Bangkok was exciting, chaotic, noisy and colourful in a jetlag haze.
We took the bus boat on the morning of our arrival to get the layout of the land. Cracked the metro system and later on wandered through a luscious park full of birdsong. The birds stopped chattering when Roland tried to record them.
The next day we used the bus and went to the National Museum of Bangkok, full of wondrous beauty. Aside a huge range of palanquins, each with its own name, we were struck by the mother of pearl inlay techniques, porcelain painting, musical instruments, more pleasing to look at than listen to, and a huge selection of Buddha, as well as some Shiva, statues. We noticed the numerous stone 8thc wheels of law, representing Buddhist instruction ( right concentration, effort, intention, view, speech, mindfulness, livelihood and action.
Sat in a park afterwards with noisy crows to drink it in.
The (not 10 but only 9h!) bus journey from Bangkok to Ranong passed in a viridescent profusion of banana, cocounut and bamboo trees. Rubber trees too that have no leaves and little pots at the base to collect the sap. Walked from bus stop to hotel, despite entreaties from numerous taxi drivers.
After a comfortable night in Ranong, a stopover nondescript place with a very tasteful comfortable hotel, we took a local winding bus route, with a barefooted bus driver, to Khura Buri Pier, picked up at junction then on to a red and blue long prow boat ( 50 minute ride) to Koh Phra Thong. The captain was barefooted too.
We landed on the beach and suggested taking our shoes off. Roland jumped and the sand van driver awaiting us escorted me off on his shoulders ( a missed opportunity for a photo).
The bungalow is vast, stylish and very comfortable.
A paradisiacal beach with very squeaky sand.
A chorale of cicadas at sunset after the sun dropped into sea like a golden ball in perfect synchronisation.
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