Hi Everyone,

  Miracle of miracles our inverter is fixed.  Everything that went wrong since we arrived has now been fixed, even our anchor light that has been out for a very long while.  The inverter service guy climbed our mast and changed the bulb so now we have a real anchor light and not the stobe kind.  Many boats have gone to non-regulation anchor lighting to save battery power and to be more visible at night.  Now we have a choice. 

  Tomorrow, Friday the 5th,  we are planning to take a taxi to Ao Chalong and check out from Thailand.  Saturday we will leave Boat Lagoon Marina around mid-day at near high tide and cruise to Phi Phi Island.  We’ll be back at Rebak Marina around the 10th or 11th.  I’m not sure if I should hope our luck holds or changes.  Given what could have happened during the mooring ball episode and how the inverter might have been unfixable, well, maybe our luck has been good.  Everyone would say it’s all just part of cruising. 

Here is part 1 of our visit to Island Safari Park. 

Ru

DoraMac

Thailand Island Safari

In 2000 during Randal’s ‘round the world bike trip, he visited Thailand staying in Patong Beach. Just by chance he found a great tour group led by a man known as Charlie. When we first arrived in Phuket Randal and I took a trip to Patong Beach looking for Charlie. Randal took a photo of Charlie with him and we showed it to tour operators but nobody recognized Charlie. So the Charlie tour was not to be. Instead, Suza and I talked to two of the tour operators here at Boat Lagoon. We had a vague idea what we might want to see and do. We settled on Eco-Nature Tours Island Safari Program B. Programs C and D included water travel which no one wanted. Program A didn’t include the cooking show which we all wanted. So Program B it was. It would be a full half-day and that seemed plenty. And I would get a photo op on a water buffalo, finally.

Our transport to the “safari”

We were told to be at the hotel lobby here at Boat Lagoon by 9:30 am. Our driver found us and led us into the parking lot where this elongated jeep was parked next to an air-conditioned van. Randal and Rick hoped for the van. Suza and I, more in the spirit of the adventure, hoped for the jeep. Suza and I thought it was great fun. Randal just said he thought it wasn’t too bad and those were probably Rick’s thoughts too. It took about 30 minutes along the main road past malls and hospitals and car dealerships before we got there. This is more “Disney Safari” than real safari.

Remember this photo when you see us riding the elephant

This never fails to amaze and scare me. A whole family on a motorbike.

The travel guide warns against renting motorbikes. Any accident is considered the fault of the foreigner no matter what. Not that we would have rented on anyway.

A bit off the main road and here we are: Island Safari

My first stop at the Ladies was very civilized rather than safari-like

First we went for a wagon ride that was fun. I wanted to drive

Our view from inside. That’s Suza on the left and Randal on the right.

During the day professional photographers would take photos. They were quite good but way too expensive even in the lovely rice paper frame. Two photos in a frame cost 800 baht which is about $24 US. 33.16 baht =$1US. Considering we were taking our own photos, we took a pass on theirs.

Finally!

Not exactly a ride, but it had to do. Water buffalo are just so personable, like horses as opposed to cows. Maybe it’s the confidence they get from those giant horns! And its back was smooth and brushed clean. It stood there quite calmly while about 20 of us took turns getting on and off and flashed cameras in its face. Our tour leader kept trying to rush us along but everyone wanted lots of photos and to "pat" the waterbuffalo.  Like WC Fields said, “Never act with kids or dogs.” Or water buffalo either.

Then I had to commune with it

Next came the elephant show

The middle elephant is only 5 years old and really seemed to enjoy performing and interacting with all of us. We saw some elephants just relaxing around the complex so hopefully this is a good place for them. Apparently there were many unemployed elephants because they had been being abused in the forestry industry.

They dunked baskets and threw darts at balloons

They played soccer! Suza volunteered to be goalie!! (photo by Rick)

Two goals for the elephant! (Photo by Rick)

When they asked for a volunteer no one would until Suza jumped up, waved her arms and yelled, “I will!” I tried to capture it in a video which didn’t really work but kept me too distracted to really see what was happening. Later Suza said it was quite amazing to stand there while an elephant ran towards her.

Next email Suza and I get an “elephant massage and kiss.” And then we go for a ride.

Hi

As I’m typing this email, the inverter guys are fixing (hopefully it will all work as it seems it will) our inverter.  Yippee.  And if our inverter were going to have issues, this is the best place since the only Vitron sales and service office of Thailand is here.  If there is one in Malaysia, Randal doesn’t know where it is.  But then we didn’t need to know up until this week where any local dealer was located.  The service guys seem pretty knowledgeable and friendly and really trying to make it work.  Anyone who wants to know more specific facts about the inverter story will have to email Randal.  We might possibly need to replace the small control box; but that "only" costs about $400 US rather than the $4,000 to replace the entire inverter.  So how’s our luck doing?  I did light those incense sticks at the seafarers’ temple.  Actually, my real faith is in Randal to get things fixed and he knows that. 

Phuket 3

Dragon Fountain 

Mosaic floor at the Tourism Authority of Thailand Visitor Center.

Notice the shoes. Sometimes you are told to remove your shoes: other times we asked and were told we could wear our shoes. I wore my sandals just for this sort of thing rather than my more comfortable sneakers. Flip flops that slide on and off are the best, but I can’t wear mine for long treks. We rested here in the AC for a bit. They provided water, coffee, brochures and a rest room. Perfect.

The Old Post Office now the Philatelic Museum

The new post office is just next door. We mailed our post cards careful not to lick the stamps. Not for health reasons, but because Thai custom finds that very unclean. There was probably a wet sponge somewhere. I just licked my finger and then spread it on the stamp. Too much info, huh? The old post office reminds me of old diner restaurants back in the US.

Feather Duster man. Suza asked to take his photo. Then she bought an ostrich feather.

Promthep Clock Tower

“Built during WW1 (2457 on the Buddhist calendar) the clock tower towered as a four storey structure without a clock for 62 years. The original clock brought from Europe was lost due to the ship sinking. A clock finally arrived in 1976, through the Lion’s Club Phuket donations. The roof resembles an old style police cap.” www.ArtAndCultureAsia.com

Southwind Books

You can tell who tours Thailand by the languages of the books in the used book shops. German, French, Italian, English. And what expats, tourists and cruisers read. Lots of murder mysteries! Suza and I didn’t go in, but a few days later Randal and I did. He bought a book about Stanley and Livingston and I bought a murder mystery by Jill Paton Walsh. One of the small restaurants here at the Marina has a book exchange so I will check there too and bring some of my “already read” books. I do miss having a library!!!! Being able to read for free is an incredibly wonderful service that most Americans take for granted. You should all go immediately and thank your local library!!!

Shrine of Serene Light (Suza’s photo) Our final stop of the day

“Built in 1889 (2432 on the Buddhist calendar), this Taoist Temple was constructed by a local Hokkien Chinese family. The interior wall murals tell many of the stories of Si-in-gui, a legendary folk hero. Chinese characters on the two side walls are blessings and protection for Tungkah, now known as Phuket.” www.ArtsAndCultureAsia.com

Suza taking a photo of the murals.

Unfortunately this was our last stop for the day and I know that I was too hot and tired to appreciate all there was to see. Now, having read more, I would like to spend the time to see it again. You can see the ostrich feather that Suza bought from the feather duster man.

Blessing and Protection ?

The one on the right is holding a sword. When Randal and I visited Old Town Phuket the entrance to this temple was blocked by construction and Randal really didn’t want to go anyway. If I go back again someday, I’ll pay more attention.

Hand holding paint brush.

I was also curious about the lady too. There were several “volunteers” taking care of preparing paper offerings and things.

Suza and I had met at 9 am, caught a taxi to Phuket town, and returned to the marina about 6 pm. A very full day. Randal and I went back the following Tuesday. We lasted about 4 hours tops!

First stop, a hardware store

Randal and I skipped most of the tourist spots and visited hardware shops and the supermarket. Luckily I’d already seen lots with Suza. Suza and I agreed that when the guys go, hardware shops seem to be their favorite and there’s too little time for souvenir shopping. Now souvenir shopping doesn’t mean buying; it just means spending time looking. And as stereotypical as it sounds, guys go for the hardware shops and women go for the souvenir shops. Define souvenir as “non-boat things.” Everyone equally seems to like shopping for food and drink, at least the big provisioning expeditions. And there are some women like our friend Marie-Louise who single-hands her sail boat and loves hardware shops too. I certainly appreciate them more than I used to, but not for long amounts of time. Now I bring a book when I go with Randal. He looks around the hardware shop and I read my book.

Funky lunch

This guy either owned or managed the restaurant where Randal and I ate lunch. He was also a musician. All that hair must have weighed a ton. And hair that weighs a ton is definitely something I know. It looked like a typical funky restaurant you’d find in the US with old Coca Cola ads and such. Just the food was more authentically Thai.

We walked around a bit more but then, about 2 caught a taxi back to the marina.

Suza and I toured Old Town Phuket on Friday, February 26th. The following Sunday Suza and her husband Rick and Randal and I did a half-day "Island Safari." It was hokey but fun and I finaly got to, if not ride a waterbuffalo, at least sit on one. We also went for an elephant ride though I think I don’t like being so far off the ground and so little in control. I prefer a small, oldish horse with the reins in my hand. I have about a zillion photos from that too.

Ru

DoraMac