Welcome to July 2008

Welcome to July 2008

We just had a reasonable June and I hope that this coming July will improve compared to last June and July last year.

July can have the occasional rain shower, but it should be short and sweet, cool everything down for an hour and so and then sunshine again. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Camille

1st July 2008

Today's weather;

It's slightly cloudy today with some sporadic blue patches and a current temp at 7 am of 26.1C.

Yesterday was a warm and dry day with plenty of sunshine. Max temp reached 32.1C.

Congrats to Thai tennis player Tamarine Tanasugarn who as first Thai player ever, reached the Wimbledon quarter finals.

Camille

His Majesty The King's Isaan Palace near Sakhon Nakhon

His Majesty The King's Isaan Palace near Sakhon Nakhon

As last post for this June, a bit of a special treat; During our Isaan trip, earlier this year in January we visited The King's Isaan Palace near Sakhon Nakhon. It took me a mere 5 months before I got around posting these pictures.




King Bhumibol or Rama IX, has a Palace in each part of the country, in the South there's a Palace near Prachuap Khirikhan. Pictured above is the entrance, the Palace is located near the start of a very beautiful drive through the mountains from Sakhon Nakhon to Korat also known as Nakhon Ratchasima.

Here's a view of the actual Palace, although it looks more like a massive villa, with all modern days luxury and commodities.

The actual palace is located in lush gardens and there are two main villa's next to each other, one for the HM King and one for his 2nd Daughter. The other residencies for the Queen and the other children are located in a different area, not too far away.

This pictures a kind of cat walk were parties are held and for instance private fashion shows are held.

A view taken from the front of the villa.

A view at the rear of the main building.

Around the various buildings, details are very intricate, as this roof Kinnaree shows.

Beautiful handcrafted ornaments are displayed, like this magnificent Chinese style vase. This vase is about the same size as my at that time 5 year old daughter.

A view of some of the fauna and gardens surrounding the compound.

The place has also a big helicopter landing pad and is heavily armed and guarded by special army units and we were very lucky to be shown around a little bit off the 'beaten track'.

It was a very nice setting which I can highly recommend to visit if in the neighbourhood.

Camille

Goodbye to June 2008

Goodbye to June 2008

It's that time of the month again! June 2008 is coming to an end, with Spain as deserved European champions, congrats to them, it was a long wait for them! I enjoyed the first three games of the Dutch team and was amazed by and full of respect for the Russian performance against Oranje.

Anyway, back to the June weather, this month started out rather slowly with some wet days but towards the end of the month it turned into a nice, mostly sunny and dry month.

Am looking forward to July, where the good weather hopefully will continue!

Don't forget to visit the Top 100 Thailand Blogs site and vote for my blog, you can find me there as Camille on Samui, currently around the 40th spot!

If you enjoy reading this blog, you can support me by donating via PayPal and by visiting my Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Thailand hotel recommendation blog and book your reservations through them. Thanks!

If you're into diving, visit my dive blog or my Samui diving website. Dive conditions during July should be good.

Also keep sending in those comments, it let's me know that somebody out there is reading my blog. Hope you enjoyed visiting this blog during this month and I'm looking forward seeing you again next month.

Camille

30th June, 2008

Today's weather;

A medium sized white haze with a few blue spots is currently active over Samui with a current temp of 26.5C.

Yesterday was another hot and sunny day with a max temp of 32.8C.

Camille

Namuang Waterfall, Baan Namuang

Namuang Waterfall, Baan Namuang

Today was finally a Sunday since a while that I could spend with the family. We decided on a trip around the island, something we tend to do on a regular base.

After having driven through Hua Thanon, where I took some pictures of some old style traditional Samui/Hainan houses, we went via Baan Tong Krut, where there's a rum distillery on which I like to report at a later time, when they're in season, around December to April to Baan Taling Gnaam, where we had a quick glance into the Wat Kiri Wongkaram.

After the Temple visit we were on the road again to Namuang Waterfall and the elephants they have near the parking lot.

My son loves elephants and whenever he sees an elephant statue somewhere, and there are plenty of them in Thailand, he's in a state! Imagine when we go to see real live elephants, excitement was in the air! He loved it!

Elephant safaris are offered, currently at 600,-THB per person.

On the way to the actual waterfall are a handful of restaurants, mainly serving good Isaan food, like Naam Tok, Laab, Som Tam and some good BBQ-ed chicken (Kai Yang). One restaurant in particular is described in a different post on this blog.

This information plaque tells us how important the waterfall is to Samui, various Kings of the Chakra dynasty have visited the waterfall, Rama V and his Queen, Queen Saovapa Pongsi, later King Rama III visited once and the current King, King Bhumibol, Rama IX and his Queen visited on April 27, 1962.
It's a tine fall, consisting with a small reservoir at the fall base.

The reservoir at the base of the fall, inviting to swimmers. usually Thai families hang out at the opposite, picnicking through the day.

The actual waterfall, currently with a good flow, after the recent rain we had.

A shot with both the basin and the fall partially on it.

Another great place to stop during a trip around the island and a good place to stop and get something to eat or have a refreshing young coconut to drink and a favorite of our family, I lost track of how many times we visited this place already.

Camille

Market in Prachuap Khirikhan

Market in Prachuap Khirikhan

The pictures of local markets in Thailand earlier this month about Plai Laem and last month about Nathon made me dig up some pictures that I took at the local market in Prachuap Khirikhan earlier this year as part of our Isaan trip in January.



As you already should know by now, food is never far away in Thailand and especially this morning market in the city Prachuap Khirikahn had plenty on display, actually, it was mainly food, for breakfast and ingredients to cook lunch and dinner later in the day.

Here a picture of Ho Mok Thalee or a steamed seafood custard.

A picture of a fruit that looks like Makaam or Tamarind but it is different, a lot more sweetish.

Lots of freshly caught Plaa Meuk or squid.

Khanom or Thai sweets.

Very colourful fruit, oranges and mango amongst others.

As you can see, another very colourful experience for instance for the photographers amongst us and if you're there in person, also a very interesting experience for your smelling senses, in a positive way!

Camille

29th June, 2008

Today's weather;


An almost blue sky is above Samui, with some hazy, thin clouds. Current temp at 7 am is 26.3C.

Yesterday was a very nice and warm day, around noon some overcast passed by but other than that it was a sunny, dry and very warm day. It has been warm since a couple days already.

Camille

Jamie's Phuket on Google Earth

(Updated March 2010) I have (when time allows) been adding placemarks on Google Earth showing where to find the hotels, restaurants, temples, beaches and hills that feature on Jamie's Phuket. I joined the "Google Earth Community" to be able to post on the Google Earth forum which creates a link to the places I have added.

So, if you browse this blog now you will notice that many pages have links to Google Earth - click on the link and what happens is this: If you have Google Earth installed on your computer, then it will open and you'll fly in to Phuket and see the placemarker. You may have a message on screen first asking "Do you wish to open or save this file?" - click Open.

For example, if you are looking at some of the restaurants on this blog and like the look of Kan Eang Seafood, and want to know where it is, just click on the link that says "See location on Google Earth", and you'll see this:



If you fancy an evening walk at Bang Wad Reservoir, click the link on that page that says "View Bang Wad reservoir on Google Earth" - and Google Earth will take you there...



I have added over 80 placemarks so far. There are plenty more to add - if you have a favourite post on the blog and are not sure of the location of the place, do let me know and I will add an Earth placemark. Will get more added anyway as time goes by.

I hope you enjoy surfing some of the pages on Jamie's Phuket and zooming into Phuket with Google Earth! If you don't have Google Earth on your computer - Get it!

• Download Google Earth
• Google Earth Community (Forum)
• My Google Earth Community Post List (you must be a member to view)

Wat Racha Tamaram, Lamai

Wat Racha Tamaram, Lamai

Or better known as Wat Silah Nguu (temple of the Stone Snake) by the locals, just a bit further down the road coming from Lamai, going towards Hua Thanon, was visited by me after my trip to Immigration in Nathon and after my stop at the Chinese Temple in Hua Thanon.
It's called the Temple of the Stone Snake because all over the temple, there are plenty of Stone Snakes, mainly next to all stairs, as (over sized) hand railings.




Located directly at the ring road, this picture taken going in to the direction of Lamai, it has always been a very small and simple Wat (temple) with no bells and whistles so to speak. I visited this Wat once before during a Temple fair when my sister and her family were visiting.

Right now there's some serious construction going on and a Bot, as pictured here and a big Sala is almost finished. In a Thai temple, the "BOT" (โบสถ์) is the finest building where monks are assembled for religious rites (สังฆกรรม) such as morning and evening prayers, ordination. It is the most sacred part of the temple.

Here's the almost completed Sala, which is serving as a community meeting centre during activities at the Wat.

Both building make for a tremendous impact and change on the Temple grounds.

Almost directly next to the entrance of the Wat, slightly to your left, you can find this big Banian tree or "Bo", surrounded by all kind of Buddha images and other deity's. Trees are considered holy in Thailand and many times trees are worshipped, like this one.

Further down on the premises, towards the ocean, the Wat is located at the top of a cliff with a beautiful view, you can find this Phra Thaat. This is a building where a bone or other relic of a local, famous monk is kept.

Below the Pra Thaat, down towards the ocean, this cemetery can be found where the urns of the deceased have an eternal view over the Gulf of Thailand.

At the back of the Wat, at your left hand, you can find these two Buddha statues, which are worshipped by the local visitors.

Interestingly enough, sitting right next to the two Buddha statues, is this Buddha statue wrapped in plastic, ready to be painted in the right colours.

Opposite the two small Buddha statues, is this Sala dedicated to Lung Phra Phum, a local monk who is revered here.

At the end of my visit I bought some more amulets, There were a few on display, including a beautiful box of a set of two amulets for 1.500,-THB.

During a trip around the island, this a small but nice Wat, not very spectacular but in all it's modesty, it has some great views over the Gulf and the local bay and you can get some good shots here. I enjoyed my visit more than I anticipated and I posted more pictures than I usually would do.

Camille

28th June, 2008

Today's weather;

It's a fairly blue sky with a few white patches in it. Max temp at 7 am is 27C.

Yesterday was a good day, a shade of rain and a bit of sunshine here and there with a max temp of 31.5C.

Camille

Swiss Chalet Restaurant, Lamai

Swiss Chalet Restaurant, Lamai

It's been a while that I have done a restaurant review, but in the last week I've been twice to the Swiss Chalet in Lamai for dinner and if you're in to decent Swiss/German food, this may well be your place in Lamai.



The first time I went, I shared a nice meat fondue for two, listed as a Fondue Chinoise, which had plenty of beef, pork and chicken to fill two easily! We also had a nice bottle of South African red wine, very affordable at just a bit under 1.000,-THB for the bottle. A real nice find.

The Swiss Chalet is located in Lamai center, next to the Bauhaus, on a crossing, directly at the corner and opened in December 2006.

If you find yourself in Lamai and you're up for a good and decent meal, this is the place to be and well worth a visit with also a Thai menu and Kobe steaks.

Here's my starter, from the Special of the day menu; Italian noodles with 4 sorts of cheese. A real tasty, creamy and filling choice which filled me with delight and my arteries with cholesterol.

This is my main, a Koeniginpastetli mit nudeln, erbsli und Rebli or in English; "Vol au Vent" stuffed puff pastry with creamed chicken, veal sausage cubes and mushrooms, accompanied with noodles, sweet peas and carrots.

Another dish on the table was some outstanding Eisbein mit sauerkraut (800 grams), salzkartoffeln und senf. A massive and well tasting pickled pork knuckle!

It went together with that excellent South African red wine again.

They also serve some good looking breakfasts, for the early risers and carry a children menu.

Hope you enjoy your meal!

Camille

Cameron Highland in 2003, Pahang

I accidentally dig out my old photos on Cameron Highland - 2003. So I decided to share with all of you, and it might bring back some of yours fond memory...:)

We (family members) rented the whole express bus together with tour guide to Cameron Highland trip on September, 2003.
We taken a break at Ringlet, the first town we reached. Some pictures of Ringlet during 2003. Wonder any changes now??



Then follow by the Bharat Tea House (N4°27.242' E101°22.147'). The view was beautiful! I cannot forget the enjoyment having a morning tea over the scenery here! Cool breeze and the greenery scene in front of you by the cup of tea in your hand really make my day!!

The path to the Tea Plantation

Beside the tea shop, there was a small grocery shop. I wonder it's still there today?!

The MOBILE vegetables seller

After the tea, our tour guide brought us to one of the garden near by - Rainbow Garden Centre.
Basically, it's just a garden full of several of Cactus, flowers, orchids, plants & etc...




It took about an hour after the Garden, we proceed to check-in to the Golden Wing Apartment (N4°29.540' E101°23.317') at Bringchang.

The apartment was clean & spacious. Too bad I didn't take any photos, I wonder why?
If my memory serve me well, one unit cost us RM400 per day with 3 BIG rooms, kitchen, dining hall & living hall. The temperature was between 18° - 20°C.

When everyone settles with their luggage, it's lunch time!
Free & easy session till night for the first day....

Related post :-
* Cactus Valley, Brinchang - Cameron Highland
* Lata (Waterfall) Iskandar at Cameron Highland

My Cameron Highlands Trip - September 2009
* Rosa Passadena Hotel at Brinchang, Cameron Highlands (D1)

MY TRIPS - Home