Southern Thailand

Gina and I took the sleeper train from Bangkok to southern Thailand.  It was the first time I had been on a sleeper train but I was so tired that I was asleep for about 99% of the trip so I don't remember much except that it was similar to being constantly being shaken in my mother's arms as a small child. 

 Images of the present king since 1946, Bhumibol Adulyadej, are at nearly almost all public (and many private) places.  As you can see this isn't just a 8 x 11 glossy behind the desk like there are in government buildings in U.S.A.  There were many this size, often with flowers in vases below.  At first I thought everyone just loved their king, but I learned later that people could get in trouble for not respecting their king at all times.  One expression of this was to stand up during the national anthem played once in the morning, around 8 am, and once in the evening.  If a national doesn't, they will expect to be spoken to by the Thai police if they are around.

This is the view of Golden Buddha resort as we approached it on Ko Phra Thong (co-pra-tong) island.

This was our lodging at the Golden Buddha resort.  The right side opens up to the covered deck in a similar sliding door fashion, making the place roomy and bright.  It was easy to just hang out here when it was raining or even when the sun was shining.  The second floor loft helped us spread out too.  The restaurant and lounge was built in a similar style but about 30 times the square footage.

 Gina found the resort by googling "beach yoga kayak thailand".  Yoga classes were offered twice a day, everyday, and she did not miss a one.

This was our practically-private beach at the resort.  I am standing on a hill from which you can watch sea turtles feeding close to the shore near the rocks to the right.

Sunset from the beach on Ko Phra Thong was amazing.

After enjoying the seclusion of Ko Phra Thong island, we headed to Railay beach, where adventure sports meet amazing topography.  It had the social feel of Ocean City Maryland but set in a jungle.  Besides snorkeling, zip-lining, kayaking, sport-fishing, and hiking, it is well known for its climbing, which I tried out within hours of being on the island.  I am on the rock in the orange shirt.  I was also the only one wearing a climbing helmet.

 

 Kayaking brought us up close and personal with wave-carved karst outcroppings like this one.

Long boats are the way to get back and forth from the nearest large town, Krabi, and the Railay beach.  There is a road but no self-respecting tourists take it.

 The sunsets off of Railay beach were pretty nice, too.

Because of the protests in Bangkok as we came through the capital near the end of our trip to Thailand, we stayed outside the city center and bided our time at one of the many malls in Thailand.  This one had 7 levels, all with several restaurants, boutique stores, department stores, doctor's offices, and snack vendors.  We went to see the second installment of the Hunger Games at the cineplex on the 7th floor, complete with reclining chairs, amazing sound, and beer.