Strong onshore winds whipping-up the sea from the north east combined with seasonal high tides to dump a layer of beach sand on the lawn. Jonny manfully shovelled most of it back which, together with a recent three-day deluge diluted the salt sufficiently to save the grass.

As is frequently the case during the monsoon, the pier didn’t survive the first major storm of the season and lost a goodly chunk of itself to the seas. We are so fortunate that we have a beach, even during the highest tides, against which the seas can crash. Other village beachside businesses are not so favoured, as can be seen in the photo below, and are doubtless receiving more in the way of damage than a layer of sand.

The staff return to work this Sunday to start the big external cleanup in the run up to our Christmas and New Year peak season, when fortunately, Baan Bophut is booked out.

Bonzo and Foxy, different sizes, but both from the same litter, were too much to resist when Lucy learned that without a home, they would be going to Samui Dog Rescue to be put down. Personally I’m delighted the hotel now has its own dog(s) again, instead of sharing (& feeding) the neighbours’ – what’s a beach hotel without a dog?

Baan Bophut’s abiding mantra encourages prospective guests to escape and relax. And while we continue to discourage those looking for action and adventure (including ping-pong and beach volleyball), I feel bound to inform you of the hotel’s only surrender to the potential for physical activity and the opportunity to exercise.

Lucy snatches a paddle-break aboard one of Tik’s ‘Bismarcks’

Inspired by the popularity of Tik’s kayak rental business and her own burgeoning enthusiasm for developing arm and upper-body strength, Lucy acquired a couple of solo kayaks to add to his fleet.

The same Thai kayak builder also makes, what they call Tri-Yaks, to accommodate three people and other larger kayaks designed for fishing. Both are future options for fleet enlargement if there is sufficient interest from guests.

Not yet available for rental are Lucy and Jonny’s new 3.6m (11′6″) Naish Stand-up Paddle Boards .

SUP is an increasingly popular surface watersport, with Hawaiian surfing origins, that benefits paddlers with a strong core workout. Importantly for almost waveless Samui, SUP is a form a surfing that allows one to go places without any need for waves to be present.

Jonny paddles back from breakfast in Big Buddah

Adopted by an increasing number of surfer dudes who appreciate the enhanced wave-spotting potential of being able to stand-up on a stationary board. SUPing offers surfers the ability to catch more waves, as well as providing a better view of incoming waves.

Lucy’s 3.6m Naish SUP with Polynesian design and padded deck area