Chapter 9: How we spent our Thanksgiving (Phuket, Thailand) GMT +7
Phuket Postcard
We arrived in gorgeous Phuket on Tuesday - it is all sand and sky. My thoughts went to Gary G who first told me about the snorkeling here on our long bus rides into work .. Gary when you get here you will not be disappointed!
The sand squeaks beneath your feet - it is soo soft and white.
The water is crystal clear - last time I saw water this clear was off Crete! As you stand at the water edge, you see little fish swimming around you (Evan we think about you alot!)
We are planning a day trip to PhiPhi Island - hotels are currently booked up there so we stayed on Phuket. The snorkeling and coral reefs in the Andaman seas there are supposed to be terrific and if the weather holds out, we are looking forward to that.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving - and instead of eating turkey, we rode elephants, watched rubber tapping, learned how to cook some Thai food, went boogie boarding (the kids!) made sandcastles, did some math problems on the sand, ate a delicious meal of fresh fried fish with ginger, garlic and pepper down by the seashore, with a side of ginger shrimp, and drank tender coconut! Then we watched our MVP DVD - thanks Matthew Ascolese!
For those that have already heard, within an hour of landing on this paradise, Sarah hit her head hard while jumping in the pool. She ended up with 4 stitches on the back of her head.
SHE IS FINE!
Yesterday the Dr allowed her into the ocean, showers etc ... back to regular life, so (as she says) "it doesn't even feel like I had any stitches".
We witnessed the Thai version of Thanksgiving - a festival called "Loi
Kratong" or the Lotus festival. The Thai Buddhists (and as in the Far
East Cultures, all other residents too!) celebrated with lots of food!
But the most beautiful part was the multitude of lotus made to float
on the various bodies of water as thanks to Buddha for all that he as
given this year. Some were made out of coconut leaves, others baked
from dough, all in the shape of a lotus. Then they added flowers,
some money, incense and a candle -- and offered it.
But most magical was watching a particularly touching ceremony from
high up in our room. They floated little paper balloons with candles
in them up to the heavens .. and as we there the night before a very
violent tropical storm MUIFA, the wind currents sent some soaring
right up to the full moon, while others crashed right back down.
We were lucky to visit PhiPhi island - what a difference in
topography. Here the islands rose out of the sea! You will see when
the photos get posted! The beaches are pure coral, which makes them a
little difficult to walk on without water shoes ... but the
snorkeling was SPECTACULAR! Evan, Tim, Debbie, you will love this
place! We snorkeled through a recently opened coral beach, so we
were able to see some great colorful coral .. brought back memories of
XelHa in Mexico!
Thanks to everyone for your emails - we love getting them (Jenny W, Milly, Nora, Mrs Vail, Teri, Carol V! ....) it has been great to get back in touch with so many people. Excuse us if we do not respond individually due to the internet time restrictions (using Cafes more than we had planned)!
--
Ian, Sarah, Andrew
Bernard & Karena
"Life is the adventure - travel it well!"
http://www.desouzatravels.blogspot.com
We arrived in gorgeous Phuket on Tuesday - it is all sand and sky. My thoughts went to Gary G who first told me about the snorkeling here on our long bus rides into work .. Gary when you get here you will not be disappointed!
The sand squeaks beneath your feet - it is soo soft and white.
The water is crystal clear - last time I saw water this clear was off Crete! As you stand at the water edge, you see little fish swimming around you (Evan we think about you alot!)
We are planning a day trip to PhiPhi Island - hotels are currently booked up there so we stayed on Phuket. The snorkeling and coral reefs in the Andaman seas there are supposed to be terrific and if the weather holds out, we are looking forward to that.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving - and instead of eating turkey, we rode elephants, watched rubber tapping, learned how to cook some Thai food, went boogie boarding (the kids!) made sandcastles, did some math problems on the sand, ate a delicious meal of fresh fried fish with ginger, garlic and pepper down by the seashore, with a side of ginger shrimp, and drank tender coconut! Then we watched our MVP DVD - thanks Matthew Ascolese!
For those that have already heard, within an hour of landing on this paradise, Sarah hit her head hard while jumping in the pool. She ended up with 4 stitches on the back of her head.
SHE IS FINE!
Yesterday the Dr allowed her into the ocean, showers etc ... back to regular life, so (as she says) "it doesn't even feel like I had any stitches".
We witnessed the Thai version of Thanksgiving - a festival called "Loi
Kratong" or the Lotus festival. The Thai Buddhists (and as in the Far
East Cultures, all other residents too!) celebrated with lots of food!
But the most beautiful part was the multitude of lotus made to float
on the various bodies of water as thanks to Buddha for all that he as
given this year. Some were made out of coconut leaves, others baked
from dough, all in the shape of a lotus. Then they added flowers,
some money, incense and a candle -- and offered it.
But most magical was watching a particularly touching ceremony from
high up in our room. They floated little paper balloons with candles
in them up to the heavens .. and as we there the night before a very
violent tropical storm MUIFA, the wind currents sent some soaring
right up to the full moon, while others crashed right back down.
We were lucky to visit PhiPhi island - what a difference in
topography. Here the islands rose out of the sea! You will see when
the photos get posted! The beaches are pure coral, which makes them a
little difficult to walk on without water shoes ... but the
snorkeling was SPECTACULAR! Evan, Tim, Debbie, you will love this
place! We snorkeled through a recently opened coral beach, so we
were able to see some great colorful coral .. brought back memories of
XelHa in Mexico!
Thanks to everyone for your emails - we love getting them (Jenny W, Milly, Nora, Mrs Vail, Teri, Carol V! ....) it has been great to get back in touch with so many people. Excuse us if we do not respond individually due to the internet time restrictions (using Cafes more than we had planned)!
--
Ian, Sarah, Andrew
Bernard & Karena
"Life is the adventure - travel it well!"
http://www.desouzatravels.blogspot.com
posted by desouza.travels at 1:24 AM
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