Koh Samui - 1980’s vs Now

I first visited Koh Samui in 1987 and it blew my mind. For a guy who’d never travelled much it was a dream come true to be on a tropical paradise island.
Fortunately I took lots of photographs of my trips to Koh Samui in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Using these pictures I return to some of my old haunts on the island, compare them then to now, and relate stories of events that happened there many years ago. If you like to see Koh Samui old pictures then this is a video for you
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[@julianshalders6047]

Hey Karl 😊, I met you and Adam in 1987 , sue, Yung, porn, were the owners of sun flower Bungalows , my name is Frank , I used to run on the beach with Adam, we had a race , guess who won 😂 . You guys liked the special cookies, we were all good mates, we were very lucky to experience Koh Samui before the inevitable tourist invasion, cheers Karl 👍👌🙏

[@karlsthailand]

I think I might remember you Frank, did you have very short, brown hair. Amazing that you got to see this video really, do you have any pictures from then? Yes, Sue was the owner and Pawn was the large young lady who took the orders etc. Lovely to hear from you, are you in touch with Cameron by any chance. Thanks so much for remembering and replying. But…..who did win? Really

[@julianshalders6047]

Yes Karl , the guy with the short brown hair 😂, I haven't heard from Cameron , wow mate , you've got traveling in your blood, your vlogs are amazing. Who won the race , I did although Adam gave me a challenging race, all good fun mate 😂. Happy safe travels good friend and I watch with enthusiasm all of your great vlogs 👍👌🙏

[@julianshalders6047]

Karl where the ants bit you , thier are caves where Buddhist monks used to meditate,. Sunflower bungalows was just the best mate , nice and quiet , owned by great people , I forgot to mention I was the guy from Australia 👌👍🙏

[@karlsthailand]

I can remember one conversation with you in the dining area of Sunflower Bungalows. I might have joined yourself and Adam on a run or a walk. I felt very faint and we were discussing that it could be sunstroke or perhaps I hadn’t been eating enough salt in my diet? Very vague memories now. Shame you are out of touch with Cameron, his friend Paul was largely responsible for my visit to Thailand and it was he who told us about Sunflower bungalows. Glad you are enjoying my content Frank

[@chichangwu]

The Ai enhancements in your vids are not really good, the faces are warped

[@saddq1]

Great video mate. I first came to Samui in 1975 at the young age of 22. Decided not to leave and never went back to the UK again. Now been here for 48 years and still going strong. I can't see myself ever going back to England again. Keep up the good work Karl

[@janus302]

Thats awsome man,my first time was in 1988 and each year i return and in a couple of years when i retired i want to life on samui.

[@karlsthailand]

1975? Wow, must have been a visit on one of the legendary banana boats? Sounds like it left an even bigger impression on you than it did on me. Thanks for your comments

[@alanhamer5661]

I think u can safely say your home is on a tropical island mate@

[@joelmonkley6177]

Do you still live on samui love to how you managed to stay there all that tim unreal

[@saddq1]

@@joelmonkley6177 I had a successful business in the 70s and 80s and sold it in 1987. At 35 I had enough money to retire.

[@rootsoriginals7087]

First went in 1994,and like most folks fell in love with the place,spent many a night at the big reggae bar,and riding motor bikes around the island,cheers for the memories karl.

[@billmoeller8897]

Wasn't The Reggae Bar a great place? The best of times !

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure, hope it brought back some of the good times for you

[@SteveJones-gz4vd]

I DJ'd there at Reggae for 6 years on and off with Sergio , with us also playing Japan and Hong Kong , etc. Happy times, spent most my days at Silversands resort with the beach dogs

[@ahmadfarrall2097]

You know the best thing Karl, is that you are able to still visit places that had a profound impact on you when you were young. Not many can. Thanks for sharing this with us. Beautiful place too.

[@karlsthailand]

Absolutely, I quite enjoy a bit of nostalgia from time to time. Sure, sometimes the present can't live up to your memories but not always. Cheers

[@seanmaguire8250]

Wow! Many thanks for putting this up Karl. I went to Koh Samui in 1987 and from the moment that the island came into sight my breath was taken away, I'd never seen the like before. Me and my mate wasn't too sure of which beach to go to, it was either Lamai or Chaweng, but we got taking to a couple of English girls who had been there before as asked for their recommendations. They stated that Lamai had a nightclub (of sorts) and that was the clincher, we even had to go back to the mainland to renew our visas due to being really caught up in the lifestyle. To do literally nothing all day and still have a full schedule was quite an achievement especially when we had planned out our trip according to the Yellow Bible and had wanted to see so much more of SE Asia, having said that I wouldn't have changed a thing. I did manage to return to Koh Samui in 2000 and, surprise surprise, Lamai changed a hellava lot. I did stay there for a couple nights before moving on to Mae Nam, which, to my knowledge didn't have a nightclub! Anyway, to conclude. Any persons first impressions when travelling will always stay with them and can only be enhanced when the memory fades by seeing fantastic posting like this. Many thanks and I look forward to viewing many more.

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks Sean, hope my video brought a bit of the spirit of 87 back for you. It was indeed a privilege and a life changing experience for me

[@nbw-graphics]

I made Koh Samui my home base for seven years while working in the oil & gas industry and left in 2015. Lamai village was my preferred location & before renting a bungalow I lived in the Amadeus guest house for two years. I found your video very interesting as it showed me what KS was like well before I first arrived there and my last visit was Xmas - New Year 2022/23. Thank you for the video & the trip down memory lane.

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure, thanks very much for your comments. I always did favour Lamai over Chawaeng, even back then.

[@jm-is4cr]

@@karlsthailand hey Karl love your videos ,and i really like the storys from old days ,have you done a were are they now video of the crew you first came over with ,that would be interesting .keep up the great work my friend ,i always rank people on there experience in thailand and knowledge ,and you are a 5 star general .We are all cadets when we first arrive ,some even hardly get pass that stage lol ..

[@jimreynolds1540]

Great vlog Karl, thanks. I just returned home 2 days ago from 2 months in Thailand mostly in Khao Lak. I think I'm finally going to make the move permanently beginning of the year after wanting to for over 30 years. I first went to Kho Samui in 1992 on my second trip to Thailand and just fell in love with it. I would return two times a year all through out the 90's. I always stayed at the Golden Sands in Lamai next to the Aloha. I would motorbike over to Chaweng to Reggae Pub driving across that rickety bridge, also Green mango and Mix. Then come back to Lamai and to Bauhaus until the sun came up. Samui was always like my secret get a way back then. I had my first banana, nutila roti outside Bauhaus, which has turned into a life time addiction. Now days every time I have a Roti I still always remember the roti man and his cart in Lamai. One of the most beautiful Thai woman I ever met, inside and out, was a Scuba dive Master there named Nit around 1997. I always wished I kept up with her. I have seen a lot of videos on Samui and made me want to avoid it, but yours just sparked so many memories I think I'll check it out next time I'm back. I'm a little teary-eyed writing this from thoughts of old days. Thanks!

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks so much Jim. I wanted to keep it positive and that was honestly how I felt about returning. It was my first trip back there in 18 years. Glad it stirred up some cool memories for you

[@richardwithall171]

That was a great video, was in Koh Samui and Koh phangan in 95 was fantastic, be to scared to go back now and ruin the amazing memories safe travels

[@karlsthailand]

Cheers Richard. I know what you mean about spoiling your memories and I had to get on the right frame of mind before I could face returning.

[@jaideedave]

I know exactly what you mean. I revisited a few years ago and OMG I didn't like what I saw. I still have the memories though

[@vgshwk]

Memories we constantly relive them they can bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye at the same time.

[@karlsthailand]

I do enjoy a bit of nostalgia but equally try to appreciate Thailand as it is today. Thanks

[@Steven-qi4gm]

It’s great to revisit places years later and have those memories flooding back.

[@karlsthailand]

Yes Steve, it was my first return visit for 18 years. Thanks

[@stephendendy8376]

No the place is a dump now heartbreaking and the people ppppfffffff

[@Steven-qi4gm]

@@stephendendy8376 I was there in May. Wouldn’t call it a dump. Ao Nang however..

[@democracyforall]

@@karlsthailand One always wishes if ONLY we could reverse the clock... Just as the apostle paul says the days are evil. It sort of passes on the person like an unexpected theif and by the time one realises decades passes away...

[@MarkHarrop]

I remember the roads being just dirt tracks. Remember being in a Blues Bar, then coming out and it had been raining do hard. I stepped out and immediately fell over in the dirt. I was so drunk I just laid there and laughed. They were good times. Flamingo's wow, lots of memories there. Thanks for this video.

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure Mark. Yes, there was plenty of mud about back then, hope the video brought some good memories back for you

[@yusriyns5624]

Karl, you are an absolute living legend! It's incredibly fascinating to witness the 80's version of the island compared to its present-day appearance. Thank you for taking us on this nostalgic journey through your memories of Koh Samui. 😎🙏🤙

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure. I'm so glad that I took all those pictures back then. Thanks

[@truckerfromreno]

Love this video. I come back and watch it again every couple of months.

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks Bobby. It was a video I had wanted to make for a couple of years, just a matter of when I could get down therem to do it.

[@mikey_atman]

Thanks for memory lane... In 1998 I landed in Koh Samu,i and then took the ferry to Koh Pha Ngan next door, and stayed at the beautiful Seaflower Bungalows. Paradise. 🪷

[@karlsthailand]

Very cool! I hope that the video brought some of the good times back for you

[@JBWanders73]

A great stroll down memory lane Karl. I love the line about passing yourself going the other way in 1987. A really enjoyable watch mate.

[@karlsthailand]

You know that it was only after, when I was editing that I realised I had taken Vidro of my riding on that same stretch of road and I could tie it together. Cheers Jimmy

[@JB-xk7jo]

I was 1984 the first time on Koh Samui. Since that time until now, I always going back to Samui nearly every year

[@karlsthailand]

I’m so glad that I took all those pictures back then, hope it brought it back for you

[@davet5260]

Loved seeing past and present memories in your video! I love Koh Samui and always enjoy exploring the island.

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks very much.

[@ToxxicMafia]

This video reminded me of a Koh Samui legend called Dj Sergio who worked at the Reggae Pub, he lived there from early 90s till he passed away in 2011. He looked and performed like Bono from U2. May His Soul RIP

[@karlsthailand]

I have heard of him but I never once went inside the Reggae Pub. I do remember when it opened though. Thanks for your memory

[@ToxxicMafia]

@@karlsthailand pleasure. ❤️ from Pretoria, South Africa

[@no_professional12]

Fascinating video. It was really cool to see the same places side by side to see how they'd changed, or not in some cases. Retracing some of your steps must have brought back a lot of memories & emotions for you, what a blessing it is when we have a chance to do that. I first visited Thailand in 2007 and immediately fell in love with the place. Have not yet been to Koh Samui. Thank you for the video.

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed the video. I'm so happy that I took all those pictures now

[@billmoeller8897]

First went in 1994, a true paradise, what I dreamed a tropical island should be like. Great memories, thanks for taking us old timers back.

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure Bill, thanks

[@scottDchicago]

This was an awesome video! I really enjoyed the comparison then/now photos!

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks, it’s a video I had wanted to do for a while now, just never had the chance before

[@scottDchicago]

@@karlsthailand My family and I are currently enjoying a trip (1/2 way through) to Bangkok, Phuket, and Khon Kaen. It’s great to be back! I enjoy your work.

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks so much Scott. Enjoy your trip through Thailand

[@sergei971]

Just arrived to Koh Samui today. Staying in Lamai Beach. It’s very pricy at resorts. I wish I was able to visit back in the good old days like 1980’s and 1990’s.

[@alanhamer5661]

Keep us informed mate...hv a good time as well 4sure!

[@karlsthailand]

Just think how old you’d be now if you went there back then lol. Lamai wasn’t too bad this year, I could still find my way around anyway. I hope you enjoy your current visit

[@sergei971]

@@karlsthailand there must be some islands out there which are not touristy and probably similar to how Koh Samui was back in the 1980’s. Heaps of islands in the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand.

[@waynedrummond6583]

I first visited in 1970 - from NZ and aged 19. I first went to Koh Samet in 1980. Hardly any Westerners there back then and really basic accommodation. Almost deserted except for locals during the week who mainly worked on the mainland as there wasn't much tourism except for Thais over the weekend. I hardly ever told anyone about it as I wanted to keep the secret destination. But eventually in the late 90's it started to be commercialised with locals developing accommodation for guests to stay longer.

[@karlsthailand]

You visited Koh Samui in 1970, that’s incredible, that’s the earliest first visit date I have ever heard. Do you have any pictures? Trying to keep cool places a secret doesn’t last for long does it lol

[@waynedrummond6583]

@@karlsthailand Koh Samed mate, not Samui. Samui was commercialised to a higher standard and earlier.

[@waynedrummond6583]

@@karlsthailand I had old print copies and have been meaning to scan and digitise them but left most back in NZ when I retired here formally a few years' back. I suppose they've been thrown away now.

[@joelmonkley6177]

@@waynedrummond6583 did you travel from NZ to Thailand or were in in the NZ army in Singapore just curious never heard of kiwis going to Thailand in 1970

[@waynedrummond6583]

@@joelmonkley6177 Not Army. Private trip to see my Thai girlfriend who had been studying in NZ at a small private school in the same building I worked as an Architectural Draughtsman.

[@cardice3193]

Seeing photos of you on the porch of ur bungalow, laundry drying on the line behind you. I have similar pics of myself on the porch of my bungalow on Koh Chang taken at the same time period. Wonderful blissful memories 😊😊😊

[@karlsthailand]

That is awesome! Aren’t you so glad that you have those pictures. Thanks

[@karlunderhill2004]

Hey Karl, I love these "Then & Now" videos!!! I wish I would have been more of a picture and videographer back in my day. Lots of great memories. Keep up the good work!

[@karlsthailand]

Cheers Karl. Yes, I’m so glad that I made the effort to take pictures back then, I don’t think young people realised how precious every frame was before digital photography

[@user-dg5ye4qf6r]

Brilliant. That was a good trip down memory lane. Happy Daze x

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@EddieManning]

Hi Karl, Great vid. Always amazed that you still have so many date stamped pictures of your first visits. Incredible memories and nostalgia of your former travels. Kudos for documenting all of this. I have to say that after visits to Samui in 2001 and again in 2014, it never really enchanted me. Guess because I was fortunate enough to spend lots of time in Krabi, Trang and Ko Lipe. Hope to see you again soon. Chok dee, Eddie BTW: Malee has a visa and will come to London next month.

[@karlsthailand]

Cheers Eddie. Back then I think my friends thought it was a bit strange carrying a camera everywhere and taking slides that needed to be projected before they could be seen. So happy I did it my way back then. That’s great about Malee, only met her a few times but seems like a cool lady.

[@paullonergan9444]

Omg, just lovely to see this. First on koh samui in 1984 at 22 years old. Two kiwi blokes travelling overland from New Zealand to London on a UTA 'milk run' ticket. We had a great time in Thailand for around a month, including a week on Samui and a week on Samet. The glory days of youth - ha! Magnificent country, beautiful people and such a wonderful attitude to life. Thailand lives with me to this day. Have been back a few times now and my son is there ATM on a 6 week sojourn. You've brought a deep sense of the joy i had at a wonderful time in my life with this vid. Thanks so much Karl.

[@karlsthailand]

Glad that it brought back some of your own experiences from so long ago. Cheers

[@nick-meets-world]

Fascinating video Karl must’ve been a great experience for you seeing the changes 30 years apart! Samui is an amazing island and I’m lucky to have visited back in 2020 stayed mostly in Chaweng but I can’t wait to go back and see more of the island

[@karlsthailand]

I tell you having the old pictures makes all the difference when it comes to remembering the way things were. I’m glad that I can share them and hope you enjoy future visits to Samui

[@bikepacker9850]

I went there in 1988... Paradise. I remember you had to go to the post office and line up to make a phone call. Forang everywhere all saying send money (I wrote this before you said exactly the same thing in your video😂) A nights accomadation was the same price as a beer. Beer was relatively expensive back then. Australians, Canadians, English, Germans. I came for a week or two and stayed 9 months. I stayed at Simple Life bungalow. Great times. Thanks for the memory.

[@karlsthailand]

Yes. I’d forgotten how relatively expensive the beer was back then…not to mention the restricted choice. Glad it hit home with some memories of your own. Cheers

[@THEMAGICALFORMULA]

Koh Samui was improved dramatically since you were there the first time. It may have seemed like a paradise when you got there the first time, but it was under developed, they didn't have proper electricity, no proper roads, and the people were struggling to survive and get medical attention. It was a place with vast potential, which 99% of the backpackers didn't notice then, and fail to understand now..... This video is a trip down a memory lane with an old man who still imagines the world was a better place when he was young..... Personally I am a little older than you & I've been involved in the birth of the full moon party on Ko Pan Ghan & The Goa party scene in India since the early 90s both of which improved life for the locals dramatically, paved roads, and put fresh drinking water into villages where they had neither before we got there.... And now that weed is legal in Thailand we expect to seen a huge increase in property development and tourism throughout most of Thailand, and thats great news for the country, its people and ultimately for the tourists.... sure there will be a few old dry sticks in the mud that don't want change, but they're all old, or getting older and will eventually die out, or see the light and stop moaning. That is the cycle of life everywhere. Thailand has a great deal of catching up to do, after the dramatic destruction the pandemic caused to their tourism industry, which sadly wiped out thousands of small businesses there.. so to be honest , the sooner these changes occur the better, as change is long over due..

[@myaopan]

Development isn’t a always good

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks for that. It Might make a good video, “Spreading the Wealth in Thailand and India via the Party Scene” Cheers

[@yogajedi3337]

Nowadays Koh Samui is a rotten tourist trap with unfriendly hosts, I´m afraid.

[@noahpettersson3385]

Samui now is rotton,i visited it in 1982,mass development is not always a good thing,and i also went to Phangan in 88 when the full moon parties started,now they are cr ap tickets to get in,and some not very nice people there.

[@selfhealingacademy]

Samui is a model for the world. Develop it further in the old way and watch how it all goes to waste. The signs are everywhere already. For example: What i miss in the video is the fact, that you could snorkel at every beach back then, and now there's no snorkeling anywhere on Samui. Visibility gone. Fish gone. Reefs gone. And i don't even want to talk about the level of crime involved in all that property business. From a long time Samui resident.

[@deannadenis6937]

Thanks for posting this! We've only lived in Thailand since 2015. Two years on Samui and seven years on the mainland. I'm obsessed with vintage photos and videos of Samui, and Thailand in general.

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it! I’m so glad that I took and kept all those pictures. Cheers

[@thepaperboy9009]

Nice ! I love that you can contrast from 36 years ago and have the footage and stills to compare. Always good to remember the good old days. Greetings from Canada.

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks, yes it's great having the pictures to show and it's a double benefit because the pictures help to jog my memory. Glad you enjoyed it, if you don't know there's a playlist of all my videos where I go back in the past on my channel

[@fraser_byrne]

This is youtube at its best. Real people sharing and self publishing authentic stories.

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks so much for saying that. Happy that you appreciate my approach to making this video

[@jpnyanko2987]

I first visited Samui in April of 1981. We stayed at First Bungalow on Chaweng beach. Hanging out with fellow backpackers from the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Canada, enjoying 2 dollar bottles of Mekong whisky with coke. I've been back several times since then and the changes are indeed profound

[@karlsthailand]

I think the airport being built was the start of the change but in many ways it’s still changing. There are so many roads on the island now and people are building on every conceivable piece of land, even up the mountains. Thanks for your own memories. Cheers

[@jpnyanko2987]

My oldest son moved to Koh Phangan in 2018. He's now living and working on Samui as a scuba instructor for one of the dive shops on the island. Hopefully I'll be back there again soon

[@dullbrass]

Cool, I was at Chaweng beach. Green Mango was one of the night clubs there. Can't remember the name of the other one. Took a speed boat to ko Phangan for the full moon party. Met a lot of british guys, played chess, smoked weed, fun times. Thanks for the reminder.

[@karlsthailand]

Glad it brought it all back for and thanks

[@ancientartist126]

I was there in 88, life changing.

[@karlsthailand]

Wasn't it just? Cheers

[@simonbarrett9568]

Time go so fast so sad to think about when l was there good old days on the beach. Thank for the video

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure Simon, glad you enjoyed it and thanks

[@Pathoian]

Hi Karl great Vid I was also there in 1990 and stays after, I remember our regular bar would let us run a tab for food and drink when the ATM was down for days and we had completely run out of cash, great chilled people and many happy days spent on the Island

[@karlsthailand]

Yes, that 'tab' system did make sense, saved you from having to hit town too often. Cheers and glad you enjoyed the memories

[@lroc6272]

This is a powerful video . Nostalgia can be happy and sad at same time .

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it, parts of it were emotional as it was a pivotal destination in my life and I have so many memories from there. Thanks

[@RetroReminiscing]

I love this!!! Anything before and after is right up my street and this is a beautifull place too...thank you for making this!

[@karlsthailand]

You are so welcome! And thanks for the positive feedback

[@timparkin9805]

I too first went t Koh Samui in 1987, so a very interesting video. Now retired and here in Thailand ...

[@karlsthailand]

I hope that my video brought that first trip back for you. Cheers

[@windit5877]

I am a new generatiin backpacker and went tl samui for the firsy time 12 years ago. Already a fully developed place but from all the places i saw in asia samui is my favourite island. How magical must it have been in the 80's and 90's without all the distractions from technology.

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks. We were all aware of the changes that were coming at the time so there was that feeling of see it now before it’s gone. Truth is that it’s changed but it’s still a very beautiful place

[@GatorJake]

Great "then-and-now" photos. Appreciate the storytelling. This playlist of your experiences has been very entertaining and educational. Thanks, Karl. Cheers!

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you like them! They are definitely my most popular videos but I don't want to keep churning them out using the same pictures over and over. I'll leave them for when I have something to say or can present thjem in a format that makes sense.

[@uncledan2u]

I'm from Malaysia. Went to Koh Samui in 1982 backpacking and a few more times up to 1990. Got married. Never went back. Now with two grandchildren. Wishing all reading the best of times. Thank you for the memories ✌️

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure, Samui in 1982 mu7st have been something else, that was before the main road was even paved. Thanks for your rmrmories

[@user-zm7jb7bx4k]

Was at Rocky Bungalows at Lamai Beach in 1984. What a time to be alive.

[@karlsthailand]

Wasn't it just bliss back then? Cheers

[@mythai9593]

Brings back memories 👍. 97 was my first time there, was working in Amsterdam and got talking to a bloke about Thailand, he'd had a bar in Lamai and said I should go. My best times in Thailand, stayed at the Sea Garden bungalows, drank in various bars and ended the nights in Bauhaus then the Rock pub, happy days 😊.

[@karlsthailand]

Great, I hope my Vidro brought it all back for you. Thanks

[@Thatfinnishguyx]

Thanks a lot for this video. I was just in Samui 2 months ago, and it's so fascinating to see how it was and what's not changed.

[@karlsthailand]

Sure, it’s still a beautiful place though . Mustn’t let my stories spoil today. Cheers

[@mikeyboy3054]

Charlies Bungalows is part of my amazing backpacking memories of early 2000's. Head over to the Full Moon for a week with all the madness. I couldn't do it now nor would I want to but my god was it fun.

[@karlsthailand]

It’s still happening Mikey, just on a much bigger scale. Cheers

[@joolscornwell1307]

Fabulous memories. I was there too in 87 . Great video. Thank you dude.

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it and I hope it brought back some memories of 1987 for you

[@joolscornwell1307]

@@karlsthailand my god it sure did. 😂

[@Superjet701]

Another gem Karl, thank you for sharing…🍀🍀🍀

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure. Thanks very much

[@markmark-dj8tk]

Thanks a lot Karl, all your clips are so insightful and bring back wonderful memories, I visited Ko Samui and other parts of Thailand with a friend in 1991. Wonderful memories and you help bring them back, thank you very much. Kind regards from Switzerland

[@martinrogers4904]

Its almost like you were reliving my life there in 1986-87 , id be very surprised if we never met , every place you mention I was at . Got goose bumps now .

[@karlsthailand]

Glad I was able to stir up your own memories of Samui back in the day Martin. Cheers

[@roberttudor455]

Memory lane is a very long and winding road. Great memories excellently narrated.

[@karlsthailand]

Indeed and a journey I'd be reluctant to undertake if it wasn't for the fact that I have the pictures to jog my memory. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks

[@mediterraneandiet2483]

Visited Ko Phi-Phi in 1991. It was such a beautiful tropical island -Like a dream. Happy memories.

[@karlsthailand]

You know I remember going to collect a film I’d had processed on Koh Samui in 1987. On the front of the the paper wallet where they put the negatives was an amazing picture of an unspoiled island with 2 bays curving into each other. I asked where it was ? Koh Phi-Phi. Unfortunately I didn’t get there until 2002. Cheers

[@CavityCreep1]

A couple friends and I were there in 1987, we graduated college and headed over to Thailand and ended up staying for a while on Koh Samui. It was great and this video brought back memories!

[@karlsthailand]

Happy it brought the memories back for you, that time will never be repeated. Thanks

[@TravelingWithTheDon-xz8xb]

Thanks for sharing those memories. I was there first time in 1983. Chaweng beach. Grass bungalows small restaurants and lots of fun. I wish I still had my photos

[@karlsthailand]

I’m so glad that I took all those pictures (slides actually ) and kept them. Thanks

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

I was there in August 1987, too. Chaweng Beach. Three bars at the back of the beach with a few bungalows behind them. Paradise.

[@karlsthailand]

It was a long time ago now wasn't it? Yes, great times

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

@@karlsthailand Great times, indeed. A better world back then.

[@markadams796]

What a Journey Karl I was completely captivated by the video knowing you and Thong and also having been a lover of Koh Samui. What an incredible journey and experience to have grasped days gone by and the present moment. That’s gotta been the best you’ve done yet and it’s possible to feel the connection you have there, what an emotionally rewarding experience you must have had and thank you for taking me on that journey sat here in my armchair. Great video. I look forward to more like this one !

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you found the time to watch it Mark. I tell you that a lot of those memories are still very dear to me and that might have come over in the video. Unfortunately I only have so many pictures and memories from back then so you can't just keep knocking them out one after the other. Cheers

[@30AndAWakeUp]

Such a great vid. Thanks for sharing this.

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it Kev, hope you are well

[@angramanyu1984]

I am in Koh Samui now. Interesting to watch. Thanks

[@karlsthailand]

That's great, hope you're having fun

[@minimalistation]

By far the best vid I have ever seen of the island and i've seen some........kudos and thank you...........................

[@karlsthailand]

Wow, thank you so much for that compliment

[@silviocitton8748]

So great doing a back travel in time. I went there the first time from 1989-1990. The bad thing, I did not do Fotos or video Thank you for shearing

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it. Don’t feel bad about not having pictures, as you know photography was a lot more expensive back then, not like today where you can take as many pictures as you want for free and see them instantly. Cheers

[@pcramon]

Really enjoyed your trip down memory lane. I visited Koh Samui a total of 5 times from 2000 to 2005 from a lone traveller to finally my honeymoon. Was great seeing your old photos.

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it and thank you, it sounds like Samui changed your life too. Cheers

[@roderickfiske4769]

I was there in 1987. Went every year and moved there in 1992. Bungalows, Green Mango, Reggae Pub. Fatal shooting in Reggae Pub, murder of farang on beach after midnight. Haven’t been back in decades. Will remember how fabulous it was. Thanks for the vid. ❤

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure, yes there were some dodgy things happening there back then

[@hakanblixt]

Kho Samui was so good in the old days and still is.Txh fore the video

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure, thanks

[@alexbinna791]

Great ..I love this kind of videos,I went to Thailand 2006 first time and in love since then,I was there also last year.Take care

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks so much Alex

[@alexandros4703]

Nice video, and wonderful you have that footage, video, and stills from 1990 that can compare to today's scene. Great to reminisce on olden days past and the joys of youth. Koh Samui was the first and only place I ever waterskied when in Thailand, which was near Lumai Beach in late December 1990.

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for your own memory Lamai in 1990. Cheers

[@andrewmurren1365]

once you fall in love with Samui it will always be with you. Thanks so much for sharing this. Love the photos and videos :-)

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure Andrew and thanks

[@richjxj8559]

Fantastic. Some quality stories in there mate. I had 3 months in Thailand (mostly Samui) in 2000 and I love watching Samui vids on KZbin. I hope to go back one day

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it and hope that you can get back there. Cheers

[@jeffburger2782]

Great stories of your past cherish life one can live,love,laugh

[@karlsthailand]

Cheers Jeff, glad you enjoyed the stories

[@Bourne1984]

Fantastic. Love it, went to Thailand in 2004 just before the tragedy of the tsunami and again in 2013 and couldn’t believe the level of development. Beautiful place and wonderful people. Love Samui. Great vid Karl

[@karlsthailand]

Cheers James, yes there's been plenty of development, no denying that

[@paulseoighemcgee5772]

Great story telling and content , Karl , thanks .

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks very much Paul. I had wanted to make that video for a long time.

[@violetka_vlog]

It's nice to see old photos from places we liked when we lived in Samui. Greetings !

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it

[@andrewhyland9212]

Fascinating to see Samui back then. Great that you have footage to show.

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it Andrew, thanks

[@jeffreyhill3592]

Very refreshing video that, what would we be without memories eh? This guy has enough past photos to link the past with the present too, well done friend 👍🏻

[@karlsthailand]

Cheers Jeff, I’m so glad I took all those pictures back then.

[@samfromcanada]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane uncle. Remember the only constant, is change.

[@karlsthailand]

Indeed Sam, so glad I still have the pictures so I can show others the changes. Thanks

[@jakespeed6515]

Great video, I lived there in 2004/5 went back in 2017/18 oh my has it changed, I used to be able to go around the island on the Honda Wave in 45 mins, in 2017 it took 1Hr 30 mins… it’s still an amazing place with Ying Yang memories for me.

[@karlsthailand]

Yes, there's definitely more traffic. I hadn't been back for 18 years and tbh the changes didn't shock me that much. The changes between 87 and 2005 shocked me more at the time. Glad you enjoyed the video

[@Baldcafe]

Really great and interesting video 👍 Great stories

[@karlsthailand]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it

[@vvv-101]

Yeah man. Thank you so much. Cool video. First time I was in Samui in 2010. That’s was amazing days😂😂😂

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks

[@BarefootJeff]

Another great video....I hung out with a new friend from Sweden that started coming to Samui 36 years ago. ( Lamai area) He mentioned all the dirt roads in Lamai back then.

[@karlsthailand]

It was that way until the early to mid 90's Jeff. Cheers

[@leebryantravels]

Absolutely loved this !!! Find it fascinating to see the comparisons and what it used to be like . Loved the old pictures to see the changes over the years of the island and you and your friends. Life moves quick so got to make the most of it 🫶

[@karlsthailand]

So true Lee. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@lt9413]

Hi Karl, What a wonderful video! Thanks for sharing your memories in Samui. My first trip to Samui was in the year 1999. Second trip was in 2010 and I was blown away by the changes. Sealed roads and modern hotels and shops in Lamai, Chaweng etc. Since then, I've been visiting Samui about 3 or sometimes even 5 times a year excluding the 3 pandemic years. For 2023, I've been to Samui twice already and hopefully may be there again sometime in end August. I love Koh Samui. Please shoot more nostalgic videos. Thanks and stay safe mate!

[@janus302]

Hello, my first time on lamai was in 1988 and i still return each year,and yes a lot of change. Did you also go to Koh Phangan? I can reccomend to go there because for me some beaches on Phangan look like the old time on samui, you can find a lot of old simple bungalows and quit beaches, i now days go to lamai and Phangan and on Phangan i mostly stay on the sunsetside of Phangan.

[@karlsthailand]

Yes, I did used to go to Koh Phangan, actually Koh Phangan will probably be my next video although it won’t be the same format as this. I hope this video brought some memories back for you.

[@phoneasi]

Thanks for sharing and posting! Great video. In 1989, my initial visit to Samui remains etched in my memory as a truly undiscovered paradise. The lush greenery, breathtaking beauty, and serene ambiance mesmerized me completely. There was no need for helmets or worry about traffic back then, making it a purely magical and peaceful place.

[@karlsthailand]

I think we were all aware that it would change and change fast so it was a great time to discover Samui. Thanks

[@rzadigi]

I really enjoyed watching this. I’m impressed that you’re able to remember so many details and paint such vivid pictures. I first went to Samui in 99 and of course fell in love. It was quite developed by then but it was still special and full of Thai flavors ❤ A good friend of mine went to Koh Phangan in the late 80s when there was only one guest house on the whole island. I can only imagine how wonderful things must’ve been way back then🙏❤️thanks much for sharing

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm so glad that I took those slides and kept them. Having the pictures definitely helps to jog your memory.

[@johnpatterson6448]

A very nice little film. Excellent choice of music.

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks John, glad you enjoyed it

[@Samuel_J_Russell]

I really enjoyed this video Karl. It's amazing that you can still remember nondescript locations from where you took photographs after 36 years. I love Koh Samui and we're also planning to go back at some point because we haven't been there since 2012, so this video was very interesting for me. Koh Samui always has a special place in my heart because, as I'm sure you can remember, it's where I met Lin back in 2007. Chaweng beach is also the place where, on the fourth morning of my inaugural trip to Thailand in 2005, while I was sat having breakfast on the beach, I realised that I had found my true calling in life and that one day I would live in Thailand. 19 years later and here I am living in the boonies of Thailand! Samui is the place where I first began to love Thailand and I have so many magical memories from that first visit.

[@karlsthailand]

Cheers Sam. As I said in the video, on my first visit to Thailand Koh Samui was the place I was most looking forward to and it certainly left an impression upon me. I was reluctant to return but once I made the decision to do it in a positive frame of mind I had no trouble appreciating it for what it is today.

[@anthonyhill5058]

My first time in Thailand was koh samui, loved it

[@karlsthailand]

Yeah, for me the idea of a paradise island was the ultimate draw

[@oscarsghost]

I'm glad you went back and made this fantastic video. I have not returned from my stay in November-December 1986 (after Samui I moved to Koh Pangan for a month). My favourite view from Sunflower Bungalows was over to the five island group called (appropriately) Koh Ha. It was a truly crazy time - I needed medical care on three occasions (two were traffic accidents).

[@karlsthailand]

Sounds like your first visit to Samui was a bit more eventful than mine. Haven't returned since 1986? You'd definitely notice a few changes then lol. Incredible how many people remember Sunflower considering that it was a reasonably remote location. Cheers

[@user-zn5lu2xe8y]

The only time in Koh Samui was February 1988 ..I had a great time on Chaweng beach ..I remember a discotheque called The Arabian.. Everybody were dancing on the sand ..At that time i was 26 .. Now i am 62 and leave in Kobe.. Japan...

[@karlsthailand]

I don't actually remember The Arabian but then I never spent much time at Chawaeng. Yes, we're getting old now aren't we? Luckily we experienced Koh Samui as it will never be experienced again. Cheers

[@andreasfrese3025]

Best regards , ... 🙏🏼🙏🏼... Good mindfood , ur vd. Upload 🎉 I remember that time too.. ( and lived 15 years up there !! .... now way back !!! .. Thank u !

[@karlsthailand]

Yep, no way back, so happy that I still have the pictures though. Thanks

[@johncox3076]

lovely video great to see how you put the past with the new just wish it was longer makes you feel like you're there

[@karlsthailand]

Cheers John, yes, I did give it some thought how I would present the comparison. I’m just glad I could remember everything. Hope you are well my friend

[@davoscaff]

I scoured this video looking for me. Entered Thailand 19/08/87, spent a week in Bangkok then headed South to Koh Samui for a few weeks. Lovely spot, would love to come again. Thailand still gorgeous, went to Khao Lak last year, heaven

[@karlsthailand]

Yes, Thailand’s still beautiful. Amazing! Well I guess it would have been a long shot seeing yourself but stranger things happen. Look at the comment I have pinned at the top of the comments. Cheers

[@davoscaff]

I know it's such a small world. Just before I came to Thailand, I had been in Srinagar India, and bumped into an ex flat mate on Dal Lake, then again at Delhi airport when flying on to Thailand@@karlsthailand

[@karlsthailand]

I’ve had many such experiences myself, including on that first trip. It can really make you wonder. Thanks for your own memories

[@JoshEssex123]

It's very rare that I sit through a Thailand KZbin video and don't take my eyes off it but your video and memories are truly wonderful. I first went to Thailand 20 years ago and spent a bit of time in Samui. My accommodation was called the Sunrise Bungalows which were in Lamai. I'd have loved to have been there many years earlier but Samui was still pretty quiet in the 00 decade. I last went back in 2007 with an English girlfriend and I still enjoyed it. My first visit to Thailand will never leave my memory. This is a truly wonderful piece of nostalgia and I thank you for sharing it.

[@karlsthailand]

Thanks so much Andy, glad the video stirred up your old memories and emotions towards Thailand

[@gogskilpatrick]

I’m sitting here in Lamai drinking a coffee and watching your vid, I really, really enjoyed it, very good the then and now, loved the story about the girl that got married to the German, we’ve all been there, thanks for sharing your memories , good luck ✌️✌️✌️👍👍👍👌

[@karlsthailand]

Glad you enjoyed it! That's quite a thought, you're there but watching my video lol. Cheers

[@stevencouitt4286]

Thanks for sharing your memories ,really enjoyable.

[@karlsthailand]

My pleasure Steve, thanks

[@markoconnor4380]

That was brilliant 👍. The production was so good with the music.

[@karlsthailand]

Cheers Mark, glad you enjoyed it

[@frontrowmovies566]

What a gem of a vid. I love just randomly coming across videos like this on KZbin. Thanks for sharing the memories. Even though I've never been to Thailand I felt like I'd been there watching the footage.

[@karlsthailand]

I've done a whole playlist called "Thailand in the 80's" if you enjoy this kind of retro comment. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks

[@sergefranchois1701]

Thoroughly enjoyed that. 1987 gosh .. i just graduated from high school. I must have been a real adventure back then. Nowadays, you book online, and a couple of days later, land on Samui Int'l Airport. It's still a beautiful island throughout

[@karlsthailand]

That’s very true, just booking an air ticket could take a whole weekend back then. Also imagine doing research with no Internet. Thanks

[@gerbob13]

Spent 3 months in samui in 89 and 1990 back then no police station on the island. When they finally arrived we left . Yeah some of my best memories from those days. Been going back almost every year since. Phuket has beer my happy place for along time.

[@karlsthailand]

That's right, all the police stuff was dealt with by Surat Thani and despite the changes it's still a stunning island. Cheers