Tuesday 29 December 2015

Looking back at 2015

Looking back at 2015

It's the time of the year for 'Looking back at 2015'. A few days before year's end, since tomorrow we leave for two night in Hat Yai, where I will participate in a 10 mile run on Thursday morning as part of the New Year's Eve celebration, except that we start at 5am!
It's been three and a half years ago that we visited Hat Yai for the last time and we're all looking forward to it!

Looking back at 2015


Let's start with January whilst looking back at 2015; For work I for a PADI IDC on Koh Lanta and once I got back home my Mum was here for a few months.
The first half of the month was wet and the second half was nice and a lot sunnier.

In February I had a PADI IDC on Phuket, with two ultra marathoners, a very special occurrence! 
On Samui I had a great dining experience at the 'Thai Experience' and we visited the 'Escapology' game, both in Lamai. Closer to home, at Wat Plai Laem a new sermon hall was opened.
The weather during February was nice and very sunny with the temperatures slowly rising again.

In March I was for work in Moalboal, Philippines, where I ran my fastest half marathon to date, one hour and fifty minutes at nearby Kawasan Waterfalls. I did miss out on the 3rd Koh Samui Midnight Run however!
Weather wise, March was an excellent and nice and sunny month with hardly any rain at all.

Looking back at 2015


In April, whilst looking back at 2015, I was for a PADI IDC in Khao Lak
Koh Samui became world news with the car bombing at Central Festival and security on the island has been upped ever since. 
Songkran  or Thai New Year was celebrated in Samui style and for food we visited plenty of times our favorite Japanese restaurant on the island, Kobori in Maenam and we enjoyed a fabulous brunch at Coast Bar & Grill, an absolute recommendation.
Weather wise, ten weeks of drought were finished on Songkran day and a few more days of rain were had around the island, other than that, it was sunny!

On to May and for work I found myself back in Moalboal in the Philippines.
We attended a big wedding Samui style  and the weather during May was a it of a mixed bag, with sunny days and tropical showers.

For June I found myself with a home game for work on Koh Samui.
I was on Phuket to run the Laguna half marathon for the fourth time and weather wise it was an average June with lots of overcast and showers besides the sunny days, they were there as well.

Looking back at 2015

Fisherman's boat at Bang Rak

Looking back at 2015 and we're coming into July and for work I was on Koh Samui, where I conducted a few PADI Discover Scuba Diving programs.
A speedboat burned out in Bang Rak early in the morning and the Koh Samui schools had the yearly Kila Ampur.
For weather we saw lots of strong wind and rain during the first half of the month and some more rain for the second half.

In August I was on Koh Samui all month and I dived the 500th time at Sail Rock.
The month started with sad news from Koh Phangan, where a 31 year old Thai woman died of a box jelly fish sting. Towards the end of the month I participated in the 8th Cancer Care run in Nathon and we attended the tenth anniversary of Sabeinglae restaurant.
I also created a new page for tours around Koh Samui.
The weather during August was not that great, plenty of rain and wind during the first half and end of the month and some sunny days in-between.

September saw me also all month on Koh Samui and I taught an EFR course to a Thai friend who runs a nanny agency.
The weather during this month was wet and windy again with some sunny days towards the end of the month.

Looking back at 2015

Running in Bangkok during the 5th International half marathon on Rama VIII bridge in early December

October saw me one more month at home, during which I looked after the children and the house whilst my wife was recovering from an operation she had last month.
Very early in the month Samui was shocked by the death of a very young German girl who got stung by box jellyfish at Chaweng beach. This caused various actions by the local island governing bodies and experts were invited to and visited Samui and gave various seminars and trained people for box jelly fish prevention and awareness. I also gave a couple of presentations, among other at Zazen Boutique resort for their staff and for Samui dive professionals.
It's still an actual situation around the Gulf islands and more action will be taken early January 2016.

We also stayed two nights at Zazen Boutique Resort and had a lovely dinner and some excellent  and relaxing massages there as well. When visiting Samui, a place I can recommend to stay at. 
The Samui Green market is also back in business and we were happy to visit.

The weather during October was not that great and we had an early start of the rainy season with plenty of rainy and cloudy days.

During November I found myself on the road again for work in Khao Lak and in Moalboal in the Philippines. The last two PADI IDC's of the year for me.
It rained almost all month long, a real serious monsoon how they are supposed to be and I ran a half marathon in Surat Thani early in the month

Now we are going towards the end of December and I went out to Sail Rock twice for another round of PADI DSD's.
Upon returning from the Philippines I ran another half marathon, this time in Bangkok.
The beginning of the month the weather was not that good, the monsoon period was extended but since a few days we have sunshine again.

It has been a good year, since I was able to spend lots of time with the family, for work, I hope next year will be better. Looking forward to a healthy and successful 2016!

Greetings from koh Samui and see you next year.

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Camille

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