Today's weather;
It's a mix today, dark grey clouds are fighting with the sun for supremacy but at the moment the sun is having the upper hand. Current temp at 7 am is 26.2C
Yesterday was a mixed day, in the morning there was lots of rain and in the afternoon it dried up with a max temp of 29C
Today is the last day of our daughters one month long school holiday, much to the delight of my wife! Due to the bad weather there wasn't that many outdoor options for them so it gets very busy at times with a 2 and a half year old and an almost 5 year old in the house all day.
Camille
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Goodbye to October
Goodbye to October of 2007 indeed.
This was by far the worst October on Samui in my 8 years here and it's a good thing to wave goodbye to it.
The beginning of October was still good and sunny but by mid month the rain started and it came down relentlessly. I only witnessed so much rain in November 2005. Talking about November, that's normally the wettest month so I don't know what that is going to mean next month...............
October being so wet as it was this year is unusual so let's hope for the better and November is getting better, last year in November it was nice and sunny until the end of November.
Camille
This was by far the worst October on Samui in my 8 years here and it's a good thing to wave goodbye to it.
The beginning of October was still good and sunny but by mid month the rain started and it came down relentlessly. I only witnessed so much rain in November 2005. Talking about November, that's normally the wettest month so I don't know what that is going to mean next month...............
October being so wet as it was this year is unusual so let's hope for the better and November is getting better, last year in November it was nice and sunny until the end of November.
Camille
30th October, 2007
Today's weather;
It's grey and wet again this morning although the sun is fighting harder than yesterday and it does look slightly better. Current temp at 7 am is 24.3C
Yesterday was wet all day until around 5 pm when all of a sudden the sky cleared up and the sun came through. Max temp reached only 26.8C
Camille
It's grey and wet again this morning although the sun is fighting harder than yesterday and it does look slightly better. Current temp at 7 am is 24.3C
Yesterday was wet all day until around 5 pm when all of a sudden the sky cleared up and the sun came through. Max temp reached only 26.8C
Camille
Sunday, October 28, 2007
29th October, 2007
Today's weather;
This morning it's not looking too great, it's grey and wet again and there's a drizzle coming down right now at 9 am. At 7 am the temperature is 25.7C
Yesterday was a fantastic day, during the night it stayed dry and all day long we had sunshine with just a few scattered clouds around. The PADI IE which was completed yesterday ended in a very nice way. Max temp reached 29.8C and it was just great to have a dry and sunny day again.
This morning it's not looking too great, it's grey and wet again and there's a drizzle coming down right now at 9 am. At 7 am the temperature is 25.7C
Yesterday was a fantastic day, during the night it stayed dry and all day long we had sunshine with just a few scattered clouds around. The PADI IE which was completed yesterday ended in a very nice way. Max temp reached 29.8C and it was just great to have a dry and sunny day again.
Hidden Seafood Restaurant
Family Sunday outing as usual......we like to try out the seafood at Gelang Patah, almost 40km away from my house. And it's took us about an hour to reached.
1645 hrs, we walked around the Gelang Patah old town, just simple as only 2 rows of shops and houses. It's unique that you won't easily see it at the Johor Bahru city.
At the end of the shops, that's the one! - Restaurant Chua Kee. (N1°26.787 E103°35.340)
The drink serve at the side.......
The reason I call this hidden restaurant, is because the special location along the river side. You will easily miss out if you don't notice the small lane.
While waiting for the foods, we can see customers walk in non-stop after 1730 hrs. The restaurant is full of customers between 30 minutes only.......
We ordered :-
* Sweet sour clam
(Fresh and delicious!)
* Honey Fried chicken wing
(Special recipe, worth trying!! My wife loves it very much!)
* Black pepper butter crab
(Fantastic! The pepper taste perfectly while you bite it! And I love the butter flavor that stuck around your mouth!)
* S'pore mee hoon
(Better than average)
Because of the environment so nice, it's make me took a bottle of Heineken.
The Restaurant serve great foods and the prices are cheap, compare with JB area.
The total damage was only MYR51.00 (Foods only)
After finish, we walked around the restaurant, and discover this old wooden house beside the river.
That's end our Sunday outing by another hour driving back home.
They had swifted to the new location : N1°26.807' E103°35.271'
Map of the new location
View Larger Map
Location of Restaurant Chua Kee
1645 hrs, we walked around the Gelang Patah old town, just simple as only 2 rows of shops and houses. It's unique that you won't easily see it at the Johor Bahru city.
At the end of the shops, that's the one! - Restaurant Chua Kee. (N1°26.787 E103°35.340)The drink serve at the side.......The reason I call this hidden restaurant, is because the special location along the river side. You will easily miss out if you don't notice the small lane.While waiting for the foods, we can see customers walk in non-stop after 1730 hrs. The restaurant is full of customers between 30 minutes only.......
We ordered :-* Sweet sour clam
(Fresh and delicious!)
* Honey Fried chicken wing
(Special recipe, worth trying!! My wife loves it very much!)
* Black pepper butter crab
(Fantastic! The pepper taste perfectly while you bite it! And I love the butter flavor that stuck around your mouth!)
* S'pore mee hoon
(Better than average)
Because of the environment so nice, it's make me took a bottle of Heineken.The Restaurant serve great foods and the prices are cheap, compare with JB area.
The total damage was only MYR51.00 (Foods only)
After finish, we walked around the restaurant, and discover this old wooden house beside the river.That's end our Sunday outing by another hour driving back home.They had swifted to the new location : N1°26.807' E103°35.271'
Map of the new location
View Larger Map
Wat Manik
I imagine Manik temple and the surrounding Manik area of Phuket is not on most visitors "must see" lists, but if you are passing this area near Cherng Talay, on the road between the Heroine's Monument and Surin Beach, you can find a very nice local temple and a very green and as yet relatively undeveloped area of Phuket. We took a drive around this area a few weeks ago - it's a habit of ours to follow back roads, plus I had read about a waterfall in the Manik area, so we tried to find it...
We followed one dirt side road for several miles up into the hills. The road became narrow and twisty and steep. And we don't have a 4x4. The hillside was covered in rubber plantations and in the valley below was a small waterfall, though I guess not the one I had read about. The road suddenly ended and I had to make something like a 15 point turn to point the car back downhill!
Oh well, no waterfall, but the surrounding scenery is lovely in this part of Phuket.
Being a fan of temples, I wanted to stop at Manik Temple (Wat Manik) for a quick look. Another well cared for and peaceful local temple. You can't find much information about it, though apparently several dogs that live at the temple are looked after by the Soi Dog Foundation. Can't say I saw any dogs, but I did like the temple. Just down the road a few km is Cherng Talay temple, and also along the same road is Bang Tao Mosque - the largest mosque in Phuket. So, if you like religious architecture, this is a road worth exploring... We'll have to try another time to find the waterfall, though.
• Wat Manik on Google Earth
• Do you like temples? Read about more Temples in Phuket...
We followed one dirt side road for several miles up into the hills. The road became narrow and twisty and steep. And we don't have a 4x4. The hillside was covered in rubber plantations and in the valley below was a small waterfall, though I guess not the one I had read about. The road suddenly ended and I had to make something like a 15 point turn to point the car back downhill!
Oh well, no waterfall, but the surrounding scenery is lovely in this part of Phuket.
Being a fan of temples, I wanted to stop at Manik Temple (Wat Manik) for a quick look. Another well cared for and peaceful local temple. You can't find much information about it, though apparently several dogs that live at the temple are looked after by the Soi Dog Foundation. Can't say I saw any dogs, but I did like the temple. Just down the road a few km is Cherng Talay temple, and also along the same road is Bang Tao Mosque - the largest mosque in Phuket. So, if you like religious architecture, this is a road worth exploring... We'll have to try another time to find the waterfall, though.
• Wat Manik on Google Earth
• Do you like temples? Read about more Temples in Phuket...
Saturday, October 27, 2007
28th October, 2007
Today's weather;
There's still hope! This morning we woke up to sunshine, not full blasting blue skies but still, sunshine in the morning, in between the clouds! Gives for a different feeling. Current temp at 7 am is 25.1C
Yesterday was a rather nice day, in the morning sunshine and in the afternoon bits and pieces of rain but not as hard and long anymore as it used to do. The flooding on the roads is subsiding so things all around are on the up again!
Chaweng Beach yesterday morning at 8am in front of Centara Hotel.
The garden at Centara Hotel, yesterday morning at 8am, which gives a good feel about the sun being out again.
Camille
There's still hope! This morning we woke up to sunshine, not full blasting blue skies but still, sunshine in the morning, in between the clouds! Gives for a different feeling. Current temp at 7 am is 25.1C
Yesterday was a rather nice day, in the morning sunshine and in the afternoon bits and pieces of rain but not as hard and long anymore as it used to do. The flooding on the roads is subsiding so things all around are on the up again!
Chaweng Beach yesterday morning at 8am in front of Centara Hotel.
The garden at Centara Hotel, yesterday morning at 8am, which gives a good feel about the sun being out again.Camille
Friday, October 26, 2007
Added new link with radar pictures
Just added a new weather related link.
You can find it here, it shows a radar picture of clouds over Surat Thani and you can look at various provinces in Thailand.
You can find it here, it shows a radar picture of clouds over Surat Thani and you can look at various provinces in Thailand.
27th October, 2007
Today's weather;
It's not getting that much better, woke up this morning just before 7am and it was raining again. It's just past 7am now and the sun is trying to break through, it's fairly bright. Current temp is 23.8 at 7am.
Yesterday saw lots of rain in the morning hours and it dried up a bit in the afternoon although it still drizzled on a few times.
Yesterday also saw the Full Moon party on, wonder how they all got on Koh Phangan.
Finally got around to post an update on the current IDC as well, with an update of the PADI IE in the pipeline by tomorrow on my dive blog.
Camille
It's not getting that much better, woke up this morning just before 7am and it was raining again. It's just past 7am now and the sun is trying to break through, it's fairly bright. Current temp is 23.8 at 7am.
Yesterday saw lots of rain in the morning hours and it dried up a bit in the afternoon although it still drizzled on a few times.
Yesterday also saw the Full Moon party on, wonder how they all got on Koh Phangan.
Finally got around to post an update on the current IDC as well, with an update of the PADI IE in the pipeline by tomorrow on my dive blog.
Camille
Thursday, October 25, 2007
26th October, 2007
Today's weather;
Although it's grey and rained already today, it's drizzling right now at 8.45 am, it isn't as dark grey as it was the previous days. It's currently 24.5C at 7.am
Yesterday was a fairly nice day with just a little bit of rain and the sun being out again for large stretches. Max temp reached 29.3C, what a little bit of sunshine can't do!
Camille
Although it's grey and rained already today, it's drizzling right now at 8.45 am, it isn't as dark grey as it was the previous days. It's currently 24.5C at 7.am
Yesterday was a fairly nice day with just a little bit of rain and the sun being out again for large stretches. Max temp reached 29.3C, what a little bit of sunshine can't do!
Camille
EVOSS 25th Oct 2007
It's was a HP Customer Day Conjunction with ACE Archery Center from Skudai Parade and held at Austin Hill Resort.
The GPS session was over when I reached......the briefing was conduct by Mr Mark Teh (The owner of the Archery Center).
And follow by the archery game......
The buffet dinner started at the same time when Gerkeng & his family arrived......
During the dinner, Mr Mark giving out the prizes for the top 3 Archery Contest, follow by Q & A goodies......then The Lucky Draw of the night.
Everyone go back with prizes.......
The GPS session was over when I reached......the briefing was conduct by Mr Mark Teh (The owner of the Archery Center).
And follow by the archery game......
The buffet dinner started at the same time when Gerkeng & his family arrived......
During the dinner, Mr Mark giving out the prizes for the top 3 Archery Contest, follow by Q & A goodies......then The Lucky Draw of the night.
Everyone go back with prizes.......Wednesday, October 24, 2007
25th October, 2007
Today's weather;
It's not as grey as the previous days and I've spotted a small blue spot in the sky as well this morning before 7am. The sun is even trying to pry through the clouds, very bleak but nonetheless. Temp right at 7 am is 24.8
Yesterday started out bad, hard wind and more rain and more roads were flooded, as if the drainage system was about to collapse. However, in the afternoon things changed for the better and we had the first sunshine and patches of blue sky again!
Today we're about to finish the current IDC with a trip to Koh Tao to complete the final Open Water dive, which we had to postpone yesterday. Keep tracking progress at my dive blog.
It's not as grey as the previous days and I've spotted a small blue spot in the sky as well this morning before 7am. The sun is even trying to pry through the clouds, very bleak but nonetheless. Temp right at 7 am is 24.8
Yesterday started out bad, hard wind and more rain and more roads were flooded, as if the drainage system was about to collapse. However, in the afternoon things changed for the better and we had the first sunshine and patches of blue sky again!
Today we're about to finish the current IDC with a trip to Koh Tao to complete the final Open Water dive, which we had to postpone yesterday. Keep tracking progress at my dive blog.
PayPerPost.com
I just sign up with payperpost.com. With the referrals from Malaysiabloggers.com & Making Easy Money Online blog.
Found this site from the blog and GOOD reviews from the forum, I decided to give a try. I've been looking for some opportunity from internet quite some time, and I feel this is a good chance for me!
Reviewing website was one of my favorite since I got connected, just cannot find anywhere in the internet to fulfill it.....until I see PayPerPost.com. I sign up immediately without consideration and hope more and more opportunities will come towards me......
And I wish to learn to write professionally through this website review program.
Basically, it's a pay to blog program. Review the blogs you visited before, waiting for approval and get pay. Sound easy? Yes, as easy as start from here.
It can be very interesting if you love to review.
Thanks.
Found this site from the blog and GOOD reviews from the forum, I decided to give a try. I've been looking for some opportunity from internet quite some time, and I feel this is a good chance for me!
Reviewing website was one of my favorite since I got connected, just cannot find anywhere in the internet to fulfill it.....until I see PayPerPost.com. I sign up immediately without consideration and hope more and more opportunities will come towards me......
And I wish to learn to write professionally through this website review program.
Basically, it's a pay to blog program. Review the blogs you visited before, waiting for approval and get pay. Sound easy? Yes, as easy as start from here.
It can be very interesting if you love to review.
Thanks.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
24th October, 2007
Today's weather;
Same old same old, grey and wet, it's raining right now at 7.20am and on top of that the wind has joined the party as of this morning. Temp right now is 25.4C
Yesterday was wet and grey as well. Rain most of the day with a max temp of 26.2C.
These shots were taken yesterday and are directly around the corner of my house, this picture shows how deep the water is, between my house and the local 7-11.
Same old same old, grey and wet, it's raining right now at 7.20am and on top of that the wind has joined the party as of this morning. Temp right now is 25.4C
Yesterday was wet and grey as well. Rain most of the day with a max temp of 26.2C.
These shots were taken yesterday and are directly around the corner of my house, this picture shows how deep the water is, between my house and the local 7-11.
This picture gives an idea how long the stretch of water is, I'm not half way yet and the car at the opposite side is already in the water.
This is one of the pumps in action all around the island at critical points. This pump is located at the Bophud traffic lights.
Camille
Monday, October 22, 2007
23rd October, 2007
Today's weather;
No change unfortunately and it's starting to wear thin! Grey, wet and half of the day it seems to be raining. Current temp at 7 am is 24C
Yesterday was the same as this morning, grey and wet and max temp reached 27.2C
Weather forecasts aren't very promising neither. In my 8 years on Samui I can't think of a rainy season starting this early.
Camille
No change unfortunately and it's starting to wear thin! Grey, wet and half of the day it seems to be raining. Current temp at 7 am is 24C
Yesterday was the same as this morning, grey and wet and max temp reached 27.2C
Weather forecasts aren't very promising neither. In my 8 years on Samui I can't think of a rainy season starting this early.
Camille
22nd October, 2007
Today's weather;
This post is about 10 hours later than usual, since this morning we had a power cut and I didn't have access to my internet connection until now, just after work, almost 5 pm.
It's not been a great day though, again, pretty much all day rain and loads of roads have water running over the road or are just completely flooded. Current temp is 24C.
Yesterday was rain all day with a max temp of 28.2C
This post is about 10 hours later than usual, since this morning we had a power cut and I didn't have access to my internet connection until now, just after work, almost 5 pm.
It's not been a great day though, again, pretty much all day rain and loads of roads have water running over the road or are just completely flooded. Current temp is 24C.
Yesterday was rain all day with a max temp of 28.2C
This shows the road around the corner of our house, this afternoon, on the way to the local 7-11. Lots of roads around the island are submerged just like this.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
21st October, 2007
Today's weather;
It's grey and everything was wet this morning. Right now at 7.30 am it started to rain again. Max temp at 7 am was 24.3C.
Yesterday was one to quickly forget, rain pretty much all day long. Had a day off from work, and with the oldest having her holidays from school, there wasn't much to do unfortunately, so we went shopping at Makro and Big C, which pleased them nonetheless.
Max temp reached 27.8C and due to the almost non stop rain, many roads were flooded, some knee high! Water pumps are put in place at well known hot spots to pump excessive water away!
It's the rainy season at it's 'best'.
Here's a link to an article in the Bangkok based, English language newspaper 'The Nation' about warnings being issued for flash flooding in Southern provinces or have a look at the Thai Meteorological site.
Camille
It's grey and everything was wet this morning. Right now at 7.30 am it started to rain again. Max temp at 7 am was 24.3C.
Yesterday was one to quickly forget, rain pretty much all day long. Had a day off from work, and with the oldest having her holidays from school, there wasn't much to do unfortunately, so we went shopping at Makro and Big C, which pleased them nonetheless.
Max temp reached 27.8C and due to the almost non stop rain, many roads were flooded, some knee high! Water pumps are put in place at well known hot spots to pump excessive water away!
It's the rainy season at it's 'best'.
Here's a link to an article in the Bangkok based, English language newspaper 'The Nation' about warnings being issued for flash flooding in Southern provinces or have a look at the Thai Meteorological site.
Camille
Friday, October 19, 2007
20th October, 2007
Today's weather;
It's starting out slowly today with a grey sky and rain. Today is our day off during the IDC and I could sleep in a little bit, but around my usual wake up time, 6.30 am, there was a massive thunder and rain storm going on. Now, around 9.30 am it's drizzling again and it's still grey with a current temp of 25C around 7 am.
Yesterday was wet in the morning but more or less dry during the rest of the day. Max temp reached 28.9C
Camille
It's starting out slowly today with a grey sky and rain. Today is our day off during the IDC and I could sleep in a little bit, but around my usual wake up time, 6.30 am, there was a massive thunder and rain storm going on. Now, around 9.30 am it's drizzling again and it's still grey with a current temp of 25C around 7 am.
Yesterday was wet in the morning but more or less dry during the rest of the day. Max temp reached 28.9C
Camille
Phuket Vegetarian Festival Photos
I have to say, as a seasoned traveler, and 8 year resident of Phuket, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a real buzz. The street processions are so full of life, full of noise, full of people, full of magic... and what goes on in the temples at night is almost other worldly. There is something special going on here, this is no show, this is not make believe. This is very real.
I would still like to see more next year, there is so much to experience during the festival. Over the last week I have been sticking to the Jae food (albeit washed down with a few beers), and I have been into Phuket Town on 2 mornings for the street processions. The processions start early, around 7 - 7:30am, nearly every morning during the festival. In the evenings at various shrines are such activities as fire walking and "bladed ladder climbing", but I never seem to have time to see all that. So... roll on 2008!
I took more than 250 photos, so this blog post might get a bit long.... I will try to be selective. These pictures were all taken during the processions on 17th and 18th October from the Jui Tui Shrine and Kathu Shrine. Oh, and if you don't have a fast internet connection, sorry. Get one.
The photos above were all from the 17th - the street procession from Jui Tui shrine, one of the largest in Phuket, found near the market in Phuket Town. The following day was the procession of Kathu Shrine. They actually walk from Kathu into town (about 7km) before starting the walk around town. I followed this procession last year (see Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2006). Next year I really must get to the shrine at 5am and see what goes on in the wee hours before the procession.
On with the show....
After all that, I am quite exhausted! Now that the festival is over, I must say a steak would be nice. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is something not to be missed - dates for 2008 : 28 September - 7 October. Hope to see you in Phuket!
(Added 2008):
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival Pictures 2008
I would still like to see more next year, there is so much to experience during the festival. Over the last week I have been sticking to the Jae food (albeit washed down with a few beers), and I have been into Phuket Town on 2 mornings for the street processions. The processions start early, around 7 - 7:30am, nearly every morning during the festival. In the evenings at various shrines are such activities as fire walking and "bladed ladder climbing", but I never seem to have time to see all that. So... roll on 2008!
I took more than 250 photos, so this blog post might get a bit long.... I will try to be selective. These pictures were all taken during the processions on 17th and 18th October from the Jui Tui Shrine and Kathu Shrine. Oh, and if you don't have a fast internet connection, sorry. Get one.
The photos above were all from the 17th - the street procession from Jui Tui shrine, one of the largest in Phuket, found near the market in Phuket Town. The following day was the procession of Kathu Shrine. They actually walk from Kathu into town (about 7km) before starting the walk around town. I followed this procession last year (see Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2006). Next year I really must get to the shrine at 5am and see what goes on in the wee hours before the procession.
On with the show....
After all that, I am quite exhausted! Now that the festival is over, I must say a steak would be nice. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is something not to be missed - dates for 2008 : 28 September - 7 October. Hope to see you in Phuket!
(Added 2008):
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival Pictures 2008
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