Blue Vanilla, souvenirs & cafe, Fisherman's Village

In Fisherman's Village you can nowadays find 'Blue Vanilla', a souvenir & cafe place, run by Khun Ning. What sets Blue Vanilla apart from all other souvenir shops around the island is the fact  that you find unique souvenirs here, that aren't on offer anywhere else.

The sign is calling you in

There are a lot of 'food' souvenirs that are nicely packed and allow you to bring something slightly different home , either as a gift or for yourself. Some samples will follow soon.

A side view of Blue Vanilla

The location of shop is also excellent, opposite our fave Italian restaurant on Samui; Juzza Pizza and it's opening times will allow you to have an early Italian dinner across the road and still get some shopping done. 

Frontal view

The cafe part is fairly low key but you get Nespresso coffe, tea, , a few beers, soft drinks and cakes, simple yet effective! All bakery goods are all home made and of great quality!

The very cosy interior

Tea and sweets

Various teas, sweets, Thai curry pastes, just to name a few can be found here and their unique packaging makes them stand out indeed. Browsing around the shop will reveal a few surprises, including exclusive vinegars and oils.

Fancy cooking a Thai curry? Here's the paste to start with

Driftwood art and more sweets

Banoffee pie

When visiting Fisherman's Village, Blue Vanilla is a nice and relaxed spot to stop, have a drink and some cake, whilst browsing all the nice things on offer. Enjoy!

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 June, 2013

Today's weather;

Once more it's a morning with a cloud cover hanging over Koh Samui. Current temp at 7am is 25.9C

Our cat 'Puy', who became Mum two weeks ago on Visakha Bucha Day

Yesterday morning saw a little bit of sunshine but soon enough clouds moved in and the longer the day lasted, the more threatening it looked. Rain didn't start though until 8.30pm but it rained hard for a short while. Yesterday also saw some strong wind. Max temp reached 30.5C

It still looks good until Sunday evening when the wind is supposed to pick up and there may be some rain 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

Big Buddha pier in Bang Rak

Everyone who traveled through Bang Rak most likely has seen the Big Buddha pier or possibly has experienced or enjoyed the pier, which could be a very different experience, totally pending on your  perspective.

The pier is mostly known for the transfers of the MV Sea Flower, a big wooden boat, to/from Koh Phangan, docking on Phangan near Haad Rin, which is well know for it's Full Moon Party, usually once every month.

View from the pier

A few times per day it can be fairly busy, when the boat departs/arrives with (Metered) Taxis and mini buses hanging around for customers or dropping them off. However, during Full Moon Party days, it can be a mad house here, especially when the Sea Flower arrives. It also can make for some amusing sights when the FMP survivors come swerving off the pier in various states of intoxication and fluorescent paint jobs done on their body.

The actual pier

Back in the days, we're talking a century ago now, late 1999 and early 2000 the dive boat for the company I worked for at the time being also departed and arrived here every day. That was some hard work loading and offloading the boat each day with over a 100 tanks at times plus equipment bags, foods, drinks etc.

How convenient, a minimart!

Next to the pier used to be a 7-11 but alas, this 7-11 burned down in 2008 after a car crashed into it and just recently a new outlet has opened up across the street. Now you can conveniently buy drinks, snacks and fluorescent FMP t-shirts at the pier while you wait for your boat to depart in the local minimart.

The view from the street, a few times per day busy, during Full moon; a zoo!

Besides the minimart, you will find a ticket outlet next to the minimart, a bathroom facility and usually there will always be a few motocycle guys hanging out if you need a transfer nearby. During the times the boat departs/arrives there will also be a few taxis hanging out.

Street sign with times and price

Price for a one way ticket is 200.-THB and the boat leaves Big Buddha pier at 10.20am, 1.00pm, 4pm and 6.30pm each day.

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; 5th June, 2013

Today's weather;

It's a very cloudy around Koh Samui this morning and the sun is not going to break through anywhere soon it seems. Current temp at 7am is 27.3C

Buddha's footprint in Wat Plai Laem

Yesterday saw a nice and sunny morning and early afternoon. Clouds moved in during the afternoon and around 7pm it started to rain with some heavy showers and occasionally some thunder and lightning during the rest of the evening. Max temp reached 34.3C

The forecast shows nice conditions from tomorrow until Sunday but strong wind and some rain after the 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

Donsak, a different view

Donsak, a different view

Most people coming or leaving Koh Samui by bus, car or motorbike just drive through Donsak and only know the place because the car ferry starts or ends here but here's Donsak, a different view!

We're in the slightly 'privileged' situation that one of my wife's best friends originates from Donsak and hence we've visited Donsak a few times on social calls.

Donsak, a different view; The Sunday market in Donsak

In all fairness, it's not a very exciting place and if it wouldn't be for my wife's friend, I doubt that we would've stopped many times. However, we did stop a few times and it every time was worth while.

Donsak, a different view; The small ferry in the harbor, connecting two sides of the river

There's also some nice nature to be found around the greater Donsak area and I'm glad we had the opportunity to visit some nice spots that only locals would know about. Just like the small stream pictured below.

Donsak, a different view; A small stream. a great location for the kids to play around for a short while and get soaking wet!

Donsak, a different view; Rubber collecting, hard work! Get up early in the morning, let's say 4am, carve a line in the rubber tree and put the 'collection box' in place. Come back late in the afternoon and collect the rubber. Go home with the rubber that's been collected that day and press in a square form, so you can sell it.

Rubber plantations are widespread all over the Thailand's Southern provinces and I was quite surprised to find some plantations near the main road.

Donsak, a different view; Kanchanadit restaurant 

About 35 to 40 km from Donsak is the small village of Kanchanadit, about which I wrote already a few times. One of the things that stands out most are the restaurants that are just outside of town and where you can eat some great and fresh seafood. They're build on stilts and go out over the mangrove swamps, that eventually lead into the Gulf of Thailand.

Great location and fantastic food! 

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 09-08-2017

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 4th June, 2013

Today's weather;

The sky over Koh Samui has a thin cloud layer, more like a haze, which hopefully will be burned away by the sun soon. Current temp at 7am is 27.7C

Angela's Diner in Maenam, one of my favorite lunch places on the island

Yesterday started out with a nice blue morning but during the afternoon clouds moved in although it stayed dry. It was warm though, with  max temp of 35C

The forecast looks great until the weekend. After the weekend the wind is about to pick up.

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 June 2013

June is in general a nice month with plenty of sunshine although you may get an occasional tropical showers, these last typically for just a short time but can be strong. Before and after the tropical showers it can and most likely will be sunny.

There can also be some nice, relaxing and cool breezes coming in.

talking about a landmark; Wat Plai Laem's Jaow Mea Guanim 

This month is almost a repeat compared to last years activities, next weekend I will participate for the third successive year in the Phuket Laguna half marathon, which will be followed by a PADI IDC on Koh Samui.

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; 3rd June, 2013

Today's weather;

It's fairly cloudy over Koh Samui but there are some blue spots in the cloud cover. Hopefully it will clear up during the day. Current temp at 7am is 27C

Sunset over Koh Samui yesterday

Yesterday saw a nice and sunny day all around he island. Max temp reached 33.2C

Te forecast predicts a strange wind burst for tomorrow with some hard rain possible during the evening. After that it should be nice and over the weekend the wind may pick up again.

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 June, 2013

Today's weather;

We're in Donsak this morning, first village you encounter driving off the car ferry coming from Samui and this morning at 6am I participated in a 10.5km run here in Donsak. My Achilles tendon is holding out fine so far after two days of racing! Today's race time was 54'00.5, not too bad considering my recent injury.

Back to the weather though, it's been partlt cloudy this morning but now there are plenty of blue spots in the sky, picking holes in the cloud cover. Current temp at 7am was 24.7C on the mainland and 27.5C on Koh Samui.

A boat in Donsak harbor

Yesterday we left Samui with the 2pm ferry and it was partly cloudy but dry, after we left it must have rained in some parts of the island. Max temp reached 32.7C

The minimarathon in Donsak

The forecast shows nice weather for the next 7 days although it may be fairly cloudy. 

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; 1st June, 2013

Today's weather;

A bit later than usual this morning, but we just got back from the Four Seasons Cancer Care Charity Fun Run in Nathon where I ran the 5km distance in 25'09.6 and finished 17th on this distance. Not too bad considering I'm having an Achilles tendon problem. Tomorrow will be another late write up, since I will be running a 10km race in Donsak early in the morning and I'm not sure when I will have access to an internet connection.

The weather on Samui island started out cloudy but slowly the sun is coming through and the temp at 7am was 27.3C and now at 10am it's 30.3C

The start and finish for this year's Four Seasons Cancer Care Charity Fun Run in Nathon

Yesterday saw a very cloudy day with some strong wind during the evening. Max temp reached 31C, it's cooling off again!

The forecast shows strong winds on Monday and smooth sailing with some overcast for the rest of the 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