Million Paws Walk
May was a pretty easy going month with just a couple of activities such as a trip to Bunbury and lunch by the beach with grandma for Mother's Day on May 13, dinner out with the girls on May 18 and then the Million Paws Walk on May 20 along the South Perth foreshore. Thousands of dogs and their owners do this walk in all the major cities and towns in Australia to raise money for the RSPCA. We took Maddy along and kept our eyes peeled for another Boston Terrier, but didn't see one. We did see several gorgeous French Bulldogs, cute pugs, huge Great Danes and everything in between. It was a nice walk with views across the Swan river to the city, lots of black swans on the river and of course loads of dogs.
We had coffee with Emma, Andy and Noogie, before we dashed back to the car as the rain started. Pics below of Jasper and his car, Louise, Sean, Jasper & Maddy at the Million Paws Walk and Swans on the Swan River, Perth.
On Saturday May 26 we went to Phuket, Thailand for a 12 day holiday. On the way to the airport we dropped Maddy at Kaz & Guy's for her holiday away from home. Jasper was very energetic on the flight, but didn't make too much of a fuss thank goodness. We flew Thai Airways and the flight staff were great with him, and very tolerant of him constantly running through the curtain into the galley area. He loved playing peek-a-boo behind the curtain, near our bulk head seats and also running from our seat down the aisle to grandma and poppo's seats and visiting them. 5.25 hrs flying time was enough time for a 15 mth old, and he finally nodded off in the car ride up to Khao Lak.
Khao Lak
We had a driver waiting for us at the Phuket airport to take us to Baan Khao Lak resort in Khao Lak (about 90 min drive north of Phuket). Sadly it was an area that was hit very badly with the Tsunami so many resorts are still being rebuilt, or have just been completed. Over 6,000 lives were lost in this little town alone.
Our resort was fantastic and brand new, having been rebuilt since the Tsunami on Dec 26, 2004. The decor of the huge rooms was very nice, with quality fittings, wonderful linen and nice bathrooms, along with TV, AC, fridge, hairdryers etc. And that was just their basic rooms. We used AsiaRooms.com to book our accomm and had these rooms for just $37 AUD per night incl breakfast. Amazing value! The resort is right on the beach and the beach side bungalows are also great value. The pool overlooks the calm, deserted beach and was great for a toddler with non-slip surfaces and a shallow splash area at one end.
Sean & Jasper in the pool. Quiet Khao Lak beach. Dining on Khao Lak beach
Our original intention for coming to Khao Lak (aside from enjoying the peaceful scenery) was to dive the Similan Islands, a world class dive site about 60 kms off the shore. However when researching dive companies online before our trip I was informed that the Similans were closed at this time of the year (low season) as the weather becomes unpredictable and the stormy season is gearing up. So we were not expecting to get out to the Similans afterall. However we got lucky and signed up for a day trip with IQ Divers who used Sea Bees catamaran to take 6 divers and 2 snorklers out one day when the sea was calm and the weather looked OK. Well it was drizzling with rain, and overcast all day, but good enough to dive. Visibility was great at 30 mts and the coral was very nice. Lots of fish life too. We both felt that it was not our best dive site despite what we had read. And at $200 AUD each for a 2 tank dive, it was certainly the most expensive dive we've done. However the crew and boat were fantastic and we were able to dive pretty much by ourselves as the DM was spending his time with two new divers. We hope to come back to dive other places in the Similans during their best season (Nov - April).
Sean returning from Similan Is. Us on the catamaran headed back to shore.
Sean returning from Similan Is. Us on the catamaran headed back to shore.We met a really nice group of young people from all over the world who were in Khao Lak volunteering post-Tsunami - mostly building homes, schools etc. We had taken up two bags of 2nd hand clothes, caps etc to give away, and so we handed them over to this group for them to distribute to needy Tsunami survivors. We saw this Police Boat which was washed up 1.5kms inland from the coast during the Tsunami - it's been left high and dry ever since. It's so hard to imagine (that even with the storm brewing in this photo) that this calm sea could have wreaked so much tragedy and damage. The mountains border the beach area so the water accumulated in the built up coastal area, taking thousands of lives with it.
Even though it was the start of the rainy season, we only had 1 afternoon when it rained all day - a good day for a massage - $12 for an hour! And for some Internet time. It did rain overnight a couple of times. We rented bikes one day and visited the national park and saw other goregous bays and beaches.
Hanging with Jasper & mum on the beach. Jasper splashing. Biking.
I forgot to mention how much the Thai people LOVE children. Jasper was a star wherever we went and they all called out his name. As soon as we sat down at restaurants, he was taken off our hands and entertained by the staff. Even the security guard at our hotel was getting lots of cuddles from him - see pic.
Patong Beach, Phuket Is.
All too soon our 4 nights at Khao Lak were over - we had all really enjoyed this place and the relaxed pace. Now we were off to Patong Beach on Phuket Is, and it was a bit of a culture shock to start with - so much busier, loads of shops, signs, traffic, people hasselling you to buy tailor made suits and other stuff. In the beginning we wanted to go right back to Khao Lak. But after settling into our hotel, the Seaview Patong, and our rooms which were opened onto a grassy area and looked right onto the beach, we got into the rhythm of Patong and enjoyed it also. The rooms were smaller, but well appointed and the location couldn't be beat. Another Asiarooms.com deal at $59 p/night, incl a fantastic buffet breakfast that kept you going until dinner
time.
Patong Bay. Jasper's royal welcome @ Patong Seview. Jasper & Lou on Patong Beach. Table dancing outside our room.
Hash House Harriers
On Sat 2 June we did a run with the Phuket Hash House Harriers (HHH). Mum and dad are HHH Bunbury members and Sean and I used to run with the Silicon Valley HHH club so we knew what we were in for. We were bused out to the east side of Phuket Is and did a 45 min run thru mud and sand in the humidity, and then sucked down several cold Tiger beers as a reward. Mum and dad had to do extra down downs - Grappa (dad) with his butt on the ice block that Jasper had just been licking - better to lick it before arses (some of them were bare) have been sitting on it than after I s'pose.
Pics: Hashers. Sunset on Patong Beach. Jasper in bath. Young hasher and drinker. Hash transport. Grappa with his butt chillin'. Gardiners after the run.Tour to temple and Phanga Bay
Sean and I did a day tour which included a visit to the Reclining Budda in a very impressive cave. The monkeys outside the cave provided lively entertainment. We also did a little canoe and bamboo raft trip thru this enormous cave with water in it. It was pitch black and we wore headlamps - hence no pics to show you about this, but a very impressive cave.
Then it was onto James Bond Is (where Man with the Golden Gun was filmed). You might remember the famous pinnacle sticking up from the sea. There's a pic of James Bond and the newest Bond Girl.
We spent our last couple of days by the pool, relaxing and a bit of shopping.
FantaseaOn our last night in Phuket, Sean & I took advantage of the baby sitters once again and went to the Fantasea show in Phuket. It's a mix of Cirque de Soilel and the circus, and it was quite impressive. We had the wonderful dinner buffet before the show with the company of a great couple from Melbourne celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.
Then after a few pics in the grounds of the show - spectacular in their ownright, we enjoyed the main event and also had our pic taken with a performing elephant after the show - pic's a bit dark. A great night for $60.
While we were out, Jasper was also out chatting up the lady men in Bangla Road - see pic.
