Visakha Bucha Day

Visakha Bucha Day

Today's it's Visakha Bucha Day (วิสาขบูชา) again, this is one of the most important days in Buddhism because of three important incidents in the life of The Buddha on the same day, the Vesak full moon day. So each year, Buddhists throughout the world gather together to perform the worship to recollect the wisdom, purity and compassion of the Buddha.  

Devout Buddhists will rise early and go to the Wat to make merit and listen to sermons on the Buddha’s teachings. In some temples Buddhists will perform “Wien Tien” in the evening, circling the bodh, or main hall, carrying candles, incense and lotus flowers. I will try to get some pictures of the 'Wien Tien' event at Wat Plai Laem tonight.

Birth of Buddha at Lumbini Park, India or nowadays Nepal

The three significant separate events that are celebrated today are;

1- Buddha's Birth; 

The Buddha was a king by birth, in Sakya Kingdom, eighty years before the Buddhist Era, at Lumbini Park (in an area of Nothern India know today as Nepal), on Friday, the Vesak full moon day. He was named Siddhattha five days after his birth.

The Dharma Wheel

2- The Enlightenment of Buddha; 

At the age of 35, he attained enlightenment while sitting under the Bodhi Uruvelasenanigama subdistrict (nowadays, located in the area of Buddha Kaya, Bihar State, India), on Wednesday, the Vesak Full moon day, forty five years before the Buddhist Era.

The Dharma discovered by the Buddha was Ariyasacca or the Four Noble Truths, namely:

1.    The Noble Truth of Suffering

2.    The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering

3.    The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering

4.    The Noble Truth of the Path leading to the Extinction of Suffering

3- The Nibbana; 

The Buddha passed away on Tuesday, the Vesak full moon day, under the two Sala trees in the Sala Grove of the Mallas in Kusinara, capital of the Malla State, (nowadays located in Kusinagara of Uttrarapradesa, India) at the age of eighty. 

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; 24th May, 2013

Today's weather;

The sun is breaking through this early in the morning and although there's a thin cloud layer around Koh Samui, it may break early today. Current temp at 7am is 28.2C

Today is Visakha Bucha Day in Thailand, alcohol sales are prohibited and Buddhist celebrations are scheduled.

A big, Chinese style Buddha image at Wat Plai Laem

Yesterday saw a nice and warm day with some much needed rain later in the evening, around 9pm. Max temp reached 34.3C

The forecast predicts some stronger wind over the weekend until Wednesday and the weather looks rather stable, very similar to the last couple of days; fairly cloudy but warm to hot and enough sunshine to keep the sun bathing crowd happy.

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; 23rd May, 2013

Today's weather;

There's cloud cover in Koh Samui's sky this morning but the sun is already trying to break through. Current temp at 7am is 28.3C

The sky over Maenam yesterday, late afternoon

Yesterday saw once more a very warm or rather hot day with plenty of cloud formation during the morning but when the day progressed, blue spots opened up and the sun beamed down on the island. Max temp reached 34.4C

Every evening dark clouds show up but so far no rain has been spotted by me, although you may experience a very local shower.

 The forecast shows more overcast with occasionally some strong wind.

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; 22nd May, 2013

Today's weather;

It's cloudy again this morning around Koh Samui with a very bleak sun trying to break through. Current temp at 7am is 27.6C

Customer service, free wifi in small road side eatery in Bang Rak, it's called progress! Right?

Besides being part of Thailand's history, with the biggest power cut or black out in the country's history, we had a power cut for 3 hours at the Northern side of the island and it lasted longer in the Southern parts, we had a nice and hot day again with the clouds breaking up a little, giving the sun a chane to shine on. There was a strong and cooling breeze. Max temp reached 34.8C

The forecast predicts more cloud cover, hardly any rain now and over the weekend some strong wind.

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; 21st May, 2013

Today's weather;

It's cloudy again this morning over Koh Samui but the sky doesn't look as grey compared to previous days. Don't get me wrong though, it's still very hot during the daytime! Current temp at 7am is 28.2C

The PADI IE yesterday on Samui went very well and all my candidates passed with flying colors. 

Chaweng beach yesterday morning around 9.30am

Yesterday saw some blue skies during the morning but later during the day clouds moved in again. It was hot tough with a max temp of 34.5C 

This feels more like April then May!

The forecast shows a mixed bag of some wind, clouds, sunshine and almost no chance of rain for the next 7 days. 

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; 20th May, 2013

Today's weather;

It's cloudy again over Koh Samui but it's still very warm and there's a nice breeze. Current temp at 7am is 27.8C

Jaow Mea Guanim at Wat Plai Laem

Yesterday saw a merely clouded day but it was very hot and I got sunburned in my face from being for just an hour in the pool between 10 and 11am. Current temp reached 34.1C

Clouds and strong-ish winds are predicted for the next 7 days with maybe an shower or tow along the way.

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; 19th May, 2013

Today's weather;

The sky over Koh Samui is cloudy again and it looks rather grey with a ncie fresh breeze. Any opening in the clouds is covered by clouds again that are higher up in the atmosphere. Current temp at 7am is 27.8C

Detail at Buddha's footprint at Wat Plai Laem

Yesterday was warm and fairly sunny besides a shower that raged over several parts of the island around 5pm. Max temp reached 34.5C
Have a look at the post about the Blue Paradise Fest from two days ago.

The forecast predicts now a strong breeze until and including next weekend with more cloud cover. It should remain dry though, besides an occasional tropical shower.

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

Blue Paradise Fest, Chaweng Lake, the event

Yesterday around 6pm we arrived at the Blue Paradise Fest at Chaweng Lake with the family to enjoy a couple of hours of entertainment, sponsored by Bangkok Airways to celebrate the 24th anniversary of Samui Airport.

The entrance

It was very well organized and there were only two entrance areas with good security checks. So early on it wasn't too busy but there were already enough people out and about. By the time we left  somewhere after 8pm there were still plenty of people going towards the lake.

There was also plenty of food, among others from members of the THA (Thai Hotel Association)

We first checked out the children's playground or Fun Park which had a few attractions like a wheel, a bungee and a fun castle for kids. Shortly after that we went to check out the food selection since we all were hungry!

View towards the stage

The entrance was fee and a nice line up of Thai 'Superstars' were scheduled to perform. We saw Catherine English and the second act whose name I don't know, the shows went on until 1am and included Mario Maurer, who is world famous in Thailand!

Entrance to the fun park

During our first visit to the Fun Park there weren't many queues but shortly before we went home there were queues in front of all attractions. In general it was a lot busier by then.

The wheel at the Fun Park

Some bungee variation which seemed to be very popular with young and old

Fancy a beer anyone?

It seemed like everybody had a good time and it was nicely busy, at least 5.000 people showed up I would imagine. Now if Bangkok Airways would spend this kind of money on the 4th edition of the Samui Marathon, I would be very happy but unfortunately this event has been skipped from their agenda.

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; 18th May, 2013

Today's weather;

This morning still sees a lot of blue in Samui skies but there are also a few clouds now out and about. Current temp at 7am is 27.6C

Sunset at the Blue Paradise fest yesterday at Chaweng Lake to celebrate the 24th anniversary of the Samui airport

Yesterday saw another warm day around the island although there was more cloudcover during the daytime and in the evening. Max temp still reached 34.4C

The forecast shows chance of clouds and maybe, if you're lucky, you can experience a tropical shower. Such a shower will cool things down a bit and give much needed water to the plants around the island.

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; 17th May, 2013

Today's weather;

It's a perfect blue sky again this morning and it promises again to be steaming hot today around Koh Samui. Current temp at 7am is 28.5C

Yesterday I registered for the 'Care for Cancer' run in Nathon,  organized by the Four Seasons hotel this coming 1st June and this is the view from the reception at the Four Seasons

Yesterday saw a sunny, blue sky al day long and it was very hot with a max temp of 35.6C

The forecast shows more sunny day ahead with possibly some more breeze late in and shortly 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