The morning was rainy but it cleared up enough for us to hit the beach for a few more hours. We were a little late heading to the airport, so we hitched a tuktuk. Turns out they move pretty slowly...
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Phuket-Day 2
Day two we organized a trip to Ko Phi Phi. Phi Phi is a gorgeous island off the coast. Breathtaking. One could hardly begin to describe it.
I had my first snorkeling adventure! Can you believe it! My love of ocean finally came to fruition. No squid on this trip (Sea of Cortez is on my list, though!) but I loved seeing the fish and the coral. I still can't believe how close I was do it. It was like living in my documentaries!
We took a speed boat island hoping. Do you know how hard it is to take a picture on a speed boat?
They collect swallow's nests (made of bird saliva) in this cave. They are highly valued for their medicinal properties. We learned in Chinese medicine that they are believed to be good for the stomach, while the Thai people believe them to be the best for the skin. Either way, obtaining any will cost you a fortune.
Our guide was a victim of the Tsunami and it was interesting to hear his first-hand account of standing on the beach as the water receded, to be replaced by the wall of the tsunami.
We returned late afternoon and had a quick nap by the pool before heading to dinner and a yummy seafood place where you pick out your food fresh.
Phuket-Day 1
So after freezing in Guilin and Shanghai, we were ready for the sunshine-y half of adv 2010!
We arrived at night and explored around a little, without being able to see much of the beach in the dark. So when we woke up the next morning I nearly died.
The shops right off the beach were really lively, vendors selling anything and everything, a bar as every other store.
We found a great lunch spot in a hidden alleyway. We watched them prepare fresh lunch, including drying the peppers:
It's hard to tell here but all the carts are attached to motorcycles. When you're done for the day you just drive off..
The traditional form of greeting in Thailand is the Wei, demonstrated here by good old Ronald.
Thailand is famous for what they call "lady boys." Thai men make extremely beautiful women. The especially thin lady with the short black skirt and black and white top on the left educated us on the intimate details of sex changes by lifting up her skirt and pulling down her top for us (pedestrians on the sidewalks that is, not even patrons of the bar).
This is the intricate spirit house outside of our hotel, meant to provide acceptable lodging to the spirits who may have inhabited the space beforehand.
Phuket was hit hard in the tsunami and they take precautions for future events seriously.
The hotel was alright I guess.
Women and men walked up and down the beach offering us sarongs and souvenirs. This woman offered us fresh fruit and drink and we gladly accepted.
We spent day one relaxing on the beach, taking an occasional dip in the pretty blue waters, and eating mangoes and watermelon. It's a hard, hard life I live.
We arrived at night and explored around a little, without being able to see much of the beach in the dark. So when we woke up the next morning I nearly died.
The shops right off the beach were really lively, vendors selling anything and everything, a bar as every other store.
We found a great lunch spot in a hidden alleyway. We watched them prepare fresh lunch, including drying the peppers:
It's hard to tell here but all the carts are attached to motorcycles. When you're done for the day you just drive off..
The traditional form of greeting in Thailand is the Wei, demonstrated here by good old Ronald.
Thailand is famous for what they call "lady boys." Thai men make extremely beautiful women. The especially thin lady with the short black skirt and black and white top on the left educated us on the intimate details of sex changes by lifting up her skirt and pulling down her top for us (pedestrians on the sidewalks that is, not even patrons of the bar).
This is the intricate spirit house outside of our hotel, meant to provide acceptable lodging to the spirits who may have inhabited the space beforehand.
Phuket was hit hard in the tsunami and they take precautions for future events seriously.
The hotel was alright I guess.
Women and men walked up and down the beach offering us sarongs and souvenirs. This woman offered us fresh fruit and drink and we gladly accepted.
We spent day one relaxing on the beach, taking an occasional dip in the pretty blue waters, and eating mangoes and watermelon. It's a hard, hard life I live.
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