Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 13th January – 19th January 2020

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 13^th January – 19^th January 2020

Sunday morning and the Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 13th January – 19th January 2020 is calling.

Koh Samui has a partially clouded sky, a nice bit of wind and a slight chance of some tropical showers later today. Current temperature at 10am is already 28C.

After having spent all of last week on Koh Lanta, I do find myself back in Trang this morning. After yesterday's last day of diving, I ran a half marathon this morning in Trang. The Tuntieng half marathon, which I ran last year as well. This year they got the distance right; 21.16km. I ran it in 1:37'55 or a 4'37 pace, in case that means anything to you at all. It's a new personal best and I'm well chuffed with that!

The weather in Trang is sunny and at 10am the current temperature is 28C. Soon I will hit the road, back to Koh Samui.

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 13^th January – 19^th January 2020

A traditionally build house in Hua Thanon. According to Hainan style houses. Hainan is an island in the South Cina Sea. It's China's most southern point and some of the very first Samui settlers/residents were from Hainan. 

Last week saw a nice week. Monday and Wednesday saw some isolated showers. The rest of the week saw sunshine under a blue to partially clouded sky. A nice week for early January around the Samui archipelago. Keep it coming! 

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 13^th January – 19^th January 2020

The Chom View hotel on Koh Lanta in Krabi province. This is the second hotel on Koh Lanta that I've seen, that has many statues in it's garden. Strange but kind of funny and fascinating.

The coming week is looking good again. A nice bit of wind until Wednesday with a possible tropical shower. Nothing too serious though. There should be enough sunshine next week as well. Time to enjoy your time on the island and have a look around. Explore but drive carefully!

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 13^th January – 19^th January 2020

The clock tower in down town Trang. A city mark, near the railway station.

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! 

You may also opt for a very special dinner experience at The Thai Experience. Behind closed doors, reservation only and a very enjoyable and well worthwhile way of spending an evening on Samui. Authentic Thai food and a great atmosphere. Can highly recommend this experience. 

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

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 16th September, 2016

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 16^th September, 2016

Today's weather;

It's mostly cloudy this morning with just a few, rare blue spots in the sky over Koh Samui but I do expect the clouds to break up ad give the sun the opportunity so shine. and very likely it will stay dry today. Current temp at 7am is 28C

The Plai Laem school, next to Plai Laem temple or Wat Laem Suwannaram celebrated it's 80 years of being in Koh Samui school business. It isn't the oldest public school on the island, there are a handful of schools that have been around a few years more. Many public schools around Thailand are part of a temple complex, just like the school in Plai Laem

Yesterday saw a nice and sunny day with a few clouds moving in during the late afternoon at some parts of the island and there was a fair bit of wind but overall it was a very enjoyable day and it was hot with max temp reaching 34C

The forecast for the next ten days sees a fair amount of clouds moving in and the wind picking up until Thursday, after this the wind should disappear together with the clouds and it should become really nice and hopefully sunny.

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and 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; 6th September, 2015

Today's weather;

It's already 8am and a bit overtime for the daily update because I ran a very long early morning run. It's a hazy kind of blue sky over Koh Samui, laced with some clouds this morning. Most likely it will remain sunny today. Current temp at 8am is 29.4C

A beautifully preserved old style Hainan house in Nathon

Yesterday saw a fairly sunny day with only some heavier clouds moving in during the later afternoon. Max temp reached 33.4C

The forecast is looking good for the next ten days, sunnier skies are coming our way with occasionally a nice breeze and/or a tropical shower.

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and 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, 2015

Today's weather;

It's cloudy this morning around Koh Samui but the sun is heating up and trying to break through the cloud cover. later today I do expect some rain though. Current temp at 8am is 28.9C
Today is also Asarnha Bucha Day all around Thailand.

Until 6th August, daily buffalo fights can be witnessed in a Chaweng buffalo fight stadium. This is a typical Southern Thai and Samui tradition. There's only one fight per day.

Yesterday saw a cloudy morning, hard, fats and furious rain around noon for about an hour and a sunny later afternoon. Max temp reached 31.5C

The forecast keeps changing, it remains a mix between cloudy and sunny skies but after the weekend the wind starts to pick up again and the first August weekend might have some serious strong wind and some hard showers. It's still far ahead of us, so possible to change again. We'll keep an eye on this development.

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and 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, 2015

Today's weather;

It's very cloudy this morning over Koh Samui with hardly any wind and it's likely to stay that way for the remainder of the day. Current temp at 7am is 26.6C

The remains of a truck, used for transporting coconuts, at the lovely Ban Bang Khao area of Southern Koh Samui. This part of the island is well worth a visit. Here you can still find quiet beaches and tranquility, more in the veins of the original Koh Samui.

Yesterday started out with a cloudy sky but during the morning the sun got the upper hand and it became very sunny and warm. Max temp reached 33C

The forecast predicts cloudy skies for the next ten days with an occasional shower. Let's hope we get to see some good old sunshine during this period as well.

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; 13th July, 2015

Today's weather;

It's cloudy this morning over Koh Samui and it looks like it might stay this way, although the sun tries to break though.. Right now there's no wind to speak of but that may change as well later during the day. Current temp at 7am is 27.5C

Two monkeys on a motorbike near Nathon. These kind of monkeys are being used to harvest coconuts from the trees, a very old Koh Samui tradition.

Yesterday turned out to be a very nice and mostly sunny day with a fairly strong breeze all day long. Max temp reached 33C

The forecast predicts one more time some strong wind tomorrow during the afternoon and night and then slowly taper off. At this moment it doesn't look like we will have a lot of sunshine after Wednesday 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

Big wedding Koh Samui style

Yesterday was a big day in my wife's family, a niece of my wife married in a big wedding Koh Samui style! It started early in the morning, where we were invited to the house of the bride, who is from Samui and who is the family link. The groom is from Chiang Rai in the North of Thailand.

The groom arriving at the bride's house

After we had breakfast under a canopy, which hid us from the already scorching sun, we waited for the groom to arrive at the house, so he could enter and 'claim' his bride.

Holding up gold neck chains, to be sold off

Now the groom was facing an interesting task. Everybody with a gold neck chain, undid it and held it between two persons. Every time the groom encountered a chain, he had to 'pay off' the two people holding the chain, so he could progress to the house. There were plenty of gold chains to be 'bribed' and it looked to me that there was a two tier envelope scheme going on. One of the groom's pockets was filled with 100.-THB notes in an envelope and there was a different pocket which held envelopes with a higher amount of money! In total some 30 to 40 envelopes switched owner, which equates to about 15-20 golden chains.

The newly wed couple

We left shortly after the groom entered the house, slowly making his way to the bridal room where his soon to be wife is waiting for him.

We went home and in the afternoon, we got ready to go to the big party at Phru Chaweng, where some 2000 people were invited for the celebration.

Part of the guests

All these 2000 people show up more or less at the same time, which can cause interesting parking issues, which this time were surprisingly dealt with very efficiently. The first time I witnessed this.

All 2000 guests all want to eat at pretty much the same time and that can be an interesting happening to observe. Yesterday was well organized though and it went smoothly.

The mayor handing flowers to the newly weds for good luck

It was not only a big wedding but also a fairly 'important' wedding, since the mayor and part of his entourage showed up to give their blessings. Not a given on your average wedding on the island. I've been at weddings with even more higher up political figures coming over from the mainland but this wedding was definitely up there, with the mayor coming over.

Part of yesterday's outstanding food

The food was excellent, with starters, steamed fish, a kind of sweet pork, a salad, a soup, a curry and sweets for dessert and the inevatible bottle of Thai whiskey.

A great way to enjoy some excellent Thai food before I take off later this week for the Philippines for around three weeks.

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

Coconut workplace in Hua Thanon

If you're on your way down to the Sweet Sisters cafe, the 100 year old house or the distillery in the Ban Thale / Hua Thanon area, you may pass this very traditional coconut workplace.

The entrance to the premises

This workplace is very much Samui old style tradition! Coconuts bought around the island, for anywhere between 2-3 Baht per coconut (pending on the season, demand, etc) are gathered here and being worked on.

Piles of coconuts are everywhere

Working the coconuts

First thing is to sort them out for being usable, a job already started by the collector and secondly and very important, is splitting the coconut open with a sharp object, the sea-am เสียม, mounted on a wooden pole (as pictured below). Once the coconut is split open, it will allow access to the coconut meat, which is scraped out of the nuts and gathered.

Smouldering remains of coconuts

The coconut meat is than used for many applications, like making virgin coconut oil or coconut sun lotion. Both products are being sold here on the premises at the shop.

The sea-am เสียม is a popular decoration item and comes in many different forms and shapes. The Natural Museum in Lamai has several on display.

The splitter or sea-am เสียม

Coconut farming was the main source of income on Samui, besides fishing, back before the island was discovered as a tourist destination, back in the 1970's. Samui was one of the main providers of coconuts in Thailand, back in those days and many local people had monkeys to climb the trees and release the coconuts.

Traditionally, the 'good' or favorite children received the land plots with the valuable coconut trees inland and the less favored children or sometimes 'the black sheep' in the family received ownership of the at the time being 'useless' beach land. 

How times have changed!

The shop selling virgin coconut oil and more related articles

This workplace is one of the few places left on the island where coconuts are being processed and is well worth a visit, to see come old style and traditional handy craft work in process.

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

Manora dance at Wat Bo Phuttaram in Bophud

During the recent 'Tod Katin' ceremony at Wat Bo Phuttaram, one of the events taking place was a rather rare and exclusive Southern Thai dance which goes by the name of 'Manora' or มโนราห์.

In 15 years time living on Koh Samui, it was the first time I witnessed a Manora dance.

The Manora dance invocation by the music ensemble

The dance starts with a rather lengthy invocation, accompanied by music. The musical ensemble consists of a pair of hand cymbals, a pair of small knobbed gongs, a pair of wooden sticks, a barrel-shaped gendang, a reed instrument and a vase-shaped single headed drum.

The whole performance, a dance drama, follows a strict pattern, the music, the invocation, the customs and the moves follow a strict pattern, is my understanding. Looking at pictures from other performances, the clothes are looking all the same indeed.

As already mentioned, the dance is exclusive to Southern Thailand and a few Northern Malaysian states and is also known as Nora (โนรา) or Lakon Chatri (ละครชาตรี).

The basic features of the performance include a lengthy invocation, a dance by the main character, and a play or skit. The invocation is enacted by slow rhythmic movements of legs, arms and fingers. The dramatic repertoire of Manora performance is based on Thai legends of Manohara, derived from Buddhist Jataka tales, many of which already accultured into Malay society centuries ago

The costumes are very colorful and beautiful and the performance I witnessed was done by a Bang Po family, apparently the only Samui based troupe that can perform this dance.

This performance was a complete surprise by me, I had no idea it was scheduled and I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to be able to see another performance.

It's part of a long Southern Thai tradition and rare indeed, I hope to see it again a lot faster than having to wait another 15 years!

If you have the opportunity to witness this approximate 2000 year old dance drama whilst in Southern Thailand, make sure to make time for such an event to witness it. Well worth in my opinion and a rare insight in old Southern Thai dance drama tradition. I'm glad I could witness this at last!

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; 2nd January, 2014

Today's weather;

It's cloudy around Koh Samui this morning but there are some light openings where the sun tries to break through. Current temp at 7am is 25.4C

the Road Safety Centre yesterday reported that 266 people had been killed and 2,502 others injured in 2,355 road accidents during the first five days of the New Year holidays. The national police chief's assistant, Pol Lt-General Ruangsak Jarit-ake, reported that 57 people had been killed and 571 injured in 537 accidents on New Year's Eve alone, while drunk driving and speeding were the major causes at 47.86 and 28.49 per cent respectively. 

Traditional style houses in Nathon

Yesterday was mostly cloudy around the island with a max temp of 29C

As of today, the wind should drop and the sun should break through for the next 7 days.

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

Welcome to May 2013

The month of May on Koh Samui can be a bit of a mixed bag. In the previous 6 years of blogging about Samui's weather, it shows that in 2007 and 2008 it was not a good month, 2009 was a mixed bag and between 2010 and 2012 it was fairly good to very good weather with some rainy periods somewhere during the month.

The living room in a 100 year old year house in Ban Thale

The start of this years month is god and the first half of the month seems to look good. 

Work wise it looks busy with a PADI IDC scheduled on Koh Samui pretty much immediately upon returning from Indonesia and if everything works out, another PADI IDC in Dauin in the Philippines towards the end of the month. If the IDC in the Philippines doesn't work out, there will be plenty of running events to keep me busy this and next month after the Samui IDC.

Bring it on for May 2013!

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

Reggae Pub Chaweng, 25th Anniversary on 12th February 2013

This is my 14th year on Koh Samui and there were a few constants during this time, one of them is the Reggae Pub.

I've spend a few evenings/nights in there with friends and also some outings with my wife were had here.

The Reggae Pub is a big name in Samui's nightlife, the whole street leading up to the Reggae Pub is even named after it, Soi Reggae!

Big party ahead!

One of my memories is the drinking beer as fast as you can contest, which I won at one occasion. There must be even a picture of that floating around somewhere!

DJ Sergio is also unforgettable with the Reggae Pub. Some good times were had although now it's been a while since I last visited.

This coming 12th February a milestone in the Reggae Pub's history with the 25th Anniversary coming up and a big party is in the making.

Reggae pub, Chaweng, a trip down memory lane

If you've been there or not, the 12th February might be a a good time to be at the Reggae Pub and enjoy a good party.

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

Old style Samui; 1989

Old style Samui; 1989

It's Old style Samui; 1989 moment. Thanks to Dawn Farrell who lives since 1987 on Phuket and runs a great blog there as well, was kind enough to provide me with a couple of Koh Samui pictures dating back to 1989! Lots of thanks for allowing me to use these pictures here Dawn! Please keep in mind that all copyrights to these pictures belongs to Dawn!

It's not many times that you get such a great opportunity to travel back a little bit in time.

Old style Samui; 1989; This could be in Hua Thanon, Dawn isn't sure and stated that it was somewhere in land, away from beaches

Old style Samui; 1989; This could be anywhere on the island, really....

Old style Samui; 1989; This is in the Bang Rak - Big Buddha area, Koh Phangan is in the background

Old style Samui; 1989; Long tails at Nathon, the pier is on the right hand side with a Navy boat pictured

Old style Samui; 1989; Low tide at Nathon, looks like rain in the background

It's great to see pictures from times long gone around Samui, especially considering how the island has 'exploded'. Hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do.

If anybody has more pictures from Samui in it's early stages and would like to share them, please get in touch.

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

Rua Chak Phra around Samui

Rua Chak Phra around Samui

Yesterday we went around the island, as part of a visit to the local Immigration office and scattered around the island we encountered beautifully dressed up cars. My wife explained to me that this is part of the Rua Chak Phra or เรือชักพระ which is held each year. It's a typical Southern Thai celebration, especially famous is the Surat Thani event.

A very elaborate and colorful car in Bophud

All the Temples around Koh Samui participate and each year I tend to see some of the cars. The 12th October was the so called Ohk Pan Saa ออกพรรษา which indicates that a 3month period of Buddhist Rain retreat is finished when the monks are not allowed outside of their Temple grounds.

Man powered Rua Chak Phra in Nathon

The Rua Chak Phra was traditionally done with boats on rivers, hence the modern variations are all shaped in the form of boats. They are mostly motorized as well.

We encountered a beautiful sample of a Rua Chak Phra in Nathon, seemingly made out of teak wood and pulled by hand by local people.

The teak wooden Rua Chak Phra

All the vehicles will have the monks either sit inside or walk next to their 'Rua' and other people around the 'Rua' will asks for donations for their respective Temples, donating or giving money to a Temple is called 'Tambun' or ทำบุญ.

In the rear are more ropes to slow down the vehicle on down hill environments

The coming days you will be encountering plenty of these vehicles around Samui's roads. They may slow you down but keep in mind that it's part of a long standing tradition.

Rua Chak Phra along the road side, check the boat shape

This coming 20th October is the next 'Buddha' day (half moon) and I expect all Rua Chak Phra of the island will gather in Nathon that day. A great moment to visit Nathon and check out all this years Rua Chak Phra in full glory.

During the remainder of the year you may see the carcass of a Rua Chak Phra sitting somewhere in the corner of a Temple, waiting for the next October and it's moment of glory!

Camille

Building a well on Samui

Building a well on Samui

After yesterdays post about the drought in our garden, here's a post on how we actually get our water on Koh Samui.

Since a year or two, the government has put water pipes in the ground that are supposed to deliver water to the majority of houses, mainly if your house located near one of the major roads on Samui.

The current drought however has already disrupted this water delivery for over a couple of months in many areas and especially in the Chaweng area.

My wife's youngest sister had a problem with water delivery and her parents decided it was time to put a well in for the youngest daughter.

These wells are hand dug and take a week or two to build, pending on the local water levels and how deep the well has to be.

As can be seen in the picture above, it's a fairly simple construction with some build in sun cover.

Since our and the younger sisters houses are build on the slopes of a hill, the water levels aren't too deep and they hit water at relatively shallow depth, the reflection of the water shows clearly in the picture.

They will still dig deeper though and somebody will have to get in there and put the baskets in the water and mud to get the bottom dug deeper.

The pulley looks simple but is very effective. The hook will have a bucket attached to it and inside the well somebody will fill the buckets all day long.

This is the fortification of the actual well, once they have finished digging the concrete circle parts will be lowered into the well to prevent it from collapsing.

Like in the tunnels of the 'Great Escape' movie, loads of sand need to be disposed of and in Plai Laem it's slightly easier than in the movie, it's just heaped up behind the well construction site.

Some 9 years back these wells went for around 30.000,-THB, nowadays they range between 40 and 50K, pending on the depth the well needs.

Our well hasn't dried up since we had it build, I can only hope for the younger sister that she will be as lucky, but looking at the water ground level of her well, it looks like she will be just fine.

Camille