Goodbye to May 2009

Goodbye to May 2009

It's been a mixed bag this month, with plenty of rain in the beginning of the month and other days with plenty of rain throughout the month, however, once the sun was out, it was very warm indeed and we had plenty of these days too!

Highlight for me this month was receiving an award for my achievements in my work as a PADI Course Director out of the hands of Drew Richardson, the President and Chief Operations Officer for PADI Worldwide.

Besides this personal memorable moment, it was a rather quiet month but I still had some great food in my usual haunts all over the island, like Il Molino bakery in Chaweng for some great Italian lunch, Clock Lana for some excellent Isaan style food around the corner of our house in Plai Laem, Dcheed 2 for fantastic Sateh Moo and Raad Na, the Khao Man Gai place in Lamai or the Japanese restaurant Yamato in Chaweng. Most of these places I visit almost every month so don't miss out on them. One I need to mention although I didn't visit there this month is Sabeinglae in Lamai, one of the few restaurants where original Samui style food can be had.

Besides this culinary stop, let's look forward to June next month and some good, nice and sunny days.

Camille

31st May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy with blue openings in between the clouds. Current temp at 7 am is 27C.

Yesterday saw plenty of sunshine and it was fairly hot with a max temp of 32.5C.

Camille

30th May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's mainly cloudy but with some blue spots in the sky. not bad. Current temp at 7 am is 27C.

Yesterday started out with rather threatening clouds but they evaporated quickly and the sun appeared for the rest of the day. there was a strong wind blowing though. Max temp reached 32.5C.

Camille

29th May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's very cloudy and dark clouds are dominating the sky over this part of Samui. Current temp at 7 am is 27.1C.

Yesterday was a very nice and sunny day for a change. Max temp reached 31.8C.

Camille

28th May, 2009

Today's weather;

There are blue patches in the sky again but there's still a fair bit of overcast. Current temp at 7 am is 26.5C.

Yesterday saw a nice and dry morning but the rain kicked in shortly after noon and it rained pretty much all afternoon, to dry up again during the evening. Max temp reached 31.6 C.

Camille

A fishing boat on Bang Rak beach

A fishing boat on Bang Rak beach.

There are many of them, especially near the Seatran pier in Bang Rak. However, today I saw one that had very nice wood carving and what looked from a distance like some fine painting. When I had a look closer up, it proofed to be some nice wood carving indeed and the painting on the boat was outstanding in my humble opinion.

So, just for your pleasure, here are some pictures;

The inside of the boat where the wood carving was located. Nice carving and some good painting of birds and dragons.

The bow of the boat.

The starboard side of the bow (or the right side) with some great detailed painting which usually is below water level, I assume.

More intricate dragon painting.

The port side (or the left side) of the bow.

Hope you like the pictures, I most certainly do, since I don't get to see that many lovely painted fisherman boats.

Camille

27th May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's very cloudy this morning with a current temp of 26.3C at 7 am.

Yesterday saw a little bit if sunshine during the very early morning but than it rained and/or drizzled pretty much all day until late in the afternoon.
Max temp reached 31.4C.

Camille

26th May, 2009

Today's weather;

There's overcast with a current temp of 26.5C.

Yesterday saw another hot and sometimes sunny day. During the daytime there were on a few occasions some very dark clouds but it didn't rain until around 8 pm. This rain only lasted a short while. Max temp reached 32.3C.

Camille

25th May, 2009

Today's weather;

A thin overcast layer is ruling the sky this morning with a current temp of 28.3C at 7 am.

Yesterday saw overcast in the morning and sunshine after noon and it got really hot! Max temp reached 31.8C.

Camille

The 8th Samui Regatta is coming to town again, soon

The 8th Samui Regatta is coming to town again

Between 1st and 6th June, it's 5 days racing and 7 nights partying again with the Samui Regatta!

Officially it's called the 8th Samui International Yacht Regatta, now known as the Sawadee.com Regatta Samui 2009. Sawadee.com or R24, one of Thailand's leading inbound travel companies, is sponsoring the Regatta for the next three years.
Headquarters will be as always at the Centara Grand Beach Resort.

The regatta features five classes; IRC-1, IRC-2, Cruising, Sports boats and Multihulls, with possibly more to be added with crews being expected from Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and further afield.

There are various options and ways to follow the races from other boats, so if you're up for it, it will be a great time to visit Samui and have some fun and a good time.

Each year, since it's start, the Regatta on Samui has been growing and has been beneficial to the tourist industry on Samui.

Keep an eye out on these pages for more updates on the Regatta.

Camille

24th May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy but some blue patches are visible. Current temp at 7 am is 26.8C.

Yesterday saw some heavy overcast in the morning but shortly after noon the sun came out and it turned into a warm and sunny afternoon. Max temp reached 31,4C.

Camille

World Blog Surfing Day - for expat bloggers

World Blog Surfing Day

An event created by Sher, an expat living in the Czech Republic, you can find her blog here.

Photo credit; Nasa public domain

This event has been held a few times already and the idea is to connect expat bloggers, by writing on the same day about the same topic and linking to the next blog participating in this project. The topic this time is 'food' which should be easy to write something about, living here on Samui and the date is Saturday 13th June 2009.

Signing up is really easy and full instructions can be found here.

Camille

23rd May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's partly cloudy this morning with a current temp of 27.6C.

Yesterday was hot and sunny, 33.7C was the max temp.

This bull was walking around on his own yesterday, crossing the street and grazing and looking for food in front of our children's school in Chaweng.
On various occasions I've seen young bulls and cows wander around here, without any supervision or control. Rather amazing and a typical TIT (This is Thailand) moment. It's almost a miracle that no serious accidents have happened here, yet!

Camille

22nd May, 2009

Today's weather;

An almost perfect blue sky reigns over Samui, this lovely morning. Current temp at 7 am is 26.3C.

Yesterday was nice and sunny until somewhere after 3 pm, when it started to rain. It was however almost a torrential rain and it poured down heavily for almost an hour. Flash floodings were everywhere and it didn't stop raining until 7 pm.

This is how the road looked like at a construction site between Chaweng and Choengmon, where the water rushed down a mountain, depositing big rocks on the street!
Max temp reached 32C.

Camille

21st May, 2009

Today's weather;

Plenty of blue skies this morning with some fluffy clouds. A nice change compared to the last couple of days. Current temp at 7 am is 27C.

Yesterday saw plenty of sunshine during the day, mixed with moment of overcast. Rain only came down around 8 pm yesterday evening. Max temp reached 32.5C.
The forecast for the next 7 days looks nice with plenty of sunshine at Windguru.

Camille

20th May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy again but there are some sunbeams peeking through. Current temp at 7 am is 26.8C.

Yesterday saw a mixed bag of sunshine and sometimes some very threatening, dark clouds ready to shed their water load. It didn't rain until 10pm however and just for a short while. Max temp reached 30.8C.

Camille

19th May, 2009

Today's weather;

Partly cloudy with some sunshine at one side and some dark towering clouds at the other side. Current temp at 7 am is 26.4C.

Yesterday was a very nice and sunny day, plenty of sunburned people on Samui I guess. Max temp reached 32C.

It was a good day at work yesterday, since I was presented with an award for my achievements in the dive industry by Drew Richardson the President and Chief Operations Officer for PADI Worldwide, who's on Koh Samui right now.

Camille

18th May, 2009

Today's weather;

More overcast this morning but no rain right now. Current temp at 7 am is 24.3C.

Yesterday it drizzled all morning, during the afternoon it was dry but there was overcast all day long. Max temp reached 31.5C.

Camille

17th May, 2009

Today's weather;

There's plenty of overcast and it's wet right now. It must have rained last night and it's raining/drizzling right now. Current temp at 7 am is 25.6C.

Yesterday saw a few times rain but also plenty of sunshine. Max temp reached 31.5C.

Camille

16th May, 2009

Today's weather;

Overcast has taken the limelight again this morning with a current temp of 27.9C.

Yesterday had sunshine all day long. Max temp reached 32C.

Camille

15th May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's been a while but there's plenty of blue in the sky this morning. Current temp at 7 am is 26.4C.

Yesterday saw plenty of overcast with an occasional glimpse of the sun. It stayed dry until last night when there was some rain. Max temp reached 30.3C.

Camille

14th May, 2009

Today's weather;

There's overcast but it's dry. Current temp at 7 am is 26.5C.

Yesterday saw overcast in the morning and sunshine in the afternoon, there were rain bursts spread over the island, but very short ones. Max temp reached 30.2C.

Camille

13th May, 2009

Today's weather;

More overcast this morning. Current temp at 7 am is 26.2C.

Yesterday was a mixed bag, around noon there was some very strong rain for an hour or two but after that there was plenty of sunshine. Max temp reached 33C.

Yesterday we sited Nathon and found this 'Dim sum' steamer outside of a small and old restaurant in one of Nathon's side streets. As if time stood still.

Camille

12th May, 2009

Today's weather;

There's overcast this morning. Current temp at 7 am is 25.3C.

Yesterday saw mainly overcast all day with some bits and pieces of sunshine. Max temp reached 31.5C.
There wasn't any rain until 8pm last night, when a real thunderstorm unleashed with plenty of rain. It than rained almost all night long, a total of 24mm fell. All of Thailand saw a very wet and thunderous night with many provinces in the North East having serious flooding problems.

Before I forget, yesterday was the Royal Ploughing Ceremony day.

Camille

11th May, 2009

Today's weather;

There's some overcast this morning. Current temp at 7 am is 27C.
Today is the start of the first school term for our children! We're off in a moment to bring them.

Yesterday turned out to be another very hot day, max temp reached 34.7C. Last night it must have rained though, since this morning every was wet when I woke up.

Camille

10th May, 2009

Today's weather;

Another beautiful blue sky is shaping up and if you are on Samui right now, better get ready for another hot day. Current temp at 7 am is 26.5C.

Yesterday was plain hot. Around 5 pm there was a thunderstorm that came through with plenty of rain for about an hour. Max temp yesterday reached 35C.

Camille

9th May, 2009

Today's weather;

A lovely blue sky is up and about over Samui. Current temp at 7 am is 27.5C.

Yesterday was very hot again. Around 6 pm there was a bit of rain, just a few minutes and drops at our place but rather hard and intense over Chaweng, but very short.. Max temp reached 35.2C,

Yesterday I got food poisoning and it was pretty bad last night, hence no updates about Visaka Bucha day.

Camille

8th May, 2009

Today's weather;

Samui is 'suffering' under a blue sky today. Current temp at 7 am is 28C and it looks like it's going to be very hot again.
Today is Visaka Bucha day one of the most important Buddhist days of the year.

Yesterday saw lots of sunshine and high temperatures, max temp reached 34.3C.

Yesterday evening we visited a local wedding, around the corner of our house, a couple of hundred wedding guests attended.

Camille

7th May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's sunny again! There's just a thin fluffy layer and it seems we're gearing up for another steaming hot day. Current temp at 7 am is 28.2C.

Yesterday the cloud layer evaporated rather quickly and the sun came out for almost all day long, with a max temp reaching 34.8C.

Camille

The market at Hua Thanon

The market at Hua Thanon

Is located in Hua Thanon, funnily enough, which is not too far from Lamai. Coming from Lamai direction Nathon, you pass Sabeinglae restaurant and keep going straight. After a couple of kilometers, there's a 90 degree right curve, if you go straight in that curve, that's where the market is located in Hua Thanon. It's one of the villages on Samui where there still are a lot original Chinese style buildings.


The market is a fairly straightforward relatively small affair. On your right hand side, coming from the 90 degree curve which I just described, you'll find a fresh food market at your right hand.


The market itself is on this narrow street, first building directly on your left hand. Around the market are a couple of small shops selling all kinds of bits and pieces.

Inside are the usual Samui fresh market items for sale, with the exception that some local things are on sale here that may be more difficult to find at other markets. Here's some fish and squid on display, very fresh, directly brought in from the sea, a few meters away.

An overlook of Hua Thanon market.

Outside on the street is this shop that sells 'kanom' or sweets. Can't do without it in Thai life!It tastes good though and is worthwhile trying out.

If you're on a trip around the island, the Hua Thanon market makes for a nice break, it's not spectacular but a nice look into local island life.

Camille

6th May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's overcast again this morning. Current temp at 7 am is 27.3C.

Yesterday saw merely overcast although there were a few sunny spells, which made the temperature rise immediately. Max temp reached 32.5C

Camille

Bird singing contest

Bird singing contest

Many times I passed this empty lot of land which clearly marked a place where there would a bird singing contest. Today was the first time I've actually seen this particular piece of land being used for just that. I've seen contests all over Samui and Thailand but never had a camera at the ready.

Bird singing contest

The location is at the Ghost Road leading from Bang Rak towards Chaweng, after the crossing that also houses a 7-11 and the chicken fight arena, it's directly after the sharp curve in the road and this sign is up permanently.

Bird singing contest; Plenty of folks gather with their birds and the bird cages are hung up on some line, all in two rows.

Bird singing contest

A whistle is blown and the bird cage is made free of a cover and the birds need to sing for a while, until the whistle is blown again and the cages are covered up again.

Prices can be won by the bird owners, betting is heavy and some birds can pass hands for around a million Thai Baht, if they know how to sing properly.

You may be able to catch an event like this whilst travelling the country, it's worthwhile stopping and checking it out for a bit. If you look carefully, many Thai house holds have birds that can compete in these contests.

Bird singing contest

It wouldn't be Thailand if everything had to be as 'sabai sabai' possible, so conveniently a couple of these covered sitting areas are set up next to the battle field!

If you like to donate to this blog, use this secure link PayPal.Me/CamilleLemmens. 

Camille

Update March 2018

5th May, 2009

Today's weather;

There's overcast again but it doesn't look like rain and the temperatures are a lot more agreeable, current temp at 7 am is 27.3C.

Yesterday saw a day with overcast but nice and not too warm, max temp reached 30.7C.

My dive trip to Sail Rock was good, during the last 6 days, there were 5 days with whale shark sightings, including yesterday. To see this fish is kind of most divers wet dream, for the non divers amongst us. I have to put some archived pictures though, since during both dives, me and my buddy managed not to see yesterday's whale shark! A tough day at work.

Picture of a whale shark, this one was about 4-5 meters.

One of the things we did see at Sail Rock yesterday was this white eyed Murray eel.

For more of my dive pictures, feel free to visit my dive blog or my dive website if you like to book dive trips or dive courses.

Camille

Look Nimid at Wat Kanuram

Look Nimid at Wat Kanuram

When we visited Wat Kanuram yesterday, to see the Mummified Monk, there was something special going on in the Temple or Bot building next to the new quarters of the Mummified Monk.

The Bot at Wat Kanuram

There were 'look Nimid' placed around the Bot, 7 on the outside and one on the inside. Without these stones, the Bot couldn't be ordained or function and are considered very holy.

The Look Nimid will be lowered into holes, dug in the ground, one in front, one in the back, three at each side and one inside of the Bot.

Three 'Look Nimid' at one side of the Bot.

Inside the Bot one can clearly see the 'main' Buddha image of Wat Kanuram, with some intricate white cords weaved around the inside of the Bot. In the middle is the big 'Look Nimid'.

There's a very important Buddhist day coming up later this week, Visikha Bucha Day on 8th May, when they will put the 'Look Nimid' in the ground.

Every Temple in Thailand will have a main building, the Bot. All the Bot's in Thailand should have "Look Nimid" inside or rather in the ground and around them, in front of the little statue like houses placed around the Bot's.

Surely another thing learned today!

Camille

4th May, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy and windy with a max temp of 27.7C at 7 am.
I'm off diving to Sail Rock where a whaleshark was sighted for the last 4 out of 5 days!

Mummified Monk at Wat Kanuram in Lamai

Yesterday we went around the island and although we saw signs of rain, we somehow managed to escape rain all day long, we even slept through the 7 am shower. There was overcast all day long so the temperatures were nice and bearable after the heat during the last week(s).
Max temp reached a 'cool' 30.4C

Camille

Wat Kanuram and it's Mummified Monk in his new quarters

Wat Kanuram and it's Mummified Monk in his new quarters

It has been a long time that we went 'around the island' with the family but today it was time again to restore this good family tradition. On ocasion, we tend to stop at Wat Kanuram near Lamai. The two times I wrote about this 'Wat' were a year ago in July 2008, when the new building of the Mummified Monk was a work in progress and a big tree in front of this building was being torn down. The other time I wrote about Wat Kanuram was in August 2007. I don't know how many times I've been there in total, admittedly I lost track.

The new quarters of the Mummified Monk in Wat Kanuram.

A long time I was under the impression that this was the only Mummified Monk on the island, untill I found out that there was another Mummified Monk in Baan Taling Ngaam, in Wat Kiri Wongkaram with thanks to Monique, a Dutch photographer who lives on Samui.
There's also a 'not so mummified monk' in Lamai's main Temple, the temple or 'Wat' that houses the Samui Natural Museum, a very interesting place to visit!

The Mummified Monk of Wat Kanuram in his newest resting or rather display place.

A statue and picture of 'Luung Por Daeng' the Mummified Monk

A shot from the side of his glass display house

As usual, it was a nice visit to Wat Kanuram and a nice break in our trip around the island. It's also good to see that the Temple has been able to build a new building for Luung Por Daeng, the Mummified Monk. This must be one of the most visited places on the island and after all these years on Samui, still a good place for me to stop a few times per year.

Camille

3rd May, 2009

Today's weather;

There's overcast this morning and for today and tomorrow some rain has been predicted. Current temp at 7 am is 27C.

Chaweng has quieted down, like every year during late April and early May, this is Chaweng beach yesterday morning around 11 am.

Yesterday once more was hot! Very hot! Max temp reached 34.3C.

Camille

2nd May, 2009

Today's weather;

It feels slightly cooler than previous days, there's a light overcast and a nice breeze, which may be the cause of the nice cooler feel. Current temp at 7 am is 27.4C.

Yesterday must've been one of the hottest days so far this year, it was almost uncomfortable, walking around just made your sweat run freely. Max temp reached 34.7C.

Camille

Welcome to May 2009

Welcome to May 2009

A new month on the horizon, May 2009.

I'm proud to note and mention that this is the third year running for info and weather reports on Koh Samui!
Back to the topic at hand though and during he last two years, May didn't kick off that nicely, last year saw a lot of rain during the first half of the month with improvements in the second part of May and 2007 saw a similar pattern.
The weather forecast at Windguru is actually looking very good for the first part of the 2009 version of May.

I'm crossing my fingers for a nice month, but I'm pretty sure that there will be some rain during this month, which is a good thing since today it was almost unbearable hot! I'm very glad with the air con in the living room in the evenings!

Enjoy May and I hope that you keep visiting my blog.

Camille

1st May, 2009

Today's weather;

A blue sky is above Samui with a current temp of 27C at 7 am. It's going to be hot again!

Yesterday saw sunshine and it was very hot, once more. Max temp reached 35c.

Very sad news yesterday was the attempted assault on the Dutch queen and her family during the koninginnedag in Apeldoorn where 5 people died.

Camille