Thailand

MORNING HAS BROKEN OVER KO SAMUI ISLAND

GOING TO BE A BIT MORE EXOTIC FOR A WHILE AFTER SINGAPORE

Today we are going to see some animals, have bite to eat, visit a temple, a beach & a waterfall to name a few..

Monkeys doing tricks. I missed getting a shot of them asking for tips..

This could have been the 3 wise monkeys with the monkeys calling the shots.

See no evil.

& hear no evil..

& the Monkey sang no evil..

We take a meal break to watch a Thai cooking demonstration & a bit of a taste...

The meal was more of a snack but very Thai & very hot. Not too many other people tried it - bunch of wimps.

Sad looking Elephants doing tricks too...

He's seen it all before...

I am up on an Elephant now ....

Either Elephants or very large mice....

I spy a sales point approaching...

Yep - time to by the Elephant lunch of a bag of unripe bananas, which he ate - without taking the skin off.

Elizabeth & I got paired off as the only singles & when the Mahout asked to "take the couples photo", she said "oh no, he doesn't belong to me".

Too funny & a nice Swiss lady.

Travelling with her mother who stayed on board after her daughter got off in Hong Kong.

Pretty gutsy for a 84 year old. I spent a few tea times with her.

Time to get off...

& it's Temple visit time

or shopping...Or coconut milk drinking time in my case..

They say you should try to not look like a tourist & this one is disguised as a Zebra. Might work in Africa.. & the Burberry scarf looks a little out of place here too...

Then it's the beach for a beer & a bite..

and a waterfall...

Sundowner time....

The waterfall I could have done without.

BANGKOK

The boat is able to navigate a long way up river & we are parked quite close to down town Bangkok...

where I am heading to a Royal complex of temples & palaces. Incredible. Don't see how anyone gets any praying done...

Don't see how the guide did not lose anyone...

Going around bare legged is not allowed so the ladies buy sarongs...Don't know who she is, Just got in the way for some reason...

Amazing buildings.

I think that's it for the Temple complex..& it is so many people, so many temples.

Now heading to a boat ride.... & past these ladies preparing lunch...

onto the river now, passing houses &

under bridges....

sneak a glimpse of the royal barges...in their special housing...

back on shore....& a visit to another temple... this one with visiting monks...

That was just a sampling of the first day in & around Bangkok.

Need to spend a lot more time here.

SOMETHING OF A CHANGE OF PACE TODAY.

GONE ARE THE CROWDS OF PEOPLE AS I GET A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE PRASART MUSEUM.

A PRIVATE COLLECTION BY A RICH, MAKE THAT VERY RICH, THAI GENTLEMAN WHO HAS COLLECTED ART FROM ALL AROUND THE REGION AND ASSEMBLED IT IN THESE FINE GARDENS.

A VERY QUIET, SECLUDED SPOT IN THE CITY...

THE BLUE HAZE IS INCENSE BURNING....

A HUMMINGBIRD....

THEN IT'S BACK TO THE SHIP & A GOODBY TO THE GUIDES. HOPE THEY MADE SOME CASH FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK KEEPING ALL THEIR SHEEP SAFE.

AND THE TRIP DOWN RIVER TO THE SEA...

THIS MAY BE A FUNERAL OFFERING PERHAPS...

& SOMEONE TAKING A BREAK ON THE BACK OF A LANDING CRAFT...

PICTURES OF THE KING WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE. A VERY POPULAR FELLOW I THINK..

AND THE END OF THE RIVER WITH BANGKOK BEHIND US.