Djembe

Jonathon bought me a Djembe for my birthday. It is a drum from Mali and is played with the hands. The name originates from the saying "Anke dje, anke be" which translates to "everyone gather together" in Bamanakan. Of course, I can't get the George Thoroughgood tune out of my head: "I don't want to work. I just want to bang on my drums all day."

Banjo Patersons

We were just leaving the house for my 40th birthday dinner at Banjo Patersons. I made the booking (reservation) THREE months ago.

What a cute cottage! Banjo Patterson was a famous Australian bush poet, author, lawyer and journalist. He also wrote "Waltzing Matilda." This was his grandmother's home where he lived and studied at the university nearby.

It was PERFECT. We were the only guests in the restaurant until long after the sun had set.

Not only is the view gorgeous but the food was outstanding too.

Banjo Paterson - Video

Eddie the Echidna

Wayne and Janette found this echidna by their back porch. Its diet consists of mainly ants and termites. His quills were SO sharp and yet his paws were incredibly soft. What a unique opportunity to see this Aussie critter up close.

Fajita Goes Skydiving

Tina and Fajita before her big jump.

She was bored out of her mind. Poor baby. THREE HOURS of waiting to dive for 60 seconds.

Big smiles after a 14,000 foot jump.

She was ready to get right back up in the plane.

Honey, Look!

It's not every day you see an elephant in the parking lot!

The cold lens from our air conditioned room started to fog due to the humidity outside. What a shame. I would have LOVED to have gotten some better photos of this little one.

Koh Khai

Jonathon's cold finally subsided (poor baby) so he was able to thoroughly enjoy the beach at Koh Khai today.

These are the stacks of Phang Nga Bay in the distance. You can double click on the photo to get a better view.

Koh Khai at low tide. This island has a fringe reef that is the healthiest in all of Phang Nga Bay. I took this photo through my sunnies (Aussie for sunglasses!).

Buddha

Let's just say there are no Gideon Bibles in this hotel!

Northern Thailand consists mainly of Buddhists while the southern region is predominantly Muslim. This Buddha overlooks the city of Phuket.

I am reminded of Leviticus 26:1 "You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God.

Flora

Have you ever seen a fan so HUGE? They must have 100 people on staff just to maintain the grounds.

The receptionist at the spa came out from behind the bushes with these two flowers. They grown on the BACKSIDE of the bush. She said if she didn't cut them no one would be able to enjoy their beauty. Oh, and they smell heavenly. Too bad I have no idea what the names are of any of these flowers.

Bursting orange bushes...

This looks like a piece of science fiction to me.

Ma Ya Bay

This is the Ma Ya Bay where the filmed the movie The Beach.

Thailand is just a wonderful place to visit, especially if you enjoy the water. There are white sandy beaches EVERYWHERE!

JR, you are SO adorable.

Breathtaking views on our jungle trek.

The Lagoon

This is the lagoon where they filmed the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach. The actual beach in the movie is on the other side of the island.


You can double click on the photos to enlarge them.

The color of this water is stunning.

This is the entrance to the lagoon. The salt content is very high which reminds me of being at the Dead Sea again. You just float whether you want to or not.

Swimming in this lagoon was one of the highlights of the trip to Phuket for me. The beauty of it just took my breath away!

Viking Cave

This is Viking Cave on the island of Phi Phi Ley. It is famous for paintings inside of it and for the nests of the edible-nest swiftlet, which are used in bird's nest soup. Agile collectors climb rickety bamboo scaffolding to reach the nests, which are so valuable that the caves are protected by armed guards.

Monkey Beach

JR and monkey. (The monkey is the one on the right) ; ' )

The mama on the right has a baby on her chest.

You have to double click on these photos to see how adorable these creatures are.

I always picture monkeys in a tree. I find it very amusing to see this one sitting in the sand. Although none of them went in the water, out of the 49 monkeys that live here, about half of them play in the surf. How exciting would it have been to see something remarkable like that?

Fruit Carving

I was so amazed at the presentation of food in Thailand, I inquired if I could have a lesson with a fruit carver.


Here is my cantaloupe (or rock melon for the Aussies).

This takes the patience of Job.

It looks SO easy when she does it.

Voila! My first carved cantaloupe.