Welcome to the original Koh Samui info and weather blog with lots of information on things to do and see around tropical island destination Koh Samui in Thailand including daily weather updates, brought to you by long term resident Camille Lemmens since February 2007.
Monday, 31 August 2009
31st August, 2009
Today is already the last day of August 2009 so let's enjoy it. On Samui we start with overcast and a few blue patches. Current temp at 7 am is 27C.
Yesterday saw plenty of sunshine but there was also overcast all day long however without rain. Max temp reached 31.8C.
Camille
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Goodbye to August 2009
This month went by like a flash and there were some great ups for me but also a down part towards the end.
Weather wise it didn't start out that great, with some hard winds, heavy storms and a lot of rain at times and speedboat traffic had to be cancelled for a few days. This was all in the first week of August.
It was also family and friends visiting time this month. The day or rather the moment my friend and his family arrived at Nathon pier, the airplance crash that put Samui in the spotlight for a few days happened pretty much simultaneously.
Shortly after my friend arrived, my sister and her family arrived and it was a busy but a good time and the good times rolled indeed. I taught a PADI Open Water diver course to my friend and also had some Discover Scuba Diving experiences with the children of the respective families.
We also had some good fun going on a tour around the island one day with all 3 families and we had some good food during their stay as well.
During their stay we had fantastic weather with plenty of sunshine and the beach was a favorite spot for all of them most of the time.
All good times tend to end however and after both my friend and my sister and their respective families had left, it was back to work again and I started an IDC again.
Pretty simultaneously by when starting the IDC my son was admitted to a hospital with a suspect for Dengue fever and my wife was admitted as well during the same period. All are back home again though and my wife has blood being checked for Thyroid, result this coming Friday.
In the meantime, the weather has not maintained it's sunny side and last week saw the occasional shower again, hard(er) wind and a lot of overcast.
Hopefully things clear up again in September. Thanks for checking in, if you like my blog, sign up for the RSS feed and I hope to keep seeing you back here.
Camille
30th August, 2009
A heavy overcast layer is over Samui with an occasional patch of blue in the distance. Current temp at 7am is 26.4C.
Yesterday was a lovely day with plenty of sunshine and an isolated quick shower in the early evening. Max temp reached 33.3C.
Camille
Saturday, 29 August 2009
29th August, 2009
It's looking a lot more likely that a sunny day is shaping up. There's just a thin cloud layer and plenty of blue visible already. Current temp at 7 am is 25.7C.
Yesterday saw a lot of sunshine already and it was dry all day long at the parts of the island where I was. Max temp reached 32C.
Camille
Friday, 28 August 2009
My son is back home again after his hospital visit
In contrast to what I wrote in my earlier review over Bandon International Hospital, my son ended up here and the treatment received by him was good.
The Doctors spoke good English and were helpful and it seems that the hospital has cleaned up it's act a little bit compared to what I saw and knew about it over the last few years.
In a nutshell, my son got hospitalized for suspicion on having contracted Dengue fever, after 2 days and a night of high fever, with a temperature drop on the third day, we visited the hospital gain and he was admitted. The next day in the hospital his blood tests were inconsistent with Dengue fever but the doctor still thought that he had contracted an animal (insect) bite that caused the fever and other symptoms.
The incubation time fits with the day's outing around the island when he participated in an elephant tracking ride, although it could be somewhere else altogether where he contracted the virus.
Although he's back home again which is very good and makes us all happy again, he still needs to take antibiotics and children paracetamol for a couple of more days.
Looking forward seeing him mess up the house again!
Camille
28th August, 2009
There's overcast this morning and currently it looks like there's no blue sky break around. Current temp at 7 am is between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius.
Yesterday started out nice with blue skies and sunshine but soon this was overtaken around noon by overcast. Max temp reached 31.3C.
Camille
Thursday, 27 August 2009
27th August, 2009
A lot of blue sky is to be seen this morning with still a very strong wind blowing. Current temp is in the high twenties Celsius.
Yesterday saw overcast all day long with a trace of rain. Max temp reached the 30.6C.
Camille
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
26th August, 2009
Samui sky shows overcast this morning but not too heavy at the moment, however, the wind has picked up seriously again this morning. Current temp at 7 am is in the higher twenties Celsius.
Today I'm starting another IDC and yesterday my son was admitted into hospital with Dengue fever, which is not very pleasant for a 4 year old. My daily updates may be infrequent since I'm running around between our house, the hospital and the IDC course.
Yesterday saw the wind almost being dropped completely and a rather sunny and dry day. Max temp reached around 31C.
Camille
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Prize or fight buffalo?
Driving around the island today, I encountered for the first time a buffalo dressed up this way. I'm not quite sure where it was going or what it was doing, but it almost looked he was on his way to a buffalo fight! Something rather popular in the South of Thailand and especially on Samui. It could also be that he was on his way to be blessed by the monks, I couldn't figure it out.
The name of the buffalo, as written on his blanket, is Dam Hanuman Noi, a rather important feat to know, according to my wife.
Camille
25th August, 2009
Plenty of overcast this morning but the strong wind that prevailed yesterday seems to have finished, for the time being at last. Current temp at 7 am is 26.2C.
Yesterday and today all speedboats have been cancelled due to very strong wind. The TMD or Thai Meteorological Department has some 'heavy rainfalls and strong wind waves' warning up, including for Surat Thani province, of which province Koh Samui is part of. There are similar weather patterns right now over pretty much all of South East Asia.
Yesterday saw overcast and some rain until noon, after that it cleared up nicely and the sun came out. There were some heavy wind bursts during the afternoon though. Max temp reached 30.8C.
Camille
Monday, 24 August 2009
24th August, 2009
There's overcast this morning and a rather drastic and unexpected weather change has occurred which may last for the remainder of the month. Current temp at 7 am is 25.8C
Yesterday started out nice but around noon dark clouds started to emerge and there was some very local rain. During the late afternoon there was more widespread rain on and off but during the evening there was a steady downpour for a couple of hours. It wasn't very hard rain but it was steady.
The current forecast at Windguru predicts some rain here and there but also sunshine with Saturday being a very wet day after which it seems to be clearing up again. The wind will start picking up a bit as well over the next week.
Camille
Sunday, 23 August 2009
23rd August, 2009
Another blue sky is shaping up nicely and it is definitely getting hotter with a current temp at 7 am of 27.8C.
Didn't have a good nights sleep due to our 4 year old son having around 39C fever all night long. We're off to see a doctor soon.
Yesterday saw a lovely blue sky all day long and it was hot! Max temp reached 34.5C.
Camille
Saturday, 22 August 2009
22nd August, 2009
It's warming up again and today's blue sky, laced with some clouds has a current $temp of 27.6C.
Yesterday saw a very nice and warm day, it was very agreeable though because a nice breeze was blowing most of the day. max temp reached 33.9C.
Camille
Friday, 21 August 2009
Kabuto Teppanyaki, Japanese restaurant in Bophud
Who thought that after the culinary tour around Samui, as described yesterday, that I would be back on a diet, well think twice! I did start running again yesterday but to my own surprise I found myself and my family being invited to something completely different by a good friend who unexpectedly showed up at our doorstep. That something completely different is the Kabuto Teppanyaki restaurant on the ring road near the traffic lights in Bophud.
If you're not familiar with the Teppanyaki concept, it's a great Japanese culinary adventure which includes a show in which the food that you ordered is prepared at your table. The table has an iron griddle that is used for cooking the food and the chefs make a show out of using the knifes and food by throwing them around and in the air, all over the place. Great fun and interesting to watch.
21st August, 2009
More blue skies are shaping up with a current temp of 26.6C at 7am.
Yesterday saw a day with a blue sky all day long and it was one of those hot days again with a max temp of 32.7C.
Camille
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Culinary tour around Koh Samui
It was indeed a culinary tour around the island with my friend Marc and his family and my sister and her family visiting during the last two weeks. We visited plenty of restaurants around the island and they rank among my fave places on Samui.
My sister and my friend both spend a lot of time on the beach and the only non beach activity besides eating was our trip around the island and diving when I taught a PADI Open Water diver course to my friend and his wife and had a Discover Scuba Diving experience with my friends and my sisters children!
Let's have a look at them restaurants that we visited though in no particular order;
The Japanese chain Fuji was visited twice, once with my friend and my sister and one time with my sisters and my family. Decent Japanese food for a very reasonable price. An update on this place will follow sometime soon in the near future.
The best sate on the island was enjoyed by my sister and my families at Dcheed 2, the kids loved it and 125 sate sticks were killed off in no time! Besides the sate, they also have a very enjoyable Raad Na dish.
The waterfall at Baan Namuang with it's Isaan style place was visited as well and to my surprise, they all loved the Laab and chicken dishes we ordered both Marc and my sisters family.
Il Mulino, Chaweng's ultimate Italian bakery was visited was Marc and his family for a good selection of breads and small pieces of pizza.
20th August, 2009
Today some serious blue sky is building up, in contrast to the last two days, when big white clouds were looming overhead, causing rainy mornings. Current temp is 26.2C at 7 am.
This morning my sister left Koh Samui, it's sad to see her and her family go but a good time was had by both our families.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Baan Boran, Heritage Thai cuisine and Thai puppet show, Chaweng
Since March 19th, 2009 a new venue opened it's doors in Chaweng, the Baan Boran located close to Chaweng lake.
Yesterday evening was the first time I visited and it was a very nice experience, done in style and interesting to boost!
It's a concept where you dine in a very nice, air conditioned spacious room that can seat up to 150 people and during your meal some puppet shows will be performed.
The whole place is done in a very nice and professional way, starting with a nice parking area in front, which in Thailand is not necessarily a give fact and nice, Ayudhaya style building.
Kratong-Tong; A healthy menu Grade A “Mieng” tuna tartare, limestone tartlets, peanut, ginger and lime and Moo Nam Tok; Northern Thai pork salad with long beans and roasted sticky rice.
19th August, 2009
A nice blue sky is about on my sisters last day of her holiday and visit to Koh Samui this year. Current temp is 25.6C.
Yesterday was a strange day, the moment I hit the 'publish' button for yesterdays weather update, it started to drizzle and shortly afterwards it started to hose down for about 15 minutes, which was nice and cooled things down a bit. The remainder of the morning, which we spend at Chaweng beach, it drizzled on and off a bit but during the afternoon it was dry and blue (-ish) skies again. Max temp reached 30.5C.
Camille
Monday, 17 August 2009
18th August, 2009
The blue skies keep building up each morning including today. There are some big cumulus clouds over the ocean but it looks like a nice warm and sunny day again with a current temp at 7 am of 26.2C.
Yesterday saw plenty of sunshine with a max temp of 31.7C. It seems like the hot days are gone which is nice! There's still plenty of sunshine and the days are very agreeable.
Camille
17th August, 2009
Another blue sky is shaping up with a current temp at 7 am of 25.6C.
Yesterday was hot but not too hot due to a little bit of wind blowing gently over Chaweng beach. Although there were some dark clouds hanging over Samui mountains at some parts of the day, there was no rain in Chaweng. Max temp reached 32C.
Camille
Sunday, 16 August 2009
16th August, 2009
Plenty of blue sky bit also some massive big white clouds out there this morning with a current temp of 26.1C at 7 am.
Yesterday saw a very blue sky all day long and we puffed and huffed from the heat all day long but strangely enough the max temp doesn't read more than 30.9C.
We also completed Discover Scuba Dives dives at Chaweng beach with my sisters children yesterday which was great fun for all involved.
Camille
Saturday, 15 August 2009
15th August, 2009
It's blue and it's going to be hot again today! Current temp at 7 am is 26.8C
Yesterday was hot and sunny at the beaches but inland dark clouds gathered all day long but I didn't see or witness any rain at all. Max temp reached 32.2C
Camille
Friday, 14 August 2009
The Chef restaurant, Chaweng Noi
Chaweng Noi is the Southern part of Chaweng, near Samui First Bungalow, where my friend Marc and his family were staying during their recent trip to Samui.
During the last day of their stay, when we had a great day and trip going around the island we ended up having dinner around the corner of their resort, First Bungalow. It was convenient and they had to get up early in the morning to catch the first flight out of Samui to Bangkok, the 6 am flight, which meant that I picked that up around 4 am!
14th August, 2009
Another blue sky is shaping up again over Samui with a current temp of 27.8C. It's going to be another steaming hot day.
My sister and her family and my family also visited a wedding at Chaweng lake yesterday and we enjoyed this lovely sunset along with some great local food!
Camille
Thursday, 13 August 2009
A trip around the island Koh Samui
With a party of 13, being my sister's, my friend's and my own family, it's been really busy and after having dived with my friend Marc and his wife Myriam, I taught them the PADI Open Water diver course, it was time for the whole group to go on a trip around the island, which we did on Wednesday. Marc and his family has left today but here are some highlights what we all did, saw and visited.
The view however is stunning and every car and motorbike is still honking away.
On the way over to Lamai we first visited Hin Ta and Hin Yai.
13th August, 2009
Another blue sky is shaping up and we're getting ready for a hot day. Current temp at 7 am is 27.5C.
This morning my friend and his family left Samui for his flight back to the Netherlands, leaving my sister and her family still on Samui.
Yesterday was a lovely day with lots of sunshine and a blue sky all day long. Max temp reached 34.2C.
All 13 of us, my friend's and my sisters family and my family as well took a trip around the island with our and a rented car which was a lot of fun and I may report about it later today.
Camille
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
12th August, 2009
A blue sky is shaping up and everybody who's on Koh Samui today better get ready for a hot day with plenty of sunshine. Current temp at 7 am is 27.1C
Today is HM Queen of Thailand's birthday, she becomes 77 today and in honor of her it's also Mother's day today in Thailand. Pictures like the one above are shown all over the country by public places, hotels etc.
Yesterday was a lovely sunny day with a beautiful blue sky all day long. Max temp reached 34.9C.
The PADI Open Water diver course that I was conducting with my friend was completed yesterday with great dives and splendid visibility at Sail Rock yesterday.
Camille
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
11th August, 2009
A bit early today, since I'll be on the boat, teaching a PADI Open Water diver course to my friend who's visiting, which I also posted about yesterday on my dive blog.
A perfect blue sky is shaping up and the forecasts for the next week are grand, blue, steaming hot skies! Current temp at 7 am is around 27C.
Yesterday I was around Koh Tao and on the way over and back we experienced a bit of rain but the rest of the day was nice and sunny. Max temp was in the lower thirties Celsius.
Monday, 10 August 2009
10th August, 2009
There's a light overcast but it looks like the sun will break through later. Current temp at 7 am is 27.1C.
Yesterday it was nice and sunny all day long with a max temp in the lower Celsius thirties.
Camille
Sunday, 9 August 2009
9th August, 2009
A very thin cloud layer is hanging over Samui right now, which looks like it's going to be evaporated soon by the sun. Current temp at 7 am is 27.3C. There still will be strong winds today.
Yesterday started out cloudy but it cleared up around noon and the sun broke out and temperatures soared immediately. Around 2 pm some clouds appeared on and off and traces of rain came down at various intervals but nothing serious. Max temp reached 32,2C.
Camille
Saturday, 8 August 2009
8th August, 2009
It's cloudy this morning and I'm not sure of the sun will break through a lot during this weekend. Current temp at 7 am is 27.3C.
Yesterday saw a beautiful sunny morning, albeit with heavy winds but around 3pm it started to rain very hard, for a short while, almost similar as to when the airplane crashed at Samui airport, just a few days ago. Max temp reached 31.5C
Yesterday I started teaching a PADI Oper Water diver course with my friend and his wife and in the evening my sister arrived. Busy days on Koh Samui!
Camille
Friday, 7 August 2009
7th August, 2009
It's cloudy this morning and the wind is back again. Current temp at 7 am is 27C.
Today my sister is arriving on Samui, which makes it rather busy, with my friend and his wife starting a PADI Open Water diver course which I'm going to teach.
Yesterday was another beautiful day again with sunshine all day long. Max temp reached 33.9C.
It's wedding season again and we invited my friends family along to a wedding at Chaweng lake. There's a few more invitations waiting for us during the next week, the monks must've deemed this a good week!
Camille
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Namuang Waterfall Isaan style food, Baan Namuang
In my earlier post about one of our visits to Baan Namuang Waterfall, I already mentioned that there some good restaurant there with good and delicious Isaan style food. Today I'm actually going to talk about the place that in my opinion the best choice there.
6th August, 2009
A near perfect blue sky is ruling over Samui this lovely morning! Current temp at 7 am is 27C.
Yesterday saw also a day with sunshine all day long, no clouds and no rain and no wind squalls! Max temp reached 33.2C. The airport opened again yesterday afternoon.
I enjoyed a lovely day with my friend and his family at the beach in front of their hotel , at Big Buddha and with a real nice dinner at Sabeinglae restaurant in Lamai where they had a massive Phuket lobster amongst others!
Tomorrow my sister and her family arrives on Samui so it will be a busy period coming up for the next week or so.
Camille
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
5th August, 2009
There's some overcast and some wind but it looks like the cloud formation might crack and we get sunshine. Today should be the last day of strong winds. Current temp at 7 am is 27.3C.
Yesterday saw a lovely blue sky with plenty of sunshine until 2 pm when it all turned nasty weather wise, which resulted in the horrible accident at Samui airport of which I reported and I also posted an update with more pictures (not my own pictures this time around though). This unfortunate accident made the world news.
Max temp yesterday reached 32.5C.
Camille
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Update on the Samui airport crash
As a follow up to my earlier report, a couple of hours ago, here's an update. The sad news is that the pilot of the flight has indeed been killed and that there are now only 9 passengers injured out of which 7 severely. Here's a list of the injured.
Passengers stranded at Samui airport are to be transported by ferry to Surat Thani airport and the airport remains closed until further notice.
In contrast to earlier reports, only the pilot has been killed, at this very moment and hopefully it remains like that. RIP to the pilot and his family.
The following pictures have not been taken by me but show the structural damage to the aircraft.
The nose of the plane disappeared into the unused control tower.
The nose of the plane took the full brunt of the hit, that's most likely why the pilot was killed and the co pilot injured. The passengers may have been saved and helped by the fact that the luggage compartment is directly behind the cockpit and most likely the luggage compartment absorbed a lot of the impact.
Here one can clearly see how the cockpit got almost compressed into the old control tower.Amazingly no fire broke out, which must have saved various lives.
Camille
Plane crash at Samui airport
Bangkok Airways Flight PG 266 from Krabi to Koh Samui skidded off the runway during bad weather with strong winds, around 2.30 pm injuring many and killing the pilot of the flight, when the plane crashed into an old control tower now being used as a parking space for fire engines.
The plane was carrying 68 passengers (only tourists, no Thai people) and 4 crew, currently reports talk about 34 injured passengers and 7 critical and blood group B is needed by the hospitals on Samui, mainly Bangkok - Samui hospital. Supposedly the co pilot is still stuck in the aircraft.
Thai TV Channel 3 is live on air with reports from Samui and for the first time a possible 10 killed passengers and 20 injured are mentioned. Right now, details are still fairly sketchy.
A press conference is about to start.
Samui airport has suspended all traffic until further notice.
On November 21, 1990, a Bangkok Airways de Havilland Canada DHC-8-103 crashed on Koh Samui while attempting to land in heavy rain and high winds. All 38 people on board perished.
