Phuket

Patong Bay, off Phuket, Thailand

Morning walk along beach in rain. . . great Thai coffee and new fruit for me - Keau mangkom. . .conversations with Thai shopkeepers Mari-Am and Rocky, who survived Tsunami. . . lunch in fabuous restaurant by the beach - Baan Rim Pa. Another place to revisit.... This part of the world, from disciplined Singapore to warm Patong Beach, is a land on the rise.

Viet Nam and Thailand

Internet expensive, therefore shorter, fewer blogs. Days flying by. Nha Trang very much a resort town. Ho Chi Minh City still reflects the style of Saigon; Continental Hotel still there (as in the Quiet American by Graham Greene). Thailand a delight - especially the Elephant Sanctuary near Pattaya. Took the opportunity to ride bareback on an elephant as she went into the stream - really fun! Now en route to Singapore. Thunderstorm at sea this morning. Started reading Forster’s Passage to India as we work our way there. Hard to comprehend how fast we are going through these countries - just a quick visit but at least they will no longer just be places on a map to me.