Patong Beach, Phuket

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patong

I was in Patong Beach 4 years ago, travelling on QUEEN MARY 2, and we obviously tendered at a different area.  The last time, Michael and I both went into the water - he went swimming because it was clean.

This time, the pier was a wreck, in filthy, very smelly water with tons of taxi drivers waiting like predators at the street.  Obviously each one is convinced of his (no women among them) charm.  Why else would one step in our path with an offer of a taxi, "cheap", when we had just turned down the previous 5, 10 or 20 offers??  One of life's mysteries.

We changed money, found a post office, asked there where to find postcards,found the post cards, went back to the post office and then back to the ship. It was very, very hot and humid - a portent of things to come in India.


Sunrise over Phuket

Patong Beach was badly affected by the tsunami in 2004.  These were many of these signs.

I recognized these shrines from a previous trip.

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The pavement between the street and the beach.

Further down this street, we bought the postcards and a fridge magnet!

Just like the Colonel, Ronald is everywhere!

My favorite mosaic on the pavement

Boat pulling the kite surfer and our home, QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Offers for tourists.

A German electrician's nightmare.  Actually, mine too.

Advertising the disco - music blaring - Lady Gaga

On the tender, going back to the ship.

Local fishermen.

Almost there.

The ship's hull is metal, so a place for the fridge magnets.

Penang - April 6, 2016

What happens when the camera goes from the air conditioned stateroom to the hot, humid outside air

We booked a tour, hoping that our dollars will do some good, to visit the orangutan sanctuary.

 http://www.orangutanisland.org.my/


 There was a fairly long bus trip, first through the city

On to the highway

Lo, our guide, holding the map and his microphone

Malaysian toll booth

Miles of monoculture, usually bananas

The island sanctuary is off the coast where this fun park is located

Transport to the island

The dock

Holiday homes on the other side of the mainland

The ramp to board the boat - it was very steep

One very, very large home

The tour ahead of us leaving the island

Two juveniles playing on the beach

The orangutan are free, the people are in cages

Mike, the spoiled first "child" born on the island, about 13 years ago.  He was doted on by the staff and is now reputed to be overweight

 We are in an open "tunnel", restricted in our movements but the animals have the rest of the entire island to themselves

The younger orangutan were rather blasé about the tourists but a handler enticed them to the fence using pieces of mango

Calling the handler to offer more fruit

 The roof of our tunnel

Coleus, which I had in a pot in my bedroom when I was a teenager

The tourist path is lined with plants used in traditional Malay medicine, with explanations

Lo, pointing to a plant used to treat diabetes

We walked for about an hour and during that entire time, Mike didn't move

 As the next tour group arrived, Mike had had enough and disappeared into the forest

The leaves are brewed and drunk daily although when the fresh leaves are chewed, vomiting is induced

 The medical center

Back to the beach, still playing

Rest/snack stop

 Leaving

Across the bay from the island, luxury apartments

Poster, notice the huge side pouches on the alpha male

On the road again

The other side of the highway

Tolls, in ringet, the Malaysian currency

 Mangrove trees

 At the red light

In town, the Chinese quarter

Some of the pre-colonial buildings

Part of the Moslem quarter

A Hindu temple

School uniforms

Government building

Medieval wall with an 18th century cannon

Local ferry

 Photos taken from aboard the QUEEN ELIZABETH, our home for 4 months