Our beach - just sounds of the surf, wonderful!
There were never a lot of people on the beach - most of the tourists hung out by the pools at the resort. Just behind this picture, are the huts set up for temporary henna tattooes and massage.
Outside the entrance to the theatre at the FantaSea Elephant show - we were treated to a 2 hour extravaganza - featuring over 30 elephants, song and dance, magic, and chickens....!
Mom and Meg riding the elephant outside the theatre -
What a thrill!
The unbelievably ornate entrance to the theatre at FantaSea - felt a bit like Indiana Jones on crack...
Also at FantaSea - the various stalls and showcases - this the white tigers - we felt a little sorry for the poor things - they just paced back and forth in the marble cage.
Nothin' like the PNE over here!
Mermaids and koi fish, at the entrance to FantaSea
As always, greeted with a smile - this is a serious tourist destination here in Phuket.
And, market shopping in Phuket village - all of the mannequins had unique faces, with bizarre expressions, and hair colour.
Going into the fray!
My veteran market shoppers.
At the airport in HK waiting for our flight, talking on Skype with the snowy Mill Bayers! We were greeted on arrival at the entranceway with leis, and smiles. We arrived in Phuket after a 4 hour flight from HK - the pace immediately slowed, and so did we!
At the front desk, and reception area to the Marriott Beach Club
Our seasoned travellers!
The only way to get around the resort (17 km of beach, in a national park area that protects the sea turtles that lay their eggs here.
Christmas tree in Thailand
Our two bedroom 'villa' - all timeshare properties - yes, we had to go through the 'sales pitch', but stayed focussed! Master bedroom and bathroom was as big as our entire flat!
Master bath, ooh la la
Kitchen and dining area - the white blob on the table is actually towels, sculpted to look like an elephant. The elephant is revered here.
Girls' room - beautiful colours
A nice note and wine and fruit waiting for us. We got the use of the villa, from parents of one of Bob's students at school. The dad is head of project development with Asia Marriott.
View from our 5th floor balcony to the pools and restaurants below
And here it is! We were often the only ones on this entire beach!!!
Just what the doctor ordered! It was a little overcast the day we arrived, but that meant we could be outside for more than a half an hour.
Sarah and Meg in the Adaman Sea
Bob and Meg rented bikes and headed out for a day along the beach past a school, where they stopped to meet with local boys playing in the fields.
Evacuation routes posted everywhere, here on Phuket Island, and all the small islands we visited on our boat tour day to Phi Phi Island
Bob and Meg stopping at a roadside restaurant/bar - they covered over 18 km that day
We met up with friends from school in Patong Beach - more of the tourist oriented areas, also decimated by the tsunami, but now built up, and open for business! Lots of bars, clubs and market shopping.
Our boat tour day to Phi Phi Island, and other smaller islands - our first stop - literally a tourist stop on a hunk of sand - reggae music playing, and our first snorkelling experience! Amazing coloured fish - all swimming around you!
Sarah didn't go in the water that day - she hung out on the beaches, and in the boat and soaked in the sun.
Talk about a tourist stop!
Our next 'stop', we moored in a bay with incredible coloured water, and jumped off to have a swim!
Meg hosing off on the boat, to get rid of the sand, etc
Can see some of the fish we swam with - the tour guide dropped bread overboard (and ontop of the snorkellers, and the fish went crazy - very tickly!)
Bob in seventh heaven.
Arriving at Phi Phi Island. We we got there in time for a Thai buffet lunch (felt a bit like herded cattle...), and then some market shopping. The island has almost fully recovered from the tsunami - lots of market shops, and retaining walls along the beach now.
Through the markets - postcards, swim suits, hats, sarongs, flip flops, and the occasional internet cafe thrown in!
On our way back to the boat to head home - a long, and really fun day!
Had to stop by Monkey Beach on the way back...
And then, the beach where "The Beach" was filmed 9 years ago with Leonardo DiCaprio. Almost half of the sand was taken away, and low lying shrubbery planted, just for the 3 month shoot - and now tons of boat tours here, we were just one group of about 20 or so that afternoon.
Can you believe how much Meg has grown? Actually, I think Sarah's sunk a bit in the sand!
Traditional Thai fishing boats, all taking tours around the Islands
Lots of gorgeous yachts moored that day
And back at the airport in Phuket the next day, waiting for our connecting flight to Bangkok.
and then home. Sporting sunburns and homework!
And here's a Thailand minute for your enjoyment!
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