Jim in Thailand: Phang-Nga Bay

Sea-kayaking in Phang-Nga Bay.





Like Phi Phi Island, the islands in Phang-Nga Bay were amazing, shooting up out of the water in dramatic fashion.



Thailand's famous long-tail boats, our mode of transportation.



The island on which I am standing is known as "James Bond Island." This beach, with the striking rock in the bay behind me, featured in James Bond and the Man with the Golden Gun. Any Bond fans out there?


We made a stop at the village below, nestled up against this island but built entirely on pilings driven into the ocean floor below. It has been inhabited by Muslim fishermen for centuries, but they have more recently come to depend on tourism for their livelihood (see the long-tail boat in the foreground, with its characteristic, watery tail shooting out behind it).

Jim in Thailand: Phuket & 1/2 Marathon

Phuket is an island about 1 1/4 hrs flight south of Bangkok. It is a beautiful place of pineapple fields, forests, small villages, lovely bays, and great beaches. It was a treat to spend a weekend there.
The reason I went (aside from some R&R) was to run in the Phuket International 1/2 Marathon. It was a great race and a lovely route.
By no plan of mine I now find myself with 1/2 marathons completed on four continents: Europe (France), Africa (South Africa), North America (Chicago, Louisville), and now Asia. Now, how do I manage races on the other three before I die?!

Jim in Thailand: Phi Phi Island

Phi Phi Island is about an hour away via speed boat (powered by 3, 225-hp Honda outboards, goodness!) from the harbor at Phuket Town, which sits on the other side of the island of Phuket. These islands are visually striking in the way they shoot vertically out of the blue water. The beaches were beautiful, the snorkeling amazing, and the monkeys friendly.

Jim in Thailand: Chinatown

Jim in Thailand: Flower, Fruit & Veg Market

Below is the durian, considered the "king of fruit" in Thailand. Although I did not have fresh durian, I did once purchase a durian-flavored popsicle and a durian-creme filled donut. Both were a big mistake. They tasted like a mix of garlic and green onion.
Apparently the fresh fruit tastes nice (too bad I didn't try the fresh version first!) but has a repugnant odor. Signs I saw in the airport indicate just how awful its aroma must be: they instructed passengers who wanted to carry durian onboard to see a flight attendant for special handling procedures, to keep their fruit from stinking up the whole plane.



This is the lotus, special to Buddhist ceremonies.



Below: rambutan, mangosteen (considered the "queen of fruit" in Thailand), and pitaya.