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| This little piggy went to the market. I don't eat pork but I love bacon! |
Monkey's are everywhere and this little fellow was the pet of a local villager. We were stopped on the road asking directions,. something you do frequently in Thailand, when this monkey showed up on a load of coconuts.
The monkey was tethered to the cart with a rope that allowed him to do his monkey business, which we had fun watching.
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| Beautiful Phng Na Bay |
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| Daring Slack line walkers. Tonsi Bay, Phang Na |
We continued through Southern Thailand to Kho Sok National Park, which was expansive, mountainous, jungle y, and beautiful. We stayed in an unusual funky resort where the accommodations are tucked in the trees. Very cool if you try not to think about snakes and spiders! Thailand has over 100 various poisonous snakes. We actually enjoyed the place but opted to stay only one night.
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| Table and chairs on our balcony in the trees |
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| Bridge to our romm |
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. RON! |
What to do for Ron's Birthday?? Well, he is always up for a party, so we invited some new friends, Edan, his lovely wife Andrea, and Captain Tim. to Slow Dance for Birthday dinner and some entertainment. Edan is a pilot for a private principal, Andrea writes screen plays, and Tim captains a beautiful Catamaran.
We were wondering what to do and then Vanessa suggested a surprise girly boy show; (Big in Thailand) Ron's own private entertainment brought right to the boat.
There are many Girly Boy shows around Phuket and Vanessa's friend owns a bar that has such shows, so she arranged it for us. Good thing our new friends were good sports as these girls (?) put on quite a show.
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| The legs kind of give it away> |
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| Thai men are rather effeminate by nature, so maybe the cross over isn't as far to go as a guy with size 11 feet and broad shoulders. |
Kathoeys are more visible and more accepted in Thai culture than transgender or transsexual people are in Western countries or the Indian subcontinent. Several popular Thai models, singers and movie stars are kathoeys, and Thai newspapers often print photos of the winners of female and kathoey beauty contests side by side. The phenomenon is not restricted to urban areas; there are kathoeys in most villages, and kathoey beauty contests are commonly held as part of local fairs.
Using the notion of
Karma, some Thai believe that being a kathoey is the result of transgressions in
past lives, concluding that kathoey deserve pity rather than blame.
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| Flour-less Chocolate Torte for the Birthday Boy. Hard to believe these were guys! |
It appeared that a few of these boy's had taken the journey to transform themselves into true females.
After to much food and Champagne, the timing for the show was perfect!
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| This girl had a big guy face! |
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| (Left) Tim, Andrea, Edan, Ron, and Cookie. Vanessa took the photo |
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| Chili Lime Chicken, Mexican Quiche, Grilled Shrimp, Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salad with Jalapeno Lime Dressing. Fruit Salsa, Pico Salsa, and fresh Guacamole. |
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| Happy Birthday Face! |
After living in Phuket for more then a year we finally found the most beautiful place on the island, thanks to Edan and Andrea, and to think is is just 20 minutes away.
Edan and Andrea have a lovely place on Layan, where they cross their little road to a sandy path that takes them down to a long, broad, white sandy beach dotted with intimate restaurants and beach bars. Not the usual cluster you see on other Thai beaches.Very local and nicely done. The water is clear blue green and the bottom all sand. We spent the afternoon with them and the dogs, exploring all their favorite parts of the beach.
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| Lyann Beach at low tide. |
Slow Dance is looking amazing and we have the time now to get all the detail things accomplished. Every bin in the bilge is organized in category with a list of contents on the lid as well as keeping the contents in a file on the main computer. The Lazerette has been cleaned out, painted and purged. There is a content list and everything is way easier to get to. I attribute this to "Girl Power"
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| Vanessa down in the Engine room, filling the batteries with water. |
Vanessa and I have learned much about the boat over the past year and have become very proficient at changing the sea strainers, cleaning the grey water sensor, pumping black water, deck work, running the generators, and much much more. Actually, more then we wanted to know, but that's life on a boat!
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| A very organized Laz! |
And if your reading this:
TO ARLAN IN THE HILLS OF BEVERLEY AND TO DEAR MARY ON THE BANKS OF THE HUDSON.
AND TO ALL YOU OTHER AQUARIUS AND PISCES FOLK
