First Impression Koh Samui

[Soulwy]

After 3 months Thailand (and 2 weeks of BKK!) I needed a place to unwind for a couple of weeks. I have been avoiding places like Phuket, Pattaya, Samui, but yesterday I arrived on Samui (so easy by plane)

And surprisingly I don't hate it here. I am staying in the South of Lamai Beach, it is quiet, WIFI, 7/11.

Only things I miss are fresh fruit and vegetables nearby. And.....

W H E R E I S T H E S U N ?!?!?!?!?!

It's been raining like crazy last 6 hours, it is almost noon and I want to do something! The Naga pearl shop is on my list for today, but with this weather I keep on WIFI-ing (actually, I am quite done with this as well... )

Is this normal? Or is it just today? And is the weather on Koh Paghnan better?

After Rainy Bangkok it is Rainy Samui now...not an improvement...

[bassline]

After 3 months Thailand (and 2 weeks of BKK!) I needed a place to unwind for a couple of weeks. I have been avoiding places like Phuket, Pattaya, Samui, but yesterday I arrived on Samui (so easy by plane)

And surprisingly I don't hate it here. I am staying in the South of Lamai Beach, it is quiet, WIFI, 7/11.

Only things I miss are fresh fruit and vegetables nearby. And.....

W H E R E I S T H E S U N ?!?!?!?!?!

It's been raining like crazy last 6 hours, it is almost noon and I want to do something! The Naga pearl shop is on my list for today, but with this weather I keep on WIFI-ing (actually, I am quite done with this as well... )

Is this normal? Or is it just today? And is the weather on Koh Paghnan better?

After Rainy Bangkok it is Rainy Samui now...not an improvement...

im in koh phangan its rained solid for 4 days in a row. stuck in hotel room. wicked yearly holiday

[PoorSucker]

Just bad luck today.

We locals welcome some rain.

All water on the Island comes from the sky.

Weather radar.

Prognosis

Radar simulation

[JR Texas]

Just bad luck today.

We locals welcome some rain.

All water on the Island comes from the sky.

Weather radar.

Prognosis

Radar simulation

May, June, July = rainy season

You probably already know this, but the best time to visit Southeast Asia in general is from Nov. 12 to Jan. 12. (much cooler and no rain....but more expensive)

[koheesti]

I've been here 1.5 years and I think it sucks. This is NOT supposed to be rainy season. To make matters worse, every time a drop falls from the sky I expect the power to go off.

[PoorSucker]

Here's average monthly rainfall on Samui.

[PoorSucker]

May, June, July = rainy season

You probably already know this, but the best time to visit Southeast Asia in general is from Nov. 12 to Jan. 12. (much cooler and no rain....but more expensive)

Not on Samui.

Our rainy season is mid October until mid December.

[JR Texas]

May, June, July = rainy season

You probably already know this, but the best time to visit Southeast Asia in general is from Nov. 12 to Jan. 12. (much cooler and no rain....but more expensive)

Not on Samui.

Our rainy season is mid October until mid December.

Thanks for the correction........surprised me and seems odd for Southeast Asia.

[PoorSucker]

May, June, July = rainy season

You probably already know this, but the best time to visit Southeast Asia in general is from Nov. 12 to Jan. 12. (much cooler and no rain....but more expensive)

Not on Samui.

Our rainy season is mid October until mid December.

Thanks for the correction........surprised me and seems odd for Southeast Asia.

This time of the year the monsoon comes from west pouring down in Phuket and mainland.

We have tourists that comes here after days of continuing rain in Phuket.

In October-November we have the eastern monsoon here causing floods.

Average rain Phuket:

Average rain Samui:

Well, the rain has stopped now.

Edited May 17, 2009 by PoorSucker

[Soulwy]

Yep, PoorSucker, rain has stopped, but still no sun...

Bassline, good to know that Phangan has the same water..euh..weather.

May is supposed to be DRY SEASON, but with global warming nothing is for sure, that's for sure.

Well, let's see how far I get with a songthaew to the Naga pearl shop. Not very far I think.

[samui04]

May, June, July = rainy season

You probably already know this, but the best time to visit Southeast Asia in general is from Nov. 12 to Jan. 12. (much cooler and no rain....but more expensive)

November in Samui is flooding month, and last December was raining all the month....

[Soulwy]

I didn't get far with the Songthaew. Last 8 km to Naga Pearl shop he asked 600 baht! Haha... An other one asked 400 baht... This is ridiculous, it is supposed to be 100 baht by taxi. I am so fed up with these over the top prices, how can I bargain to an acceptable price?

Well, one of these days I have to learn to ride a bike. I will probably sh*t my pants, but it is the only way to avoid the hassle.

I hope God's finished crying when I wake up tomorrow.

[ParadiseLost]

I didn't get far with the Songthaew. Last 8 km to Naga Pearl shop he asked 600 baht! Haha... An other one asked 400 baht... This is ridiculous, it is supposed to be 100 baht by taxi. I am so fed up with these over the top prices, how can I bargain to an acceptable price?

Another satisfied Samui visitor...

Don't feel lonely - this is only one of the reasons Samui gets a bad rep - I bet it was raining when the price shot up.

Oh, and good luck finding a taxi fare of 100

PS: Please do not learn to ride a bike on Samui - the roads and road manners are shocking.

Edited May 17, 2009 by ParadiseLost

[pammy123]

Just bad luck today.

We locals welcome some rain.

All water on the Island comes from the sky.

Weather radar.

Prognosis

Radar simulation

May, June, July = rainy season

You probably already know this, but the best time to visit Southeast Asia in general is from Nov. 12 to Jan. 12. (much cooler and no rain....but more expensive)

NOVEMBER ARE YOU NUTS

[Soulwy]

I didn't get far with the Songthaew. Last 8 km to Naga Pearl shop he asked 600 baht! Haha... An other one asked 400 baht... This is ridiculous, it is supposed to be 100 baht by taxi. I am so fed up with these over the top prices, how can I bargain to an acceptable price?

Another satisfied Samui visitor...

Don't feel lonely - this is only one of the reasons Samui gets a bad rep - I bet it was raining when the price shot up.

Oh, and good luck finding a taxi fare of 100

PS: Please do not learn to ride a bike on Samui - the roads and road manners are shocking.

-No, it was not raining, I think this is the way Samui-ans do it. It is even worse than in Hua Hin. And even in BKK the drivers are not this ridiculous. Well, the whole weather situation and this fare thing don't make me feel very happy right now.

-I went to the police station and they said the taxi rate should be 100 baht. If I can't trust police men, who can I trust then?

-Bike:Thanks for the warning, is it this bad? I saw many foreigners on bikes...it probably better not to learn on wet slippery roads anyway. Thanks again.

Edited May 17, 2009 by Soulwy

[Rooo]

NOVEMBER ARE YOU NUTS

No need to yell.Not everyone is familiar with the specific region.

[Soulwy]

Will be heading for Phangan tomorrow to spend the rest of my stay.

Some of you will be happy when visitors stay away, and yes, this visitor won't return to Samui again. I had no idea it was this overcommercialised. For me this is no Thailand.

[Birdman]

Koh Samui is one of the major tourist destinations in SEA. What did you expect? Ibiza is also not exactly Spain.

[t.s]

Will be heading for Phangan tomorrow to spend the rest of my stay.

Some of you will be happy when visitors stay away, and yes, this visitor won't return to Samui again. I had no idea it was this overcommercialised. For me this is no Thailand.

i think you will prefer phan ngan, especially if you give hadrin a miss

Edited May 18, 2009 by t.s

[PatinBKk]

Sad fact is the weather in Samui sucks except for a few weeks around Jan Feb......always raining and no where for it to go.........

[longtom]

Sad fact is the weather in Samui sucks except for a few weeks around Jan Feb......always raining and no where for it to go.........

Yeah, wouldn't we all prefer to be in England or Sweden for example, especially in winter.

We did have sometimes unusual weather the last 6 months or so (prolongued rainy season, cooler temperatures in jan, hot march), but to say Samui weather sucks - please!

[Rooo]

Sad fact is the weather in Samui sucks except for a few weeks around Jan Feb......always raining and no where for it to go.........

Great to have an expert view point.

[PatinBKk]

Sad fact is the weather in Samui sucks except for a few weeks around Jan Feb......always raining and no where for it to go.........

Great to have an expert view point.

Have you know that I got a C.S.E. in social studies

[Rooo]

Sad fact is the weather in Samui sucks except for a few weeks around Jan Feb......always raining and no where for it to go.........

Great to have an expert view point.

Have you know that I got a C.S.E. in social studies

[Soulwy]

Will be heading for Phangan tomorrow to spend the rest of my stay.

Some of you will be happy when visitors stay away, and yes, this visitor won't return to Samui again. I had no idea it was this overcommercialised. For me this is no Thailand.

i think you will prefer phan ngan, especially if you give hadrin a miss

You are right t.s., I like Phagnan, laid back atmosphere, a lot of creative people, life was good there. But I have no idea how a Full Moon party effects all this.

Haad Rin..haha.. I was there 1 night, but it is not for me. The Jam (Saturday night) is so much better.

[ParadiseLost]

Will be heading for Phangan tomorrow to spend the rest of my stay.

Some of you will be happy when visitors stay away, and yes, this visitor won't return to Samui again. I had no idea it was this overcommercialised. For me this is no Thailand.

i think you will prefer phan ngan, especially if you give hadrin a miss

You are right t.s., I like Phagnan, laid back atmosphere, a lot of creative people, life was good there. But I have no idea how a Full Moon party effects all this.

Haad Rin..haha.. I was there 1 night, but it is not for me. The Jam (Saturday night) is so much better.

Shhh - don't tell everyone

[angiud]

W Phangan

[Cattleya]

I didn't get far with the Songthaew. Last 8 km to Naga Pearl shop he asked 600 baht! Haha... An other one asked 400 baht... This is ridiculous, it is supposed to be 100 baht by taxi. I am so fed up with these over the top prices, how can I bargain to an acceptable price?

A new order has been given to resolve the taxi service problems in Samui.

TAXI FARE=METER NORMAL CHARGE+ SPECIAL SURCHARGE 90* BAHT

If you have a problem with taxi services, such as:

1. The drivers refuse to turn on their meter

2. The drivers are impolite

3. You are charged unfairly

4. You left your belongings on the taxi

Please remember the taxi code, date, time and location (please stay calm and don't try to make an argument) and then report everything to:

Public Bus Passenger Protection Center

Suratthani Provincial Land Transport Office, Koh Samui Branch.

Call 1584

I hope this can be helpful.

Edited May 27, 2009 by Cattleya

[Samuian]

May, June, July = rainy season

You probably already know this, but the best time to visit Southeast Asia in general is from Nov. 12 to Jan. 12. (much cooler and no rain....but more expensive)

Not on Samui.

Our rainy season is mid October until mid December.

Several years the south-westerly has hit the south pretty much!

It is NOT uncommon that it does rain in during summer monsoon!

As someone else mentioned: "All water on the island comes from the sky!"

better a wee bit wet than bone dry... and everything turns brown...

[baza]

why let a drop of rain keep you in ,i played tennis in it last week ,it was more fun than the dry ,slipping arse over ,got proper soaked ,be extra carefull out on the chicken chaser {motorcycles} but get out get wet and enjoy ,the temp is good ,dont drive through floods the bikes dont like it nor the guy how rents it to you ,its costly