Camille's Samui Info blog

Monday, 11 June 2012

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 11th June, 2012

Today's weather;

Koh Samui is nice and sunny. Current temp at 7am is 26.5C

We're getting ready in Phuket to leave back home for Samui after I participated in yesterdays half marathon as part of the 7th Laguna Phuket International marathon. It's also nice and sunny down here! Current temp ay 7am is 28.2C

Nai Yang beach yesterday, near the Kasalong resort where we're staying, big waves rolling in, no swimming allowed!

Yesterday saw a nice and warm around Koh Samui with a max temp of 31.3C

Phuket was cloudy all day long with various rain showers. By the end of the day it all cleared up a bit and there was even a nice sunset. Max temp reached 31.8C

The forecast looks good for Samui, the wind has diminished a lot and sunny skies lay ahead for 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

Sunday, 10 June 2012

Race day of the 7th Laguna Phuket International Marathon

This morning saw an early wake up call of 4am, so we I could make it for the 6am start of the half marathon as part of the 7th Laguna Phuket International Marathon. After breakfast and a shave, it was off to the start line at the Laguna Phuket resort. The kids were also going to run a 2km run with a 9am start.

Yesterday during registration

This marathon is fastest growing running event on Thailand's running calendar. Last year there were 4.000 participants and this year 5.000 runner were expected. Due to the recent stretch of bad weather, in my opinion, there were again 4.000 runners this year. Just a bit over 800 marathon runners and just over 900 half marathon runners, including myself. This is the 2nd consecutive year that I participate.

During the registration process the marathon, half marathon and 10.5km runner receive a goodie bag, including a bib (your race number), a T-shirt and a time chip, there were also a 5km walk and 2km kids run

On the left this years marathon shirt and on the right my running shirt. In good running tradition you're only 'allowed' to wear the events shirt after you completed the event! Hence, my current fave running shirt on the right with the bib.

The time chip

The time chip is attached to your shoe and at the start and during the race there are electronic checks to make sure you don't take any short cuts. After the event, you can also check out your official race time online at the organizers website. Your official time is your net time, the moment you cross the starting line until the moment you cross the finish line, not necessarily the order that you cross the line.

My Vibram 5 Finger running shoes with a Suunto POD and the time chip attached and the heart rate monitor

The POD checks your distance and speed and the heart rate monitor gives your heart rate, all displayed on your computer watch. During the run you can switch through the different settings and check various information on your watch.

I was aiming for a time under two hours abut ended up with a computer time of 2:03'4.3. A little bit disappointing, even one minute slower compared to my official time last year. It was not pretty, especially the last 3km were hard and I don't think I'll ever want to run a complete marathon! The result placed me as 212th finisher of 567 that completed the run and 31st in my age category out of 75.

A storm brewing up during the kids run, but luckily it blew over

The weather was fair during the run, the route was wet with a couple of puddles here an there but it was dry with an almost complete overcast sky. It didn't rain though so the temperature was very agreeable. It was hard though but worth it! I definitely earned my finishers medal this year!All in all a great event, well organised and although shortly after the run I was thinking of never running a half marathon again, right now I can't wait for the next run although I first need to get rid of the tired legs I currently have.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 10th June, 2012

Today's weather;

Koh Samui is dry this morning. Current temp at 10am is already 30.7C

The update this morning is later than usual since I ran a half marathon in Phuket as part of the 7th Laguna Phuket International Marathon and we just got back to our hotel, a short update is coming later today. The weather is cloudy here and we had one short shower, in general I think it's an improvement over the weather they endured last week. Current temp at 10am is 25.5C

The finish line of the Laguna Phuket International marathon

Yesterday saw a nice morning around Koh Samui with overcast and a bit of rain during the afternoon. Max temp reached 32.6C

In Phuket we saw a nice morning yesterday, but around noon there was a hard storm with plenty of rain for a short while. The rest of the day was nice again and it stayed dry. Max temp reached 31.5C

The forecast for Samui is looking good, the wind is a lot less and I expect a bi of sunshine. Tomorrow we're on the road again back home.

Camille

Saturday, 9 June 2012

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 9th June, 2012

Today's weather;

Koh Samui has a nice and sunny sky again! Things are on the up again weatherwise. Current temp at 7am is 26.6C

We arrived safely in Phuket at the Kasalong Resort at Nai Yan beach, near the airport. The sky is a mixed bag with plenty of blue spots but also various layers of clouds moving along at various speeds. This looks better though than the last couple of days around Phuket. Current temp at 7am is 28.2C

Getting ready for tomorrow's half marathon in the 7th Laguna Phuket International marathon.

This morning's sky over Phuket

Yesterday saw a lovely morning around Koh Samui with splendid sunny weather. Max temp reached 32.5C

Once we crossed over to the mainland, all hell broke loose and the first 200km we had rain, at times very hard rain and the driving was intense and slow.

Near Phuket the rain subsided but near the resort it started all over again with some hard rain again during the night. Max temp reached 30.5C

The forecast for Koh Samui is looking good, still a fair bit of wind but mainly dry and sunny.

For Phuket it looks like wind and rain possibly this morning and from there on it should get better, although during our stay until Monday it probably will rain a few more times.

Camille

Friday, 8 June 2012

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 8th June, 2012

Today's weather;

Koh Samui woke up under a mostly blue sky with some clouds in that sky. It's sunny again, just as predicted! Current temp at 7am is 25.5C

Later this afternoon we will be on our way to Phuket where I will run a half marathon this coming Sunday as part of the 7th Laguna Phuket International marathon. Back on Koh Samui this Monday!

The sky over Plai Laem this morning

Koh Phangan how we saw it from Samui the last couple of days, covered in clouds

Yesterday saw a nice morning around our island with a tiny bit of drizzle during the afternoon. Max temp reached 30.5C

Samui held out very well during last week, there were some storms and a fair amount of rain but no flash flood happened and the island coped well. This in sharp contrast with Koh Lanta and Kph Phi Phi and touristy parts of Phuket, mainly the Patong area.

Thai TV shows plenty of flooded areas and through friends on Facebook I saw plenty of pictures of flood problems in the mentioned areas, the two main English news papers in Thailand however don't report a sentence on any potential flood problems in Southern Thailand this morning.

The forecast is looking nice, a lot less wind, still a few waves here and there but in general I expect sunny weather for next week.

Camille

Thursday, 7 June 2012

7th Laguna Phuket International marathon, 10th June 2012

Tomorrow we pick the kids up from school and leave for Phuket where on Sunday 10th June 2012 I will participate in the 7th Laguna Phuket International marathon. I'm planning to participate in the half marathon, just like last year.

It's one of the country's biggest events for runners and more than 5,000 runners from around the world are expected to take part in the event, which is sanctioned by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.

This will be my second half marathon that I will run and I'm planning and hoping to beat my time from last year, which was 2 hours, 2 minutes and 25 seconds. The plan is to run this year under a time of 2 hours. My last preparation today didn't go down that well though, I had no energy.

Despite the bad weather conditions, especially considering the Phuket conditions are worse compared to Samui, the forecast shows hardly any wind anymore and not too much rain. It will hopefully make for cool running.

Start of the marathon, last year

We will be back on Samui in the course of this coming Monday, so stay tuned and follow our adventures in Phuket.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 7th June, 2012

Today's weather;

The sky over Koh Samui has overcast but it is rather bright and the sun even tried to peek through earlier on. It's a bright sky and not as dark as yesterday with a lot less wind. It still may rain later today but right now it 'feels dry'. Current temp at 7am is 26.5C

A surprising sunset yesterday at Big Buddha

Yesterday saw a real good storm pass over the Koh Samui during the morning hours, after noon things started to clear up though and it remained more or less dry during the afternoon and the wind slowed down with a surprising peek of the sun just before it turned dark. The night was dry as well. Max temp reached 26.7C

The situation on Koh Samui is completely under control, besides the rather unusual rain and hard wind. There are no flash floods. Other parts in the South of Thailand have less good luck, between Ranong and Cumphon roads are blocked and a Mum and her daughter were killed in Trang when a tree fell on their house.

The forecast predicts more rain and heavy wind today but as of tomorrow things should turn for the better and more sunny and dry days should be in the cards again. Some of the strong wind may stick around though for a few more days, although not as strong as we experience currently.

Camille

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

A bridge over troubled water?

Or a bridge too far?

Recently I stumbled over this drawing of a combined bridge and tunnel from the mainland in Donsak all the way up to Koh Samui with a bypass or stopover on Koh Tan, just in front of Samui's coast.

Great plans!

At this moment I don't know how old or serious these plans are and where they originate from. Apparent costs come at a price tag of 7,500 Million Thai Baht. The text at the bottom right of the picture gives the name of the architect and that he works for the Tessabaan, the local governmental authority. The upper left logo is also a Governmental logo.

If it will go ahead, let alone if it will be completed as designed, it 's almost as long as the Penang bridge in Malaysia which measures 13.5km and is the 4th longest bridge in Asia. It took 4 years from announcement to opening of that bridge.

The idea is great and would be a fantastic addition to the islands infrastructure but will most likely gain strong opposition from the ferry operators between Samui and the mainland and possibly also from Bangkok Air. All of them may be afraid of loss in traffic and revenue.

Once officially announced, environmental organisations will have their say although it looks the Gulf of Thailand in these are is shallow enough to build such a structure.

Besides the great idea of the bridge, making for easier connections to the mainland, the internal roads around Koh Samui will have to be upgraded to be able to deal with the potential increase in traffic on the already lethally dangerous and at times clogged roads around the island. Putting a tar layer on top of the old concrete roads will most likely not be enough.

An interesting project to keep an eye out on.

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 6th June, 2012

Today's weather;

There's overcast on Koh Samui but a very weak sun is trying to send some beams through. The wind is slow this morning but already picking up and it looks like ore rain and wind will be ours today. Current temp at 7am is 24.8C

The main building at Wat Plai Laem

Yesterday saw all day long strong wind, drizzle, rain in various orders and intensity around Koh Samui. Strangely enough, the very late afternoon saw the sky open up and the sun peaked out briefly. During the night it rained some more. Big waves were part of this and apparently some of the ferry schedules around Samui and other islands got interrupted. Max temp reached 29.3C

The forecast shows a better view today. Strong wind gusts with heavy waves and rain until Friday and then it eases off again with some more wind around next week Thursday.

Camille

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Wat Plai Laem in 2012

This is my 'home' Wat or Temple. It's around the corner from where I live and over the years I've seen the temple change and grow, not only in size but also with more buildings and seemingly in importance around the island.

One of my early reports dates back to July 2007, when the main building was still under construction.

Above is the main building in full glory, it was completed around the same time that the Royally Sponsored cremation of Prakru Suntinonthakhun was held. Over the years I regularly go back just to take some pictures for the blog or I attend festivals or events at the Temple with my family, like Thaa Yai, the yearly recurring Temple fair or Temple party or just quickly hop over on the bike or pass through.

The biggest eye catcher is probably the big, multi-armed statue of Jaow Mea Guanim, a fairly unusual sight but nonetheless very impressive. This is part of the Chinese Buddhist history of Samui. I've photographed this statue various time but I really like this one during sun rise.

Another eye catching statue is the big white Buddha guy sitting with a big grin slightly in the back part of the Temple. You can reach it by walking over a bridge that is build over the small lake which houses hundreds of fish, turtles and other water animals. Food to feed the fish can be bought for 10 Baht in special vending machines. Check out this view from the Bot.

In May 2007 the Buddha statue was completed and a big heart was displayed during that years Visakha Bucha day which ended up inside the Buddha statue, filled with thousands of small Buddha amulets as blogged about here.

A function that the Temple also fulfills is that people from of all layers in society come to the Temples to have their car or motorbikes blessed by the monks and even more often people ask for blessings themselves. Above such blessing is in process with a monk and various people waiting whilst some others are being blessed.

One of the things I do like about this temple and I'm pretty sure it's the same at other temples around the island and country is that they function as social glue for the local people. At all local events, whole families show up and meet at the Temple, including cremations or moments when boys join the monk hood, a fairly big deal for each Thai family.

The Bot or the most important building of each temple.

This older Bot on the premises doesn't look that great from the outside, but once you enter inside, spectacular wall paintings surround you, left, right, in the middle and above you!

Khun Jarit Humdonming, artist of this temple, spent more than three years adding finer details to the external parts of the temple. The tradition of temple art follows the dates back to centuries and providing a good example of the influence and style that are still significant in modern Thai religious architecture. The elaborate entry doors were made from two enormous slabs of Laotian hardwood and are intricately carved with images of the life of the Buddha.

Various smaller statues are scattered around the premises, like this one in front of the Bot. Near this statue is a also a 'footstep of Buddha' to be found.

Or what about thesis monk that leads the 'wheel of life' or 'wheel of fortune' on each side of the entrance to the Bot.

The new sermon hall that I reported about in February is still under construction and slow but steady progress is being made. A proof that the Temple is constantly changing, as stated in the beginning of this blog post and the circle is round!

Wat Plai Laem should be on each person's itinerary when visiting Koh Samui, not all temples look the same! Another advantage is that once you're here, Big Buddha is just around the corner.

Camille