Phuket Weather Update 12 Feb / 18 Feb 2014

Here is the latest weather report for those keeping a check on your next holiday destination.

The Weather has started to get a little warmer now in the mornings here signifying the summer months are fast approaching although it is still very  mild for Thailand, the cooler winds blowing down from the North seem  to have abated a little hence the slight rise in temperature .   

February is a fantastic month to visit Thailand and in particular Phuket

The unrest in Bangkok is still ongoing and probably will be for some time, it is not really unrest just a few  streets blocked off by protesters wanting the government to change, much the same as any other country to be fair who is happy with their rulers. 

he Thai people in general are a very tolerant race and even when protesting are very polite.But this is no reason not to come to Phuket as there are many flights each day from European airports direct to Phuket. Even So flying to Phuket via Bangkok is very straight forward with multiple airlines and flights schedule daily.  

Come and enjoy as Phuket has the high season slows a little now is a perfect time to come and see what all the fuss is about. As we are now in February Phuket revels in its best weather, the humidity is quite low making it still very pleasant even in the midday sun.

The weather this time of year does not change too much, but it is pretty much near perfect.

It is this weather in the winter months that attracts mass migration from European shores to the wonderful tranquil beaches of Phuket.

It’s also perfect weather to take a trip out to Racha Yai on Sai Mai.

Here below is the last week’s weather:-

Monday February 10th: Max Temp 30 - min Temp 20 degrees very light breezes wind 18 km an hour. Some light cloud cover; Great day for the beach or some sightseeing.

Tuesday 11th February: Max Temp 32 – Min temp 22 degrees again slight breeze of 15 km, light cloud cover the temp dropping down to 20 late at night making the early morning very refreshing.

Wednesday 12th February: Top Temp 31 degrees and at night hit a low of 22 degrees at night again some light cover.

Thursday 13th February: Max Temp 32 degrees down to a very pleasant 23 degrees. We are still receiving question about the troubles in Bangkok, the answer is it’s an ongoing problem which does not involve tourist in any way.

Friday 14^st February Max Temp 34 degrees, down to an overnight of low 23, Another great day on Paradise island and very busy here today too as it is Valentine’s Day and the local really love and get into the spirit of the whole day.

Saturday 15^th February: Max Temp 34 degrees today with a night time low of 20 degrees some early morning mist clearing before 9 am, as the temp starts to rise. Another day of sunshine and passing clouds maybe another day on the beach or maybe a little sightseeing.

Sunday 16^th February: Max Temp 32 degrees down to a night time low of 21 degrees another great day Sunday is great in Phuket the roads are a little quieter today we went over to the big shopping centre in Patong Jung Ceylon.

Diving Phuket - Racha Noi Island

Manta Ray at Racha Noi Sat 15 Feb 2014 

Sunset dive at Marita's Rock

Racha Noi Island diving - West Coast 

What a fantastic and beautiful weekend trip on MV Sai Mai everyone really enjoyed the overnight trip to Racha Yai and Racha Noi.

The two Raya islands are south of Phuket:

Racha Yai is about 90 minutes by diving boat and 30 minutes by speed boat from the Phuket port of Chalong. The island has beautiful beaches on the west coast with great sites for snorkeling and scuba diving.

The resorts on the islands can cater to everyone's needs, whether they are a five star villa resort or a basic beach side bungalow is required then you can find them here. I believe Racha Yai has some of the best beaches in Thailand.

Racha Yai is ideal for a day trip too. You can go there for a day trip to enjoy the snorkeling and walking along the deserted beaches and then lunch at one of the island restaurants or if you have more time on your hands you can spend two or three nights there. Away from the hustle and bustle of Phuket, its an island paradise waiting to be discovered.

Between 10:30 and 14:30 hours there are a lot of day trips to Racha Yai, but then when they have gone back, the white sandy beaches and crystal clear water are only just for those who stay longer or overnight.
 
We offer a fantastic dive day trip trip to Racha Yai 

For more information about our premium day trip to Racha Yai


Here are some fantastic places to stay for a night or two on Racha Yai all with excellent amenities and accommodation right on the beach front :-

• Ban Raya
• Rayaburi: 
• The Racha
• Raya Resort

Racha Noi is 30 minutes further south from Racha Yai and those that come here very rarely want to leave this small piece of heaven. The island has two beautiful beaches and in our humble opinion, view is best place for an overnight stay. Many people who come to Phuket year after year still do not know about this place it is a well kept secret.

The azure waters around Racha Noi are so clear that can you see the bottom 30 meters below and is a great place for Scuba diving and snorkeling. In peak season, when Phuket is overloaded with folk, you can spend all day without hardly seeing anyone or at the most, with only one or two boats insight.

The corals both hard and soft are healthy and full of life. The fish life is in abundance here to with all the usual Indian Ocean reef fishes adding colour, Barracudas to Nemo, to White Tip reef Sharks to Hawksbill Turtles all call this island home.

Because of the strong currents that run along Racha Noi it makes it an ideal environment for the bigger fishes too and sightings of Manta Rays and Whalesharks are common here.

We offer a fantastic dive day trip trip to Racha Noi with only a restricted number of divers guaranteeing a wonderful and peaceful time

The MV Sai Mai is available for private charters to Racha Yai and Racha Noi whether day trip or overnight stops click for more information...

Premium Racha Island Tour

Premium Racha Island Tour, a set on Flickr.

Easy Day’s Premium Racha Island Day Trip – Enjoy a day trip with our speedboat to the beautiful Raya Island in a small group avoiding the big crowds.

Weather in Phuket Thailand in October 2013

• 21st to 24th October 2013
• 18th to 20th October 2013 
• 14th to 17th October 2013 
• 11th to 13th October 2013
• 9th and 10th October 2013 
• 7th and 8th October 2013 
• 4th to 6th October 2013
• 1st to 3rd October 2013 

For more about weather in Phuket all see Easy Day Thailand weather reports 

Renting a Motorbike in Phuket

Interested in renting a motorbike here on Phuket? Well is it the most common way locals and tourists alike travel around the island. It is very easy to rent motorbikes here, although different rental shops have differing ideas of what they want from you, with regards to security for their precious bikes.  

Some shops seem to think it is OK for them to use your passport as security, now this may seem like a good idea to them, but it is illegal. As stated in most passports, they are not own by the person pictured in the passport, but they are owned by the government of the country that the person comes from. They are a legal document and can be recalled at any time.

I strongly recommend that you do not leave you passport with anyone for any reason, leave a copy of it by all means, but if you relinquish your passport, then all sorts of problems can find you.

You can find motorbikes of all shapes and sizes for rent and on almost every street in Phuket. From little twist and go’s to the massive Super bikes and Harley Davidson's, the choice is yours, as long as you have a license, well almost.

Most shops do not usually ask you if you have a license, but the police certainly will if they stop you. And they will stop you, they tend to set up road blocks around the island to catch those that are not riding correctly, those who do not wear a helmet or have not paid their tax and insurance.

If everything is in order, then you will be on your way in no time, however, if there is a problem, then they can fine you, invariably they do fine you. And you will be whisked away to the nearest police station to pay the fine, while they hold your keys for you until you return with your receipt. It’s all well organized so be ready, come with your license and wear your helmet.

The cost of motorbike rentals can vary tremendously, depending on what bike you have rented and what kind of bike you prefer. Normal automatic 100cc bikes can be rented for as little as 150 baht a day and you can also get great deals for the week and monthly deals are in place too.

You can rent bigger bikes too, regardless of what it says on your driving license, the theory being you pay for what you break. The bigger superbikes vary again from 500 baht a day well up to 2000 or 3000 thousand baht a day for the old classic bikes.

                                                                                                                                             

 I would not be doing my job here, if I said that renting such big machines here on Phuket without adequate experience is a good idea; the roads can be a dangerous place and in particular somewhere where you do not know the roads too well. What with the many sharp turns and high cliffs and small paths, be careful.  

If an accident does occur, then the rider / renter will be held responsible for the bike and will have to pay to have it fixed or by a new one, it’s that simple.

If the bikes needs a new tyre or gets a puncture, then it is easily fixed, there are small bike shops all over the island and they can fix a puncture in minutes and all for a small fee. If the bike is suffering mechanical problems and they are it is not your fault, simply take the bike back and the owner will either offer you another bike or get the one fixed, at no cost to you

.

With regards to gasoline, there are garages everywhere, there are the usual Shell, Caltex and Esso garages splattered about, and these are the cheapest and best places to fuel up, guarantying the best fuel at the best price.

There are also small shacks about offering fuel at marked up prices they are usually brightly coloured with a fifty gallon drum by the side of the road and they literally pump the fuel into your bike at a markup of about twice the price.

You will also see small shops selling bottles of gasoline, usually in old whisky bottles these again are greatly marked up and I do not recommend you fill your bike up at one of these little filling stations, they are to be used in an emergency only, put enough in to get you to the next legitimate filling station.

So to clarify when renting a motorbike here in Phuket:

• Take it easy on the road
• Do not drink and drive (the hospitals are full of people who drive too fast and drink)
• Wear your helmet
• Do not leave your passport with the bike shop (photo copy will suffice, if not, go somewhere else)
• Always carry a little spare cash in case the police wish to have a chat with you.
• Make sure you have enough fuel for the trip
• People tend to drive on both sides of the road here and exit junctions without looking, be aware of this

Biking can be fun in Thailand, but, please be careful, enjoy your experience here and look after yourself! 

Sunset Dinner Cruise

MV Sai Mai Sunset Dinner Cruise

Sunset Dinner Cruise Phuket with MV Sai Mai will be one of the highlights of your time in Phuket. Come and enjoy a romantic sunset in Phuket and dine first class on board MV Sai Mai.

Sai Mai is the perfect vessel to enjoy a romantic sunset meal with your loved ones. She has the facilities that you would expect from a quality vessel such as her. Every thing is taken care for you, and all you have to do is take it easy and let our experienced crew take care of you.

Our captain will gently glide you around the many small islands of the southern area of Phuket, all you have to do is sip Ice-Cold Cocktails from out extensive bar and simply take in the breathtaking views.

Our Chef will conjure up the magic in the kitchen. Every dish we served is freshly prepared that day and cooked fresh on the boat that evening. The sunset cruise is one of the most popular trips that we do and you will see why, once you have witnessed the spectacular  Andaman Sea Sunset.

After we have picked you up from your hotel, we will drive the short distance to MV Sai Mai, where you will indulge in all the tropical delights that this trip can bestow. You do not really need to bring much with you, as we supply everything, but, I would recommend a camera. Looking forward to seeing you real soon

• Up 10 guests on board our dinner cruises
• Cruise around the southern Islands of Phuket
• Thai Set menu Dinner – Genuine Thai food
  (with daily changing menu)
• All Inclusive
• Available every day
• Masseuse on board for a relaxing massage during sunset (extra charge)

On-board Menu 

Our Menu for the sunset cruises changes daily please see below for your favourite Thai dishes all prepared by our expert chef freshly for you on-board MV Sai Mai.

Monday:-

• Thai Chicken Green Curry
• Fried Shrimp with a Tamarind Sauce
• Tom Kha Gai (chicken and coconut milk soup)
• Deep Fried Shrimp Cakes
• Steamed Snapper in Lemon
• Freshly Fried Rice with Chicken, Pork or Shrimp
• Thai Desert with Jack Fruit
• Fresh Fruits

Tuesday:-

Sunset Dinner Cruise

• Local Curried Chicken and Beef
• Chicken and Cashew Nuts
• Fresh Snapper with Sweet Chilli Sauce
• Lightly Battered Squid
• Tom Yam Gung (Prawns)
• Steamed Rice
• Sticky Rice with Mango
• Fruits Freshly Prepared

Wednesday:-

• Freshly Prepared Fish cooked gently in Thai Curry Sauce
• Palo ( Thai Soup Dish)
• Deep Fried Snapper with Sweet Sauce
• Stir Fried Shrimp in Vegetables
• Chicken Cooked with Chilli and Pepper
• Baked Rice with Sausage
• Thai Dumplings in Coconut Milk
• Local Fresh Fruits

Thursday:-

• Yellow Curry with Beef/Pork or Chicken
• Fried Chicken in Ginger
• Stir Fried Mixed Vegetables
• Seafood Salad
• Lightly Battered Mushrooms
• Fried Rice with Crab Meat
• Thai Dessert
• Seasonal Fruits

Friday:-

• Special Indian Chicken Curry
• Praka Pow Chicken (fried chicken with fresh basil)
• Pork Spare Ribs with Garlic and Pepper
• Stir Fried Prawns with Crushed Black Pepper
• Freshly Prepared Fish with Mango Salad
• Thai Dessert freshly prepared
• Local Thai Fruits

Saturday:-

• Massaman Chicken Curry
• Freshly Cooked Seafood on a bed of Noodles
• Chicken Wings
• Curried Snapper
• Mince Pork and Vegetable Soup (Local Favourite)
• Baked Rice with Seafood
• Fresh Mango and Coconut Cream with Sticky Rice
• Fresh Fruits

Sunday:-

Sai Mai

• Massaman Chicken Curry
• Fried Fresh Snapper
• Tom Yam Seafood (spicy soup)
• Lightly Battered Large Prawns
• Spicy Chicken Salad
• Baked Rice served inside a Pineapple
• Thai Jelly Desert served with Coconut Milk and Custard
• Fresh Seasonal Fruits

All the meals are freshly prepared on the day of the cruise by our own chef. If there are any special dietary requests please feel free to contact us.

Phuket Bike Week 2014

Phuket Bike Week 2014, combines pure power and style with the gentle Thai culture; bringing together from all over South East Asia, some of the best motorbikes available today.

There are some machines here this week, if you are a motorbike lover, it’s the perfect atmosphere of mega machines, oil and beer, and of course some very interesting hair designs all down on Patong Beach.

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the event being staged on Phuket, which might come as a surprise to some, each year since its inception it has become more and more popular with bikes coming from as far as the states.

The Bike Week will run for more than a week, attracting visitors to the island from all over Asia as well as the rest of the world. Every year the amount of visitors has grown and this year they expecting even more folk to flow onto the island.

Patong is well known for its night life restaurant and bars and nite-clubs. as well as for its great beach and world class shopping.

Part of the Phuket Bike Week, is the Rock Stars Life and Music artists of Thailand and will join the festival on the beach between the 8/10 of April. A 3 day event at the Loma Park Patong; will bring us some of the best music out today and from the past to.  

 

In addition to the concerts of famous artists in Thailand, we have a variety of shows to watch, such as acrobatic performances from Palazzo Phuket and performances from original Cowboys and Indians. Also there will be souvenirs on sale for bikers and non-bikers alike. Everyone is welcome, as Thailand embraces all travelers and anyone with a love of Motorbikes are especially welcome this week.

Of course, what would a Bike Week be without a Miss Phuket Bike Week Competition and this year is no exception. Every year as with any tradition Phuket Bike Week Beauty Competition will be fiercely fought out by girls from all over the country and beyond. The competition takes place at the Andaman Embrace on the 8^th April.

Also this week, there will be a competition of the strangest looking motorcycles in Thailand; this is always fascinating site to see. There will be many beautiful bikes on show this week, with bikes like Harley-Davidson custom bikes, Japanese Bikes, old Classic, like Norton and BSA, and of course Sports Bikes will be represented.

It’s not all about the bikes either, there will be a lot of charity work going on, with a mass planting of local trees planned all to help combat global warming. There will be a huge show from the Thai navy 3^rd fleet. There will also be bikes on show that are owned by Thai superstars like Carabao the rock star.

Rock concerts will be held throughout the week, as well as Thai folk music, there will masses of food stalls and beer tents. The whole week is one of the most exciting dates on the Phuket social scene do not miss out, it is truly a great spectacle

For a complete list of all the activities during Phuket Bike Week see the schedule below

The events as follows:-

Friday April 11, Patong:

1 pm: Motorbike show featuring some of Asia’s most beautiful and strangest bikes.

4 pm: Custom bike competition.

6 pm: Local culture show.

7 pm: Miss Phuket Bike Week Round 1.

8 pm: Official welcoming ceremony.

9 pm: Midnight: Rock concert and beach party.

Saturday April 12, Patong

1 pm: Motorbike show festival.

2 pm: Mass ride and tree planting to combat global climate change.

5 pm: Convoy around Patong.

6 pm: Show by Royal Thai Navy 3^rd Fleet.

7 pm: Official opening of Bike Week.

8 pm: Rock Concert.

10 pm: Miss Phuket Bike Week contest Round 2.

11 pm: midnight: Rock Concert and beach party.

Sunday April 13

1 pm: motorbike show including bikes of Thai superstars.

2 pm: Songkran on the beach party.

7 pm: Cowboy and Indian show.

8 pmt: Rock concert and beach party.

Monday April 14

1 pm: Motorbike and American car show.

7 pm: Tattoo competition.

8 pm: Midnight: Rock concert and beach party.

April 15-17 – No events planned so far.

Friday April 18 in Saphan Hin- Phuket Town

1 pm: Motorbike show and souvenir market.

2pm: Safe riding training.

6pm: Thai Folk Art Show.

8pmt: Rock concert and beach party.

Saturday April 19 at Saphan Hin

1 pm: Motorbike show and bike stunt show.

3 pm: Convoy around Phuket.

5 pm: Motorbike contest, final round.

7 pm: Thai Folk Art show.

9 pm: Fashion show and finals of Miss Phuket Bike Week 2014

10 pm: Rock concert featuring Carabao.

MV Sai Mai (Six Knots)

MV Sai Mai, oh how I dream of days cruising the crystal clear waters of Phuket. When life could be so easy, take me to a place where no one knows me and I can escape the reality of it all, if only for a little while.

With the advent of the Mobile phone and media sites, do we ever seem to get any peace or any quiet, we all need downtime, we all need to simply switch off; people can get in contact with us 24/7. The world we live in moves at such a fast pace these days, that we sometimes just do not know whether we are coming, going or if we have already been.

Now hold on! Let’s just slow it all down for a minute, just take a moment and take a deep breath. Maybe on a cold dark winter’s day on the way to work, your mind wonders off to a faraway place, where time almost stands still.

If you have ever dreamed of exotic islands in the sun, where the skies are always blue, the waters always warm and clear and where beaches of gorgeous white sands are almost left untouched. Then do we have a treat for you!

The MV Sai Mai‘s sole mission, is to bring peace and tranquillity into people’s lives. It travels the waters of the Andaman in search of the places that you have only ever held in your dreams, moving at a pace that can only ever bring tranquillity into your life.

Sai Mai or Six Knots as she is known affectionately, we call her Six Knots because that is the speed she travels, gently ploughing the locals seas in and around Phuket is the perfect vessel for such days or relaxing.

She is perfectly fitted out to accommodate a small group of family and friends, accommodating up to 8 guests all in her luxurious air-con, en-suite cabins or if a day trip is required, then she can easily manage up to 12 guests.

Sai Mai is available throughout the year, visiting all the islands around Phuket, such as Phi Phi Islands, Koh Lanta, Taurutao, Phang Nga bay, Krabi, Racha Yai and Racha Noi, Similans, Surin Islands even trips up to Burma are possible, in fact she will go almost anywhere, such is the versatility and flexibility of her schedule.

She has three spacious cabins on board, which are all en-suite with running hot and cold water and showers, all cabins have individual controlled Air Conditioning units to. The cabins have TV and DVD players, the large suite cabins on the port and starboard sides both have a double bed and single bed inside, while the double cabin at the front of the boat has bunks beds accommodating two.

The food on Sai Mai is second to none; the cook is an expert chef and is always ready to offer cooking lessons to those interested in Thai cuisine.  We know that there are many people with different dietary needs. If there is anything you need or like or for that matter do not like, let us know and we will make sure you dine like royalty.

Sai Mai was built in the mid-nineties to a very high spec and has be maintained in similar fashion using only the finest Asian hardwoods. When she first started cruising these waters she was exclusively a dive boat, taking divers all the way to Burma and the Mergui Archipelago. Back then she won several awards for being the finest dive vessel in the Andaman Sea, the awards came from the International Diving Association.

The way Sai Mai works is like this, you tell us what you would like to do and where you would like to go, whether you want to go only to the best beaches in the area, chilling out on the sands and having barbecues for the week, or you want to dabble into the underwater world of Scuba Diving and Snorkeling or even a mixture of the three e can arrange it for you.

All of our staff are highly qualified and very experienced scuba diving instructors, all of whom have worked in the area for years and know every island and dive site. We offer a full range of differing schedules or you can even build your own, we go where you want to go, not the other way around.

If you are interested in Scuba diving, we can supply all the necessary equipment and if you would like to complete a dive course on board, this is also possible. This season alone we have seen Several Whale Sharks and about twenty Manta Rays.

The marine life in this area will simply take your breath away, what with the large predators like Barracudas, Trevallies, and Tunas and Mackerel’s hunting, all the way down the food chain to the exotic Seahorses and Pipefishes, to the happy go lucky Hawksbill Sea Turtles, it is all there come and explore and see for yourself.

The Captain and crew of Sai Mai await you, your family and friends to join them on one of the most beautiful and relaxed boats around Phuket. Six knots will take you wherever you want go, come and join us and see for yourself just what life is really like on the seas around here.

There is so much to explore and see and do. 

No need to get stressed, leave the phone at home and come cruise around the beautiful islands of Thailand and all at only at six knots. See you soon.

We also have another boat we called twenty five knots, now this is a totally different experience come and see what we mean

Written By Jason Butler