This is where Bambo should have gone (lots of pics)

[eTiMaGo]

Had I been able to come down here in December... You'll have to visualize the little guy here :laugh:

Lunch at my mom's place yesterday... All the staff had a day off for Songkran (the Thai New Year), so we stuck around in the afternoon... Roast pork, potato salad, followed by bread and cheese, then creme caramel (not pictured, photographer too busy stuffing his face)

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1339.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1340.JPG

Weather was weird, bright sun but light rain as well, made for some nice nature pics

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1334.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1336.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1337.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1341.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1343.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1344.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1345.JPG

It was damn hot later so I went for a dip in the pool (not pictured, I'll spare you the horror)
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1338.JPG

So yeah, a big plug because I can... If anyone's looking to go on holidays to Phuket, I can highly recommend my mom's place :laugh: www.lejardin-phuket.net

But anyway, in the town proper, it was madness. As you may or may not know, the celebrations of Songkran is also known as the Water festival and people just go wild in the streets drenching each other with waterguns, buckets, etc... We stayed away from all that though, but here's some pics of the madness when we headed out for dinner:

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1347.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1348.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1350.JPG

Today, though, my mom and I went out most of the day, to do some sightseeing, and meet some friends on another part of the island, Rawai in the south. The road there is one of my favorites, as the island is quite hilly, this road follows above the western coastline and is quite twisty. Unfortunately there were a lot of people on it ...

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1353.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1358.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1365.JPG

First stop of the day was the "Big Buddha", a large statue that had been in construction for several years now on top of a hill, overlooking a large part of the south of the island. It is 45m (135ft) tall and covered in marble, quite impressive. There was a TON of people there so we didn't stick around soooo long...

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1371.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1372.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1368.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1370.JPG

Some spiritual words:
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1375.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1376.JPG

There's some really nice viewpoints on the way up there, here is Karon beach:
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1382.JPG
And on the other side, Phuket Town, the main city:
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1383.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1373.JPG

Then we went to pick up some friends and have a refreshment at their lovely house...
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1389.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1427.JPG

And we went off for lunch... to a very secluded little bay nearby with a simple but delicious restaurant by the water. My cousin, who also lives here, met us along with his adorable daughter. I hadn't seen her for over a year, those lil things sure grow fast :laugh:

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1399.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1405.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1408.JPG

Then we headed back home, so here's some interesting pics along the way...
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1434.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1435.JPG

Kata Beach, always some decent waves here, not surf-worthy but fun..
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1441.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1445.JPG

Next beach over, Karon. Used to spend a lot of time here with my friends as a kid:
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1451.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1452.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1454.JPG

Mom didn't feel like getting out of the car:
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1453.JPG
(That's talcum power on the hood, mixed in with the water people splash on each other. And the car is a Honda City, essentially a Fit sedan, heckuvalot of fun to drive I must admit)

And finally the long way back to Le Jardin, over the hilly roads (I used to really rip along these back when I was here with my motorcycle... good days... til I got my mom's car in a ditch :laugh:)
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1455.JPG
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1456.JPG
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http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/Phuket%20Pics/web/DSC_1458.JPG

All right, I hope you enjoyed the ridealong :biggrin: Phuket's getting more and more developed, in the year since I last came there's been so many new buildings and more and more people, but still, this is the place I grew up, the place I consider home, and I love it dearly :smile:

[eTiMaGo]

hahah yeah it's still a very spiritual country :smile:

And indeed, it is paradise here, mostly... I do wish I could come back and live down here :laugh: and AFAIK I am very much alive... I hope...

[SilverBack]

Amazing pics. Looks like I might've found my next vacation spot :smile:

BTW, how do you properly pronounce "Phuket"? If I go I don't wanna get any dirty looks from the locals for saying it the way it's spelled. Already had that problem once with a former teacher named "Mrs. (Amaya) Dumas" :redface:

[eTiMaGo]

hahaha yes, sadly a common problem... it's not an F sound, it's like a long P, breathing out as you say it.

[Bob_VT]

I have friends that "winter" there every year to go Scuba diving and chase women!

[m911gt]

Thomas, thank you for sharing your experience with us, very nice pictures!

[SIPNGAS]

Thomas!!! These pictures are fantastic. I had no idea Thailand was so beautiful! Your mom's place, is it sort of like an Inn?

ENJOY that vacation!

[BLAZINBLUEVITZ]

seeing those pictures reminds me of colombia, glass coke bottles and all.....

[Kioshi]

Very nice pics Thomas, gives me a general idea of the country. Might plan a vacation there sometime :D. Your family has nice house/s though! Def. living the life. The hell w/ living in California :P

[33OH]

Wow.. I had no idea Thailand was so beautiful either.. Thanks for sharing Thomas!

[yaris-me]

Beautiful, very lush and tropical, thanks for sharing!:w00t:

[eTiMaGo]

I have friends that "winter" there every year to go Scuba diving and chase women!

Hahaha yes, two very popular activities :biggrin:

Thomas, thank you for sharing your experience with us, very nice pictures!

You're welcome

Thomas!!! These pictures are fantastic. I had no idea Thailand was so beautiful! Your mom's place, is it sort of like an Inn?

ENJOY that vacation!

Yeah it's a very friendly, big-family kinda place, the personal touch is very important :smile:
Vacation's over now though :cry:

seeing those pictures reminds me of colombia, glass coke bottles and all.....

You can't get Coke and similar drinks in glass bottles in the US?

Very nice pics Thomas, gives me a general idea of the country. Might plan a vacation there sometime :D. Your family has nice house/s though! Def. living the life. The hell w/ living in California :P

Haha yeah, it's not all like you see on the news...

Wow.. I had no idea Thailand was so beautiful either.. Thanks for sharing Thomas!

Beautiful, very lush and tropical, thanks for sharing!:w00t:

Glad you all enjoyed it... As I mentioned above, I mostly wanted to post these as a reminder that despite all the bad news on TV about political turmoil, this is still an amazing country and I would find it hard to imagine life anywhere else... :smile:

[MadMax]

Thanks for the beautiful pics, it was like taking a mini-vacation at my desk! :thumbup:

Now, back to the drudgery that is my job! :frown:

Cheers! M2

[KCALB SIRAY]

Great shots, tell Mom I'll see her next year for vacation, lol

I have one of these in my backyard. It's a bitch to mow around
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=113&pictureid=912

This guy was really excited to see you I guess
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=113&pictureid=911

[mrbond]

I always love seeing pictures from other countries. I'm at that stage of my life where I want to travel everywhere and do as much as I can. Thailand is actually on the list of places I want to go. In all likelihood I'll be travelling there within the next three years. Perhaps I'll see y'all there :P

[Doc Zaius]

Nice pics, Thomas! You make me (and my (French) gf) want to come visit! :biggrin: