Sunday 28 February 2010

Goodbye to February, 2010

Goodbye to February, 2010

It's been a good February to boost as well. Hardly any rain at all, just a few lost drops here and there and rather unusual hot for a February.

Last year saw also a very good February and in 2008 it turned wet towards the end of the month.

It was a rather quiet month for me with not that many postings but the Thai Red Cross Charity ride was a great event and the Tambun Sala Koy was a first one for me and an unexpected nice one as well.

With 3 years of blogging now under my belt I just get the feeling that I'm barely scratching the surface! There's plenty more to come!

Right now I'm in Pattaya for three days of wreck diving, so there's more to follow on this.

Stay tuned and I hope March is going to be as nice as February turned out to be.

Camille

28th February, 2010

Today's weather;

It's blue but with plenty of clouds around in Pattaya although it doesn't look like rain. Current temp at 7am is 27C.
In an hour I'll be sailing off for the first day of three days worthwhile of wreck diving.

Yesterday saw another lovely day with a blue sky all the way from Chaam to Pattaya. Max temp reached 32.7C in Pattaya.

Camille

Saturday 27 February 2010

27th February, 2010

Today's weather;

Coming from Chaam this morning where we stayed over for the night on our way to Pattaya for some new wreck diving adventures in combination with a family holiday.

A near perfect blue sky is opening up over Chaam with a current temp of 32.3C at 7am.

Sun rise over Chaam beach just before 7am

Yesterday saw Samui with a 31.2C max temp and we travelled under blue skies all the way to Chaam with only one freak moment when a truck with a snails pace hang a U turn on our side of the lane and plenty of cars at high speed came to a screeching halt and with three trucks turned upside down next to the road within the first 100 km's of our journey. You gotta love it, driving in Thailand!

Almost forgot, our car battery giving up in Surat Thani so we had to get a new one. A dry battery so folks like me don't have to check the water levels anymore.

Max temp in Chaam reached 32.3C yesterday.

Camille

Friday 26 February 2010

26th February, 2010

Today's weather;

A very early start of the day since we're off to the ferry soon, taking the 7am ferry t the mainland today. It's actually too dark to see right now what's the weather going to be like but it seems that there are no clouds and I can see a nice star studded sky. Current temp at 5.30am is around 26C

Yesterday was nice and sunny during the morning but than clouds appeared over Samui and it looked a lot like it would start to rain but I didn't see any. Max temp reached around 30C

Not sure if I will be able to get internet access tomorrow, so maybe my next update will be on Sunday.

Camille

Thursday 25 February 2010

25th February, 2010

Today's weather;

It's back to the normal schedule, partly cloudy blue skies. Current temp at 7am is 26.2C

Yesterday saw the usual weather develop after the initial shower in the morning, warm and sunny. Max temp reached 30.5C

Tomorrow we'll leave for a week in Pattaya, partly diving and partly a family holiday. We'll make a stop over tomorrow at either Prachuap Kirikhan or Cha'am, although the latter may be difficult since I expect many people to flee Bangkok tomorrow because of the court verdict against former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and the expected demonstrations and/or riots and Cha'am may be filled to the rafters with Bangkokians.

Camille

Wednesday 24 February 2010

The Thai Red Cross Charity Motorcycle ride - 2nd version and 2nd part

The Thai Red Cross Charity Motorcycle ride - 2nd version and 2nd part

As promised almost a week ago by now, here's a follow up with some more pictures of the The Thai Red Cross Charity Motorcycle ride - 2nd version around Koh Samui with a starting point at Chaweng Lake Pavilion.

There were a few choppers on display and this is a great sample of how a chopper should look like.

Almost as comfy as in a car, the controls of a Harley Davidson electra glide.

There were also some hi speed road racing machines at the ride, this one definitely springing into the foreground.

This looks really cool in my book, as if put together by old steel.

All revved up and ready to go!

24th February, 2010

Today's weather;

It was very warm already this morning but to my big surprise, there was one big, grey cloud hanging over Plai Laem with at it's outskirts blue sky all around! Even more strange, 3 drops of rain fell out soon to be followed by a real mini shower, as documented below. It will soon blow over though and become sunny and warm again although this was a very welcome shower.
A serious break in the rather monotonous weather reports of the last weeks.
Current temp at 7am is 28.5C.

Yesterday saw more of the same, warm and sunny weather with a max temp of 30.2C but it felt a lot warmer!

Camille

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Blog rolls and links

Blog rolls and links

As you may have noticed, my blog rolls have disappeared from my main page since a few days and I have them now moved to a new feature that Blogger, my blogging forum, offers; pages.

You can have a look at my brand new 'Blog Roll and Links' page by clicking on the link. The main link will be on the top left of my blog pages, so always easy to find.

Part of the reason I've changed this has been done to cut down the number of outbound links on the front page of my Samui Info and Weather blog. Although I miss the updated live bits that I could display on the front page, I will have a look at how this progresses and develops but for now I'm happy with my new page and shortly a few more pages will follow.

Camille

23rd February, 2010

Today's weather;

It's more of the same, partly cloudy and warm. Current temp at 7am is 28.3C.

Yesterday was guess what; warm and sunny! Max temp reached 30.2C.

Camille

Monday 22 February 2010

3 years of blogging and going strong!

3 years of blogging and going strong!

Can't believe it myself but it's true, just a tad bit over three years ago saw my first post on this blog on 16th February 2007; a welcoming message with a weather report.

The 18th February 2007 saw my first stand alone weather update!

My blog has changed quite a bit since my first attempts of blogging and a lot of visitors have come and gone since. Currently an average amount of 100 to 150 visitors per month visit this blog and if there's some rubbernecking to do like the 7-11 fire due to a car crashing into said 7-11 in Bang Rak in 2008 or the plane crash at Samui airport in 2008, visitors easily reach 600 to 800 or more per day.

It's been good and I still enjoy doing this, I actually have currently 4 blogs up and running and it may not be the end! A few more ideas for blogging are bubbling and just need to hatch. Have you already checked out my dive blog, my Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Thailand hotel recommendation blog?

All written from a personal perspective and/or personal experience with lots of good tips about either diving on and around Samui or your hotel choice on Samui and around Thailand.

Thanks for sticking around, I know there are some steady readers out there and welcome to all new readers and a big hello to all my fellow Thai and international bloggers that I met in the comfort of my living room sitting behind my keyboard! You guys rock!

Camille

22nd February, 2010

Today's weather;

More of the same; a blue sky with some clouds in it, it's looking like another warm and sunny day is shaping up over Koh Samui. Current temp at 7am is 27C.

Yesterday was hot and sunny. The max temp of 30C doesn't come close as to how hot it actually felt!

Camille

Sunday 21 February 2010

Tambun Sala Koy

Tambun Sala Koy

Here's a very old Samui tradition that I happen to stumble over today. My wife asked me to bring our son to her Mum and Dad at Wat Plai Laem but if they weren't at the Temple or Wat, they would be at the sea. Good luck finding it and if you have problems call Dad!

After a couple of attempts to reach empty beaches, I finally spotted a group that looked like local Temple goers to me. They were gathered at this Sala with a Grand Dad and Grand Mum inside, overlooking the ocean and taking care of and securing the health and welfare of the Plai Laem village.

This Sala used to be a lot more up North on the beach but due to a lot of construction and a lot of Westerners using the beach to party, the sala was moved south to a quieter location and can be reached now to go direction beach at the waterworks in Plai Laem.

A small boat is build, with a captain, sail and everything and set out to sea.

This boat carries pieces of nail and hair from the local Plai Laem families and food and is carried to the ocean after it's been being blessed by monks and set out out to sail the ocean and carry all bad luck away from Plai Laem.

Here's the captain of the little sailing vessel and he's named Rua Kloh or loosely translated; the person/boat that brings the bad luck away. In front of him you can see the bags filled with nails and hair of the local families.

Apparently this is done all over Koh Samui island and possibly also in other parts of Thailand as long as they're near the ocean I imagine. In Chaweng a similar sala has been build on the beach recently.
According to my wife a couple was waiting at a beach for each other and the boy found a small boat and wanted to bring it home and use the wood etc. After bringing it home he turns kind of crazy and starts to speak in various tongues.

This ceremony goes back for over 30 years that my wife can remember and she figures it's at least 50 years old if not more. The ceremony is held each year around this time of the year and if you find a small vessel like this on a beach, don't take it home, it brings bad luck!

Camille


21st February, 2010

Today's weather;

It's the same ol' same ol'; sunny, a few clouds and dry and hot. Current temp at 7am is 28C.

Yesterday was once more dry, warm and sunny. Whilst visiting the Thai Red Cross charity ride in Chaweng, I got sunburned rather quickly! Max temp reached 30C.

Camille

Saturday 20 February 2010

The Thai Red Cross Charity Motorcycle ride - 2nd version

The Thai Red Cross Charity Motorcycle ride - 2nd version

Today at around 2pm at the Chaweng lake Pavilion the 2nd Thai Red Cross Charity Motorcycle ride took I went a bit early to take some pictures of the bikes and the gathering of men and women clad in leather and black T-shirts and to smell some burned rubber and gasoline fumes.

If this doesn't sound like a motorbike meet than I don't know what does. The weather was lovely and everybody seemed to be in a good mood and and thee was a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. There was a nice mix of Thai and Western bike riders and after last years successful ride it was nice to meet up again and see them taking on Samui roads for a 2nd year running!

It wouldn't be Thailand if there wasn't a Buddha blessing and although there weren't any monks around, these ladies took care of the good luck wishes.

A group picture of the Red Cross people, organisers and the Samui Predators chapter in front with some of the Samui Pirates on this picture as well.


It was time for a 'Gentlemen, start your engines!'

The first meters of this years ride. There will be a stop in Lamai for an hour or so to get a drink and a bite and they will end in Nathon at the pier where there will be a party with drinks, food and live music by Bob Color!

Later this week some more pix.

Camille


20th February, 2010

Today's weather;

It's partly cloudy but with plenty of blue skies left for another sunny day. Current temp at 7am is 28C.

Yesterday saw more of warm and sunny and the max temp reached 30C.

Camille

Friday 19 February 2010

It's Mango season

It's Mango season

The Mango trees are heavily laden with loads of Mango's at our house in Plai Laem and they have to come down. Some of the trees are very high and if the ripe (or not so ripe) fruits fall down, they're most of the time damaged and can't be consumed or used otherwise anymore.

In Thailand the Mango is widely available and in order to get them out of the high tree tops, there are some nifty tools available, this long bamboo pole with net is just one of them. The net is attached to one end of the 3 to 4 meter long bamboo pole and has an iron frame but also two 'hooks' to loosen the mango from it's stem. In such way, the mango can be easily separated from it's stem and falls just a few centimeters into the net and you can haul the pole in and have a prefect and ideally ripe mango.

The length of these is sometimes staggering, up to 4 meters, as can be seen in this picture.

This is an end product, the mango on the right I picked out of a tree at about 3 to 4 meters height, the mango on the left is not ripe yet and fell out of a tree

It looks like we're in for a good season since the trees are indeed heavy laden this year!

Camille


19th February, 2010

Today's weather;

Once more a blue sky is shaping up over Samui with a current temp at 7am of 28.2C.

Yesterday was hot and sunny with a max temp of 30C. There was a hard wind blowing and in the evening many dark clouds gathered but no rain was spotted by me.

Camille

Thursday 18 February 2010

School year is finishing

The school year is finishing

This week we went to register our daughter for her new school. Currently she's at a pre school, in Thai called Anubaan, she is in grade 3 out of 3 so she needs to go the 'real' school next school year.

We chose the Bophud school for her despite having one school around the corner at Wat Plai Laem. The Bophud school gets the thumbs up and here are the kids all lined up for the school day starts, looks like she will learn to be disciplined there.

Camille

18th February, 2010

Today's weather;

A very blue sky is ruling over Samui right now with a current temp of 28.1C.

Yesterday was once more warm and sunny with a max temp of 30.2C.

Camille

Wednesday 17 February 2010

17th February, 2010

Today's weather;

Blue, sunny and a few clouds. Current temp at 7am is 28.1C

Yesterday saw more of the same blue and sunny stuff with a max temp of 29.5C.

The PADI IE was also successfully completed yesterday.

Camille

Tuesday 16 February 2010

16th February, 2010

Today's weather;

A near blue sky is shaping up above our house this lovely morning. Current temp at 7am is 27.7C.

Yesterday was sunny and hot, once more. How come you haven't booked your holidays to Samui yet or should you ask yourself, how come I'm not there right now? Max temp reached 30C.

Camille

Monday 15 February 2010

15th February, 2010

Today's weather;

It's slightly cloudy today but with still plenty of blue spots for a decent sun shower or sun bath. Current temp at 7am is 28C.

Yesterday the current IDC that I was teaching finished and later today the PADI IE starts at World Resort in Bophud.

Yesterday saw plenty of sunshine and it found it slightly hotter than previous days. Max temp reached 29.5C.

Camille

Sunday 14 February 2010

14th February, 2010

Today's weather;

Another blue sky with a few clouds is shaping up. Current temp at 7am is 28.1C.

Yesterday was warm with plenty of sunshine all day long. Max temp reached 29.8C.

Camille

Saturday 13 February 2010

Chinese New Year 2010

Chinese New Year 2010

The second of the three New Years that are celebrated in Thailand is happening right now; the Chinese New Year and that will be the Year of the Tiger.

We had our traditional Western New Year earlier this year and in April Songkran or the Thai New Year will blast over Thailand.

As already mentioned in today's weather update, very early on there was the sound of fire crackers going on all over the place and around our house. A habit that should ward off the evil spirits for a year.

At World Resort where I'm currently teaching an IDC there are many offerings at the various shrines located throughout the resort since the family that owns World Resort have a Chinese background and many original Samui family have also a Chinese background with most of the roots coming from the island of Hainan.

This is also a time of the year when many people travel around the country in order to visit relatives and friends.

Camille


13th February, 2010

Today's weather;

Hazy with lots of blue waiting for the sun to burn the haze away. Current temp at 7am is 24.5C

Yesterday was warm and sunny for a change! February is definitely delivering the goods and the forecast for all of next week is just more sunshine! Max temp reached 30C

All around our house fire crackers are going off as part of the Chinese New year events, officially starting tomorrow.

Camille

Friday 12 February 2010

12th February, 2010

Today's weather;

There's a haze above our part of Samui and the current temp at 7am doesn't go above 24.3C

Yesterday saw once more a warm and sunny day. Max temp reached 29.9C

Camille

Thursday 11 February 2010

11th February, 2010

Today's weather;

It's cloudy but it doesn't really look like rain and there's plenty of sunshine all day long, actually the sun shines brightly all day long, so far this month. Current temp at 7am is 28.5C, slightly warmer than usual around this time of the day.

Yesterday saw more clouds during the day than I expected in the morning but it was warm and sunny all day long with a max temp of 29.8C.

Camille

Wednesday 10 February 2010

10th February, 2010

Today's weather;

Blue and white but mainly blue! Current temp at 7am is 27.8C

Yesterday was warm and sunny. Max temp reached 30C

Camille

Tuesday 9 February 2010

9th February, 2010

Today's weather;

A lovely, near blue sky is hanging above us with a current temp at 7am of 27.8C

Yesterday saw more of those lovely blue skies mixed in with a few clouds and a max temp of 29.6C

Camille

Monday 8 February 2010

8th February, 2010

Today's weather;

Another blue sky with a few clouds in it is shaping up over Koh Samui this morning. Current temp at 7am is 27.4C

Yesterday was warm and sunny, once more! Max temp reached 30C

Camille

Sunday 7 February 2010

7th February, 2010

Today's weather;

It's partly cloudy with a curret temp at 7am of 28C.

There are not that many posts about other Samui related topics because I'm currently teaching an IDC again, see my diveblog. Later this month I will have more time to post about other topics again.

Yesterday was warm and sunny. Max temp reached 32C

Camille

Saturday 6 February 2010

6th February, 2010

Today's weather;

Some clouds are visible in a predominantly blue sky this morning. Current temp at 7am is 27.7C

Yesterday started out with an almost clear blue sky but during the day more and more clouds come into view, however never threatening to rain. Max temp reached 29.7C

Camille

Friday 5 February 2010

5th February, 2010

Today's weather;

A perfect blue sky is shaping up over land this morning with a current temp at 7 am of 27.7C.

Yesterday was nice and warm all day long although there was a shower very, very early in the morning in Chaweng and Bophud. Max temp reached 29.8C

Camille

Thursday 4 February 2010

4th February, 2010

Today's weather;

Mainly blue skies with some random clouds, it's good to be in Samui right now! Current temp at 7am is 28C

Yesterday saw a nice and warm day with a max temp of 30C

Camille

Wednesday 3 February 2010

3rd February, 2010

Today's weather;

A near perfect blue sky is showing off over Plai Laem this morning with more of this weather predicted for the next 7 days. Current temp at 7am is 24.7C

Sunset over Bang Rak yesterday

Yesterday saw an all day sunny day with a max temp of 29.8C

Camille


Tuesday 2 February 2010

2nd February, 2010

Today's weather;

It's partly cloudy but the majority of the sky shows blue. Current temp at 7am is 27.5C

Yesterday saw a sunny and warm day with a max temp of 29.7C

Camille

Monday 1 February 2010

Welcome to February 2010

Welcome to February 2010

Usually February is a nice month with plenty of sunshine and not too much rain.
The first week of this month looks like there's going to no rain at all with plenty of sun.

It's a also a fairly quiet month during which you may obtain some good deals on rooms since Samui is in low season. (Oops, my mistake! February seems to mingle in the high season months, especially due to the fact that Chinese New Year falls in February this year.)

Hope to see you around Samui shores!

Camille

1st February, 2010

Today's weather;

February kicks off rather nicely with a blue sky shaping up although it's a bit hazy with some big clouds in the far distance. Current temp at 7am is 27.4C

Yesterday saw a lovely blue sky all day long with a max temp of 30C

Camille