideas to allow flexible lifestyle opportunities. High quality fittings and finishes throughout our projects and important elements such as environment friendly solutions distinguish Mandalay Samui from other developers.

The Mandalay Beach Villas, the newest project by Mandalay Samui Developments consists of seven beachfront pool villas in contemporary modern style. The project offers the ultimate in island accommodation, matching exclusivity with privacy. Facing the white sandy expanse of Bang Po Beach and backed by lush palm stands, each of the seven exclusive villas has its own private courtyard, giving approximately 300 square meters of living space, with 17m beach frontage each, on land plots ranging from 800 to 900 square meters.

First Edition eBrochure of Mandalay Beach Villas

2011-10-16T19:16:00.000+07:00

Download the First Edition eBrochure of Mandalay Beach Villas in PDF here :
Mandalay Beach Villas First Edition eBrochure

Mandalay Beach Villas

2011-10-15T09:20:00.003+07:00

‎"Unveiling a new way of life."

Imagine a stylish development of ultimate prominence and impact designed to far exceed the ultimate aspirations of today’s sophisticated, fashion conscious individuals, people who demand the finer things in life.

Let me introduce the Mandalay Beach Villas

Unveiling a new way of life

2011-07-31T13:20:00.004+07:00

Imagine a stylish development of ultimate prominence and impact designed to far exceed the ultimate aspirations of today’s sophisticated, fashion conscious individuals, people who demand the finer things in life.

Coming Soon...

Beach. Sky. Sea. - Read the Mandalay Samui Newsletter Summer 2011

2011-07-07T13:27:00.008+07:00

Mandalay Samui Newsletter Summer 2011

Private Jet Charter to Koh Samui

2011-06-10T17:41:00.004+07:00

Your Choice of Private Jet Charters to Koh Samui. Mandalay Samui now offers a range of private Luxury Jets with a full list of on board amenities to and from Bangkok.

Through the great network created with our experience, our jets can lead you anywhere in the world, even to the most remote places. That is the wonder of private jet travel. Thailand to its neighboring countries, to its neighboring continents, just name it and we will take you there. We offer the flexibility of tailoring an itinerary that will make the most of your precious time, using private jet aircraft on-call to best suit your needs.

The Piper Malibu Mirage and Cessna Citation CJ3 provide the ultimate in flexibility and comfort for short - haul air charters, while the newest member of the the business jet fleet, The Cessna Citation X, allows you to enjoy the fastest business jet travel in the World.

Make an inquiry now!

New Service : Luxury Yacht Charter

2011-04-07T15:27:00.006+07:00

Mandalay Samui presents new and comfortable luxury speedboats, yachts and sailboats which can take you to the best destinations in the gulf of Thailand. We offer a full range of private and VIP speed boats services and sailing boat trips to the most exquisite destinations. Take a private speed boat charter trip to Koh Tao to enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving or Angthong National Marine Park for fantastic view points and Kayaking. Koh Phangan is the place where you can snorkel, swim or just lie on a beach and chill. Even explore Koh Samui by sea.

When you choose a private charter tour with us there is no rush. We start when you want to start, whisking you away to your own private beach on an isolated and tropical island. There is no strict schedule where we have to be at a location at a set time, the day is yours.

Mandalay Samui prides its self on first class service, delivered with a professional, safety conscientious approach. We endeavor to exceed our guest's expectations and tailor our charters to suit individual requests, whether exploring remote beaches, hooking into some big game fishing or diving with whale sharks, our experienced crew and English speaking guide will ensure that your time spent as our guest aboard will be an unforgettable experience. A natural paradise is at your finger tips. Contact us for more details!

Affordable Luxury Villa Rental on Koh Samui, Thailand

2011-03-14T11:51:00.002+07:00

Koh Samui is the third largest island in the admirable country of Thailand. It’s a dream destination for holidaymakers with its admirable scenery; aerial jungles with amazing waterfalls, coastlines with alien white albino beaches and bright waters, and approach copse that accomplish it a absolute paradise on Earth. If you’re anyone who enjoys amazing accustomed angle and close beaches again from the moment you acreage at Samui’s baby airport you will anticipate you’ve gone to heaven.

Scattered beyond the island of Koh Samui is a ambit of affluence villas. There are affordable affluence villas as able-bodied as top account backdrop so if you apprehend the words ‘luxury villa’ and anticipate it would out of your account anticipate again! With accurate analysis online you can acquisition an affordable affluence alcazar on the Island to clothing anybodies budget.

The villas appear in all shapes and sizes, from one bedchamber beachfront villas to huge 6 bedchamber mansions in the mountains. Most villas will accept a accouter and a clandestine basin area you can relax undisturbed for hours on end and absorb up the sun. Villas are usually installed with European appearance adapted kitchens and western appearance bathing facilities.

The easiest way to ability Koh Samui is by even on one of the approved flights from Bangkok but there are aswell boats from the capital anchorage in Nathon to the acreage anchorage at Suratthani. Once on the island the carriage arrangement is actual good, your amalgamation would usually cover airport transfers and the accomplished island is affiliated with capital roads. During your anniversary you can biking about the island by bus, taxi, motorbike auto or clandestine appoint vans and if you wish to drive yourself there are all types of cars you can hire from mopeds to minibuses.

Koh Samui is the ultimate destination for those absent to de-stress, from the moment you access you will feel the laid aback atmosphere. You can amusement yourself to a abatement acceptable Thai beating and get comfortable in one of the abounding affluence spas. If you anticipate you charge a brace of weeks to wind down get online and book yourself a brace of weeks in one of Koh Samui’s affordable affluence villas.

via @kalaraco

Koh Samui Residential Property Market H1 2010 - Villas

2010-12-28T10:14:00.009+07:00

Samui is a newly emerging residential location in Thailand. The first residential projects in Samui, especially in the housing or villa market started in 2004. Before that time development consisted of only individual villas.

The average number of units per project is less than 20 and some consist of only 2 – 4 units. The villa market is still in its infancy and appears quite volatile to the fluctuations of the market. Some developers build only one villa at a time and future building has been put on hold, others consist of one villa only but the size is usually so substantial that the developer will give it a name in order the market the product. Some developers sell off plan and then base their financing on payments from buyers. Some have little experience in real estate and there have been examples of projects being suspended due to poor project financing and planning. this has plagued the residential market in the past but there are signs of growing maturity. Additional supply in H1 2010 amounts to nearly 100 units, so the total number of villa units in Samui is approximately 350 units in the first half of 2010.

Bophut is the most popular location for the residential market although more in terms of condominiums than villas. this is due to relatively convenient transport and access to a wide range of restaurants and family entertainment facilities. Villa development has taken hold in relatively sparse locations such as mae nam, Cheong mon and the West Coast compared to the relatively small condominium growth. these areas have significant land available for landed property compared to the busier Chaweng zone for example.

More than 440 units are scheduled to be completed in 2012 and 165 units or around 37% will be completed in 2011. The developers are interested to develop villa projects in the Cheong mon area, more than 100 units or approximately 25% of total are scheduled to be completed in 2012.

The take up rate in the West Coast area is around 60% higher than in other locations, followed by Cheong mon and Bang po areas with approximately 48% and 32% respectively. Villa projects in the West Coast area shown the highest rate, but most of the units are located in the north part of West Coast area as these areas are not far from the airport and close to various facilities, such as restaurants, hypermarkets, convenience stores, hospitals and entertainment venues.

Residential demand drives
Flights : most people enter Samui from the air. it is possible to take a ferry but this is time consuming for all but budget travelers and they are more likely to use Samui as a springboard for Koh phangan. Samui suffers from a limited number of direct international arrivals and domestic flights from Bangkok are prohibitively expensive when compared to those of other resorts.
the upshot is that many international visitors will have first arrived in Bangkok and then transferred. this makes the island more susceptible to the political dramas in Bangkok as evidenced by the airport blockade and april /may riots in 2010. it also deters travelers from visiting from Bangkok and using Samui as a second home due to the high ticket prices. this means that developments are more focused on the high end market.

Internal transport : Great strides have been made in the road system on Samui over the past few years but the island still suffers from a lack of adequate infrastructure especially during the rainy season when flooding can seriously effect traffic. also the island suffers from poor signage making navigating the roads difficult. the recent improvements to the road have also had an adverse effect in that car drivers and motorbike riders are going much faster and accidents, often fatal, are commonplace and negatively affect the image of the island.

Growth of retail : the emergence of a strong retail sector on the island has meant that Samui has become a more attractive residential and holiday.

Entertainment : the Samui experience is one of chilling out and relaxing during the day and enjoying the restaurants and partying at night. this is appealing to western travelers but less so to the asian market where daytime entertainment facilities are a more significant attraction in a holiday. this puts Samui at a disadvantage compared to phuket but especially pattaya, with
its growing focus on family style theme parks. However from a western perspective this is to its advantage as many are repelled by a more disneyland approach and will seek out a laid back resort area. this means that the Samui’s growth is taking another direction to the other resorts.

in Samui, tourism is the key driver of residential real estate in terms of buyers often being returning tourists wishing to invest in property and the end users of these products utilizing the hotel function.
Condominium and villa usage is different from that of Bangkok in that the majority of units function as hotels or even serviced apartments and as such developers have sometimes altered the design to reflect this with facilities expected in a hotel or serviced residence. owners often can offer their units into a pooling system with apportioning of revenue based on unit size. as many owners use their units infrequently this system offers flexibility and a good potential rate of return. However the residential market is therefore dependent on the vagaries of the tourism market and the recent protests and rioting in Bangkok have affected the market.

The airport blockade brought tourism to an almost standstill at the end of 2008 as most visitors use a plane to come to the island and so this event dramatically affected arrival numbers. Recovery was strong after the blockade but fell again at the end of 2009. although the last quarter was relatively tranquil for thailand as a whole, Samui was affected as many travelers book their holidays months in advance and so the effects of traumatic events are felt a long time after. this can be seen by the sharp reduction of tourists from mainstay markets in europe during this time.

There are few countries that dominate the market as visitors come from a wide range of countries and the thai market is relatively small compared to other resorts, although this group has bucked the trend in Q2 2010 by actually increasing from the previous quarter. this was due to Bangkokians escaping the disturbing events in their city and time will tell if this growth can be sustained. Samui is also limited by the number of flights allowed in at the airport and its reliance on domestic flights. the short runway means that large wide body jets cannot be accommodated thus restricting direct flights from europe which use such longer range aircraft. domestic flights aare prohibitively expensive compared with flights to Phuket and deters less well heeled visitors. this means more development in the luxury end of the market and the lack of mass tourism bestows Samui with a more exclusive appeal, reinforced by the limit on high rise construction. it is partly for these reasons that the island hosts a number of specialized wellness resorts such as Kamalaya Koh Samui while other resorts offer a strong wellness component. this is a growing and lucrative niche which could also be developed to take into account the burgeoning number of retirees from Europe, Japan and the USA.

Outlook
Due to it being an island and an expensive one to reach, the opportunities for the development of Samui are limited compared to other resorts in thailand. this may be no bad thing as many living in Samui are there for that very reason and do not wish the island to be awash with new projects. there are also concerns about the water supply being adequate for future supply. these limitations mean that Samui can grow not necessarily in terms of quantity but rather quality with the emergence of higher end projects with eclectic designs that fit into the natural structure of the island rather than deflect from it.

The residential market in Samui is greatly dependent on the tourism market as most projects have a hotel/serviced apartment component. potential buyers will be keenly aware of the ups and downs in the Samui tourism market as visitors provide the mainstay of income on most properties. therefore the market is likely to remain volatile while thailand is mired in political uncertainty and the global economy teeters towards another recession.

(source : Colliers International Thailand)

Season's Greetings

2010-12-18T20:01:00.003+07:00

H.M. The King's Birthday 2010

2010-12-03T10:07:00.002+07:00

On 5 December each year, the nation celebrates the birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Throughout the kingdom homes and businesses are decorated with portraits of the king as well as royal and national flags. Much of Bangkok, particularly in historic Rattakosin district, is elaborately decorated with flags and giant portraits of the beloved Thai king.

On the morning of the king’s birthday many people visit temples to make merit, while festive celebrations are held across the kingdom throughout the day.

On the birthday of the King of Thailand, a special alms-giving ceremony at temples in the morning is followed by a huge festival of music and culture at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. Visitors can also appreciate the beauty of the decorations along Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

The King’s birthday is also National Father’s Day, and Thai’s gather with their families to honor their fathers and grandfathers as well as the King. More information: www.tourismthailand.org

Mandalay Villas awarded “Highly Commended” in the category of Best Villa Development (Samui) at Thailand Property Awards 2010

2010-11-20T12:43:00.003+07:00

The Mandalay Samui Developments & Consultancy is pleased to announce that for the second consecutive year, Mandalay Villas was nominated for the Best Villa Development (Samui) Award, and after winning the prize last year, this year awarded “Highly Commended” at the Thailand Property Awards 2010. Mandalay Villas was in tight competition with Koh Samui's most highly-branded and well-known properties which included the Conrad Koh Samui Residences, and The Residences at W Koh Samui.

The winners of the Thailand Property Awards 2010 were revealed at a glittering gala ceremony in the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok. More than 500 guests encompassing leading developers and agents from throughout Thailand gathered for what is widely recognised at the Oscars of the industry. Now in their fifth year, more than 1,600 companies were nominated and 200 entries received. The awards assist in promoting the high level of quality of Thailand's real estate, construction, architectural and interior design as well as industry professional services, and through a professionally run awards system helps put Thailand real estate on the world stage.

The Mandalay Samui Developments & Consultancy is a Koh Samui-based real estate development company formed in 2007 and focuses on full-service, luxury real estate developments, developing luxury residential projects throughout Koh Samui, and also provides turnkey solutions for property developments from inception through to implementation for diverse and handpicked projects.

The Mandalay Villas are ideally situated on the eastern side of Koh Samui, in the stunning unspoilt area of Choeng Mon, the home of the most beautiful beaches of the island. The villas are in a few minutes walking distance from these beaches, and offer spectacular panoramic views across the tranquil ocean. The development’s contemporary architecture is also reflected in the modern interiors of the Villas incorporating luxurious wet rooms to all designs. Open living areas and large windows are combined with terraces and balconies to provide buyers with flexible living spaces that benefit from extensive natural light, with some boasting fantastic views of the Gulf Of Siam and the surrounding islands.

Winners revealed of the Thailand Property Awards 2010

2010-11-09T16:50:00.005+07:00

The winners of the Thailand Property Awards 2010 were revealed at a glittering gala ceremony in Bangkok on Saturday night. More than 500 guests encompassing leading developers and agents from throughout Thailand gathered for what is widely recognised at the Oscars of the industry.

The Best Developer Thailand award was awarded to Golden Land, narrowly seeing off stiff competition from Minor International and Raimon Land.

The Real Estate Personality of the Year, chosen by the team at Property Report South East Asia magazine, was awarded to Khun Duangjai Kraus, Managing Director of Engel and Volkers.

Terry Blackburn, Chief Executive Officer of organisers Ensign Media said: “This was the fifth year of the Thailand Property Awards, and the standard of competition just gets better and better. This year we received more nominations and more entries than ever before and than speaks volumes about the state of the property and real estate industry in Thailand.”

A full report of the events will on www.property-report.com this week and in the December edition of Property Report South East Asia magazine, however the winners are detailed below together with a summary of the judging decisions.

Best Developer
Winner: Golden Land
Highly Commended: Minor; Raimon Land
Comment on Winner: In this very close decision, Golden Land was eventually selected for having achieved a good track record in construction and marketing of a diversified portfolio of properties.

Best Condo Thailand
Winner: St Regis Residences
Comment on Winner: Excellent quality and use of space, optimising an excellent site and with uncompromising standards of luxury and service make for an outstanding development.

Best Villa Eastern Seaboard
Winner: Horseshoe Point
Highly Commended: Silk Road; Baan Talay
Comment on Winner: Horseshoe Point was chosen the winner for the quality of its amenities, its well-planned layout and very impressive commitment to community outreach and environmental issues.

Best Villa Samui
Winner: Conrad
Highly Commended: W Samui; The Mandalay Villas
Comment on Winner: The judges found the Conrad to be a modern, creative and innovative design with stunning views across the 5 Island, Ang Thong Marine Park and the mainland, making the Conrad a very welcome addition to Koh Samuiís high-end inventory.

Best Villa Hua Hin
Winner: Bang Ing Phu
Highly Commended: The Grove Residence; Veyla Residence
Comment on Winner: The winner was selected above other contenders mainly due to its strong and original design concept and quality of construction.

Best Villa Phuket
Winner: Andara
Highly Commended: Malaiwan; Royal Phuket Marina
Comment on Winner: Andara won on the basis of its excellent site and location features, its high quality of finishing and environmental features.

Best Housing Bangkok
Winner: Royal Residences
Comment on Winner: Royal Residences made a strong impression with its high quality of construction and finishes, impressive facilities and distinctive style in a creative environment.

Best Villa Thailand
Horseshoe Point
Comment on Winner: Horseshoe Point was chosen the winner for the quality of its amenities, its well-planned layout and very impressive commitment to community outreach and environmental issues.

Best Condo Bangkok
Winner: St Regis Residences
Highly Commended: Sukhothai Residences; The River
Comment on Winner: Excellent quality and use of space, optimising an excellent site and with uncompromising standards of luxury and service make for an outstanding development.

Best Condo Eastern Seaboard
Winner: Northpoint
Highly Commended: Montrari; Nova Ocean View
Comment on Winner: Northpoint was considered a very well-designed and highly professional project on a superb location with outstanding views.

Best Condo Samui
Winner: Samui Emerald
Highly Commended: Infinity
Comment on Winner: The judges found Samui Emerald to be very conveniently located notwithstanding the lack of sea view, excellent value for money with a practical design.

Best Condo Hua Hin
Winner: Veyla Khao Tao
Comment on Winner: An original design concept in an interesting boutique development.

Best Condo Phuket
Winner: Andara
Highly Commended: Mandala; Baan Yamu; Royal Phuket Marina
Comment on Winner: Andara offers high quality of design and finishing and strong environmental features in a superb location.

Best Shared Ownership Development
Winner: Beach Republic
Highly Commended: Banyan Tree; Absolute Bangla Suites
Comment on Winner: The judges found Beach Republic to be a very unique concept and a very strong and attractive brand with a most innovative use of space, excellent location and very good value for money.

Best Commercial Development
Winner: Crystal Design Center
Highly Commended: Park Ventures; Hafele
Comment on Winner: CDC offers an original design concept executed to a very high standard and well-received by the market.

Best Green Development
Winner: Horseshoe Point
Highly Commended: Sukhothai Residences; Baan Yamu
Comment on Winner: The development has a strong environmental programme that continues to be developed, showing considerable progress over last yearís already high standard.

Best Boutique Developer
Winner: Absolute
Highly Commended: Astudo
Comment on Winner: Absolute was selected for its track record of completing good quality projects in Phuket during a difficult period in the market.

Best Agent Hua Hin
Winner: Engel & Volkers
Highly Commended: Plus Property; Exotiq

Best Agent Samui
Winner: Samui Villas & Homes
Highly Commended: CBRE

Best Agent Phuket
Winner: CBRE
Highly Commended: Indigo

Best Agent Bangkok
Winner: CBRE
Highly Commended: Jones Lang Lasalle; Colliers International

Best Agent Eastern Seaboard
Colliers International
Highly Commended: Premier Homes; Town & Country

Best Agency Deal
Winner: Jones Lang Lasalle (for their Sermit Tower sale)
Comment on Winner: The sale of strata title units in Serm-Mit Tower on Asoke Road was concluded in a challenging political environment, was one of the largest capital transactions of the year and after the sale the new owner appointed JLL as sole leasing agent and property manager.

Best Architectural Design
Winner: Baan Yamu
Highly Commended: Millenium Residences; Royal Residences
Comment on Winner: Baan Yamu won for its interesting design features, good planning and excellent use of space on a challenging site.

Best Interior Design
Winner: The Estates Samui
Highly Commended: The Residences @ Four Seasons; Royal Residences
Comment on Winner: The interior design of The Estates Samui was praised for its excellent selection and use of materials, attractive designs and quality of execution.

Best Agent Website
Winner: CBRE
Highly Commended: Jones Lang Lasalle; Engel & Volkers
Comment on Winner: A user-friendly design coupled with an informative and easy to navigate website were key considerations in selecting the Best Agent Website.

Best Development Website
Winner: The River
Highly Commended: Sathorn Square; Royal Phuket Marina
Comment on Winner: The website won for its speed, ease of use, wide range of features and attractive design.

Best Print Advertisement
Winner: Conrad
Highly Commended: Royal Waterfront; Apus
Comment on Winner: The Conrad advertisement won on the basis of its excellent visual features and attractive graphics.

(via : property-report.com)
http://www.property-report.com/site/winners-revealed-of-the-thailand-property-awards-9877

Koh Samui Property And A View On Recent Activity

2010-10-30T11:51:00.004+07:00

For Koh Samui property, six months ago their were more bargain properties for sale but now there are fewer. Brokers of villas and land are saying that the housing prices have bottomed out and you will find now fewer properties to uncover at a really low price. With sellers adjusting their home values in response to a strengthening Thai Baht, they can reduce prices by 35% and can still break even in hard currency. An example in 2006 Sterling was at a rate around seventy two Thai Baht to the GBP and now its is forty eight. A person that bought a condo unit for 48,000 GBP (3,500,000 Thai baht) in 2006 can afford to reduce the price tag by 35% to 2,275,000 Thai Baht and recover the same 48,000 GBP.

Realizing the impact of foreign exchange rates on selling prices is key, are sellers now adjusting selling prices? The answer now is usually yes but some refuse to accept this change, and hold on to their villas on the basis that if they promote at a lower cost they’ll lose funds somehow.

The property marketplace in Koh Samui is now strangely lively. After a quiet July and August (2010) which is traditionally high season for purchasing property in Koh Samui; September and October have seen much stronger inquiries and a number of sales of villas. Sales of resale property on Koh Samui are have become stronger than pre-construction developments. Off-plan offerings at the moment are restricted right here, as a lot of purchasers would rather see the finished product.

Moving forwards the market place for Koh Samui property is likely to become far more lively. Buyers are here now and their may perhaps well be some little swelling of sales as the Hong Kong expat crowd seem to now have funds in their pockets as stock markets rise here again. At this time yearly bonuses are also handed out, so this can be a good time in Koh Samui to be an estate agent.

Bear in mind that Koh Samui and indeed the entire of Thailand’s property market has been slow and now we are seeing some green shoots of recovery, properties that give both value and top quality of finishing are harder to locate. If you are indeed looking to buy a property in Koh Samui then I would recommend an early visit before prices rise and all the best deals are a distant memory.

source : www.realestatearticles.org

Increasing demand for luxury properties in Thailand

2010-10-12T12:32:00.006+07:00

Demand for luxury real estate in popular far east tourist destinations such as Phuket and Koh Samui is increasing and experts are upbeat on the medium and long term outlook for the region.

Property firms are reporting a recovery of purchasing power affecting the luxury residential markets in Bangkok as well as resort destinations and projects that were on hold are now moving forward.

For example, the Met at Sathon, which suspended sales two years ago, has seen a resurgence of demand for luxury residences and has opened sales once again for the final 40 units in the 370 unit development.

Pace Development, which has two luxury condominiums, Saladaeng Residence and the Maha Nakhon project, said it has seen rising demand for both projects over the past two months, resulting in sales worth Bt600 million.

Foreign real estate investors from Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore and India are driving the new enthusiasm and according to David Simister, chairman of property consultants CR Richard Ellis (Thailand), the medium and long term demand for residential projects in Phuket and Koh Samui has recovered significantly.

He said that for two years, residential projects in Phuket and Koh Samui had been affected by a combination of local politics and the global financial crisis. The purchasing power of foreign buyers has been reduced by the strength of the baht against depreciating European currencies and the continuing economic crisis.

Looking forward, there is potential for improvement in Thailand’s resort markets in the medium term. But Simister expects the number of foreign buyers to increase as the economies in which they live and work improve and the local political outlook also improves.

Thailand’s resort market is well positioned for growth because it has a lot to offer in terms of lifestyle, quality beaches and value for money and it enjoys a high percentage of repeat visits.

CB Richard Ellis’s Phuket office has seen an increasing number of inquiries and interest in residential properties, while the company expects property viewings and sales to increase during the high season, Simister added.

However, demand is still expected to be well below pre-crisis levels as European markets have not fully recovered because of the weakness of European currencies. Instead, the company is seeing concentrated demand for Phuket properties from within the region. It is also seeing more interest and inquires from the Indian market.

Buyers are focusing on re sale properties and completed projects as most are unwilling to take risks. The island’s west coast remains the primary area of interest on the development side, with a limited number of project launches in the upper end of the market. Most new launches are condo minium projects.

Simister said he also saw a trend towards more action among Thai developers who already have strategic land holdings in Phuket. Some are already active in the Phuket market, but are looking to expand, while others who acquired prime sites many years ago and are now looking to develop. There are several projects in the pipeline, mainly in the planning and design phase.

Although Koh Samui has a smaller volume market than that in Phuket, Simister said he believed there were individual bargains to be had in both land and properties and certain sites could be purchased at prices lower than those of two to three years ago. However, continued growth is seen in the medium to long term. ‘People still enjoy Thailand and there are repeat visitors who are ready to become purchasers,’ he said.

source : propertywire.com

Investment Market in Thailand

2010-09-27T10:23:00.005+07:00

It has been repeatedly proven that there are substantial profits to be made in emerging markets. Although Thailand is a fairly well developed country in respect to some neighboring nations, it has the largest growth market within Asia.

Thailand has recently attracted significant foreign investment. It has become one of the Asian economic leaders and is one of the fastest growing economies in the region. Following the global crisis and Dubai’s monumental debt issues, investors are rapidly turning back to Thailand as they see the opportunities available.

Over recent years, Thailand’s infra-structure has progressed with great improvements to airports, ports, road and rail networks, energy and utilities infra-structure, power plants and transmission grids.

Thailand is Asia’s prime tourist destination, offering a world class tourist industry at affordable prices making it a haven for visitors, re-locators and property investors alike. The areas we choose to invest in, the economy relies heavily on tourism and increased property investment, this is now good news for economic growth and fantastic capital returns.

The completion of the Suvarnabuhmi-Bangkok international airport further boosts growth in the commercial property markets as well as making Thailand even more accessible by air. Thailand is also one of the cheapest places to fly in Asia. Initially, it is capable of handling 45 million passengers and 3 million tons of cargo per year. Long-term plans for four runways flanking two main terminals and two satellite buildings with a combined capacity capable of handling up to 100 million passengers and 6.4 million tons of cargo a year are on the drawing board.

Property in Thailand is much cheaper than many other popular areas. Take southern Spain for example, where the property development industry now sits in 324 billion Euros of debt and the government has targeted fifty billion Euros spending cuts. A two bed condo in Marbella in a sought after location will cost around € 975,000, where as a two bed condo with sea views in sought after location in Thailand can cost as little as € 187,000. Rental potential is high, due to increased government spending luring a growing, year round number of tourists. Many European destinations suffer big losses in rental yield during the winter months as the weather is far from guaranteed.

The government recognizes tourism and foreign investment are the main contributing factors to the economy.

(by kalaraco.com)

Property still offers big returns, managing homes for holiday rental a growing business

2010-09-22T10:39:00.001+07:00

Property still offers big returns, managing homes for holiday rental a growing business
With interest rates for bank savings deposits lingering below 2 per cent, property investment remains a good way to generate returns averaging 6 per cent from rental income, and possibly double this figure when a residential asset is held for more than two years, property experts say.
Asian Property Development’s senior vice president Poompat Sinacharoen, who is also chief executive of property brokerage Bangkok City Smart, said that demand for rental units in city condominiums had continued to grow from both local and foreign tenants.

As a result, most investors with savings can generate returns of between 6 and 10 per cent per year on investment when buying a condominium unit.

The value of city condominiums is currently rising between 10 and 20 per cent when construction is complete, and this is better than leaving money in a bank, Poompat said.

One private investor, Supranee, bought an existing single detached house on Phaholyothin Road from the Legal Execution Department at a cost of Bt1.5 million two years ago. After renovating the property at a cost of Bt500,000, she received some interest from home-buyers, but turned down an offer of Bt2.5 million.

Instead of selling the house, Supranee opened it for rent at Bt15,000 per month. She is now generating a return averaging 9 per cent per year on her investment.

According to a survey by Major Development, returns on investment for condominium projects on Sathon and Silom Roads were 5 to 6 per cent per year in the first quarter of 2010, depending on the size and location of the unit. Condo resale prices in these locations returned an average of 5 to 10 per cent for those units resold before construction was complete. For completed units, resale was generating returns on investment of between 20 and nearly 50 per cent, depending on the location.

Major Development’s managing director Suriya Poolvoralaks said about 30 per cent of all buyers were investors looking to buy residential properties for renting or resale. Most of them are less concerned about the price than they are about the location, floor-level and view. In this, they differ from people buying residences to live in. The latter group is concerned about price, raw materials used in the construction and amenities, he said.

Meanwhile, CB Richard Ellis (Thailand)’s managing director Aliwassa Pathnadabutr said the resale market for residential property in Bangkok’s central business district was generating average returns on investment of 10 per cent, with some units doubling this, depending on location and facilities.

Typical condominium prices range between Bt3 million and Bt5 million, with one-bedroom units the most popular right now, she said.

Meanwhile, strong demand has developed for residences at tourist destinations, especially for renting. Some property firms have moved into management of holiday homes as a result.

Premier Homes Real Estate’s managing director Clayton Wade said that demand for rental residences at Pattaya had grew strongly when the baht began strengthening against the US dollar. Most foreigners have changed from buying a residence in a tourist destination to renting, at monthly rentals ranging from Bt50,000 to Bt90,000. As a result, rental businesses in Pattaya are growing.

Suchada Taechotirote, the founder and chief executive of PomPome.com, which offers rental residences for holidaymakers, said the company had seen a business opportunity in managing established properties as holiday homes. The company, which was formed in April this year and began operating in Hua Hin, offers management services to both property owners and developers in tourist destinations.

PomPome.com now manages more than 300 residential units in Hua Hin, targeting both local and foreign tourists. Many of the properties it manages have been bought as second homes or holiday homes. Returns to owners average 3 to 6 per cent per year, depending on demand in the market, Suchada said.

source – www.nationmultimedia.com

Grand Slam Champion Rafael Nadal set foot in Bangkok

2010-09-22T10:20:00.003+07:00

Newly crowned US Open champion Rafael Nadal arrives in Thailand for the PTT Thailand Open 2010.

Nadal’s arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday morning was accompanied by professional tennis player Marc López and seven of his mates, amid warm welcome by President of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand Suwat Liptapanlop, BEC-Tero Entertainment Pcl executives and a massive crowd of his fans.

Nadal is scheduled to attend a Welcome Cocktail Reception at InterContinental Hua Hin Resort on Tuesday night and will spend one week vacation in Hua Hin town in the seaside province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. He and his mates will also partake in a tree-planting activity organized by PTT Pcl at Kasetsart University Veterinary Hospital in Hua Hin on 28 September.

On 29 September at 13.00 hrs, Nadal is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Government House and will attend the official opening ceremony for the PTT Thailand Open 2010 at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani on the following day. The ceremony will be presided over by Thailand’s Prime Minister at 18.45 hrs, followed by Nadal’s first match on 19.00 hrs.

The PTT Thailand Open will be held at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. The tournament begins 25 September and concludes on Sunday 3 October. Tickets are available at Thaiticketmajor outlets and www.thaiticketmajor.com.

(Via Thaivisa.com)

Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday

2010-08-11T09:31:00.006+07:00

Everyone has a birthday, and most people take great delight in marking the day of their birth, but when a Nation celebrates with that person, then it becomes something very special.

And so it is on August 12th when the People of Thailand celebrate the birthday of their beloved, Queen Sirikit. The 12th August is declared a Public Holiday, Government and commercial buildings will be floodlit to give a festive touch, religious and civic ceremonials will be held and people, from the smallest villages to the largest palaces. All will lift a glass to toast the Health of Queen Sirikit. To celebrate Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand’s birthday, Thai people celebrate both the queen and their own mothers, as the day also marks National Mother’s day. Thai’s celebrate by performing alms-giving ceremonies at temples in the morning, which in Bangkok is followed by a huge music and culture festival at Sanam Luang.

Queen Sirikit came into this world on August 12th 1932, of noble parentage, and was named Mom Rajawongse Sirikit which means "Glory and Splendor of the Kittiyakara Family". This name was given to the baby girl by her relative H.M. King Prajadipok (Rama VII). It proved to be auspicious and, indeed, an astrologer predicted that someday the little girl would rise to great heights.

Mom Rajawongse Sirikit's father was a member of the Thai Diplomatic Corps, and was based at the Embassy in Washington D.C., so both her parents were obliged to live abroad. Accordingly, the little girl lived with her grandparents in Bangkok, until such time as her father was able to transfer within the Diplomatic Service and the family was reunited in their Bangkok home on the shores of the mighty Chao Phraya River.

As befitted the heritage of the young girl, she attended the Rajini School and, later, the St Francis Xavier Convent School until she was 13 years of age. Then it was off to London to join her father who, now as Thai Ambassador, had presented his credentials to King George VI at the Court of St James. Two years later, in 1948, the young Mom Rajawongse Sirikit followed her parents to Paris where her father was the Ambassador to the Republic of France. And in that beautiful city, still recovering from its occupation during World War II, she continued her education.

At this point, we will permit our story to digress a little. A young Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej had become King of Thailand in 1946, at the age of 18, due to the untimely death of his elder brother. Coronation ceremonies were postponed until 1950 in order to facilitate the completion of the young King's academic studies. These were being undertaken in Lausanne, Switzerland, and from time to time King Bhumibol would take a break from study routines by visiting Paris. It was during one such visit that he met Mom Rajawongse Sirikit who was to become his future wife and Queen.

The young Royals became firm friends and then, disaster, when the King suffered a terrible car accident and was hospitalised in Switzerland. The future Queen, accompanied by her mother, displayed true friendship and characteristic compassion by travelling to Lausanne where she might visit her friend the King. This she did on a regular basis and, on the long road of the King's recovery and convalescence, the friendship blossomed into a committed, serious, Royal love affari

To the huge delight of the Thai Nation, King Bhumibol's engagement to Mom Rajawongse Sirikit was officially announced on July 19, 1949. A wedding date was set for April 28, 1950, this being considered a most auspicious day, and national plans were put into motion. The Royal Couple were married with all the pomp and ceremony of Thai Royal Tradition and the nation rejoiced. Further tumultuous rejoicing heralded, a few days later on May 5, the Coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol of Thailand and, on the same day, his wife Mom Rajawongse Sirikit was honored and elevated to be Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

Since that day in 1950, Her Majesty has been devoted to her husband The King and she has, likewise, given devoted service to the People of Thailand. She has lovingly perfomed her Royal responsibilities or duties and has been an inspiration to the People of the Kingdom.

Naturally interested in the environment, Her Majesty's principal areas of concern have been associated with conservation. Organizations like the Association for the Conservation of Wildlife (ACW) and the Wildlife Fund of Thailand (WFT) have benefited from the Queen's patronage as have many others. Also, as a regular traveller around Thailand, either individually or with her husband The King, Queen Sirikit has been able to identify areas of need. Being aware of depressed areas where many people struggled to make a living off the land (and denuding the land in the process), Her Majesty was a prime mover in "marrying" two needs together assisting the people by helping the land. This was done by actually offering conservation work to needy people and this proved a huge success in terms of putting money into the hands of the less fortunate and restoring the environment. The beautiful Botanical Gardens, named for Queen Sirikit, in Mae Sa Valley (an easy excursion from Chiang Mai City) is a classic example of how the Queen's influence and help has protected, conserved and developed native plant species and provided much needed employment in the process.

As First Lady, Her Majesty empathizes with other Thai women, their needs and capabilities. So another target for Her Majesty's endeavors was to encourage Thai handicrafts traditional to women. Spinning, weaving and dying of cotton (in fact, the Queen personally financed many of the weaving looms and provided "seed" money for support groups and cooperatives) is one example of traditional skills as is basket weaving in its many forms. Anything from fishtraps to matting to decorative baskets and stylish lampshades all from the hands of industrious Thai ladies. And all thanks to the personal encouragement and financial support from Her Majesty, the Queen.

Your Majesty, Queen Sirikit of Thailand may you have a wonderful, celebratory day on your Happy Birthday!

Half Page Ad in Absolute Thai Lifestyle Magazine

2010-08-05T10:43:00.002+07:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More hotel

Thailand still draws stars

2010-07-12T15:02:00.007+07:00

Katie Price, Gordon Ramsey, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Spacey, Lewis Hamilton and many more spotted in Thailand

By Jules Kay (Property Report Asia)

Celebrities know all about bad publicity, which is perhaps why they can’t resist visiting Thailand. Despite all the travel warnings and negative media, big name personalities continue to grace Thai shores, either in search of a little escapism or to boost their careers with a little Asian mystique.

Top of the holiday ‘A’ list this month were newlyweds Katie Price and Alex Reid, who actually took a film crew with them on their honeymoon to Bangkok and the Full Moon Party island of Koh Phangan. The press-addled couple apparently escaped the madness of the British media to ‘boost their sex life and help Katie conceive’, a convincing celebrity endorsement if ever their was one.

Other household names undeterred by street protests and ash clouds this year have included legendary performance artiste Sam Fox, who actually survived a cat bite while holidaying on Koh Samui, as well as loose tongued Master Chef Gordon Ramsay, who bravely challenged some local Thai street cooks in Krabi to a shrimp paste making competition and, not surprisingly, lost.

Sports personalities also seem to favour the Land of Smiles. Formula One stars Jensen Button and Lewis Hamilton have both been spotted shooting around the Koh Samui Ring Road on scooters in the past, while from the football world, Everton Manager David Moyes recently took a break in paradise and both Sven Goran Erikson and David Beckham both still reportedly own properties on Thai islands.

Even Hollywood has sent a few ambassadors to Thailand’s beaches. Kevin Spacey and William Hurt have both stayed at one of Samui’s top villas and more recently Mickey Rourke checked into a secluded Thai resort to sun himself between bouts on the set of Iron Man 2.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand says it plans to enhance celebrity marketing to promote the Kingdom globally. Bangkok is also becoming increasingly popular as a film set destination thanks to the low cost of production and the pool of skilled human resources available in the capital. With stars already jetting through to relax and enjoy its charms, the country’s fame and appeal seems likely to continue far beyond the headlines.

Original source: http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_1150.html

Mandalay Samui develops consultancy

2010-07-01T12:43:00.002+07:00

Mandalay Samui Developments, the developer of the award-winning Mandalay Villas in Koh Samui, Thailand, has extended its business to include a property consultancy service.

We offer a ONE STOP SOLUTIONS for developers, investors and private equity funds in terms of Design, Feasibility Studies, Realisation and Management for predominantly luxury villas and property investments throughout Koh Samui.

Services offered include rental management, building consultancy, marketing consultancy, and development consultancy – which could involve bringing joint venture partners together.

New Services - New website

2010-06-21T18:38:00.003+07:00

We have launched several new services, together with a brand new website. Take a Tour at www.mandalaysamui.com !

Koh Samui now more attractive to investors

2010-06-20T10:17:00.001+07:00

After the Red Shirt protest that turned Bangkok into an inferno, major destinations outside the capital, including Koh Samui and Phuket, became more attractive to global investors, analysts said.

"Off-shore investors generally remain in a wait-and-see position while local investors, who understand the political situation, take it as an opportunity to invest.

However, tourists destinations outside Bangkok, such as Phuket and Samui, remain attractive to global hostel investors as so far political unrest remains isolated to Bangkok, with only slight impact on Phuket and Koh Samui for the time being," Andrew Langdon, senior vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle has been quoted as saying in a newspaper report.

Due to its shopping, service quality, accessibility and overall good value, Thailand will remain among Asia's top-five tourist destinations. A large number of tourists coming to Thailand are repeat visitors who like the like country.

Recent research has found that a large sum of hotel supply is due to enter the market in Thailand, especially Bangkok. Between now and 2015 the country will get more than 9,300 new hotel rooms, 75 percent of which are categorized luxury or 4- to 5-star hotel standard. Sixty-four percent are located in prime enclaves of Bangkok such as Sukhumvit, Ploenchit, Rajdamri and Siam Square.

Langdon noted that since last year, many hotels became available and predicted significant transactions in holiday destinations like Samui and Phuket.

Hotel financial performance remained very strong until the end of the first quarter of 2010 with rates and occupancies increasing by 20-25 percent. "Unfortunately the latest political situation will bring negative impact to this performance, especially in Bangkok. Impact of protest that turned to be violent will affect hotel trading in rather extended period, possibly a year," he said.

Langdon said that while Thailand, especially holiday destinations like Samui, remains attractive to foreigners, at the moment hotels in Asia including Thailand tend to have lower yields than those in America, Australia and Europe.

David Simister, chairman of CB Richard Ellis Thailand, said that extended political turmoil in the past five years have damaged the tourism industry in Thailand, including hotels. "Thailand is currently supported by repeat visitors who are rather tolerant of the political situation. They keep on returning despite chaotic events. but in general short-term revenue is severely affected," he said.

As price of property has been depressed for the last five years, Thai properties, including those in Bangkok are rather resistant to political situation, and once political situation becomes clearer, the price will start to increase. While Thailand hotel investment remain attractive, Simister said "investors pay based on hotel performance and hotel performance has been negatively affected during the past few years and even worse this year.

(source : Samui Express)

Sundeck Details - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-06-07T12:13:00.001+07:00

Living & Balcony - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-06-07T12:09:00.000+07:00

Verticals - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-06-07T12:07:00.000+07:00

Huge tax exemption for new investors

2010-05-25T10:44:00.001+07:00

Foreign firms that set up their offices in Thailand will not have to pay corporate income taxes for 15 years, Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phattaraprasit said on Monday.

"This measure is aimed at attracting more foreign investors to Thailand," Mr Pradit said. "The exemption will begin on June 1, 2010."

Foreign firms that have offices in Thailand will need to pay corporate income taxes at only 10 per cent of net profit inside the country.

Expatriates who work at the regional operating headquarters (ROH) in Thailand are required to pay personal income tax at the rate of 15 per cent for eight years, starting June 1.

(source : Bangkok Post)

Absolute Open Living - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-05-22T16:30:00.003+07:00

The Mandalay Villas shortlisted at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2010

2010-05-05T22:35:00.008+07:00

The results of the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2010 in association with Bloomberg Television have been revealed and The Mandalay Samui Developments is rightly proud to be amongst the shortlisted companies.

Successful entrants were announced at a high profile gala dinner held at the Langham Hotel in Hong Kong on April 16th . Presenter for the evening was Paul Gordon, news broadcaster for Bloomberg Television.

The event is part of the International Property Awards, the world’s most prestigious competition dedicated to identifying the best real estate professionals across the globe.

Scooping this coveted shortlist is proof that The Mandalay Samui Developments is able to compete at this level within the highly competitive Asia Pacific property arena.

Later this year, the highest scoring winners from the Asia Pacific Property Awards will compete against other winning companies from Europe, the UK, Europe & Africa, the Americas and Arabia to find the ultimate World’s Best in each category. Last year, the Asia Pacific region scooped no less than seven World’s Best awards – two more than the year before and an amazing feat. No doubt the property industry will be watching and waiting to see if this record number of international wins can be matched or even beaten in 2010.

The judging panel is formed by a large group of professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is unsurpassed by any other property awards. This year’s judges include Ben Wood, industry head property markets of Google UK; Peter Bolton King, group chief executive of the National Federation of Property Professionals; Christopher Hall, president elect of FIABCI; Patrick Grove, executive chairman of i.Property.com Group Asia Ltd; Thijis Stoffer, International Consortium of Real Estate Agents Association (ICREA); Helen Shield, editor-in-chief of International Homes magazine and Iris Dunbar, British Institute of Interior Design.

The Mandalay Samui Developments is a Koh Samui-based real estate development company formed in 2007, and focuses on full-service, luxury real estate developments, developing luxury residential projects in contemporary modern design, throughout Koh Samui, Thailand.

The Mandalay Villa offers you a modern luxury tropical lifestyle, with the advantage of being situated in a beautiful part of the island but also within easy reach of the main shopping areas and a plentiful choice of restaurants. There is only one villa is available in the award-winning development. The villas are situated on the north-east side of Koh Samui, overlooking the spectacular unspoilt coast of Plai Laem home to some of the most beautiful beaches on the island. The development boasts breathtaking panoramic views across the ocean, and the serenity and peace of an oasis within its own grounds. The villas are designed to offer perfect ocean, and sunset views from the living room and the master bedroom, and each villa also benefits from an abundance of natural light. They are fitted out using natural materials, combined with quality appliances to provide a harmonious and refined lifestyle. The master bedroom boasts a spacious walk-in wardrobe and its own sauna with ocean view. The lower level consists of an open plan kitchen, living, and dining room, wich lead onto the sundeck, and infinity edge pool. A perfect location and an unbeatable quality finish combine to provide superb standards, with an absolutely tremendous tropical lifestyle.

Palm & Sala - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-05-05T11:51:00.001+07:00

Open Living @ 4.30pm - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-05-03T17:33:00.001+07:00

Exterior Design - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-05-03T17:31:00.000+07:00

Exterior @ Twilight & 4.30pm - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-05-03T17:16:00.002+07:00

Open Living @ Twilight - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-04-30T11:59:00.000+07:00

Twilight Living - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-04-30T11:29:00.000+07:00

Balcony at Twilight - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-04-30T10:24:00.000+07:00

Exterior - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-04-22T10:20:00.001+07:00

Chairs & Bamboo - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-04-22T10:13:00.000+07:00

Living Room - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-04-11T13:31:00.002+07:00

View - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-04-11T13:25:00.000+07:00

Freshome

2010-04-08T01:29:00.000+07:00

Check out this link :

http://freshome.com/2010/04/07/modern-luxury-tropical-lifestyle-home-mandalay-villa/

Master Bathroom - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-04-07T10:46:00.001+07:00

Songkran Festival 2010 - Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-04-05T11:59:00.019+07:00

Of all the feasts and festivals in Thailand which are many, the Songkran Festival is the most striking, for it is widely observed not only in this country but also in Burma, Cambodia and the Lao State. It usually begins on the 13th of April and ends on the 15th of April, although it gets extended to the 16th of April in certain years.

Songkran is a Sanskrit word in Thai form which means the entry of the sun into any sign of the Zodiac. But the Songkran in this particular instance is when the sun enters the sign of Aries or the Ram. Its full name is Maha Songkran or Major Songkran to distinguish it from the other ones. But the people call it simply the Songkran for it is the only one they know and in which they take interest. It is their traditional New Year when they can enjoy their holidays to the full with no economic hindrance. Songkran is a fixable feast on the solar calender. It begins on the 13th April and ends on the 15th April, but occasionally in certain years on the 16th April. The Songkran is in fact the celebration of the vernal equinox similar to those of the Indian Holi Festival, the Chinese Ching Ming, and the Christian Festival of Easter. The beginning of spring when the sun crosses the equator is now on the 21st of March which is due to the precession of the equinox. The Songkran Festival is in a certain sense like April Fool's Day, when the maids of the village play pranks on any gallant who happens to pass by their way. He will be caught and bound by the united strength of the maids and they will daub him with blacking.

Traditions of songkran

On the eve of Songkran Day, i.e. on the 12th April, the people clean their house and burn all the refuse. This is a Spring Cleaning Day done as a duty in the belief that anything bad belonging to the old year will be unlucky to the owner if left and carried on to the coming New Year. It is something like a Public Health Cleaning Day but backed by traditional belief has proved more effective to emotional people than prosaic reason.

BATHING CEREMONY

During the three days of Songkran people flock to the wat in their best clothes. They bring with them candles, joss sticks, flowers and small bottles of Thai scented water called "nam ob" or water saturated with perfumes.

At the wat shrine each devotee lights a candle and three joss sticks and places them together with a single flower or a bouquet in a receptacle in front of Buddha's altar. The worshippers then make obeisance to the Buddha by partly prostrating themselves thrice before His image in a prescribed form. Each worshipper kneels with his hands placed palm to palm raising them to the forehead in a worshipful attitude and then prostrates himself on the floor with the hands now separated to allow the forehead to touch the floor between the palms. Such salutation is called "benchangapradit" from the Sanskrit "panchangapratishtha" (fivefold body worship, i.e.. with the forehead, two palms and two knees resting on the floor). Such salutation among the Thai is the highest form of respect. Salutation by full prostration on the ground and "kissing the earth with the forehead" is unknown.

BUILDING SAND PAGODAS

The merit makers will then fetch sand in the silver bowls which they have brought along with them and carry them to the ceremonial ground and start building a sand pagoda something like a pyramid.

The size of the pagoda is optional. The sand is mixed with water to make it lump together when used to build the pagoda. A coin and and a leaf of the religious fig tree will be buried inside the sand pagoda. When finished the pagoda is sprinkled with scented water and decorated with flags and banners. The base of the pagoda is then covered with a small piece of yellow or red cloth. Lighted candles and joss sticks and flowers are stuck around the sand pagoda as an offering. Some of these pagodas, usually the big ones, are beautifully decorated with miniature ceremonial latticed fences surrounding them.

RELEASING BIRDS AND FISH

This age-long tradition started when people started to catch fish from pounds and rivers during the warmest month of the year. When the ponds dry up, Thais keep the fish at home and will be released to their natural habitat during Songkran, when there is more water. The traditional activity evolved over time and now widely practiced. Thais also free birds as an act of merit.making

SONGKRAN WATER FIGHTS

Although Songkran officially starts on the 13th April, some people like to get the festivities off to an early start. After all, four days isn't usually enough time for a water fight.

Outdoor Living - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-04-03T11:12:00.002+07:00

E-Brochure

2010-03-30T15:04:00.002+07:00

Earth Hour

2010-03-27T14:41:00.002+07:00

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet. So sign up now and let’s make 2010 the biggest Earth Hour yet!.

Thailand Property News - Property Stimulus Measures Extended

2010-03-23T17:34:00.004+07:00

BANGKOK POST, 23/03/2010 at 02:45 PM

The cabinet has agreed to extend tax incentive measures to stimulus the property development sector, which will end on March 28, for another two months, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday afternoon.

“The decision was made on ground that about 10,000 people who had bought their homes might not be able to transfer their property right before expire date of the tax incentive measures”, Mr Abhisit stated.

After the expiration of the measures, the rate of special business tax would return to 3.3 per cent from the current 0.11 per cent. The property right transfer fee would be 2 per cent from 0.01 per cent.

Previously, the cabinet had decided not to extend the tax incentive measures because it was proven that the property developers’ profit had substantially increased, and that even if there was no extension of the stimulus measures, the property sector would still improve in line with the recovering economy.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/172464/property-stimulus-measures-extended

Artwork&Lamptitude - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-23T11:44:00.001+07:00

Lounge Details - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-23T11:43:00.002+07:00

Open Living - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-22T13:40:00.001+07:00

Sofa in Sunset - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-19T10:36:00.002+07:00

Holiday Villa Rental

2010-03-17T17:16:00.003+07:00

NEW! Holiday Villa Rental is available now at The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand. Visit us at www.mandalaysamui.com for further details.

Living Area & View - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-17T08:45:00.001+07:00

Idyllic View - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-16T12:10:00.001+07:00

5.30 pm from the Sofa - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-15T12:30:00.001+07:00

Shadows - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-14T11:55:00.000+07:00

Sunset & Sunbed - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-14T10:21:00.001+07:00

Dinner Set - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-12T17:55:00.000+07:00

Bathtube Details - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-12T14:55:00.000+07:00

Technorati Claim

2010-03-11T19:20:00.000+07:00

6BR2DQ9BF7CH

From the Lounge - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-11T11:55:00.001+07:00

Orange Bowl - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-11T11:18:00.002+07:00

Exterior&View - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-10T14:53:00.000+07:00

Exterior - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-10T12:51:00.002+07:00

Poolsteps at Night - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-08T17:29:00.001+07:00

Night&Lights - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-08T16:26:00.001+07:00

Sala&Pool - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-08T14:16:00.003+07:00

Lounge Area - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-07T11:59:00.001+07:00

Living Area - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-07T11:19:00.001+07:00

Stairs Up&Down - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-07T10:16:00.002+07:00

Coffee Table - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-06T21:06:00.002+07:00

Mirrors - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-06T20:00:00.001+07:00

Master Bathroom - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-06T13:02:00.000+07:00

Sundeck - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-06T12:56:00.000+07:00

Staircase - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-06T08:31:00.004+07:00

Sunset - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-05T22:07:00.000+07:00

Kitchen & Dining - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-05T18:03:00.000+07:00

Kitchen - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-05T17:00:00.000+07:00

Interior_3 - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-05T15:54:00.000+07:00

Interior_2 - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-05T15:44:00.001+07:00

Exterior - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-05T15:42:00.000+07:00

Interior - The Mandalay Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand

2010-03-05T13:15:00.000+07:00