15 to 21 February 2023
From the island we headed to Patong Beach in Phuket. After settling in we wandered down the famous Bangla Road watching the street performers and perusing the go go dancers from the bars you can see from the street.
The next day we took a day tour, organised through our hotel, to Khao Phing Kan. More commonly known as James Bond Island because of the unique rock formations used as a backdrop for The Man with the Golden Gun. The movie I remember being the first movie I ever saw on the big screen many many decades ago. The tour included stopping at a cave to see the big reclining Buddha and going on a canoe trip around Talu Island. Then we arrived at James Bond Island and enjoyed a pleasant walk around the whole island seeing the fantastic views of the rock and scenery and cave formations.
Following morning we went to a gym that let you pay daily, we got a discount by paying for the week. Then breakfast and a swim at the beach before heading for an afternoon city tour. This was a full on tour that kept us on our toes. We went down to the most southern most point, Promthep Cape to see a lighthouse done up as a temple. Then off to see the Big Buddha, climbing all the steps to see it up close. Next was a cashew factory where I learned that the nut grows on the outside and the fruit is edible followed by a honey place with much tasting occurring. We ended up at Chalong Temple where some visitors filled up a big metal outside stove with fireworks and then lit it. The sound was deafening and ongoing. We found out this is done by people that have had their prayers answered.
Also interesting that our guide tells us that military service is done by ballot where each year the military work out how many recruits they need and they get chosen by picking marbles out of a bowl. Black you get to live your life, yellow you have to devote it to the military for the next 2 years for a low salary. Our guide did not have to go and so devoted a month as a monk instead.
On our last day we wanted to finish on a nature hike. We found Kathu Waterfall was not far and so hired a tuk tuk to go visit. The driver was nice enough to wait for us while we wandered up the trail and took in the waterfall.
