Phuket Thailand

Most people head to the beaches in Phuket, in fact, many northern Europeans spend their winters here. But not being beach people, we headed in a high-speed boat (35 MPH) into Phang Nga Bay. Like Ha Long Bay in Viet Nam, it is filled with limestone islands that have eroded into stunning scenery.

What was very interesting here was looking at the water line of the islands. As Pictures 1 and 2 show, erosion has not occurred uniformly, forming limestone “fingers” that reminded us of stalactites and stalagmites in a cave. Picture 2 actually shows erosion that formed caves on either side of the island and eventually wore all the way through.

Pictures 3 and 4 show some of the lovely scenery as we boated through the islands. Picture 5 may be familiar. This is Koh Phing Kan Island in Phang Nga Nationa Park, which is locally called James Bond Island. “The Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed here.

We stopped at the village of Ko Panyi, which is a village of fishermen built on stilts. Pictures 6 and 7 show what life is like in this village. Homes are connected to wooden walkways and boats are parked outside homes. You’ll note the wires in Picture 7. Usually we try to eliminate stuff like that in pictures, but it was virtually impossible in this village.

Picture 8 shows the elaborate mosque in an otherwise poor village. Thailand is over 80% Buddhist, but in the southern part near Malaysia, you will find villages of Muslims. This village is over 90% Muslim.

Three days at sea on the way to Sri Lanka. Hopefully by then Betsy will have learned to make the SR sound! It usually comes out S-I-R-I, but if she speaks slowly she’s beginning to pronounce it correctly. Keep practicing…..