A trip to Koh Sichang

Koh Sichang is a small island of the cost of Thailand I left from Sri Racha on the boat. 

Here's where you get your ticket.

The journey was about 20 minutes and cost me 50 Baht.

Arriving in Koh Sichang I was immediately struck with the transport arrangements - I do not think that I have ever seen this type of vehicle previously.

I immediately wanted to see the places which I could see whilst on the ferry. We took off to take my suitcase to Somewhere where I would be staying.

I immediately took the taxi and went on a tour of the island.

The first stop was ศาลเจ้าพ่อเขาใหญ่ - this was certainly a special place to visit - a Chinese Shrine in the hills accessible by a tram (which wasn't working on that day).

After climbing up the stairs.

Quite a view from up here!

Then there was a visit to the summer palace of Rama V - a beautiful place to escape to.

There is a lot to see here OR have a wedding photograph here?

Then it was time for a coffee - Flower Blu Cafe & Bistro. Then back to Somewhere to unpack, shower and change....

Then off again - my first stop was the Yellow Buddha (หลวงพ่อเหลือง ถ้ำจักรพงษ์) which was up a long  steep hill (actually it was above the Chinese Shrine).

Then back in the motorbike to visit the Buddha's Footprint.

Then a climb up some steps to reach a beautiful viewpoint.

Then a visit to the Vashiravut Bridge 

and crossing it to watch the sunset at the Viewpoint!  

Then back to Somewhere and The Verandah and some e-san sausages - delicious.

Then a quick dip 

and a cocktail whilst the sunset.

I am certainly going to visit Somewhere and Koh Sichang again - I found out that there was more to see...

Por Tor Festival 2016

It is believed by some of the Phuket Community that the spirits of our dead ancestors will visit them once a year on Earth.

I always like to visit during this period - I took a break in the  air conditioning at

การท่องเที่ยวแห่งประเทศไทย(ททท.) Tourism Authority Of Thailand Phuket office - thanks for the information.

The parade started from the 'Dragon Park' - there were a lot of people their - all waiting for something to happen - and it did.

The music started and the parade began - a lot of carefully made up girls and boys all wearing something special and many carrying a 'turtle cake'.

The turtles are covered in red icing and are made locally – much like the ‘Mooncakes’. The turtles are bright red because in this tradition this is the colour of ‘good luck’. The shape of the cake is a turtle because this symbolises ‘long life’.

Then the fun began.

The firecrackers were lit and it was extremely noisy!

  

The Red Turtles however will be taken into the Car Park above the enclosed Local Market. 

Here the Car Park was full of tables with food prepared for the spirits – whole roasted pig, deep fried duck, red Fanta drinks, carved fruits and more red turtle cakes!

There was a traditional tea ceremony - wonderful.

It was a great day for me - followed by coffee at Phuketique and then lunch at Downtown Kao-Kaeng.

Previous Posts

 1) Final Day 2015

 2) Por Tor 2015 - the parade

 2) Por Tor 2014 

 3) Por Tor 2014 - the parade

 4) Por Tor 2013 

 5) Por Tor 2013 

 6) Por Tor 2012

Premium Street Food (Bangkok)

Premium Street Food.

This is certainly a double entendre?
Well not in Bangkok apparently...

Poster from Amazing Thailand.

Location, location, location and TripAdvisor

I have to admit to not reading much in TripAdvisor any longer but I did read this one - funny that the title was the same in the two 'titled' reviews - 

one was somewhere adjacent to the beach in Koh Yao Noi
Koh Yao Beach Bungalows 

and the other in Bangkok.
Cape House.

Miss Australia at Cape Panwa Hotel

This was certainly a different day of the staff of Cape Panwa Hotel - a morning on the boat with the Miss World Australia 2016 and runner ups.

What a happy group they were. First the photographs and the necessary contacts on their telephones.

Here was my Instagram Post.

This was Miss World Australia 2014.

Then the Floating Pillows came out...

Then I found that I was in the reflection of the sunglasses.

Time for a bite to eat. Then a visit to Lone Island - a great place, nobody was there.

Then a play in the water.

Then a run.

And a Group Hug (before it rained)

Thank you for choosing to stay at Cape Panwa Hotel.

A trip to Phang Nga

Phang Nga is a place more famous for a rock island called - Koh Tapu - more commonly known as James Bond Island. But we were on a trip to anywhere but we had scant ideas of where we were going and the iPhone and it's Apps to find places (Foursquare was a regular but Around Me was interesting).



The first place that we stopped was Phang Nga Viewpoint.

Where we could go Horse riding 

Then it was time for some to visit the strange caves at the side of the road - certainly different - สวนสมเด็จพระนครินทร์ พังงา.

Then it was time for some early dinner at Thasai Seafood - a wonderful location by the river - here's Jamies review.

Then it was time for somewhere to stay - found a hotel - very busy (5,200 Baht) so we found a small place - Tonhaad Resort - 700 Baht.

Then we raced to find the waterfall as the sun began to set....

Lovely spot and by the time we got back it was dark.

The following morning we got up with the local animals and then

set off for a local breakfast - this was not just traditional street food - we had a mixture at บ้านช้าง กาแฟสด.

Then there was a quick stop at a beautiful roadside Wat.

Then off for the trip to James Bond with a local fisherman who first took us to these carvings on the side of a rock...

Then it was time for Koh Tapu Island (James Bond) and wow - we did not visit, we only encircled it - 300 Baht each to get on and it was packed.

Then it was onto the Muslim Floating Village - Koh Panyi - to investigate.

And the floating football field...

Then back onto the boat - stopping at a raised island (previously submerged).

We visited Wat Kaeo Manee Si Mahathat on the way back to Phuket - quite an impressive structure....

Then back into the car - stopping at Tree Cups for lunch.

A wonderful time - the weekend went a little too quickly... 

Ice or no ice?

Recently I posted about someone wanting to sue Starbucks because it put ice in the drinks. Which was countered by Starbucks saying that they will do what the person asks for and if they do not want ice they will not put it in....

BUT here in Thailand - they will charge you more if you do not want ice...

TripAdvisor is the road to success - is it?

We have all used TripAdvisor. Sometimes I have a good month and sometimes I have a bad month.

So what causes places to go bust when they are a popular destination in TripAdvisor Should we pay so much attention to what people think? Do we know what we are looking for. Does the location think about this? - they did.

I guess it is just the same as a site to review movies. I was watching Scorpion last night and thought that it was entertaining BUT not on the #IMDB app...