Camille's Samui Info blog

Camille's Samui Info blog: Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 28th January, 2012 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-27T16:09:19-08:00

Daily weather updates for tropical island destination Koh Samui in Thailand by long term resident Camille Lemmens

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 28th January, 2012

2012-01-28T07:00:00.002+07:00

Today's weather;

It's cloudy on Koh Samui this morning and no blue patches are to be spotted in this mornings sky. Current temp at 7am is 27.3C

Buddha altar at Khao Hua Jook pagoda in Chaweng, which I visited recently

Yesterday was a nice day on Koh Samui, although slightly cloudy when I woke up, the sky turned blue by 8am and it was a sunny day afterwards. Max temp reached 28.5C

The forecast now shows strong wind from Monday through Friday and rain from Monday through Wednesday. Next Saturday should be lovely again.

Camille

Camille's Samui Info blog: Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 27th January, 2012 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-26T16:08:24-08:00

Daily weather updates for tropical island destination Koh Samui in Thailand by long term resident Camille Lemmens

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 27th January, 2012

2012-01-27T06:57:00.002+07:00

Today's weather;

Koh Samui's sky is changing slightly and this morning we have fairly dark clouds with just a few blue spots. I wouldn't be surprised if we do get a few rain drops at some stage during the day. Current temp at 7am is 27.2C

The 24th January had a picture of leaving the pier, this is the view when arriving at the Seatran pier in Bang Rak

Yesterday saw a nice and mainly sunny day around Koh Samui. Max temp reached 29C

The PADI IE went very well on Koh Tao and my student was successful.

The forecast hasn't changed much, still rain expected come Monday and Tuesday but the strong wind has been pushed back a little bit.

Camille

PADI, diving and Instructor Development (IDC) around Thailand: First PADI IE in 2012 successfully completed on Koh Tao, Thailand [del.icio.us]

2012-01-25T22:32:22-08:00

The first PADI IE in 2012 successfully completed on tropical island destination Koh Tao in Thailand by award winning Platinum PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens

Camille's Samui Info blog: Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 26th January, 2012 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-25T16:27:59-08:00

Daily weather updates for tropical island destination Koh Samui in Thailand by long term resident Camille Lemmens

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 26th January, 2012

2012-01-26T07:10:00.002+07:00

Today's weather;

The sky over Koh Tao and Koh Samui is looking good again with plenty of blue spots and just a few cloudy spots. Current temp at 7am is 27.2C

This afternoon I will take the ferry back to Koh Samui.

Port in Mae Haad, Koh Tao

Yesterday saw a dry day around Koh Samui and Koh Tao but it was cloudy all day long. Max temp reached 29C

The forecast is predicting strong wind and slight rain showers starting from Monday onward.

Camille

Camille's Samui Info blog: Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 25th January, 2012 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-24T17:08:03-08:00

Daily weather updates for tropical island destination Koh Samui in Thailand by long term resident Camille Lemmens

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 25th January, 2012

2012-01-25T07:58:00.002+07:00

Today's weather;

Koh Samui and Koh Tao have a clouded sky this morning but it doesn't look like it will rain. Current temp at 7am is 24.5C

Tomorrow afternoon I will make my way back to Koh Samui again.

Koh Tao, view from the beach yesterday

Yesterday saw a very sunny day on both Koh Samui and Koh Tao. Max temp reached 29.7C

The forecast for the next 7 days looks good until Monday, when strong wind and rain is predicted.

Camille

PADI, diving and Instructor Development (IDC) around Thailand: PADI Member Update 2012 on Koh Tao, Thailand [del.icio.us]

2012-01-23T19:11:22-08:00

PADI Member Update 2012 on tropical dive destination Koh Tao in Thailand by award winning Platinum PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens

Camille's Samui Info blog: Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 24th January, 2012 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-23T16:15:04-08:00

Daily weather updates for tropical island destination Koh Samui in Thailand by long term resident Camille Lemmens

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 24th January, 2012

2012-01-24T07:05:00.002+07:00

Today's weather;

Blue skies all around on Koh Samui and Koh Tao, where I am right now for another two nights. Current temp at 7am is 27.1C

View on Big Buddha from the Seatran pier in Bang Rak

Yesterday was a sunny day around Koh Samui with a max temp of 29.7C

The forecast is looking good until Monday, when strong wind is supposed arrive. We'll keep an eye out on how that will develop.

Camille

Camille's Samui Info blog: Chinese New year - Kong Xi Fa Cai [del.icio.us]

2012-01-22T19:38:07-08:00

Chinese New year - Kong Xi Fa Cai with long term Thailand resident Camille Lemmens

Chinese New year - Kong Xi Fa Cai

2012-01-23T10:17:00.003+07:00

Chinese New year - Kong Xi Fa Cai

The year of the Dragon has officially started today. Kong Xi Fa Cai, that you may be lucky in the year of the Dragon.

Chinese New Year Party in Maenam

Koh Samui has many Chinese descendants and especially Maenam and Nathon celebrate the Chinese New Year and in Hua Thanon you can find many Hainan style houses.

Tonight there should be a big celebration in Maenam and Nathon celebrates 29th January.

Chinese temple in Maenam

Before I moved to Thailand, over 12 years ago, I was lucky enough to one day bump into the New years procession in the Yaoworat area of Bangkok and witness the celebrations. It was quite impressive. If you have the opportunity, don't miss out on it! If you're on Samui, try to visit Maneam today or Nathon come the 29th January. If you're in Bangkok today, move down to Yaowarat and enjoy the festivities.

Party time on Maenam beach

The lunisolar Chinese calendar determines the date of Chinese New Year. The calendar is also used in countries that have adopted or have been influenced by Han culture, notably the Koreans, Japanese and Vietnamese, and may have a common ancestry with the similar New Year festivals outside East Asia, such as Iran, and historically, the Bulgars lands.

In the Gregorian calendar, Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year, a date between January 21 and February 20. In the Chinese calendar, winter solstice must occur in the 11th month, which means that Chinese New Year usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice (rarely the third if an intercalary month intervenes). In traditional Chinese Culture, lichun is a solar term marking the start of spring, which occurs about February 4.

The names of the earthly branches have no English counterparts and are not the Chinese translations of the animals. Alongside the 12-year cycle of the animal zodiac there is a 10-year cycle of heavenly stems. Each of the ten heavenly stems is associated with one of the five elements of Chinese astrology, namely: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The elements are rotated every two years while a yin and yang association alternates every year. The elements are thus distinguished: Yang Wood, Yin Wood, Yang Fire, Yin Fire, etc. These produce a combined cycle that repeats every 60 years. For example, the year of the Yang Fire Rat occurred in 1936 and in 1996, 60 years apart.

Many confuse their Chinese birth-year with their Gregorian birth-year. As the Chinese New Year starts in late January to mid-February, the Chinese year dates from January 1 until that day in the new Gregorian year remain unchanged from the previous Gregorian year. For example, the 1989 year of the snake began on February 6, 1989. The year 1990 is considered by some people to be the year of the horse. However, the 1989 year of the snake officially ended on January 26, 1990. This means that anyone born from January 1 to January 25, 1990 was actually born in the year of the snake rather than the year of the horse. Many online Chinese Sign calculators do not account for the non-alignment of the two calendars, using Gregorian-calendar years rather than official Chinese New Year dates.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 23rd January, 2012

2012-01-23T06:57:00.004+07:00

Today's weather;

The sky over Koh Samui looks beautiful, a nice shade of bright blue and cloud in sight. Current temp is 24C at 7am.

Today is the 'main' day for the Chinese New Year celebrations; For everyone who celebrates Chinese New Year - Kong Xi Fa Cai - I wish that the year of the Dragon brings you all the best.

Later today I will go over to Koh Tao for 3 nights, tonight will see a PADI Member Forum followed the next day by the PADI IE for Frank, my student of the recent Koh Samui IDC.

A beautiful sunset yesterday at Big Buddha

Yesterday saw a sunny day with a max temp of 29.8C, another lovely Koh Samui day.

The forecast is still looking good for the next 7 days. Dry and sunny days should be ours.

Camille

Camille's Samui Info blog: Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 23rd January, 2012 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-22T16:05:31-08:00

Daily weather updates for tropical island destination Koh Samui in Thailand by long term resident Camille Lemmens

PADI, diving and Instructor Development (IDC) around Thailand: EFR Instructor and Emergency Oxygen Instructor course on Koh Samui [del.icio.us]

2012-01-22T01:30:01-08:00

EFR Instructor and Emergency Oxygen Instructor course on tropical island destination Koh Samui in Thailand with award winning Platinum PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 22nd January, 2012

2012-01-22T06:55:00.003+07:00

Today's weather;

A near blue sky reigns over Koh Samui this morning. Current temp at 7am is 25.2C

This morning there are plenty of fireworks going off to celebrate the Chinese New Year, highlighting tomorrow with the main day of celebrations.

A view over the ocean at Choengmon beach yesterday, where my Mum stays at the Choengmon Beach Hotel

Yesterday saw some hard rain early in the morning but by 10am it was nice and sunny and remained like that for the rest of the day. Max temp reached 28.8C

My first PADI IDC of the year was also completed yesterday, here on home turf on Koh Samui.

The forecast for the next 7 days looks great with plenty of sunshine and hardly any wind at all being predicted.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 21st January, 2012

2012-01-21T06:57:00.002+07:00

Today's weather;

Koh Samui's sky is cloud covered and it rained already twice this morning, Right now it's pouring down. This morning should see some more rain and the afternoon should be dry again. Current temp at 7am is 24.7C

Today's sky over Koh Samui, cloudy with a single blue spot, reddish from the sun rise, just in-between two showers

Yesterday saw some rain during the morning but the afternoon was dry and partly sunny. Max temp reached 28.5C

The forecast looks good for the next 7 days, plenty of sunshine is predicted.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 20th January, 2012

2012-01-20T06:55:00.003+07:00

Today's weather;

The sky over Koh Samui is clouded this morning and rain is predicted during the morning hours. Current temp at 7am is 27.4C

Phra apay mani at Big Buddha, part of the set of sculptures that tell a famous Thai story

Yesterday saw a sunny day around Koh Samui with a max temp of 30.2C

The forecast is still looking good for the next 7 days. It should be sunny! Enjoy.

Camille

Food on Wheels; More eye tim or ice cream

2012-01-19T09:35:00.002+07:00

Food on Wheels; More eye tim or ice cream

A few posts in this Food on Wheels series have already been dedicated on what the Thai people call 'eye tim' and us Westerners rather know as ice cream. Going through my photo files, I found a few more 'eye tim' related pictures and thought that they might make a good entry for this month.

The upgrade; the ice cream rather than the usual motorbike

During our son's recent 'Children's day' at his school, rather than the typical ice cream motorbike, as pictures are shown below, this ice cream car showed up at the school premises. A serious upgrade! Also a clear sign that there must be the opportunity to make some 'serious' money with selling ice cream, at least serious enough to be able to afford a car.

The ice cream menu

What remains a mystery to me, is the Thai fondness of ice cream in a bun! The menu is listed at the side of the car and you can't overlook the bun! What I also find worthwhile pointing out, is the way the ice cream vendor has a tiny little chair set up where she can sit all the time when she sells her goodies. I can't start to imagine how cramped I would feel after just a few minuted of sitting there!

A more traditional motorbike ice cream vendor

The picture above shows the more traditional motorbike ice cream vendor. Interesting to note are the soda bottles at the front of the bike, a nice little side income potential for the vendor.

More motorbike vendors

This vendor was spotted at the waterfall near Hua Thanon, surrounded by people wanting a scoop.

Ingredients

Above are some common ingredients to add to your ice cream. First of all, bottom right, the buns! Next to it is sticky rice, that is either added to your ice cream bun or to your ice cream in general! On the bottom left is fruit. The yellow stuff on top is soy bean. This all adds to the overall 'eye tim' experience.

If you see an ice cream vendor around Samui roads, stop them and get a portion, it's cheap, refreshing and worthwhile exploring and finding out about!

camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 19th January, 2012

2012-01-19T07:05:00.002+07:00

Today's weather;

The sky over Koh Samui is nice and blue again, looks like we're about to get ready for another sunny day. Current temp at 7am is 27.4C

Sun rising at Wat Plai Laem

Yesterday saw a nice and sunny day all around Koh Samui with plenty of sunshine and some warmer temperatures. Max temp reached 29.8C

The forecast is still looking good for the next 7 days with sunshine predicted on every single day and only a rare chance of a short shower.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 18th January, 2012

2012-01-18T07:03:00.004+07:00

Today's weather;

A near blue sky rules over Koh Samui this morning. Current temp at 7am is 25C.

Today my mother will arrive on Koh Samui for a 3 month stay.

The old bot at Wat Plai Laem basking in the morning sun

Yesterday saw a sunny day around Koh Samui. The water in the pool during the current PADI IDC started very slowly to warm up a little bit! Max temp reached yesterday 30C

The forecast is looking great for the next 7 days. Tomorrow afternoon and Friday look like there will be slightly more ind but the rest of the week is predicted as being sunny!

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 17th January, 2012

2012-01-17T06:56:00.003+07:00

Today's weather;

This morning Koh Samui can show off a very nice blue sky with hardly any clouds in it. Current temp at 7am is 23.8C

Blue skies yesterday afternoon at the Kandaburi hotel in Chaweng

Yesterday saw an almost dry day (there was a mini shower around noon) around Koh Samui and we could enjoy some sunshine as well. Max temp reached 28.3C

The forecast hasn't changed much, Thursday and Friday will see some stronger wind and a bit of rain but for the rest the next 7 days should be sunny and nice.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 16th January, 2012

2012-01-16T06:55:00.003+07:00

Today's weather;

It looks like Koh Samui is going to enjoy a nice day today. The sky is still cloudy but there are some blue patches and there's no rain predicted. Current temp at 7am is 24C

View over a and part of the lake lake from Khao Hua Jook

Yesterday saw a wet day all around Koh Samui, pretty much all day long. It wasn't until the late afternoon that it started to dry up a little bit. Max temp reached 25.5C

The forecast is looking good, besides Friday which shows some rain, it should be windless and sunny.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 15th January, 2012

2012-01-15T06:57:00.004+07:00

Today's weather;

The Koh Samui sky is dark and grey this morning with plenty of rain to come and make this Sunday a very wet one. Current temp at 7am is 24C

Chaweng beach road yesterday

Yesterday saw a nice and sunny morning around Koh Samui but this was soon changed into a grey sky and rain in various variations, from hard to drizzle and some dry periods, all day long. Some 60mm of rain came down. Max temp reached only 26.6C

The PADI IDC on Koh Samui, the first one this year, kicked off yesterday as well.

The forecast is looking really good, after today's rain, two or three cloudy but rather dry days are predicted and than it should all clear up and become sunny. The wind has also almost disappeared.

The TMD or Thai meteorological department however, has issued a "Heavy Rain and Strong Wind-Wave in Southern Thailand" warning. The 15th warning in this year already.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 14th January, 2012

2012-01-14T07:01:00.003+07:00

Today's weather;

The sky over Koh Samui is opening up and it looks nice with plenty of blue spots this early in the morning. Current temp at 7am is 25.8C

Today is also the official children's day in Thailand and I will start the first PADI IDC of this year here on the island.

View over the airport's landing strip from Khao Hua Jook

Yesterday saw mostly a clouded day but dry around Koh Samui, although last night I woke up once and it was raining pretty hard. Max temp reached 30C

The forecast is looking very good, some rain is predicted this Sunday and for the rest mainly sunshine and no wind are predicted. Enjoy.

This is rather strange since weather conditions in the lower Gulf of Thailand will get rough over the next few days, the National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) warned yesterday.

Camille

Children's day in Thailand

2012-01-13T13:21:00.002+07:00

Children's day in Thailand

Although officially children's day is not until tomorrow in Thailand, pretty much all schools around the country celebrated the event today.

It's a fairly big deal around the country and various events are being organized like the Sattahip Sea tour on HTMS Chakri Naruebet for more than 1,000 children and families today.

The official slogan for this years Children day

Each child is supposed to bring a gift to school and the gifts are being mixed up all together and now each child will receive a gift from 'the pool' of gifts. Our daughter got candies, which unfortunately was the majority of gifts around at her school. Interesting in this regards to read about a warning against snack binge consumption.

Thai Airways even has a special child's menu available for 3 days.

The show is about to start at our son's school

It was a very busy day at our son's pre-school, with lots of parents watching their children perform in a dance with their classmates.

Monday the children are off since that will be Teacher day. How convenient!

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 13th January, 2012

2012-01-13T07:04:00.003+07:00

Today's weather;

It's Friday 13th today and Koh Samui's sky is fairly clouded with plenty of blue spots. Current temp at 7am is 26.3C

Khao Hua Jook pagoda in Chaweng, of which I reported yesterday

Yesterday saw a nice morning but a clouded afternoon with some drizzle rain and an occasional very short but harder rain on Koh Samui. Max temp reached 29.7C

The forecast is looking ok. Sunday is predicted with a lot of rain and from Wednesday onward it should be dry and without wind, which should make all boat operators on the island.

Camille

Khao Hua Jook Pagoda, Chaweng

2012-01-12T15:40:00.003+07:00

Khao Hua Jook Pagoda, Chaweng

Back in February 2008 I started to blog for the first about the Khao Hua Jook Pagoda in Chaweng, although back in these days I didn't know that it had this name!

Almost at the end of the stairs

The last time I posted about the pagoda or Chedi in Thai was when the opening ceremony was conducted in April 2009. In-between the first and the last post I almost had a bi monthly update on the progress of the construction of the pagoda, which delivered a few nice pictures. If you start at the April 2009 post, there's a link in each post to the previous post, a kind of a trail to follow!

A new sign at the bottom of the stairs

Since the opening ceremony I haven't been back and today I was running some errands in the car, with my daughter who was enjoying a day off from school, when we drove by and I decided to have another look.

Buddha's (Indian) foot print

It rather surprised how busy and nice it looked now. It was all barren and very much looking like a construction site the first times I visited but now it turned into a busy tourist attraction, it seems.

A small shrine next to the pagoda

There were plenty of people checking the place out, Korean, Thai, Westerners, backpackers, from all walks of life it seemed. It was a bit strange though to see it now in full glory and function, after having it seen put together bit by bit in a slow moving progress and process.

The foot print was just a slab of concrete, the upstairs room is now showing off a glass casket with a Buddha image inside (unfortunately the glass reflected badly on my picture) and all around the surroundings were nicely maintained.

The stairs up and down to the pagoda

Even the stairs look nice now, with all the little seats, donated by the various Samui local people and businesses. As you can see, the views are still spectacular and it's well worth a visit.

The entrance is still opposite the Lake view party area, not too difficult to find, near the round about at the lake road, head north to the traffic lights. it will be on your right side hand.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 12th January, 2012

2012-01-12T07:07:00.003+07:00

Today's weather;

Koh Samui's sky is grey this morning, plenty of clouds and no blue spots. Current temp at 7am is 24.1C

Road between Chaweng and Choengmon, the crossing to the airport, almost 8 years ago

Yesterday saw a merely clouded skies around Koh Samui all day long. There were some bursts of sunshine but not many and not for too long but it remained dry all day. Max temp reached 30.2C

The forecast is predicting rain every day until next Tuesday.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 11th January, 2012

2012-01-11T06:52:00.002+07:00

Today's weather;

Koh Samui's sky has some blue patches but also plenty of clouds this monring. Current temp at 7am is 26.5C

Statues at Big Buddha, in front a 'Maa nien mangkon' (mix between horse, fish and dragon) and in the background a mermaid or nang nguak

Yesterday was another dry day around Samui. Not that sunny but a nice day. Max temp reached 29.8C

The forecast changed drastically overnight. Yesterday saw a massive storm predicted for Sunday and Monday but that storm has evaporated overnight. There should be some rain the coming days but nothing too serious.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 10th January, 2012

2012-01-10T06:53:00.004+07:00

Today's weather;

The weather on Koh Samui for today doesn't look as good as the last couple of days. The sky is clouded but it's still dry. Current temp at 7am is 26C

The street in front of our house with a clouded sky in the background

Yesterday saw sunshine early during the day around Koh Samui but before noon the sky was clouded. No rain though. Max temp reached 29.8C

The forecast is not looking at all for the longer term. The immediate start of rain has been pushed back to Thursday but Windguru shows wind speeds of up to 45 knots and wind gusts of well over 50 knots per hour come Sunday and Monday. Especially for Monday massive amounts of rain are predicted, well over 150mm for the day.

Camille

Chinese building in Chaweng

2012-01-09T13:47:00.002+07:00

Chinese building in Chaweng

This building is located near the end of the runway of Samui airport, near Chaweng, on a corner on the small but busy road that connects Chaweng now to the departure area of the airport.

I have been reporting about plenty of Chinese temples, one in Chaweng at the Laemdin market area, one in Maenam, one in Hua Thanon and one in Surat Thani city.

The front of the building

Initially I wrongly thought that this is a Chinese Temple, but my wife had to correct me and she explained to me that this is a building merely to 'look good or beautiful' in which merely is a Chinese graveyard.

A structure on the premises, as also shown on my daily weather update today

It's a privately build project which in my understanding belongs to one single Chinese/Thai family. It took about a year to build the whole structure. Before there were only the three graves as shown below.

The three current graves at the 'estate'

A frontal picture of one of the graves, this can be found all around the country in similar styles

A view of the roof ornaments

Chinese temples and religious building always have a very colorful look, very distinct and also very different to the Thai style temples. An interesting building in my opinion and well worth a quick visit if you're in that part of town. By the way, the building is not open to public.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 9th January, 2012

2012-01-09T07:00:00.002+07:00

Today's weather;

The sky over Koh Samui is blue with plenty of fluffy white clouds in it. Current temp at 7am is 26.3C

Small structure at a Chinese building near the Chaweng end of the airport landing strip

Yesterday saw a nice and sunny day all around Koh Samui. Max temp reached 30.5C

The forecast didn't change but is not looking good, as of Wednesday plenty of rain is supposed ours to share and the wind will pick up again.

For all your hotel bookings, don't forget to visit my Koh Samui hotel recommendations blog and my Thailand hotel recommendations blog both with plenty of first hand knowledge and experience.

Camille