Greetings from Bangkok, Thailand. November 24, 2008
While in Cochin, India on Nov. 12, we took a bus/boat trip to Allepey, a river delta town in what is called the Backwater area, about 50 miles inland on a freshwater lake with a network of canals that weave through marshes and flooded rice paddies. We took a 3-hour canal-boat tour of these canals that are lined with grass-thatched houseboats and coconut groves. It brings to mind the pictures and movies that we’ve all seen of the waterways in Vietnam.
We’ve posted the following new photos for your viewing pleasure:
Ladies in beautiful saris with baby, alongside Tuk Tuk taxi in Allepey
Backwater Houseboats in Allepey
Egret Supervises Star Clipper Crew leaving Cochin
Cape Comorin, southern tip of India
Similan Island, Thailand
Star Clipper in Phang Nga Bay
Cave Dwellers in Phang Nga Bay
Koh Panyi village, Thailand
James Bond Island, Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
Bangkok’s Chaopraya River from Sheraton hotel room
Sitting Buddha and monk in Bangkok’s Marble Temple
Leaving Cochin, we sailed southeast along the coast of India, past Cape Comorin, the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent. The cape is framed by a mountain range that rises above the town to elevations of over 6,000 feet, and is marked with a statue of Ghandi and a small temple (see the photo). Sailing on SE, we crossed the Gulf of Mannar, and on Nov. 14, passed close off the shore of southern Sri Lanka; then turned east to cross the Bay of Bengal to Similan Islands, Thailand. This was a six-day sail and we arrived in Similan Islands on Thursday, Nov. 20, a day earlier than originally planned because we bypassed Sri Lanka.
Similan Islands, Thailand.
The Similan Islands lie about 30 miles off the mainland of Thailand and are uninhabited except for officers of the Thai Department of Forestry, because Similan is a National Maritime Park, known for its pristine beaches and excellent snorkeling and diving. We anchored off the main Similan Island, Ko Si, and went ashore for the day to a lovely cove where we spent the day on the beach and doing water sports. We did some snorkeling, sailed one of Star Clipper’s little 14-ft. Laser boats in the bay, and went kayaking. Then back aboard Star Clipper at sunset, we sailed on for Thailand’s Patong Bay.
Patong Bay, Thailand.
On Friday, the 21st, we spent our extra day in a beautiful island group in Patong Bay, called Phang Nga National Park, that lies between Phuket and the mainland of Thailand. We sailed through the Ao Phang Nga national marine park, where massive limestone islands jut out of the ocean like huge sea animals. Some rise to as much as 1000 feet elevation and are covered in tropical trees and vegetation. Their limestone walls have caves and natural bridges, and the limestone walls are lined with stalactites and stalagmites like Kentucky’s caves!
Star Clipper anchored off Koo Hong in a group of small islands in the northern part of Phang Nga Bay, and we spent the afternoon taking a speedboat excursion through the islands and mangrove swamps. We visited “James Bond Island” where parts of the movie, “The Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed (see the photo). Although 95% of Thai people are Buddhist, we visited Koh Panyi, a small Muslim village built on stilts in the shallow waters of the swamp, where we had lunch. After a heart-thumping 45-minute, 30-40 mph speedboat ride back to Star Clipper, we sailed for Phuket.
Sadly, during this, our last night on Star Clipper, we had to anchor off Phuket and send one of the guests ashore to the hospital for emergency treatment. This man had been awaiting a kidney transplant and should not have made this trip. Thankfully we heard that he was stable in the hospital later in the day. Even more sadly, we had also witnessed a medical emergency while embarking in Athens that didn’t turn out OK. One of the guests had a massive stroke or heart attack right in front of us during embarkation, and was rushed to the hospital where he did not survive. Shockingly, we learned that he had experienced a milder attack on the plane to Athens, and did not go to the hospital when they arrived. It reminds us that we should value every moment that God gives us in this brief visit to planet Earth.
Early Saturday, we said farewell to friends on Star Clipper and flew to Bangkok, where we checked into the Royal Orchid Sheraton and relaxed. Sunday, we took a tour of Bangkok’s highlights with a personal guide, visited both the oldest and the newest Buddhist temples, and saw the Grand Palace grounds. However, the Grand Palace itself, home of the King, was closed for preparations for the king’s 81st birthday. Today we plan to take a riverboat tour of the city, and early tomorrow we’re off on Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong and home!
Love,
Betty and Bill
While in Cochin, India on Nov. 12, we took a bus/boat trip to Allepey, a river delta town in what is called the Backwater area, about 50 miles inland on a freshwater lake with a network of canals that weave through marshes and flooded rice paddies. We took a 3-hour canal-boat tour of these canals that are lined with grass-thatched houseboats and coconut groves. It brings to mind the pictures and movies that we’ve all seen of the waterways in Vietnam.
We’ve posted the following new photos for your viewing pleasure:
Ladies in beautiful saris with baby, alongside Tuk Tuk taxi in Allepey
Backwater Houseboats in Allepey
Egret Supervises Star Clipper Crew leaving Cochin
Cape Comorin, southern tip of India
Similan Island, Thailand
Star Clipper in Phang Nga Bay
Cave Dwellers in Phang Nga Bay
Koh Panyi village, Thailand
James Bond Island, Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
Bangkok’s Chaopraya River from Sheraton hotel room
Sitting Buddha and monk in Bangkok’s Marble Temple
Leaving Cochin, we sailed southeast along the coast of India, past Cape Comorin, the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent. The cape is framed by a mountain range that rises above the town to elevations of over 6,000 feet, and is marked with a statue of Ghandi and a small temple (see the photo). Sailing on SE, we crossed the Gulf of Mannar, and on Nov. 14, passed close off the shore of southern Sri Lanka; then turned east to cross the Bay of Bengal to Similan Islands, Thailand. This was a six-day sail and we arrived in Similan Islands on Thursday, Nov. 20, a day earlier than originally planned because we bypassed Sri Lanka.
Similan Islands, Thailand.
The Similan Islands lie about 30 miles off the mainland of Thailand and are uninhabited except for officers of the Thai Department of Forestry, because Similan is a National Maritime Park, known for its pristine beaches and excellent snorkeling and diving. We anchored off the main Similan Island, Ko Si, and went ashore for the day to a lovely cove where we spent the day on the beach and doing water sports. We did some snorkeling, sailed one of Star Clipper’s little 14-ft. Laser boats in the bay, and went kayaking. Then back aboard Star Clipper at sunset, we sailed on for Thailand’s Patong Bay.
Patong Bay, Thailand.
On Friday, the 21st, we spent our extra day in a beautiful island group in Patong Bay, called Phang Nga National Park, that lies between Phuket and the mainland of Thailand. We sailed through the Ao Phang Nga national marine park, where massive limestone islands jut out of the ocean like huge sea animals. Some rise to as much as 1000 feet elevation and are covered in tropical trees and vegetation. Their limestone walls have caves and natural bridges, and the limestone walls are lined with stalactites and stalagmites like Kentucky’s caves!
Star Clipper anchored off Koo Hong in a group of small islands in the northern part of Phang Nga Bay, and we spent the afternoon taking a speedboat excursion through the islands and mangrove swamps. We visited “James Bond Island” where parts of the movie, “The Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed (see the photo). Although 95% of Thai people are Buddhist, we visited Koh Panyi, a small Muslim village built on stilts in the shallow waters of the swamp, where we had lunch. After a heart-thumping 45-minute, 30-40 mph speedboat ride back to Star Clipper, we sailed for Phuket.
Sadly, during this, our last night on Star Clipper, we had to anchor off Phuket and send one of the guests ashore to the hospital for emergency treatment. This man had been awaiting a kidney transplant and should not have made this trip. Thankfully we heard that he was stable in the hospital later in the day. Even more sadly, we had also witnessed a medical emergency while embarking in Athens that didn’t turn out OK. One of the guests had a massive stroke or heart attack right in front of us during embarkation, and was rushed to the hospital where he did not survive. Shockingly, we learned that he had experienced a milder attack on the plane to Athens, and did not go to the hospital when they arrived. It reminds us that we should value every moment that God gives us in this brief visit to planet Earth.
Early Saturday, we said farewell to friends on Star Clipper and flew to Bangkok, where we checked into the Royal Orchid Sheraton and relaxed. Sunday, we took a tour of Bangkok’s highlights with a personal guide, visited both the oldest and the newest Buddhist temples, and saw the Grand Palace grounds. However, the Grand Palace itself, home of the King, was closed for preparations for the king’s 81st birthday. Today we plan to take a riverboat tour of the city, and early tomorrow we’re off on Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong and home!
Love,
Betty and Bill
