Hot and humid in Phuket

OMG! The Stars!

I woke up at what I thought was a little after 4 am (more later) and went out on the balcony where it was warm and very windy. The only light was a small one focused on the lines coming down from the top of the ship and a small greenish glow from the otherwise pitch black bridge (which is the deck just above us).

Then I looked up to the most marvelous sight those of us in LA may see only once in a lifetime. A carpet of stars and planets (don’t ask: I don’t know I just know they were bright and didn’t flicker) everywhere I looked. What a view. Wish I knew more astronomy.

We didn’t get the memo

Frances had mentioned that we turn our clocks back one hour last night at dinner. I checked the Patter and found no mention of this. And there wasn’t a note on our pillow to tell us this so I thought it was the wrong night.

We get up

Since I never went back to sleep and Ed got up to see the stars too, we began to get ready for our tour. We had ordered room service to be delivered at 6:30 am. It came and went and when it got close to 7, Ed called room service and they brought up a tray quickly afterwards.

Well we owe them an apology. You can almost set your watch by them and we weren’t on ship’s time.

We go to meet with tour

The desk isn’t ready for us but there were about 10 others there too so we didn’t think much of it. But pretty soon it became apparent that we were an hour early!

This gave us an opportunity to meet with several other folks we don’t see often. The longer tours left first and eventually we made it to our tour bus and “Noon” our delightful Thai tour guide and Mr. “Wat” (just like the temples) our driver who was very kind and considerate in helping folks off the bus.

This was a modern motorcoach with the now-familiar valances and dingle balls on the windows. But the air conditioning was almost nonexistent and it was hot and humid. We dripped sweat and mumbled while trying to determine if they were trying to save money by not using the AC much, we were just the only ones uncomfortable etc.

It turned out that it wasn’t just us and so later in the day (after two more stops) we were transferred to another bus which was mercifully well airconditioned and also modern.

When I say modern busses, it’s true but getting up to that second level through a narrow gap with few handrails is a challenge for even the most fit of us.

Panorama

Our first stop, along with several thousand others, was a tall promontory that has several shrines and a fantastic view of a travel guide perfect photo view. We have been here before though I’m not sure I convinced Ed that we had been. There were lots of elephants with flower leis festooning them. Different paints on the small ones, etc.

Mandatory Pearl Factory

As many of you know who have travelled, it is de riguer to stop at a jewelry factory and the SE Asian countries all claim to have the best pearls. So you enter on one side (as much of the AC as anything) and the is only one route past gleaming displays of often gaudy baubles. But they usually have some less expensive tchotskis for you. Ed and I picked up about $30 USD worth of such things and were disgorged out the other side of the building where the new AC working bus was waiting for us.

Lunch

Was a Thai buffet at a Novotel Hotel. Quite modern, clean, very nice. They had satay and spring rolls for us to take while we waited in the buffet line. Oh yes, and did I mention that the AC was wonderful? Pod Thai was the first dish and various others along the way all of which were good and some of which had spicy surprises for you.

Thai show

These are always lovely and this one as well EXCEPT there was no AC and despite the electric fans inside, it seems stifling. We were presented with small orchids as we entered and then terrific hand fans (which we were asked to return at the end…sigh.  Getting back on the ship I saw a man flagrantly displaying one and thought it was tacky enough that he stole it and worse that he flaunted it. And you wonder where ugly American images come from?)

The shows told stories of Thai history and cultures with lovely women dressed in gorgeous native costumes. Of course some of the “lovely ladies” were actually “shims” (I know that’s not PC these days) for which Thailand is known. In fact, some of the world’s sex change surgeries are known to have been originated here. )

There were drum shows that reminded me of Taiko. And much of the time I was thinking of the movie “The King and I” where they show a version of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” with Topsy (?) as these girls looked much like that.

And of course the famous Thai boxing (very tightly choreographed here) where you use feet, elbows and boxing gloves.

7 Elevens

I swear there is one on every other block and adjacent to one was a wedding chapel. So grab your BIG GULP and take a sharp left out the door and get hitched. I wonder if they get a commission?

Pier side market

Lots of ladies in Hijab selling wares which were very cheap but also didn’t cost much. I got a wrap around skirt (more later) and a pair of white gauzy pants (perfect for this weather!) and Ed got a Thai silk shirt. I’m embarrassed to tell you how little we paid but it would sound very impressive in local currency: for example 150 bhat for a bracelet.

The wrap around skirt.

I used to make these and wrap around skirts which are both very easy to make. But I had forgotten two things: I am tall for these people, And I used to add a few inches to the “rise” in any pants I made. So thiswrap around skirt would be more like a wrap around hip hugger. No worries because I can regift it or the fabric is sufficient to make something really spectacular as it is Thai silk.

Back at ship

We immediately took showers. Too rushed to do trivia as the time was too short and we couldn’t bear doing anything quickly. At 5 they had the raffle for the photo gifts. Recall that last time I won two of the three prizes as I had a strategy for putting my tickets into the box.

Well it didn’t work this time but I am glad for those who won as There was only one prize I’d be interested in. God looks out for you.

Dinner

We had all been on the same tour and we were only 4 of us so we caught up on the day.

Entertainment

We didn’t go. Too tired. My body felt like someone had beaten me up on my back so it was early to bed for us.

I know I am forgetting one of our stops today so it couldn’t have been that memorable. If I recall it later I may put an entry.