Friday, February 1, 2013

Phuket, Thailand


Phuket is located along the southwest coast of Thailand. At approximately 200 square miles, it is Thailand’s largest island, measuring about 30 miles in length and 13 miles at it’s widest. Phuket has a population of about 350,000. There were about 250 people killed here from the tsunami on December 26, 2004.
 
Being an island Phuket has many beaches of all types.






 
 
Farmed fish operation.
 
 
Fish being cooked by street vendor.
 
 
Many choices provided by a street vendor.
 



 
Not sure, again, what these things are.  We could not find anyone who knew and spoke English.  They looked like dried jelly fish.
 
 
Typical street scenes.



Local taxi cab.


And we complain about not having enough room in the family car!
 
 
This is the Heroines Monument. In 1785 the Burmese invaded Phuket. The Governor had recently died, rather than surrender the Governor’s widow and her sister rallied the citizens and troops and successfully repelled the invaders.
 
 
We visited Wat Phranang Sang reported to be the oldest temple in Phuket at approximately 550 years old.




 
 
Three golden female Buddhas.
 
The temple guards are obviously more recent additions. I doubt assault rifles grenades and hand guns were standard issue 500 years ago. They might have also considered more protective body armor.



 
Devotees place small patches of gold leaf on statues of local deified monks.

 
 
 
We also visited Wat Phra Tong Temple.

 
There were sacred temple roosters roaming about.  Reminded us of Key West, Florida.

 
 
Wat Phra Tong contains a half-buried Buddha. Legend has it that anyone who touches the statue will be cursed and die prematurely. We did not go any closer than this.

 
 
More mystery fruit on an unknown type of tree.
 
 
Banyan tree...I think?
 
 
Sunset at Phuket.
 
 
Next stop Colombo, Sri Lanka


Langkawi, Malaysia


Langkawi is an island located approximately 25 miles off the mainland of Malaysia in the Andaman Sea. Part of an archipelago made up of 104 islands Langkawi has a population of about 65,000. Traditionally thought to be cursed the Prime Minister declared it a duty-free province in order to attract visitors and began transforming it into a tourist resort in 1986. In 2007 it was designated a UNESCO World GeoPark. Noted primarily for its population of native eagles, found mostly in the forested mountains.





We chose not to get off the ship at this port, no need testing the legendary curse. J




Some of the 104 islands as we sail away.
 
 
Next stop Phuket, Thailand.