Sunday, May 17, 2009
The island of adventure and monks.
The weather is still unreliable - but still hot, of course.
We went out this morning with hope for some rain free hours.
The first task was to find somewhere for the children to eat some breakfast. But on Sunday cafes don't open as early and the favourite cheaper places had not yet opened for business.
We stopped, finally at a place at Chalong, quite close to the long jetty, which was always a favourite.
It is being tarted up - and up have gone the prices. And maybe quality has gone down. The children's breakfast was not too good - even Jessica who can shovel down most things was not keen. Bill and I had iced tea and watched a couple of birds on the shore. They were a little like herons in shape but much smaller.
We continued down the tip of the west side cape -to the small town of Raiwai.
It still looked like it might rain.
Mam negotiated a price for a longtail boat and driver to two islands.
We climbed aboard - well, somehow I hauled myself in and had menfolk helping me to stand up and find the seat at the back of the boat.
We have seen the island from the viewpoint of Promthep. A golden Buddha is visible from the mainland.
We landed on the sandy beach under grey skies and drizzle fell.
But we explored the many religious sites of meditation, including the big golden Buddha.
The coast line was rocky and waves crashed over them.
Light rain fell. We began to feel very hot and sticky as we climbed up and down,
We were the only visitors.
Some monks live there of course.
One had asked if he might travel back with us - this rather depended on our visit to the second island.
But it was felt that everybody had done enough and there was no point going to the island with a beach, for sitting and playing on the beach in the rain was not likely to be much fun.
So our monk joined The Monks. It would seem he had all his worldly possessions with him and was leaving the island for good.
We had all got very wet climbing in and out of the boat with the swell of the sea reaching well above our knees, so we drove home.
The children seemed to be very tired.
Bill and Jamie and I changed our clothes and then went out. We stopped at one of the noodle cafes we had hoped to call at earlier. We had a bowl of very tasty noodles and pork and egg in a soup for about 70p. We declined to include the pig's organ! Actually the picture of the meal wouls suggest that this referred to liver...... so stop smirking!
Bill and I would happily eat that bowl of noodles again and again.
Then we attacked Tescos. It was hard to get into the car park. Just as at home, shopping is the favourite hobby and what better could folks do on a rainy afternoon?
And there was a stage mounted in the car park and some sort of dance troupe competition going on.
We bought basic foodstuffs, drinks and some goodies. Bill and I have bought more antihistamine tablets. Everybody here seems to be a bit snotty, except me. Maybe the antihistamines are protecting me. And they might also help with insect bites - a big ant got me on the foot twice whilst on the island this morning.
It is now gone 5 o'clock and I don't know what the rest of the day will bring.
I hear there is food on the table for the children.
We can make a snack very easily a bit later on if that is suitable. Or maybe Jamie will go out and get some take away.
I shall enjoy a quiet time with my Maeve Binchy book - I bought the latest one for 50p before we came away.
Hope you have had a good Sunday.
We went out this morning with hope for some rain free hours.
The first task was to find somewhere for the children to eat some breakfast. But on Sunday cafes don't open as early and the favourite cheaper places had not yet opened for business.
We stopped, finally at a place at Chalong, quite close to the long jetty, which was always a favourite.
It is being tarted up - and up have gone the prices. And maybe quality has gone down. The children's breakfast was not too good - even Jessica who can shovel down most things was not keen. Bill and I had iced tea and watched a couple of birds on the shore. They were a little like herons in shape but much smaller.
We continued down the tip of the west side cape -to the small town of Raiwai.
It still looked like it might rain.
Mam negotiated a price for a longtail boat and driver to two islands.
We climbed aboard - well, somehow I hauled myself in and had menfolk helping me to stand up and find the seat at the back of the boat.
We have seen the island from the viewpoint of Promthep. A golden Buddha is visible from the mainland.
We landed on the sandy beach under grey skies and drizzle fell.
But we explored the many religious sites of meditation, including the big golden Buddha.
The coast line was rocky and waves crashed over them.
Light rain fell. We began to feel very hot and sticky as we climbed up and down,
We were the only visitors.
Some monks live there of course.
One had asked if he might travel back with us - this rather depended on our visit to the second island.
But it was felt that everybody had done enough and there was no point going to the island with a beach, for sitting and playing on the beach in the rain was not likely to be much fun.
So our monk joined The Monks. It would seem he had all his worldly possessions with him and was leaving the island for good.
We had all got very wet climbing in and out of the boat with the swell of the sea reaching well above our knees, so we drove home.
The children seemed to be very tired.
Bill and Jamie and I changed our clothes and then went out. We stopped at one of the noodle cafes we had hoped to call at earlier. We had a bowl of very tasty noodles and pork and egg in a soup for about 70p. We declined to include the pig's organ! Actually the picture of the meal wouls suggest that this referred to liver...... so stop smirking!
Bill and I would happily eat that bowl of noodles again and again.
Then we attacked Tescos. It was hard to get into the car park. Just as at home, shopping is the favourite hobby and what better could folks do on a rainy afternoon?
And there was a stage mounted in the car park and some sort of dance troupe competition going on.
We bought basic foodstuffs, drinks and some goodies. Bill and I have bought more antihistamine tablets. Everybody here seems to be a bit snotty, except me. Maybe the antihistamines are protecting me. And they might also help with insect bites - a big ant got me on the foot twice whilst on the island this morning.
It is now gone 5 o'clock and I don't know what the rest of the day will bring.
I hear there is food on the table for the children.
We can make a snack very easily a bit later on if that is suitable. Or maybe Jamie will go out and get some take away.
I shall enjoy a quiet time with my Maeve Binchy book - I bought the latest one for 50p before we came away.
Hope you have had a good Sunday.
