Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 6th March – 12th March, 2017

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 6th March – 12th March, 2017

It's already late today but here's the Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 6th March – 12th March, 2017.

Today was a nice and warm day around around Koh Samui with a current temp at 8pm of 28C. The steady March weather held nicely on today.

Since Wednesday I find myself back on Phuket once more, for the March 2017 PADI IDC program in conjunction with PADI CDC Center 'Dive Asia'.

The weather has been stunning here, with blue skies galore each day and it was hot to steaming hot each day, with similar weather predicted for next week, Current temp at 8pm is 27.4 

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 6th March – 12th March, 2017; The main building, the Bot, at Wat Chaweng has been completely painted white and looks very impressive and beautiful now. Well worth a visit to check it out.

Last week was really nice on Koh Samui with a mix of partially clouded to blue skies without rain. Max temperatures ranged from 30 to 32C and this is exactly what early March weather should be like. It's slowly warming up, day by day almost and by the end of the month we should have the hot temperatures that April is so well known for.

Koh Samui, Thailand weekly weather update; 6th March – 12th March, 2017; The bigger but lesser known monument for the two sisters, considered heroins on Phuket, in the Thalang area, kind of in the middle of Phuket. I participated in a so called 'mini marathon' here today, a race over 10.82km which I managed in 47'57.8 minutes or a 4'25 pace and placed 5th in my age category.

The forecast for the next week is looking really good, with mostly blue skies and occasionally a partially clouded sky with maybe a short thunderstorm and shower towards or around next weekend.

Enjoy what Koh Samui has to offer and I hope you find what you're looking for on our lovely island!

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. 

Camille

Traditional herbal shop in Takua Pa

Although not really planned, today we visited a traditional herbal shop in Takua Pa, at least I didn't plan it!

A mighty big cabinet and various herbs on display inside the shop

We were visiting the Tsunami memorial in Ban Nam Khem, my family has never been there and for the children it was a good way to introduce to something visible of what the Tsunami is like (some of the pictures near the memorial, inside a small building). They heard of the tsunami but didn't really have an idea what it is all about.

Loads of herbs all over the shop, these are towards the back of the shop

From the Tsunami memorial it's not far to Takua pa and when i asked if anybody is interested to visit, my wife immediately said yes! On;y to mention once we were in the city, that she was looking for a herbal shop. Right. A gerbal shop. Those are easy to find, but, let's give it a go. 

Herbs stacked on the floor

Sometimes it really is proven that there is no such thing as coincidence, since where did I park the car to ask for directions, exactly, one shop too far. It was a matter of getting out of the car and walk back 5 meters! There's no signage or anything, so the shop is hard to find, if you don't know what you're looking for, but if it helps, it's opposite the Temple and just before the bridge. believe me, that's not too hard to find in Takua Pa. it's not that big!

The owner checking one of his herbal mixes

My wife boils the herbs in water and drinks the essence. She keeps adding water over various weeks, that's how strong there mixes are, and she just adds water every time it runs low on water.

On Samui these herbs are expensive and one time her Mum ordered herbs from Takua Pa, and although the original package is around 25-300 THB, on Samui her Mum need to pay a lot more. Now it looks like there's a hot a line established with the shop owner and he can send mixes whenever needed.

The owner in front of the impressive cabinet

Just bu describing her symptoms, the right mix can be established and within a few moments, your package is ready. However, it's need to be relative fresh, so a few days before we head back to Samui, my wife will head back to Takua Pa to pick up her bag of mixed herbs and swap phone numbers and other essential information to get a steady flow going between Takua Pa and our home on Samui.

The entrance to the shop, without any signage, you need to to know!

The wife of the owner spoke briefly to me and asked me a few questions and she re-assured my wife that I was very healthy! 

These kind places are unfortunately slowly fading out and that is a form of history and knowledge that should be kept and maintained!  Just walking into these stores, the smells are unique! The cabinet in this shop is a beauty, all these little and small drawers with writing on them, stating which herbs are stored in each drawer. Just fantastic. In Bangkok you can find really big herbal shops, in Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinese town.

I'm glad we visited this shop today and I got to see some of Thailand's tradition and old style herbal medicine, despite my earlier scepticism on being able to find the shop!

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; 10th December, 2013

Today's weather;

There's a thin cloud layer over Koh Samui and it looks like the sun is about to replace most of that, making it a potentially sunny and warm day today. Current temp at 7am is 25.9C

Today is Constitution Day in Thailand or Wan Rattha Thammanun วันรัฐธรรมนูญ, the day which commemorates the promulgation of the first permanent constitution in 1932. This is always just a few days apart from HM King Bhumibol's birthday.

The Big Buddha area

Yesterday saw a nice and dry day with hardly any wind and plenty of sunshine, which anybody on a boat trip must have appreciated. Max temp reached 30C

The forecast is looking good and the unusual dry and sunny December monsoon of this year continues. Dry and partly sunny days may be ahead with possibly some rain towards the end of next weekend.

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

Loy Kratong is here very soon, 17th November 2013

In two days, 17th November, time it's time for the yearly Loy Kratong festival or ลอยกระทง, a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and certain parts of Laos and Burma (in the Shan State).

On Koh Samui this will be celebrated at Chaweng Lake.

Loi Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November.

The traditional Loy Kratong song

Just like three years ago, in 2010, I will be in Khao Lak for the festival and will float my Kratong there.

Loi means 'to float', while krathong refers to the (usually) lotus-shaped container which floats on the water. Krathong has no other meaning in Thai besides decorative floats, so Loi Krathong is very hard to translate, requiring a word describing what a Krathong looks like such as Floating Crown, Floating Boat, Floating Decoration. The traditional krathong are made from a slice of the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily plant. Modern krathongs are more often made of bread or styrofoam. A bread krathong will disintegrate after a few days and can be eaten by fish. Banana stalk krathong are also biodegradable, but styrofoam krathongs are sometimes banned, as they pollute the rivers and may take years to decompose. A krathong is decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, incense sticks, and a candle. A small coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits. On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal or a pond, making a wish as they do so. The festival may originate from an ancient ritual paying respect to the water spirits

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 January, 2013

Today's weather;

The wind arrived as scheduled and predicted on Koh Samui. It's dry though and there are a few blue patches. Current temp at 7am is 27.5C

The initials of King Rama VI, made in 1917 at Karome waterfall in the Khao Luang national park, of which I reported yesterday on this blog, see the previous link

Yesterday wed rove back from Lan Saka under a nice blue sky for most of the day and on Samui it was a sunny day. Max temp reached 29C

The forecast predicts strong winds for all of next week and a lull on Saturday, just to pick up again after the weekend, this time with 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

Royal Ploughing Ceremony

Royal Ploughing Ceremony

Today was the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, this year being presided over by HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Photo : Charnnarong Porndilokrad

In the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and they plough a furrow in some ceremonial ground, while rice seed is sown by court Brahmins. After the ploughing, the oxen are offered plates of food, including rice, corn, green beans, sesame, fresh-cut grass, water and rice whisky.

Depending on what the oxen eat, court astrologers and Brahmins make a prediction on whether the coming growing season will be bountiful or not. The ceremony is rooted in Brahman belief, and is held to ensure a good harvest.

This year, they chose to eat grass and the Brahmin seers accordingly said there would be an abundance of food and average water.

Meanwhile, the Lord of the Plough was offered three pieces of folded cloth of different lengths and he selected one of widest length. Based on his selection, less water is foreseen. There will be a plentiful yield in low-lying farming areas but some damage may be seen in highland rice paddies.

Four consecrated ladies carry gold and silver baskets filled with rice seed, which they scatter into the newly ploughed furrow. Walking alongside the plough are Brahmans who chant and blowing conch shells.

After the ceremony, the public is allowed to collect the rice seeds as a symbol of good luck and abundance.

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

Coronation Day (วันฉัตรมงคล or wan chat-mong-kol)

Coronation Day (วันฉัตรมงคล or wan chat-mong-kol)

Every 5th May, since 1950, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the Thai nation celebrates Coronation Day วันฉัตรมงคล or wan chat-mong-kol. He was crowned Rama IX on 5th May 1950 (66 years ago) making him the world’s longest serving current head of state and the longest reigning monarch in Thai history.

He became King 4 years earlier, because he was only 18 years old, a decision was taken to allow the new monarch to complete his studies before he undertook the coronation ceremony. The official coronation took place on 5th May, 1950.

Coronation ceremonies last for three days, with Buddhist and Brahman ceremonies, concluding today with a merit making ceremony in Bangkok, where the Royal Thai Amy and Royal Thai Navy will fire a 21-gun salute to His Majesty at midday.

On May 3 there was a Buddhist ceremony at the Amarindra Vinichai Hall in the Grand Palace to pay respects to the ancestors of the Chakri House.

On Day 2 the coronation rites include a Brahmanic and Buddhist ceremony, followed on Day 3 (May 5) with a feast for Buddhist monks.

Later today decorations are bestowed on officials and civilians who have done meritorious services to the state and society.

Camille

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!

Kromluang Chumpon Khet Udomsak monument in Saphan Hin Park, Phuket

Kromluang Chumpon Khet Udomsak monument in Saphan Hin Park, Phuket

There are many monuments around Thailand for Kromluang Chumpon Khet Udomsak, father of the Royal Thai Navy. This one is in Saphan Hin Park near Phuket Town in Phuket, where this coming Sunday morning I will participate in a 10.5km run.

The entrance of the monument

Today I went for a bit of a stake out of the area for Sunday's run and stumbled over this monument. The only other monument I know of and other monument that I visited is in Pattaya, on a hill overlooking the city.

"The father of mariners"

The monument is not easily missed but does definitely not put any effort in it to attract people. Rather a place for insiders!

What I liked; a picture of Thai Navy divers!

Most likely it's used by the wives of Thai Navy personnel when they're out on the oceans of this world.

As an add on there are some marine weapons on display as well, torpedo's guns etc, nicely hidden in front of the building

In side the building are some Thai Navy ships in miniature and plenty of pictures plus some altar for prayers. All in all a simple and not overly spectacular place to visit, but if you're in the neighborhood, well worth a short visit.

The front of the whole complex is build as a Navy ship

More updates on my run and possibly Saphan Hin park on Sunday.

Camille

Chakri Memorial day

Chakri Memorial Day

Today's Chakri Memorial Day commemorates the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty and the founding of Bangkok by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke in 1782. Officially known as King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the Great Day and Chakri Dynasty Memorial Day (วันพระบาทสมเด็จพระพุทธยอดฟ้าจุฬาโลกมหาราชและวันที่ระลึกมหาจักรีบรมราชวงศ์).

For more information please check my post on Chakri Memorial Day dated 6th April 2010

Camille

Makha Bucha day

Makha Bucha day

Today is Makha Bucha day, it's an important Buddhist festival celebrated in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos on the full moon day of the third lunar month (this usually falls in February). The third lunar month is known in the Thai language as Makha (Pali: Māgha); Bucha is also a Thai word (Pali: Pūjā), meaning "to venerate" or "to honor". As such, Makha Bucha Day is for the veneration of Buddha and his teachings on the full moon day of the third lunar month.

The spiritual aims of the day are: not to commit any kind of sins; do only good; purify one's mind.

Māgha Pūjā is a public holiday in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia - and is an occasion when Buddhists tend to go to the temple to perform merit-making activities.

Makha Bucha day;A video with a song about Makha Bucha day by the slightly controversial Dhammakaya Foundation in Thailand.

Hope you enjoy Makha Bucha day, wherever you are and maybe you take part in one of the activities to observe during this day;

'TUM BOON': Making merit by going to temples for special observances, making merit, listening to Dhamma preaching, giving some donations and join in the other Buddhist activities.

'RUB SIL': Keeping the Five Precepts, including abstinence from alcoholic drinks and all kinds of immoral acts.

'TUK BARD': Offering food to the monks and novices (in the alm bowl).

Practice of renuciation: Observe the Eight Precepts, practice of meditation and mental discipline, stay in the temple, wearing white robes, for a number of days.

'VIEN TIEN': Attending the Candle Light Procession around the Uposatha Hall, in the evening of the Vesak full moon day.

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

Constitution Day

Constitution Day

Today is Constitution Day in Thailand which commemorates the promulgation of the first permanent constitution in 1932.

This is a nation wide holiday but if the National Holiday falls on a weekend day, the next Monday is usually a day off as a compensation day, just like this year's Constitution Day.

Here's a list of all public Thai holidays of 2011.

Camille

Loy Kratong 2011; the day after

Loy Kratong 2011; the day after

This year's Loy Kratong was missed out on by family. We were too tired to visit the only to spots where a celebration was going on this year; Chaweng lake and Nathon, after our trip to Surat Thani to get Thai passports for my wife and son. Both would've involved hard to find parking spots for the car and long walks to the festivities and to Nathon also a long drive.

It came as a surprise to me that Wat Plai Laem didn't stage a celebration.

Chaweng lake this morning

My wife and me where at the Chaweng lake area this morning though and it was interesting to see the aftermath of the Loy Kratong festivities here. As the picture above shows, plenty of left over Kratongs floating on the lake.

Murky water and 'empty' kratongs

All the Kratongs were emptied out by some local youth. You're supposed to clip off some bits of your finger nails and hair and put it in the Kratong, together with 9 Thai Baht, for good luck!

Usually some kids jump in the water and get their hands on the coins!

Plenty of Kratongs under the walk ways, due to the wind direction

Cleaning up was in swing along the lake, I just wonder when and if the water will be cleaned of Kratongs. I have my doubts!

Some of the Lratongs are made of bread dough, typically they're made of banana tree stems and this year i saw for the first time coconut shells being used. All natural and degradable materials, although still plenty of empty plastic bags among the debris!

More next year!

Camille

Makha Bucha Day

Makha Bucha Day

This Buddhist day commemorates two separate events that occurred on the same date 45 years apart, during the Buddha's lifetime 2,500 years ago. The first event was the coming together of 1,250 monks from all locations and directions, to meet and be ordained by the Buddha. This event occurred seven months after the Buddha began his teaching. The second event, which occurred 45 years later, was the Buddha delivering his teachings shortly before his death.

Makha Bucha Day represents a great deal in terms of the development of Buddhism in Thailand. It is a highly ceremonial event and in Thailand it's an event that was only recently revived as part of Thai Buddhist tradition. The Supreme Patriarch of the Marble Temple in Bangkok, Kittsobhana Mahathera, did this in 1957. Before 1957, the full moon day of the third lunar month was celebrated as a Buddhist Holy Day. Because of local ceremonies that occupied this day in different parts of the country, the Makha Bucha ceremonies today take on the different flavors of the various locales.

Makha Bucha day in Pattaya February 2008

At this time in the evolution of Buddhism and Buddhist principles in Thailand, it is important to understand how the majority of Thai people view Buddha and the Buddhist philosophy.

Each year the various Temples all over the country are busy with people making 'Tamboon' or making merit.

It's worthwhile checking out temple in your neighborhood and observe this religious event.

Camille

Corruption and history of the Thai ID cards

Corruption and history of the Thai ID cards

Here's an interesting article from today's The Nation which covers the current corruption in developing a new Thai ID card and it's history.

After eight years of delay and the outlay of billions of baht, the "Smart Card" project to provide all Thais with a modern ID card has become bogged down in a corruption-plagued scandal.

The project was started by the Thaksin Shinawatra government in 2004, but no investigation has ever been ordered into why Bt7.91 billion was approved for 64 million identity cards for all Thais, which were wracked with problems and divided into three lots over the past five to six years.

Only the first 12 million cards were issued completely in the first lot in 2004, after Bt888 million out of a total Bt1.67 billion was approved. These cards cost Bt74 apiece after two other bid lots were abolished following allegations of corruption.

No details are immediately available as to where the remaining half of this initial government outlay has gone.

Of a total of 26 million cards sought in the second lot at a bidding price of Bt962 million, half were awarded to IRC HST Joint Venture for Bt486.8 million, or Bt37.45 apiece. However, a complaint was lodged with the ICT Ministry, which later aborted the bid, and reopened it in 2007.

The 2007 auction sought a full 26 million cards, and ended in a Bt920-million deal awarded to VSK Joint Venture in July that year, which priced the cards at Bt35 apiece.

Of these Thai ID cards, I know the last 3 versions, not including the smart card

Bidding for a third lot - 26 million cards -was opened in June 2009. VK Joint Venture won the Bt902-million contract, which required new conditions set up by the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA). These included new designs and harder-to-crack anti-forgery features.

The third-lot cards, called IE model, were embedded with IC Chip NXP (Model P5CD080), which offers 80kb of memory. That was greater than that issued in first and second lots. This version also featured a Card Operating System - Model JCOP V 2.4.1, which complied with Global Platform version 2.1.1 requirements.

Five days after Cabinet approved the deal, on December 11 last year, then DOPA director-general Wongsak Sawasdiphanich received an Interior Ministry document asking DOPA to reconsider the contract it had just awarded.

Wongsak set up two panels to study the ministry directive. They concluded that the project should proceed further with the IE model - or for the current "partly-smart" version to be dusted off. But the vote by both panels to use a "non-smart" version was not unanimous.

On March 9 this year, the ICT ministry questioned the DOPA decision and asked for it to re-approve the IE model.

DOPA later backtracked and approved the IE model. But all agencies never explained their decisions or the reasons for their about-turns.

The inaction of all agencies involved over the issue means that anyone applying for ID cards is given a "yellow paper" permit as a temporary substitute for actual cards, like in the old days when the normal procedure for issuing an ID card took 15 days.

People seeking to obtain ID cards are not even issued the third-generation "non-smart" cards, because district officers are not sure what cards they should issue if people apply for a new card or seek to renew one that has expired.

After DOPA approved the IE model, the ICT Ministry handed 600,000 cards to the department. But days after receiving the first million cards from the ministry, DOPA rejected them all on June 14. It said the IE model violated two conditions - the front of the cards has red microtext laid across it, and the back of the card does not feature the map of Thailand.

This type of technical problem occurred previously when DOPA rejected the first six million cards many years ago - because they could not be used by the department's computer. The problem ended when Thaksin ordered DOPA to accept all cards.

It remains to be seen how the problem will be tackled this time. It may eventually be dealt with by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who needs to resolve problems between the Interior Ministry and the ICT Ministry.

Chakri Memorial Day

Chakri Memorial Day

Today's Chakri Memorial Day commemorates the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty and the founding of Bangkok by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke in 1782. Officially known as King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the Great Day and Chakri Dynasty Memorial Day (วันพระบาทสมเด็จพระพุทธยอดฟ้าจุฬาโลกมหาราชและวันที่ระลึกมหาจักรีบรมราชวงศ์).

Prior to the establishment of Chakri Dynasty (the current royal lineage), the Kingdom of Siam (former name of Thailand) was in turmoil.

Aggressive Burmese troops occupied the Northern Kingdom of Lan Na and were proceeding down south to the Siamese Royal Capital of Ayutthaya. A young man of noble Ayutthaya descent named Thong Duang (born in 1737) commanded the bitter fights in the Northern war.

Despite the efforts to fight back, they were gradually forced to fall back until the Burmese had gotten a grip on the Royal Capital.

Ayutthaya fell on April 8th, 1767 and the Siamese people fled to the city of Thonburi located further downriver on the mighty Chaophraya River.

The beautiful city of Ayutthaya was destroyed by the Burmese, temples plundered, gold and jewelry looted, monks and women were cruelly effected. But the Burmese had suffered heavily in the taking of Ayutthaya and knew the Siamese would return to take up battle. Knowing they could not hold Ayutthaya, the Burmese retreated after only one week.

War campaigns continued over the years, ebbing and flowing, until the Siamese armies united during 1779 in Thonburi. Thong Duang now known as Chakri became the military commander. He realized that the Royal Court of King Taaksin was in such disharmony because the King, weary of wars, had resorted to religion rather than addressed the needs of his subjects. The lack of leadership caused rebellions to break out. Rebels marched on Thonburi, calling for the overthrow and replacement of King Taaksin with their beloved "Chakri." As a result Chaophraya Chakri took the title "King Ramathibodi" and reigned as King Rama I from April 6 1782 until 1809.

As an experienced military campaigner, King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty knew that the city of Thonburi was vulnerable to possible Burmese attack from the west. Accordingly, he commanded that a new Capital be established across Chaophraya River. And so Krung - Thep (Bangkok) was created.

Chakri Day commemorates the founding of the Chakri Dynasty in 1782 by King Rama I. In the new capital city of Bangkok, King Rama I built the Grand Palace that now houses the Emerald Buddha. In addition, he helped release Thailand from the Burmese control, after Ayutthaya succumbed 14 years earlier.

In commemorating “Chakri Day,” the national flag is proudly displayed by the people of Thailand and both government officials and members of the community participate in traditional ceremonies, making offerings of flowers and garlands at the many statues of Kings in the House of Chakri.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King, known as King Rama IX or the ninth King of the Chakri dynasty. A Royal ceremony is performed by the King to pay respects to King Rama I the Great, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty.

With thanks to the Royal Thai Consulate General in Vancouver, Canada