Phuket weather update from 1st to 8th November 2014

During first part of November weather has been normal for this time the year. very good days with sunshine and nice breeze alternate to days  with clouds and grey sky, rain can be heavy.

1st and 2nd November were very good, as can see from the image of Kata Beach here below , people now enjoy free beaches and a lot of space.

Kata Beach on 2nd November 2014

Kata Beach without sun beds

Then on 3rd November was a grey day with clouds and rain. best for relax and enjoy spa and massage. The rain weather kept going until 5th November. Then again back to good weather on the 6th for Loy Kratong Celebration.

7th was a mix of good and bad, wind picked up but nothing serious, forecast said that week end should see storms and strong wind. However today is raining all day long and clouds cover the sky wind isn't strong at all and sea is almost flat.

Boat Lagoon on 7th November 2014

Koh Khai Nui Island on 7th November 2014

Forecast for Sunday then cahnged to moderate wind, no waves but surely rain.

However weather will be,  take it easy, it is holidays time and temperature is always high and it is possible to enjoy a lot of activities,

Take time to visit Old Phuket Town with a private tour.

Loy Kratong Festival 2014

Tonight is the 12th full Moon on the traditional lunar calendar and in Thailand Loy Kratong night.
The celebration marks the passage from the rain season, to the dry and more "cool' season. The Monsoon will change direction from South West (brings the humid air from the open Sea along with the heavy rains) to North East (brings the dry and fresh air from inner Asia).

Loy Kratong competiotion

Pino in traditional custom

Carla in Traditional custom

 So now we know when is Loy Kratong in Phuket and Thailand. It is the night of November Full Moon. So every year moves date

But actually means Loy Kratong? Literally float (loy) a basket (Kratong). Not just a normal basket but it is Lotus shaped and decorated. The base is made by a slice of Banana Tree trunk (between 10 and 30 cm of diameter), decorated with twisted Banana Tree leaves, flowers a candle and three incense sticks. People prepare their own, try to make the most beautiful one.

Loy Kratong

Those that don't have one can easily buy in shops and stall at road side. Childrens prepare one at school to then leave then floating in the evening.

What happen during Loy Kratong? nothing really special, it is just an occasion for a celebration. Its isn't a public holiday. People will gather near lakes, ponds and rivers. Everyone ready with his Kratong to leave it floating and bring carrying wishes of good luck or carrying away bad things.

Am and friend ready to Loy Kratong

On the Kratong there is a candle to venerate Buddha, incense for the spirit of water, one one Baht coin for luck an people sometime  put hair and the cut from their nails to send away bad luck.

Loy Kratong

Every municipality around the Thailand will provide spaces near water to celebrate, organizing fairs, street markets, plenty of food and competitions between villages to see who is bale to make the most beautiful Kratong. Some are really Matsrepieces.

Kathu municipality Loy Kratong 2014

During Loy Kratong there is also another tradition, release the flying lanterns, so some time people calls Loy Karatong the lanterns night.

Relaease Lanter from MV Sai Mai

This actually is the tradition in Northern Thailand or Lanna region. There the celebration is called Yi Peng and has a more religious meaning to honor the Buddah. The thousand of lanterns released will make the dark sky looks like a sea of lights. It is very impressive.

In recent years and in tourist areas, specially near the sea and on the islands the Lanterns are more popular then the Kratongs. They are also sold on the beaches and people like to release them all year round.

Now I go to enjoy Loy Kratong here in Kathu with my Family

Julie and Monica ready to launch their wishes

Phuket weather update October 2014 from 11th til 31st

Fast and easy we got to end of October, our last update for Phuket weather was three weeks ago.

Karon Beach on 13 October 2014

Why so long without any news about Phuket Weather? Simply because weather has been very good.

Panoramic View from Cape Panwa in October 2014

Normal pattern for this time of the year, no wind and flat sea, during almost of the day blue sky and sunshine. Can expect anyway local storms and rain falls that last between one and two hours.

During these storms rain can be very heavy causing flash floods that affect only the area where rain is concentrated . So just stop and wait for a moment until rain slow down. There is no strong wind associated with these storms however when at sea visibility can be poor and some waves is possible but less than one meter.

Storm over Kathu on 13 October 2014

This is the weather situation that will bring us into the so called high season.

What is high season in Phuket : its is the period between mid October and mid May, when wind change direction blowing from north east. Bringing fresh and dry air from inland.

Patong Beach ready for high season

Now we are in the transition, the heavy rains of Summer Monsoon are over, sky is clear most of the day. However air is hot and humidity is high so dense clouds form offshore and once they are loaded or water release it to the ground or sea with this quick and strong storms

A good news is that is now time to enjoy the Sea and it is safe to swim in area and beach, rip currents are gone and sea is flat

Sea Canoe at Koh Hong 12 October 2014

Today was an alarming news about waterspout, they are normal during October and November  and they last only few minutes, during storms there si the opportunity to take very good pictures.

Waterspout off Patong Beach

In conclusion is time to fully enjoy holidays and all activities that Phuket and surrounding areas offer.

There isn't any better time as now can enjoy the sea, the forest and the beaches

Specially good time for rafting and tubing with rivers at correct level of water

Tubing in Phang Nga 

Khao Sok tour 

Thai Pork Satay

Thai Pork Satay (Moo Satay)
 

There are four different things you need to make: Marinade, Basting Sauce, Satay Sauce and Ajad.
 

Thai Pork Satay (Moo Satay)

Ingredients for pork and marinade:
• 2 lbs pork tenderloin, sliced into 1/4" thick pieces
• 4 tablespoons lemongrass water (see below at step n. 1)

• 5 tablespoons thin soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 14 oz can coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• ½ tablespoon Thai curry powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
 
Preparation for pork marinade:
 
1. Thinly slice 1 stalk of fresh lemongrass, put in a bowl, then pour 1/2 cup boiling water
over it. Remove 4 tablespoons of the water and set to cool.
2. For the can of coconut milk, don't stir it up, and some will have a thicker consistency.
Measure 1/3 cup of the thicker part for the marinade. You will use the thinner part for
your basting liquid below.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the lemongrass water with the coconut cream, and the other
ingredients. Mix well, then add the pork, and refrigerate for 1 hour or more.
Page 1



Ingredients for basting liquid:
 
• Remaining coconut milk from above
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ½ tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
 
Preparation for basting liquid:
 
1. Combine the four ingredients, mix well and set aside
 
Ingredients for Satay sauce:
 
• 5 whole dried chillies, soaked in water to soften
• 1.5 tablespoons chopped fresh galangal
• 1.5 tablespoons thinly sliced lemongrass
• 5 fresh kaffir lime leaves, finely sliced
• 2 tablespoons fresh shallot, thinly sliced
• 3-4 medium cloves garlic
• ½ tablespoon shrimp paste
• 1 tablespoon massaman curry paste (if you don't have massaman also red curry will do)
• ¼ cup white sesame seed, toasted in a dry wok or skillet
• ¼ cup dried roasted peanut
• 1 cup coconut cream
• 1 cup coconut milk
• ¼ cup palm sugar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon tamarind concentrate mixed with 1 tablespoon water 
 
Preparation for Satay sauce:
 
1. Start by pounding your white sesame seeds in a mortar & pestle, into a thick paste. Set
aside. Then pound the peanuts until fine, and set aside.
2. Put the whole dried chilli, fresh galangal, lime leaves, and lemongrass into the mortar &
pestle. Pound together well, then add shallot, garlic, and shrimp paste. Leave it in the
mortar. Heat a wok or large pan to medium heat, and add this mixture from the mortar.
Saute it with 1 cup coconut milk. Stir constantly, until all dissolved. Add matsaman curry
paste, fish sauce, tamarind, palm sugar, and stir well.
3. Add the sesame seed paste and pounded peanuts to this mixture and cook over
medium/low heat for 10 minutes or so. It should all blend together well
 
Ingredients for Ajad:
 

Ajad - Served with Pork Satay

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
• ½ cup thinly sliced cucumber
• ½ cup white vinegar
• ¼ cup sliced shallot
• 2-3 fresh Thai chilli peppers, sliced
 
Preparation for Ajad:
 
1. In a small saucepan, mix vinegar, salt and sugar over medium heat. Stir until dissolves,
then remove from heat and set to cool. Just before serving, add the cucumber, shallot and
sliced chillies to this.

Preparing and serving your Pork Satay:
 
Cook the marinated pork skewers over charcoal, constantly basting them with the basting liquid.
 
Serve together with Satay sauce and Ajad.

Check out our Private Thai Cooking Class


More about cooking Thai Dishes on our Thai Recipes Page!

Phuket Weather update October 2014 from 8th til 10th

Made an update because in last two days weather, as foreseen, changed.

Now we have pleasant blue skies, flat sea and a breeze that keeps fresh air Moving. After few days of heavy rain seems we are moving fats to winter conditions, soon the wind will change direction bringing fresh air from North and less and less rain.

Phuket weather on 10 October 2014

Phuket Panoramic view on 10 October 2014

Don't forget Phuket is a tropical island and rain is a very important part of its life, otherwise would be a sandy and dusty place without any vegetation on.

So in case will rain during your holiday don't be worry but still enjoy activities and things to in Phuket. Sea water temperature is all year round between 28 and 30 Celsius and air temperature never below 24 Celsius during the day.

Elephant trekking in Phuket 9 October 2014

Enjoy shower after a day at work

Until summer Monsoon is active (wind comes from South West), be careful swimming and follow the signal on the beaches. If sea is flat but red flags are on, doesn't mean that someone forgot them. It means that it is dangerous enter the sea.

Rip currents warning at Phuket beaches

Rip currents are a normal condition between May and end of October and they are dangerous specially to those with basic swimming skills.

Review - Derek and Beatrix

Hi Francesco,

Just a short note to thank you for your excellent service and planning which made our holiday in Phuket so enjoyable. We had a fabulous time. No hassles whatsoever. Don't know whether you arranged the weather as well, but we were blessed with lovely warm and sunny days.

We were very impressed with the level of service we received. The tours we choose were super. Pick up and transfer from the hotel to the boats or the shows was always on time.

Once again a huge thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you.

Kind regards

Derek Robb