Day 15 (April 16, 2011) With only a few hours left before our departure at midnight tonight, we make the best of it … pool, beach, Thai food, relax, beach massage and dinner with friends. And then it’s time to head to the airport and tackle a 24 hrs trip back to SFO (via ICN). Bye bye Thailand!
Day 14 (April 15, 2011) What has become almost a must-do will be my 3rd time: a day trip with John Gray’s Sea Canoe to Phang Na Bay. While Kristina & Clae hang back at the hotel (the tour schedule is not in Kody’s best napping-interest), I have to pleasure to bring Kirk & my parents on this great excursion! After we depart from Ah Po pier, we get our instructions from Eiw, our guide leader, as well as a … Read More
Day 13 (April 14, 2011) As we’re getting into the 2nd half of our 2nd week in Thailand, we need to get some moew sightseeing and also some shopping done! Therefore, Kristina ,Clae, Kody, Heidi, Rainer, Kirk & I are headed towards the southern part of the Phuket Island again. First stop on today’s route: WatChalong, the island’s largest temple. With several buildings throughout the complex, an hour plus is quickly spent with just short visits into each of them. … Read More
Day 12 (April 13, 2011) Nothing to report … other than: spent time at the beach, swam in the ocean, swam in the pool, sat in the sun (and the shade and the sun) and not to forget getting a beach massage! Rainer is headed for an hour of sailing in the early evening, before we’re a ll heading to the Ginja Restaurant for dinner, to celebrate that Kirk & I are officially home owners today! (Well, it’s still the … Read More
Day 11 (April 12, 2011) After a breakfast at the room (all 7 of us), Kirk & I are heading out for some sightseeing in Phuket Town, and we are in for quite some sights indeed! Not only do we see scooters loaded with up to 4 people (saw 5 the day before, but no photo to prove it), but several parts of the main town that even I had not been to before! After being dropped off at the … Read More
Day 9-10 (April 10-11, 2011) After the first week having been dedicated to diving, the 2nd week gets kicked off by meeting up with some for fellow travelers: Kirk and my parents! Kirk is waiting at Patong pier as we get back from the boat, ready to jump in the van with us to go to the Twin Palms resort for Sunday Brunch, where my parents are joining us as well. Together with Thien, Miz, Renee, Dave and Dan, we’re … Read More
Day 8-9 (April 09-10, 2011) … Dive Day #3 Our 3rd and last day of diving is coming up quickly and as we are heading back south past the Surin Islands, our 1st dive of the day is at Twin Peaks (Koh Tachai). Beautiful underwater rock formations (boulders), paired with colorful fish and corals, we have a great dive before breakfast. Also the 2nd dive offers great underwater views and another great diving experience … my last dive on this … Read More
Day 7 (April 08, 2011) … Dive Day #2 The 2nd day in the water was all about Richelieu Rock, one of the most famous dive sites in the area. Named by Jacques Cousteau, supposedly after the French Cardinal from the middle age (remember the bad guy in The 3 Musketeers?) for his purple clothes, this dive site shows off its beautiful soft corals (purple!) and wide variety of fish throughout all of today’s dives. While the first 2 dives … Read More
Day 5-6 (April 06-07, 2011) … Dive Day #1 After our arrival at the Patong pier, our group gets transferred to the dive boat via longtail boat. We explore our cabins and the rest of the ship, before it’s dinner time … our first of may great meals on board! On Thursday, we get a bit of a delayed start (the ship’s air compressor to refill the dive tanks is broken), but soon enough we are in the water at … Read More
Day 2-5 (April 03-06, 2011) It’s been too long since the last vacation, but since we’ve got the next couple of days to get into it (before “part 1” of the trip gets started: the dive boat). Relaxing at the beautiful Marriott Beach Club at Mai Khao Beach, we get in the right mood! First day is Monday, and we have our first beach massage that morning! What a way to kick things off! Add pool time, ocean stroll and … Read More