Goodbye to March 2020

Goodbye to March 2020

Last day of this month and time to say goodbye to March 2020.

Regarding the weather, we can be short. It was amazing! Sunny to partially skies all month long. Not a single raindrop in sight. It was warm to hot. A great time ti actually visit Koh Samui!

My sister and her family and my Mum were here, at the beginning of this month. Just in time to make it back home to the Netherlands in time. Before all the travel restrictions came in place.

Covid19 has an enormous impact on Koh Samui and Thailand. Just like any other country. Except that Koh Samui and it's surrounding island, are depending largely on the tourist industry. Many local Thai people have gone home. They don't have to pay rent there and can get by with little money each day.

Many shops are closed, some are required by law to close down. Like bars, massage parlors etc.

Other place, like supermarkets, banks and places that offer day to day living requirements remain open.

In Surat Thani province, to which Koh Samui belongs, markets are only open for fresh or take away food. Restaurants can only offer take away food. Hotels can only cater to guests. Each shop needs to close between midnight and 5am.

Drastic and unusual measures. However, many other countries have much more drastic rules in place, all the way down to complete lock downs. Just let's hope the virus will be under control soon. You can help yourself by practicing social distancing, wash your hands and stay inside as much as you can. Only leave the house for important issues, like grocery shopping.

Goodbye to March 2020

Big Buddha has now a sign on display. Closed from 27th March. No opening date mentioned. Still a few people drop by every day and a few shops are still open.

Tomorrow the hottest month of the year starts. Some reports indicate that the Covid19 virus doesn't like the heat that much. Still no reason to lower your guard.

Be safe out there!

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.

Join me in a private dive trip with yours sincerely! 

Contact me for more detailed information once the current Covid19 situation has changed for the better, on any of the options mentioned. 

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 23rd – 29th March 2020

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 23^rd – 29^th March 2020

Another Sunday morning with a brand new Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 23rd – 29th March 2020.

It's an update from a changed world. Covid 19 is going around the world and manifesting itself. With a lot of consequences and previously unheard rules. Different rules in different countries, all over the world.

Koh Samui is no exception. Tourists have more or less gone. Many local Thai people who lost their jobs have gone back home. Back to their southern provinces, like Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Chumpon, all the way up to the northern and Isaan provinces.

It's very quiet on Koh Samui. Many shops have been closed down, either by government decree. Like massage parlors, bars and the like. Other shops closed down because of lack of customers.

We can be in for a long haul. Tough and hard times are coming for many us. The first Covid 19 cases have been detected on Koh Samui. There are bound to be more. Be safe out there!

As for the weather, it's partially cloudy and the current temperature at 8.45 am is 31C.

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 23^rd – 29^th March 2020

Queue in Makro for buying face masks. One pack per person, per day, 4 masks for 10.-THB. This picture was taken yesterday, now there are also social distance markers. 300 packs pr day, until stock lasts.

Last week it was a nice, sunny and warm week. Maximum temperatures reached up to 33-34C. Minimum temperatures didn't drop lower than 23C

For next week, it's more of the same, sunny to partially clouded skies. Maybe a bit of a breeze to coll things down a bit. No rain in sight. The weather has been great this month on Koh Samui and it's surrounding islands. 

Be safe folks. Practice social distancing and wash your hands regularly. If possible, try to stay at home as much as you can.

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.

Join me in a private dive trip with yours sincerely! 

Contact me for more detailed information on any of the options mentioned, once we're back to 'normal'. 

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 16th – 22nd March 2020

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 16^th – 22^nd March 2020

Sunday morning and welcome to the Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 16th – 22nd March 2020.
We all woke up in a different world this morning. Are you also longing to that parallel universe where sports events, concerts and the like are still happening. Where self quarantine is a non existing issue.

I'm still running, but will most likely turn down the intensity of my training down a few levels.

Social distancing is still not very well understood here in Thailand. The country has more or less closed it's borders, without straight out saying so. However, in order to enter Thailand, as a foreigner you need a medical statement saying you're corona free, no older than 72 hours. Plus you need health insurance with at least 100,000.-USD coverage. Even Thai citizens need a medical statement that they are fir to fly and a letter from their embassy/consulate, stating they're Thai citizens. Whatever happened to passports?

In the meantime, live on Koh Samui goes on. Bars, movie theaters, gyms, massage parlors etc are all closed.

Supermarkets are open and well stocked. I haven't seen any panic buying, yet. The roads are very quiet though. Don't think many tourists are left. It will become increasingly difficult to leave the country very soon.

On Koh Phangan the first covid19 case in the Samui archipelago has been confirmed.

Interesting times are ahead of us. 

There's no social help plan in place, so it will be each to and for his own here. Everybody stay safe and only go out when you need to. Like for grocery shopping. Keep social distancing in place and keep washing your hands.

Now let's move on to the weather. Currently, at 11am, it's already 31C. Partially clouded and probably getting a little bit warmer.

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 16^th – 22^nd March 2020

Parts of the Nathon government hospital are under construction. New wings are being build. Some have been completed already. Given the current Covid19 circumstances, this can't be done fast enough. Looking at all or most other countries in the world, Thailand may be in for some thing. Currently infection numbers are low, but hardly any tests are conducted in Thailand. Once the proverbial feces hits the fans here, it can become very interesting. Let's hope for the best.

All of last week was sunny. It's been splendid. Not a single drop of rain has been sighted by me. It was a mix of blue skies to partially clouded skies. Maximum temperatures hit 32C. All week long the minimum temperature didn't drop below 22C. Except for last night, it hit rock bottom with 21C.

Next week is looking gorgeous. No rain is predicted. We may have a lot of partially cloudy skies though. Nothing wrong with that. Stay safe everybody! Do drop in to check the situation on Koh Samui. I will post regular updates on the Koh Samui info blog Facebook page.

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. Join me in a private dive trip with yours sincerely! Contact me for more detailed information on any of the options mentioned. Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 9th March – 15th March 2020

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 9^th March – 15^th March 2020

It's Sunday morning an a call for the Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 9th March – 15th March 2020 is due.

The long run is in the can, 21.44km in 1:59.07 or a 5'33 pace. A slow and easy long distance run.

It's partially cloudy and warming up. Current temperature at 10am is 29C but it sure feels a lot warmer already. Might as well get ready for another hot and sunny day.

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 9^th March – 15^th March 2020

Early this month, the two Makro shops on the island started to have fever tests. Upon entering the shop, a staff member will electronically check if your have a raised temperature or fever. So far there are no known Covid-19 cases on Koh Samui and it's archipelago. All shops, hotels, resorts and restaurants are suffering though due to the absence of many tourists. Hard times are ahead for many people around the world.

Last week was very hot. It was sunshine galore. Mostly blue skies and a blaring hot sun. 'De koperen ploert' as we call that in the Netherlands. Maximum temperatures reached around 34C. The minimum temperature got stuck around 24C. During my early morning runs, between 5am and 6am, I can feel the temperature is rising. A very warm week and it takes some getting used to. Especially considering that we just come out of our rainy and cool season.

For next week, the wind picks up again. which is nice and it will hopefully cool things down a bit. No rain is predicted, but a bit more cloud cover compared to last week. Hopefully it will be a bit cooler. 

The Covid-19 situation in Thailand is chaotic, to say the least. The government keeps back tracking an almost all decisions it makes. There's clearly no clear policy in place and it shows incompetence at the highest levels. The health minister had a racist rant against 'dirty' Europeans who spread the Covid-19 virus. Which he now denies. I

New measures are put in place each day, mostly to be overruled the next day. Not many are being tested which explains the low number of people of infected people. Stay wary, wash your hands and avoid busy places. Start you social distancing. 

Hard economical and financial times are ahead for many people around the world. Stay safe and healthy! Eat healthy food and get lots of sleep. Boast your immune system!

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. 

Join me in a private dive trip with yours sincerely! 

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

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 2nd March – 8th March 2020

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 2^nd March – 8^th March 2020

Sunday morning and we're ready for the Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 2nd March – 8th March 2020. It's nice and sunny outside with the promise of a hot day in the making. Current temperature at 10am it is already 31C. It's going to be a real hot one today.

The long run for this Sunday morning is in the can and it was nice and cool, below 27C between 5am and 7am.

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 2^nd March – 8^th March 2020

View over the islands of Koh See Koh Haa, from the Intercontinental hotel's lobby area. Island four island five, literally translated. A very long time ago, I have dived around these islands, in the rainy season. That must have been around 18-19 years ago.

Last week was warm. Each day of the week seemed to be warmer that the previous day. Maximum temperature reached 31C. Most certainly it felt a lot warmer! In the beginning of the week the minimum temperature settled around 23C but later turing the week this moved up to 24C and 25C.

For next week it's looking hot. No wind, no clouds. Blue skies galore is predicted and it will get very warm to hot during the afternoons. Make sure to have coral friendly sun lotion when you apply it on the beach!

Do go out and about, you have the island more or less to your own!

The situation with regards to Covid-19 on Koh Samui. I haven't heard from any cases on Koh Samui. Makro has check when you enter, your temperature is measured electronically.

Many events have been cancelled in Thailand, the Buriram moto GP. Songkran, the Thai new years festival, has been cancelled nation wide. Many races and sport events have been cancelled, well into May already.

Other than that, it still is business as usual!

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. 

Join me in a private dive trip with yours sincerely! 

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

Camille

Welcome to March 2020

Welcome to March 2020

March is a great month to visit Koh Samui and it surrounding islands. Typically the nice February weather continues into March. Maybe a few days with some rain, but no harm done! Lots of sunshine should be yours during this month. 

Especially now, with the Covid-19 virus, it feels like you have the whole island to yourself. Come and enjoy the quiet but still lovely beaches.

Welcome to March 2020

The Intercontinental hotel in Baan Taling Ngaam. This is in the quirt south-western corner of the island. One of the longest standing five start resorts on the island and still going strong. Luxury and leisurely lifestyle. It doesn't come cheap though! The picture has been taken on their pier. Asia’s longest over water wedding aisle with 140 meters long. In general, Baan Taling Ngaam is a very nice part of the island though. Certainly not as overdeveloped as the northern and eastern parts of Koh Samui. Beautiful scenery and a few things well worth visiting are in this part of the island.

Right now no events have been scheduled that are likely to be cancelled on Koh Samui. All walking street events are still happening on the scheduled days of the week. No other events where more than a 1000 people are expected are scheduled on Koh Samui. At least none that I'm aware of.

Looking forward welcoming you on the island and do enjoy your time here. Go out and about and discover what Koh Samui and the surrounding island have to offer.

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. 

Join me in a private dive trip with yours sincerely! 

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

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 24th February – 1st March 2020

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 24^th February – 1^st March 2020

It's Sunday morning and time to look at the Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 24th February – 1st March 2020. 

No long run this morning, I needed to simulate a 5k race. I did and I did well. My second fastest pace on this distance. Certainly that makes me happy.

On to the weather though. At 10.30am it's 28C and the temperature is rising. This all under a partially clouded sky. A nice first day of the new month is in the making.

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 24^th February – 1^st March 2020

Sunset, earlier this month near Big Buddha. This is taken on the road that connects Big Buddha to the main island. Every evening, when it's dry and a sunset is in the making, dozens of people meet here. They sit or stand next to the road. Lovers, photographers, families, all kind of people gather each time to enjoy a lovely sunset here.

Last week it was dry again. February 2020 ended on a good note. Maximum temperature reached 31C. The minimum temperature dropped to 22C a few times over night. A good week and what can be expected this time of the year.

For next week, the forecast looks good. The nice and cool breeze stays on. However, no rain is predicted! A lot of partially cloudy days are predicted though. This means that there should also be plenty of sunshine. Enjoy your stay and don't forget to go out and about. Explore the island! Experience all the good and nice things Koh Samui and it's surrounding islands have to offer.

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. 

Join me in a private dive trip with yours sincerely!

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

Camille