30 May

30 May - Just thought I'd add a photo showing the view over the southern end of Klong Prao beach taken a few days ago when the clouds broke and the sun came out.

There's a nice little cafe for lease in Kai Bae. If you don't want the hassle of setting up your own business then it's worth a look as this is a turn key business. Located opposite two large resorts, it's fully furnished & equipped, all stock included too. You get everything you see in the photos - with the exception of the owner's wife. 650,000 Baht includes rent paid until January 2007.

The new PNN Spa at Sea View Resort, Kai Bae is a good place to visit if you need to kill a rainy afternoon. Not particularly cheap but well run and with a wide range of treatments / massages available. For a cheaper alternative - i.e. without the jacuzzis, steam baths and trappings of luxury; try Sima Massage, Klong Prao on the roadside near Chang Chutiman Elephant Camp.

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And last, but definitely not least is news that affects every foreigner, across Thailand, not only Koh Chang, who has bought property through a Thai registered company that was set up for this purpose.

As of May 26th the Interior Ministry decided to crackdown on this practice and it's now no longer possible for any company with a foreign shareholder to buy or sell property through a company if it appears that the company was set up specifically for this purpose. I.e. you'd have to prove that all the nominee shareholders actually knew what was going on and invested their own capital in the company etc.

This method of owning land is very common, but the laws haven't changed it's just that officials at the Land Registry departments nationwide have now been told to actively enforce them. The setting up of companies in order to buy land was so common that virtually all law firms in Thailand did this - despite it being technically illegal. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out especially with regards to the large housing developments, such as Siam Royal View on Koh Chang where foreign ownership of all plots is via the Thai registered company route.

There are still ways for foreigners to 'own' land - such as buying it in a Thai's name and then entering into a 30 year renewable lease with them. Of course doing this requires a watertight contract and the services of a good lawyer . . . not to mention a Thai in whose name to place the land.

Expect this topic to dominate the expat discussion boards in the coming weeks.