Goodbye to July 2012

Tie to have a look back to the past month, July 2012, before it disappears in the blog archives.

Let's kick off with the weather. This month the weather was good in general, there was plenty of sunshine to be had although there was an occasional showers but nothing to spoil the fun. A fairly typical July for Koh Samui standards. Day time temperature where all around 33 to 34C so nice and warm.

Fisherman's boats near Bang Rak

This month was a also a busy month for me, I went to Phun Phin for a 10km run and I ran a personal best during the Pattaya half marathon.

The children had their yearly Kila school day out and we went for to eat in some of our favorite restaurants, like Juzza Pizza in Fisherman's Village.

My monthly Food on Wheels contribution was a special one with some picture from days gone by.

There were also two sad news topics to report, first of all the crash of the Bangkok - Samui VIP night bus which took the lives of good dozen people and a tourist was stung by a box jelly fish at Bophud beach.

For work I went to teach a PADI IDC in Dauin in the Philippines. Today is the last day of that program! I'm still for another 10 days in the Philippines, which I'm looking forward to.

This pretty sums up July 2012 for me. As already mentioned, it as a busy and a good month for me and I'm looking forward to next month!

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 31st July, 2012

Today's weather;

The sky over Koh Samui is nice and filled with sunshine. Current temp at 7am is 27.3C

In Dauin it's starting to look slightly better, for a change! It's still very cloudy but not as grey anymore and the sun is trying hard to peak through. It's still very windy though. Yesterday we only had some rain during the very early morning and the rest of the day was dry, just a few hard showers during the night again. Current temp at 8am local time

The beach in front of Pura Vida in Dauin this morning

Yesterday the weather around Koh Samui was nice, sunny and dry. Max temp reached 32.7C

The forecast still shows strong wind for the next 7 days, but not as strong as originally predicted but rain is still in the clouds.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 30th July, 2012

Today's weather;

Koh Samui is enjoying a fairly blue sky this morning and it looks like it will be a sunny and hot day with maybe a shower in the evening. Current temp 7am is 25C

In Dauin on the other hand, we still have grey skies and rain. This morning three strong showers came down already and yesterday it was a also raining a lot. Apparently this should be the last day of a tropical depression moving over the Philippines. Current temp at 8am local time is 26C

A blue spot in the other-ways grey sky over Dauin yesterday

Yesterday morning started out cloudy around Samui but the afternoon was nice and sunny. Max temp reached 32.8C

The forecast is rain and wind for the next 7 days, so enjoy today as long as it lasts!

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 29th July, 2012

Today's weather;

Koh Samui is cloudy this morning and it looks like rain will come along later today. Current temp at 7am is 26.1C

In Dauin, Philippines we still have grey clouds and rain. The morning is dry right now but yesterday and last night aw plenty of rain. Current temp at 8am local time is 27C

View from the breakfast restaurant at Pura Vida resort in Dauin

Yesterday saw a nice morning and sunny afternoon around Samui but with some heavy rain during the early evening. Max temp reached 33C

The forecast shows today being the last nice day for a week, with progressively stronger wind coming up each day, culminating in Thursday and Friday with very strong wind. Rain will accompany the days of next week.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

Light overcast is Samui's part this morning but it looks like the sun will be coming out later. Current temp at 7am is 27.2C

In Dauin it's raining this morning and the sky is fairly grey and apparently we got a storm brewing up for the next 3 days. Current temp at 8am local time is 27C

Yesterday we also had rain during the afternoon.

A tricycle near the Dauin market

Yesterday saw overcast pretty much all day long around Koh Samui with an occasional burst of sunshine. Max temp reached 31.2C

The forecast is looking good, although there's a build up of wind, until Wednesday, than the wind is unleashed and storm like conditions seem to prevail with rainy periods.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

Koh Samui has overcast this morning and it doesn't look like the sun is coming out soon but on the other hand it doesn't look necessarily like rain either. Current temp at 7am is 27C

In Dauin we have similar conditions, overcast including a bit of a breeze, however it looks like it might rain, just like yesterday during the daytime. Current temp at 8am local time is 26C

The market on the main road in downtown Dauin

Yesterday saw a very hot day around Koh Samui with plenty of sunshine. Max temp reached 34.3C

The forecast predicts strong wind on Monday and some real strong wind wind come Thursday combined with some rain.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

Koh Samui is enjoying a nice blue sky again this morning. Looks like another hot day is in the making! Current temp at 7am is 25.8C

In Dauin we still have overcast and although it has stayed dry so far during my stay here, rain is in the air and it wouldn't surprise if sooner or later we get a bit of a hose down. Current temp at 8am local time is 27C

My bungalow at the Pura Vida resort in Dauin

Yesterday saw overcast around Samui all day long but it stayed dry. Max temp reached 32.8C

The forecast is looking good until the weekend, than strong wind is coming up and the likelihood of some rain grows.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

Koh Samui has some overcast this morning although right now there's no wind and hopefully the sun will come out later during the day. Current temp at 7am is 26.9C

In Dauin we also have overcast and it looks like rain is on it's way. Current temp at 8am is 27C

View from the beach at Pura Vida resort in Dauin

Yesterday saw a warm but windy day around Samui. Max temp reached 33.4C

The forecast for the next 7 days shows dry weather until the weekend although there may be some overcast, after the weekend there's an odd chance for a tropical rain shower.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

The wind picked up on Koh Samui this morning, as predicted. It's sunny though and another hot day seems to be in the making. Current temp at 7am is 27.1C

Today the dive site at Sail Rock is blocked off and tomorrow Chumpon Pinnacle near Koh Tao due a visit of Princess Sirivannavari, a daughter of the prince.

In Dauin we have overcast and around 26C at 8am local Philippines time.

The beach in front of Pura Vida resort where the Dauin IDC takes place

Yesterday was a very hot day around Koh Samui with a max temp of 34C. My son looked like a lobster after having played all day long in the pool with my sisters family!

The forecast shows wind in varying degrees all over the next 7 days but still with plenty of sunshine and an occasional tropical shower.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

Koh Samui is starting out with a nice blue sky again and it looks it's going to be hot again. Current temp at 7am is 26.5C

Here in Dauin in the Philippines, where I'm about to start a PADI IDC in a few moments, it's also nice and sunny with a few clouds in the background. There's a strong breeze here. Current temp at 8am local time is 26C

The Pura Vida resort this morning, anybody for breakfast?

Yesterday was a nice and sunny day around Koh Samui with a max temp of 34.4C

The forecast is showing some showers until Wednesday, than a couple of days very nice weather but than supposedly the wind is seriously picking up. Stay tuned for more updates.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

Koh Samui is doing it again today, blue and sunny skies, two days in a row! Current temp at 7am is 27C

Manila is my home for another couple of hours before I take off to Dumaguete airport and transfer over to the Pura Vida resort in Dauin where I start a PADI IDC tomorrow. My 3rd IDC in the Philippines.

In the meantime, although it's dry this morning, manila had rain for the last 3 days and yesterday was wet all the time that I was out and about. Next to my hotel in Ermita is the Robinson shopping mall and there was a dedicated runners shop inside so I went ballistic!

Current temp here is 25C, it's cold!

Jeepney in Manila's streets this morning

Yesterday saw a nice and sunny day around Koh Samui, I left around 10am and upon arriving in Bangkok it was cloudy but dry. Manila on the other hand, my final destination yesterday was wet.

Max temp on Samui reached a whooping 34.3C

At Bangkok airport I met my sister and her family, me coming from Samui going on to Manila and they coming from Vietnam moving on to Samui! It was good to see them although it only was for one hour!

The forecast for the next 7 days improved slightly, the wind seems to have dropped a bit. A tropical shower on some days is still in the cards though.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

Koh Samui's sky is partly cloudy with enough blue spots and the sun peeking through to expect a nice, sunny and warm day. Current temp at 7am is 27.3C

In an hour so I'm off to Bangkok where i will transfer for a flight to Manila in the Philippines. I will spend the night in Manila, my first time and continue my travels tomorrow to Dauin where I will, start a PADI IDC come Monday.

No you can also rent or buy Harley's on Samui, on the ring road near Chaweng

Yesterday saw a very hot day with plenty of sunshine. During the late evening there was a tiny bit of a drizzle. Max temp reached 33.5C

The forecast predicts stronger wind after the weekend with chances of having a shower or two.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

Old style Samui; 1979

Once more Dawn Farrell in Phuket alerted me on two pictures from way back on Koh Samui. Thanks a lot Dawn!

These pictures originate from 1979, a good ten years before the batch of pictures from 1989, that I posted previously. Great stuff, I love these kind of pictures!

1979, somewhere on the island

Harbor in Nathon, with a view on the city's 'skyline'

Hope you enjoyed these pictures, although there are only two of them, these kind of pictures are hard to come by!

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

It's looking like a hot day is in the making for Koh Samui today. with an almost clear blue sky. Current temp at 7am is 26.3C

Tomorrow morning I'm off to Bangkok for a connecting flight to Manila. For 3 weeks I will be in the Philippines, teaching a PADI IDC there.

At the Kila Amphur yesterday, is it a boy or a girl?

Yesterday saw a cloudy day all day long with some bits and pieces of rain just before noon, more like a drizzle than real rain showers. All day long clouds though. Max temp reached 30.8C

The forecast sees the wind pick up from Monday onward but still with enough sunshine and not too much rain, maybe the occasional tropical shower!

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

Kila Amphur Koh Samui 2012

Last year's Kila Amphur I missed due to work outside of Thailand but this year I was on the ball again! After a very early wake up call for our daughter at 3am, by 5.30am my alarm went off and by 7am we were well on our way to this years event.

In front of the main stand

The Kila Amphur sees all schools around the island participate in parades and sport event and stretches over several days. The parades for the 'kinder garden' schools started two days ago and Saturday is the final sports day.

The wheel of life is being carried around by one school

A very popular topic was the ASEAN theme this year and many schools opted for their students being dressed up with local clothes form ASEAN countries.

Pretty in pink

More schools opted for the more traditional Kila dress up, which includes 'drum major' and marching bands or depicting local folklore. See some drum major girls above. The variety in quality of dress up from school to school varies wildly. The above pictured dresses were among the top quality mark, at least in my opinion.

Old style Thai dress

Once you're on the field though, the long wait starts, school after school marches on to the ground and in front of the main stands, where a jury is positioned, all drum major groups give a performance, so it easily and quickly becomes a long day and long wait. On top of that it's either very hot or like this year, very clouded and when I had enough of the hanging around and ordered my clan back into the car, on our way home, it started to drizzle.

A marching band in scuba colors

Although we're in Thailand and food is widely available, it hardly raises over the junk food thresh hold and that wears thin after a while. All in all, I'm glad I went and saw my daughter parade on behalf of her school but it was high time to leave before noon. After a couple of hours being pounded by the same drum beat from various marching bands, a nice nap at home was something to look forward to!

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

An early one today under a cloud covered Koh Samui with a very strong wind. Looks like the sun might be hiding most of the day today. Current temp at 6am is around 26C

In a few moments we're off the yearly 'Kila Amphur' events, which I reported about in 2010 and 2009. A big event in which all schools and their students participate in on the island. Updates will follow later today.

Nathon, view from the Amphur to the pier

Yesterday was a mostly sunny day but around midnight a strong breeze came in followed b y a bit of rain. Max temp reached 32.5C

The forecast shows strong wind today followed by a couple of very nice and sunny days before the wind picks up again come Monday.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

Food on wheels, Those were the days!

A rather unusual contribution this time around. My Food on Wheels series goes back in time and black and white.

With help from another blogger, Dawn in Phuket, I was directed to s whole series of old black & white Thailand photos, including these three, with an older version of food on wheels! Enjoy.

In the sixties, this man is selling eyetim or icecream.

Around 1960 in Bangkok, selling sweets, check what looks like a small portable table and chair at the back of the bike

Not really on wheels, but close enough and probably a lot more common some 50 odd years ago than it is nowadays

I hope you enjoyed these rare pictures of some 50 years ago, I most certainly do like them. A lot!

Until the next episode.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

Although there are still some clouds out there this morning, the sun is beaming loud and clear and there are plenty of blue patches in the sky. It looks like Koh Samui is gearing up for a warm and sunny day. Current temp at 7am is 26.5C

Fishermans boats near the Seatran pier in Bang Rak

Yesterday saw a bit more overcast but still with some sunny patches. It was there for not as hot as two days ago, which I find nice. Max temp reached 33.1C

The forecast is looking god although come Sunday evening the wind is about to pick up but not with rain to accompany it.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille

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

Today's weather;

Koh Samui has overcast to show for this morning although the sun is trying very hard to burn it's way through. Current temp at 7am is 26.7C

A view from the roof top pool at the Sea Me Spring Too hotel with a view over Pattaya's skyline last Saturday evening, next door to the Pattaya Hilton

Yesterday was sunny all day long and very hot indeed! Max temp reached 33.8C

The forecast predicts strong(er) wind on Wednesday and Thursday with possibly a few showers on Thursday. The rest of the week should be fairly sunny with the possibility of a tropical shower.

Don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks!

Camille