Friday 31 July 2009

Goodbye to July 2009

Goodbye to July 2009

This years edition of July wasn't that great. Although we had our share of sun, there was plenty of overcast, rain and very strong winds at times. Early in the month speedboats were cancelled for their snorkeling and diving trips from Samui and later in the month the winds were so heavy one night that La Fortune junk beached itself.

July 2008 and 2007 saw similar weather patterns so it's not a big surprise. Usually August brings better weather and great diving conditions.

Thanks for visiting my blog this month and I hope to keep seeing you.

Camille

31st July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy and right now not much sign of the sun. Current temp at 7am is a whooping 28C though.

Yesterday saw plenty of sunshine mixed with clouds with a max temp of 33.5C

Camille

Thursday 30 July 2009

30th July, 2009

Today's weather;

There's overcast this morning and not too much sunshine right now, although it doesn't look like it's going to rain. Current temp at 7 am is 26.5C.

Yesterday saw a mixed bag of overcast and sunshine but there was no rain. Max temp reached 34C.

Camille

Wednesday 29 July 2009

La Fortune stranded on Bang Rak Beach

La Fortune stranded on Bang Rak Beach

La Fortune is a traditional Junk boat entirely build with teak woods. It's for rent for cruises around Samui and has been here on Samui for a few years already.
However, just on the 25th July, when I wrote that the strong winds seemed to be over, there was a massive storm in the evening that beached La Fortune junk ship on Bang Rak Beach along with a few speed boats.

The boat has been put upright now and they're waiting for the tide to take it out to the ocean and set sail again.


After 4 days of digging and fixing, there weas no major damage to the vessel, it's now hopefully capcable to elave the beach under it's own power.
Part of the timely efforts were that the boat weighs 80 tons and the biggest crane on the island can only handle weights up to 40 tons.


A back view of La Fortune whilst it's sitting on Bang Rak beach.

A currently not so cheeky monkey, one of the speedboats that was beached as well. Today it was the only boat left on the beach, basides La Fortune, just within a 100 meters of each other.
Hopefully for the owner of La Fortune he will be a bit more fortunate and the boat will be able to operate again soon. Good luck to them and don't hesitate to enquire about their trips.
Camille



29th July, 2009

Today's weather;

An almost clear blue sky is shaping up over Samui with a current temp of 26.5C at 7 am.

Yesterday saw some overcast but basically it was all day sunshine. Max temp reached 32.8C.
It seems the rain has gone and the sun is back again.

Camille

Tuesday 28 July 2009

28th July, 2009

Today's weather;

A mixed bag between overcast and blue sky is fighting it out right now over Samui with a current temp of 26.7C right now at 7 am.

Yesterday saw a blue sky almost all day long, although we had a small shower during the sunshine! Max temp reached 33.6C.

Camille

Monday 27 July 2009

27th July, 2009

Today's weather;

An almost perfect blue sky rules over Samui with a current temp at 7 am of 25.5C.

Yesterday saw sunshine all day long and a max temp of 33.3C.

Camille

Sunday 26 July 2009

Zico's Brazilian Restaurant, Chaweng

Zico's Brazilian Restaurant, Chaweng

Zico's has been around now for over 4 years and although I've been there plenty of times, somehow I never got around to put a review up, until today. Yesterday my cousin who lives in Pattaya was visiting Samui and he invited me for dinner and we ended up in Zico's in Chaweng.


The location is excellent, kind of opposite Centara Grand Beach Hotel, of which Zico's is a part of.

The concept is simple but unique to Samui and as far as I know even unique to Thailand, neither Phuket nor Pattaya have anything like it, as far as I know;

The waiters serve choice cuts from steel skewers right at your table, while chilled Brazilian tunes drift down from the elegant, upstairs lounge bar. Zico’s own Brazilian beauties, Joice and Patricia from São Paolo take to the stage throughout the evening dressed in magnificent costumes to dance the Samba and Axe, adding the energy and colour of the Rio carnival to make an evening at Zico’s one to remember.


The inside is beautifully decorated and the seats make you feel very private from other tables, due to their height.

They absolutely have the best salad bar in town with also lots of sauces for the meat cuts.

Another view of the salad bar.

The place where the skewers are grilled. Definitely a place to visit for a memorable experience, currently the price is 790,-THB for all you can eat and 340,-THB for only the salad bar.
Zico's ranks among my favorite restaurants on Samui!
Camille




26th July, 2009

Today's weather;

A blue sky is shaping up and the sun is out and about right now with a current temp at 7 am of 25.5C.

Yesterday saw plenty of sunshine in the morning, it wasn't until 3 pm that we had a first shower, followed by a few more and a constant drizzle into the evening/night. Max temp reached 33.3C

Camille

Saturday 25 July 2009

25th July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy, but just like yesterday, the sun is trying to break through. Current temp at 7 am is 26.7C

Yesterday saw a blue sky and a sunny day all day long. Towards the late afternoon it became cloudy again but remained dry, however, at 10 pm all hell broke loose and a strong thunderstorm swept over Samui that lasted a good hour. Max temp reached 33C.

It seems that the strong winds are now a thing of the past according to the weather forecasts and there will be a lot less rain and more sunshine coming up.

Camille

Friday 24 July 2009

24th July, 2009

Today's weather;

There's still overcast although the sun keeps pressing to get through the clouds. Current temp at 7 am is 26.4C

Yesterday was a dry day with and during the morning there even were bits and pieces of sunshine. Max temp reached 31C.

Camille

Thursday 23 July 2009

23rd July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy but a bleak sun peeked through the clouds. The current temp at 7 am is 26.2C

Yesterday saw rain during most of the day. It was mostly drizzle but it was almost constant. Max temp reached the lower thirties Celcius.

Camille

Wednesday 22 July 2009

22nd July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy and raining right now. Current temp at 7 am is 26.9C.

Yesterday saw overcast and where ever I was on the island, it remained dry, although there was a bit of rain in Chaweng in the morning, just before noon. Max temp reached 32.8C.

Camille

Tuesday 21 July 2009

Kila Amphur Koh Samui 2009

Kila Amphur Koh Samui 2009

The Kila Amphur is a two day event where all schools from Amphur Koh Samui participate in and the children (students) take part in parades in the South of the island at Baan Namuang. It's held every year but the last couple of years I didn't have time due to my own work. This is the second time I witness the Samui version.
It's an event that's held all over the country but on different dates for each Amphur (=district).

Today the Anubaan or pre-school children in the age group from 4 to 7 have their own day, in the morning with the parades and during the afternoon sport contests are held. Tomorrow the 7 to 12 year old will do it all over again!
In good Thai tradition, food and drinks are available all around the parade/sports ground, no reason to go hungry now, would we!
As the picture above shows, plenty of camera eager parents gather for the event.

A good thing that the First Aid was taken care of by these smart young boys and girls.

The Parade consists of each school, around 20 on Samui, have the children dress up as drum major the girls) or similar and the boys most often in a more traditional Thai dress. Into the mix are all the music groups who beat out a very simple and basic rhythm.


As in every public event, His Majesty the King and the Queen are very present on a variety of pictures carried around by pupils of each school.

At the far end of the sports stadium that is used south of Lamai, the jury inspects the troops as they march by with the trophies/prices glistering in the sun. It looks like nobody will go home empty handed and all schools will have a new trophy to show for.
See you next year, same place probably very similar time!
Camille




21st July, 2009

Today's weather;


Later than usual because we visited the Kila Amphur or a gathering of the schools of Samui where the students parade all dressed up in fancy clothes. A report to follow later today.

It's partly cloudy with bursts of sunshine and it rained a bit on Chaweng but not in the parts of the island where we were at. Current temp at 1 pm is 32.2C.

Yesterday was a sunny day with a max temp of 33.7C.

Camille

Monday 20 July 2009

20th July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy but dry with a current temp at 7 am of 27.8C

Yesterday saw a day with lots of sunshine. During the late afternoon clouds took over but at no point did it look it would start to rain and it didn't. Max temp reached 34.2C.

Camille

Sunday 19 July 2009

Our house, in the middle of the street

Our house, in the middle of the street

Well, not really in the middle of the street but still our house, good old Madness! Our house is still located in Plai Laem and we had some construction done to it.

We needed a covered area or a roof over the washing machine which is located outside in the back of the house and a spot to park the car, shaded from the sun or kept dry from the rain.

My wife organised a couple of workers and she organized the materials that were needed herself.
Above is the back of our house before they started building, about two weeks ago.


This picture shows the roof structure being completed.

Here's the final product, we need to wait a couple of days before we can start parking the car inside, but it sure beats the hell out of what we had before, which was no cover at all! The roof is about 4 to 5 meters deep and will keep the laundry and the car dry. At least, that's the plan!
The children enjoy the concrete floor for their bicycle rides.
Camille



19th July, 2009

Today's weather;

There's sunshine again in the early morning sky over Samui, although there are still plenty of clouds as well and the current temp at 7 am is 26.5C.

Yesterday saw a cloud covered day but hardly any rain at all and the wind is winding down. Max temp reached 30.5C.

Camille

Saturday 18 July 2009

18th July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's very cloudy but dry at the moment with a current temp of 26.8C at 7 am.

Yesterday saw a lot of clouds with some occasional drizzle but no real rain. Max temp reached 30.5C.

Camille

Friday 17 July 2009

17th July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy but there are/were some blue patches out there with a current temp at 7 am of 27.1C and I'm back on Samui again after the PADI IE on Koh Tao was completed yesterday.

Yesterday saw a lot more wind than previous days but eventually the ride over from Koh Tao turned out to be non eventful ride with no waves to speak of. However, within 30 minutes of arrival on Koh Samui a big storm erupted with strong winds and hard rain for about half an hour with the rain lasting until about 8 pm. Max temp reached 31.2C
It looks like the wind is going to die down after the weekend.

Camille

Thursday 16 July 2009

16th July, 2009

Today's weather;

Very cloudy skies and strong winds woke Koh Tao up this morning. Current temp at 7 am is 27.5C

Yesterday was a rather nice day on Koh Tao with the sun breaking through on various occasions and there was almost no wind. Max temp reached 33.3C

Camille

Wednesday 15 July 2009

15th July, 2009

Today's weather;

Koh Tao is cloudy this morning but dry. Current temp at 7 am is 27.3C.

Yesterday was an easy ride over from Samui to Koh Tao, no big waves and the wind wasn't as strong as expected. Once on Koh Tao, the sun actually broke through and it was rather nice. Max temp reached 32.5C.

Camille

Tuesday 14 July 2009

14th July, 2009

Today's weather;

Cloudy but not as much wind as during the previous days. Current temp at 7 am is in the high twenties Celsius.

Yesterday was mostly dry but saw some very strong and heavy wind gusts. Max temp reached 29.8C

Today I'm off to Koh Tao for the PADI IE and will report from there for a few days.

Camille

Monday 13 July 2009

13th July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's grey with very strong to heavy wind bursts. Windguru doesn't project a lot of rain today but very strong winds and big waves, all speedboat trips are cancelled on Samui. Current temp at 7 am is 27.5C

Yesterday saw some rain around noon and also strong winds, it remained dry after the initial rain but the wind stayed on. Max temp reached 27C and we didn't open our aircon unit last night.
My IDC candidates completed their July IDC and tomorrow we're off to Koh Tao for the PADI IE.

Camille

Sunday 12 July 2009

12th July, 2009

Today's weather;

Cloudy and a bit of wind but dry at the moment with a current temp of 26.4C at 7 am.

Yesterday it started raining around 3 pm with a massive and serious thunderstorm around 4 pm, with heavy wind gusts and heavy rain, see the picture below, which shows the coconut trees' crowns all blowing in the wind in one direction.
This shower lasted for a good half hour but strong winds stayed and today's dive trips have been cancelled due to the wind.
Max temp reached the 31.5C.

Camille




Saturday 11 July 2009

11th July, 2009

Today's weather;

The weather seems to have changed, overcast and strong winds, supposedly followed with lots of rain over the next couple of days. Current temp at 7 am is 28C.

Yesterday was very sunny and hot. Max temp reached 33.5C.

Camille

Friday 10 July 2009

10th July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's partly cloudy but the shine is shining and showing off so early in the morning. Current temp at 7 am is 26.6C

Yesterday was hot and sunny all day long. Our part of the island had no rain and max temp reached 31.7C.

Camille

Thursday 9 July 2009

9th July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's sunny and blue this morning. Current temp at 7 am is 26.7C.

Yesterday was hot and sunny again. Max temp reached 31.5C.

Camille

Wednesday 8 July 2009

8th July, 2009

Today's weather;

The blue sky is back, although laced with clouds. Current temp at 7 am is 26.5C.

As already mentioned in my post yesterday about Asanha Bucha Day, today is Wan Kao Pansa.

Yesterday saw some traces of rain during the morning but after that it remained dry all day long and for the first time in a week it remained dry in the evening, just in time for yesterday's celebrations in the Temple. Max temp reached 30.5C.

Camille

Tuesday 7 July 2009

Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui

Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui


As already posted earlier today, today is Asanha Bucha Day, one of the major Theravada Buddhist festivals in the region.

All day long there were activities in Wat Plai Laem or the local Temple, which is also for this occasion the major temple with the main event on the island. This also meant that all day long Monk chants could be heard over the PA system.
Tomorrow there's more when Wan Khao Pansa hits town or rather Thailand.

Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui
Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui; Around 7 pm the main ceremony of the day starts, when people meet at the Temple and sit down for religious ceremonies and eventually everybody walks around the Bot for 3 times.


There were lots of unusual activities to be witnessed, but I guess they're unusual for the non Thais and/or non Buddhist oriented folks.
One of them is shown in the picture above, it shows a string with money tacked to it, as part of the Tambun or repentance.

Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui
Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui

To get connected with Buddha, people have white strings attached to an intricate woven system that leads back to the altar. The white strings attach to another coloured string which they put around their head.


Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui
Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui; This looks familiar and I may have shown this in a previous post, but this is melted candle wax which is put into pre shaped molds so new candles can be made by the visitors of the Temple tonight.

Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui
Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui; Flowers and money are offered before they sit down and join the worshiping.


Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui
Asanha Bucha Day 2009 on Koh Samui; The highlight of the evening, walking around the Bot for three times. A continual busy location that Bot from 7 pm onward.

An interesting event and nice to see again, since for the last couple of years I somehow wasn't able to make it to the temple for various reasons.

Please do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and enjoy the beaches around the island or in front of your hotel or resort and get some well deserved rest and a break. If you're done resting or need something else to do, there's plenty of things on offer on and around Koh Samui, you can go snorkeling or diving or take a dive course. You can also enjoy some of the trips I recommend, like a half day gourmet lunch and snorkeling trip at the Southern part of Koh Samui or a photography trip where you get to see the most photo genetic spots on the island or go for a drinks tasting tour if you like a tipple or two.

Contact me for more detailed information on any of the options mentioned.

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

 Camille

Updated 8th July, 2017

7th July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's cloudy but warm early in the morning, current temp at 7 am is 27C.

Today is Asaha Puja Day, a Theravada Buddhist festival which typically takes place in July, on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eighth lunar month. It commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon in the Deer Park in Benares and the founding of the Buddhist sangha.
In Thailand, Asalha Puja is a government holiday. The day is observed by donating offerings to temples and listening to sermons. The following day is known in Thailand as Wan Kao Pansa; it is the first day of vassa, the Theravada rains retreat.

Yesterday saw clouds all day long but during the day time it stayed dry and there were bits and pieces of sunshine, a great day on the beach! Around 7 pm the usual evening shower arrived and cooled things down nicely.

Chaweng beach in front of Centara Grand Beach Resort yesterday, nice and rather empty.

Camille

Monday 6 July 2009

6th July, 2009

Today's weather;

It's slightly overcast but the sun is peeking through. Current temp at 7 am is 25.7C

Yesterday saw a warm day with plenty of sunshine and bits and pieces of overcast. Around 6.30 pm we had our current regular evening shower. Max temp reached 31.7C

There is some major flooding in the general South East Asian region and specifically in China, Vietnam and India where dozens of people have died due to major water problems.

Camille

Sunday 5 July 2009

5th July, 2009

Today's weather;

Slightly overcast is how the sky presents itself today with a current temp of 27.8C at 7 am.

Yesterday was hot again during the day time, a max temp of 34.2C was marked, but during the late afternoon the sky turned dark and shortly before a tropical thunderstorm blew over Samui for a good half of an hour, soaking everything but also cooling the place down.

Camille

Saturday 4 July 2009

4th July, 2009

Today's weather;

The blue sky is back in full glory with a morning temp at 7 am of 26.5C

Yesterday was hot and sunny. Max temp reached 32.7C

Camille

Friday 3 July 2009

3rd July, 2009

Today's weather;

There's a light overcast with bits and pieces of blue shining through. Current temp at 7 am is 25.3C

Yesterday was very hot and sunny, all day long. Max temp reached 33.5C

Camille

Thursday 2 July 2009

2nd July, 2009

Today's weather;

This morning brings overcast with some blue spots in it. Current temp at 7 am is 25.2C.

Yesterday was hot, hot, hot. Max temp reached 34.9C. However, around midnight things seriously cooled down with a classic tropical thunderstorm, which lasted for a bit, hence the relatively 'low' temperature this morning.

Camille

Wednesday 1 July 2009

Welcome to July 2009

Welcome to July 2009

Usually July is a good month with enough sunshine to keep you happy.

Last year was a bit of a mixed bag however and 2007 saw even worse weather with lots of rain. Let's hope that June's great weather continues, today was definitely another hot day and it looks like the next week is going to be as good.

Hang in there and hope to see you soon here on Koh Samui.

Regards,
Camille

1st July, 2009

Today's weather;

July kicks off in a beautiful fashion with an almost clear blue sky and a current temp at 7 am of 26C.

Yesterday saw overcast almost all day long with bits and pieces of rain around 2pm. Max temp reached just 31.3C.

Camille