Friday 1 April 2016
Phuket, Thailand

No April Fool’s jokes—the sea has been smooth and calm for the past four days and I am no longer wearing a seasick patch behind my ear (actually didn't really need it anyway, but better safe than queasy).  After a busy day in Singapore I enjoyed a sea day for rest and relaxation, even attending the evening entertainment:  solo performance by one of the Oceania's regular performers.  But I could only last for two loudly warbled and sometimes off –key songs.  Even though the singer was very good looking, it hardly made up for his mediocrity.

Earlier today, we arrive at the cruiseport on the southern tip of Phuket, the largest of the many islands on both sides of the Thai Isthmus.  A two-hour bus ride takes us north through the entire length of the island and then across the bridge to the mainland.  Phuket is a very popular resort on the Andaman Sea, but the bus ride only offers brief glimpses of the coast and instead takes us through one ramshackle town after another.  Add to that the fact that the bus –which looks very new—seems to have no springs, no shocks, and at least three flat tires.  This all makes for a very uncomfortable ride.  In fact, the folks in the back of the bus complain of nausea from the constant banging around.  But the bus isn't full so most of them can move to somewhat better seat locations.



We eventually drive far enough north to pass over the bridge to the Thai mainland, but even the bridge is pretty dull.  We finally arrive at “Spectacular Phang Nga Bay" (the title of the shore excursion). On board a fast-moving motorboat we explore the scenic beauties of the karst formations and small islands that dot the bay.  The scenery is quite lovely, but having been to Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam last year (as well as Guilin in China many years ago), this area is not quite as spectacular to me as it is to first-timers.

 

One of the small islands in the bay served as a set for the villain's lair in a James Bond movie (don't ask which one).  On this island the intrepid tourist will find a place to rent kayaks (very popular) as well as to buy food and drinks.  

 

Our small boat doesn't stop here, but we do stop at an artificial island with many stilt houses, a large number of shops, a school for resident children and, of all things, a large mosque.  This small island is very crowded, with local residents and hordes of tourists.  We follow our guide for a quick tour, despite the heat and crowds, through this rather strange environment.  

Then it's back to the boat for the short trip to dry land and the resort hotel where we enjoy a really excellent hot buffet lunch.

The two-hour drive back to the ship covers the same territory and is interrupted only by a brief stop at “the world’s largest jewelry 
store,” (really).  It's been a long and tiring day and I don't feel much like getting gussied up for dinner, so I rely on room service, which turns out to be a good choice.  The food is hot and well-prepared and the portions are large;  the thin crust margherita pizza is one of the best I have had in a long time and the Caesar salad is huge.  Even the dessert, a chocolate layered concoction, is superior to desserts in the various restaurants.

The shore excursions visit interesting places, but sometimes the long journeys to reach them, reduce the pleasure quotient significantly.  I am especially looking forward to the overnight excursion to Bagan in Myanamar, since it utilizes a plane ride rather than land transportation.

Tonight we set clocks back 30 minutes, a rather strange idea, but as they say "do what the locals do."  Tomorrow is a sea day and I am looking forward to the next chapter from the visiting lecturer on the development of Asian religions.