Monday, May 11, 2009
Monday in the jungle
Wow! We are exhausted!
This is partly due to another bad night of sleep, but mostly because of activity.
Bill and I took Jamie's car northwards towards the Sarasin bridge which connects Phuket to the mainland.
Before we reached the bridge we called in at Gateway to Phuket another Phuket investment that has not hit the spot.
It is all columns and sculpture and described history and culture of the island. The gardens are lovely.
And how many other visitors do you think were there? Correct, if you guessed 'none.
The world feels a little different once on the mainland. Phuket has beauty and life but its present affluence depends on the rather unreal world of tourism.
There are many tourist attractions on the mainland too of course and Phang Nga is magnificent.
We were going to a temple - they all have much about them which is the same, but obviously individual features too.
One feature at this temple, or 'wat' is that it was built by a cave - a huge cave. Inside there is a reclining gold Buddha.
Some tourist trips are taken there.
And, like many tourist traps, can be a bit tacky.
A circle of food and drink sellers accosted us.... "you want ice-cream?", "you want bananas, cold drinks etc etc?"
Well, we were thirsty but explored the cave first - with masses of monkeys keen to catch the tourist pickings. Great joy for those who could find a water bottle with some left in it.
Beyond the Buddha the cave system was impressive with high vaulted ceilings and interesting rock formations.
Outside we did buy a bottle of drink - from one who had not called out to us.
Then we drove up in to the tropical jungle covered hills.
Our destination was Raman waterfall.
The country road was lovely, far removed from our own British fair land.
We stopped in a nature reserve, with neat flowers and shrubs and trees labelled with their names.
There was a little cafe - just a shack many would say.
The people didn't speak English but had a list of some of what they could prepare, in English.
We had spicy prawns in rice with a plainer egg fried rice, served with cooling cucumber and lime.
Then we set off for the waterfall - or series of waterfalls.
The little map at the start informed us that it was a 2 Km trek to the top. That is not very far - but up steep paths and steps through tropical jungle in tropical heat we decided to stop at a point that was about two thirds the way up.
Many didn't go as far as us - they stopped to bathe in the deeper pools.
Once back down we were so happy to sit down at the cafe with more drink.
Then we headed back for home, stopping at the local huge Tescos close to the house.
We have eaten well at home.
I need more drink and want an early night and hope for sleep. I have taken an antihistamine, bought at Tescos earlier.
We will have an early start tomorrow because we will take Jamie and John to their day's activities. Mam will take Jessica to school - she starts half an hour earlier than John. Then she is going to visit a friend in hospital who has just had a baby. Bill and I must sort out what we will do.
John, by the way, seemed to relish his first day at school. I am not so sure that Jessica was pleased to be back. They each came home with a report written by their teacher about their day at school. Reports every day?
OK, Time for goodnight.
This is partly due to another bad night of sleep, but mostly because of activity.
Bill and I took Jamie's car northwards towards the Sarasin bridge which connects Phuket to the mainland.
Before we reached the bridge we called in at Gateway to Phuket another Phuket investment that has not hit the spot.
It is all columns and sculpture and described history and culture of the island. The gardens are lovely.
And how many other visitors do you think were there? Correct, if you guessed 'none.
The world feels a little different once on the mainland. Phuket has beauty and life but its present affluence depends on the rather unreal world of tourism.
There are many tourist attractions on the mainland too of course and Phang Nga is magnificent.
We were going to a temple - they all have much about them which is the same, but obviously individual features too.
One feature at this temple, or 'wat' is that it was built by a cave - a huge cave. Inside there is a reclining gold Buddha.
Some tourist trips are taken there.
And, like many tourist traps, can be a bit tacky.
A circle of food and drink sellers accosted us.... "you want ice-cream?", "you want bananas, cold drinks etc etc?"
Well, we were thirsty but explored the cave first - with masses of monkeys keen to catch the tourist pickings. Great joy for those who could find a water bottle with some left in it.
Beyond the Buddha the cave system was impressive with high vaulted ceilings and interesting rock formations.
Outside we did buy a bottle of drink - from one who had not called out to us.
Then we drove up in to the tropical jungle covered hills.
Our destination was Raman waterfall.
The country road was lovely, far removed from our own British fair land.
We stopped in a nature reserve, with neat flowers and shrubs and trees labelled with their names.
There was a little cafe - just a shack many would say.
The people didn't speak English but had a list of some of what they could prepare, in English.
We had spicy prawns in rice with a plainer egg fried rice, served with cooling cucumber and lime.
Then we set off for the waterfall - or series of waterfalls.
The little map at the start informed us that it was a 2 Km trek to the top. That is not very far - but up steep paths and steps through tropical jungle in tropical heat we decided to stop at a point that was about two thirds the way up.
Many didn't go as far as us - they stopped to bathe in the deeper pools.
Once back down we were so happy to sit down at the cafe with more drink.
Then we headed back for home, stopping at the local huge Tescos close to the house.
We have eaten well at home.
I need more drink and want an early night and hope for sleep. I have taken an antihistamine, bought at Tescos earlier.
We will have an early start tomorrow because we will take Jamie and John to their day's activities. Mam will take Jessica to school - she starts half an hour earlier than John. Then she is going to visit a friend in hospital who has just had a baby. Bill and I must sort out what we will do.
John, by the way, seemed to relish his first day at school. I am not so sure that Jessica was pleased to be back. They each came home with a report written by their teacher about their day at school. Reports every day?
OK, Time for goodnight.
