It’s a challenge being a foreign writer in Thailand, writing about Thai life because making real, objective observations actually goes against one of the Kingdom’s most sacred notions: Be polite and don’t discuss unpleasant issues. And since I’m trying very hard to be a respectful “Thai” citizen the writing challenge then becomes an exercise of writing in circles to get your point across.
What helps make writing about true day-to-day issues in Thai life easier is acknowledging that the developed western world, where many of us came from and refuse to move back to, are (still) dealing with the same problems as developing countries such as Thailand – like, let’s say, corruption for instance. If the concept of corruption wasn’t invented (or at least perfected) in the western world I’ll eat my head gear.
One of my reoccurring observations about the island is, despite it’s billing as one of Southeast Asia’s hottest tourist destinations, it’s still a living version of Thailand’s wild, wild west.
Koh Lanta’s infrastructure is steadily improving – at the speed of a grazing water buffalo – but that hasn’t stopped an influx of small (mostly Swedish-targeted) foreign property developers starting hotel and villa projects. Of course the sudden influx of foreign money and property developments means “positioned” locals are lining up for their just rewards. This type of business process comes as absolutely no surprise to anyone that has anything to do with property development in Thailand or around the world.
However, the problem on Lanta, according to several of the local lawyers, is the political hierarchy on the island has yet to be worked out between the powers that be. It’s a tangled web of provincial, municipal and local politics that starts in Bangkok and winds through Krabi’s provincial land and revenue departments and ends with local families and village leaders.
According to the lawyers it’s much like it was on Phuket and Koh Samui thirty years ago when big money started arriving on those islands. So for developers, with fixed costs changing on a daily basis and with supplies and labour 10-30% more, you’d have to be extremely naïve or very cleaver to develop on Lanta.
There are obvious benefits for pioneers that survive but there are also causalities. I do find it difficult to believe the rumours that several of the projects didn’t have appropriate building approvals before they started. In fact, when I visited two of these projects to discuss this matter they both produced books of legal documents and approvals.
How this all affects Lanta and what it will become in the future remains to be seen. One thing for sure it certianly beats living in the western world whatever the outcome.
0 Comments on “You can’t stop “progress” on Lanta”
Leave a Comment