March – April 2021
From Bangkok, I headed to Thailand’s largest island, Phuket. This is a popular destination for both tourists and Thais. I thought I would spend two weeks there, but I had so much fun I stayed nine weeks and only left because I had to get my visa renewed.
This is the first new friend I made, Jennifer.
You can certainly see a Portuguese influence in Phuket Old Town.
Lots of great places to eat, such as The Natural Restaurant.
Quality coffee shops, if you like coffee. I’m more of a tea guy.
And flower carts.
Sunset at Khao Rang Viewpoint.
Skateboarding is becoming popular in Thailand. This is a legend in the making.
Good reminders. I’ve been learning more about Buddhism and appreciate how it is inward looking and largely about compassion and personal development.
Had a really fun, personal, cooking class with Chef Molly at Blue Elephant Royal Royal Thai Cooking School. Made delicious: steamed butterfly pea dumplings, yellow curry, and sweet rice for dessert.
Salt Bae
I had actually already seen their locations in London, Paris, Brussels, and Malta just walking around those places. Figured it made sense to go to a Thai cooking school in Thailand.
Hello Hello Kitty.
Took a hike up Monkey Hill, saw a lot of monkeys along the way.
Good weekend markets in Phuket Old Town.
Two of my goals for this trip were to try Muay Thai and get scuba certified. I did Muay Thai for the first time at Phuket Fight Club. It is a good workout, but rather painful. Decided to go back to Crossfit at Crossfit Siam, which was at the same location.
Got my PADI open water scuba certification with Ashlee at Aussie Divers in Chalong.
Dwarf Lionfish.
These clown fish had great jokes. Way better than mine.
I said “hello,” he said “goodbye.”
How many do you see?
Liked this eclectic restaurant. Everything on the walls was for sale.
Tried on a hat.
Took a weekend trip with a friend to Koh Phi-Phi. With so few tourist now, the nature is really great.
Feeling Thai style.
Thai people put colorful cloths, and sometimes dresses, around great trees for the spirits inside.
Thai longboats.
Love this lifestyle.
Do good, get good. So true. You get more of what you want by helping others get what they want. Givers gain.
Plastic in the ocean is a whale of a problem. While we hear so much about plastic straws, they comprise about 0.3% of the plastics in the ocean. Around half of the plastics in the ocean are nets and other materials from commercial fishing. These are especially dangerous to marine life and we need more regulations.
First, but not last, floating breakfast.
Freedom beach. Met two other people on this remote beach in Thailand. One from Stuttgart, Germany, where I have lived the last two years, and the other from Virginia, my neighbor state. That was a small world moment.
Black Rock, Phuket
Got to see a 76 year old Austrian man fly.
Glamping or glamour camping. Camping with AC, Wi-Fi, and electricity.
Lynn’s Mexican Plus was one of my go to spots. Had a lot of fun there with New and Chom.
Felt pretty manly paddle boarding around Man Island.
Gone fishing.
Boat party!
Was going strong, then lost power for about 45 min. It was nice to have an intermission and get a grilled cheese.
A big Big Buddha.
Yanui Beach.
Learned it is better to see the waterfalls during the rainy season.
Quality conversion.
Rode this Mercedes Ben to Krabi for a few days.
Checked out Tiger Cave Temple. It is named such because tigers used to live there and the cave amplified their calls, scaring away anything nearby.
So many steep stairs.
Was so happy to get to the top and enjoy the amazing view.
Krabi has some of the most incredible landscape I have ever seen.
Hiked up to a cave for a different perspective.
Chicken Island, you can see why.
Multi-talented tour guide and fruit sculptor.
Island, beach, coconut. Life is good.
Jacked and masked traffic monkeys.
Big fan of Thai Reggae restaurants.
Diamond cave.
Get in the car kids, we are getting tatted up!
This was without-a-doubt the best food festival I have ever been to.
Spent a night on Koh Yao Yai, very quite island.
Then an afternoon on Coconut Island.
Monks love Khao Sok National Park, so do I.
Was lucky to see some wild elephants.
Pandora vibes.
Dinner and sunset view.
After seeing Godzilla vs. Kong, feasted on Japanese hot pot.
Dirty beats and a noodle dance.
Hot pot on Patong beach.
Was great to see live music again.
Cats and cake, this is great.
Got a drone and went flying at the beach and Promthep Cape.
Favorite drone shot yet.
Sunset at Nai Harn beach. This is my favorite beach on Phuket.
The main reason why I stayed on Phuket nine weeks was because I was having so much fun playing beach volleyball at Nai Harn every night.
It was the first time I had ever played beach volleyball, so I got some lessons with Don.
Beach volleyball and sunsets every night at Nai Harn. Great living.
Spot likes to hang out at the beach, but he lives at 711 and appreciates a ride.
Flew the drone at Laem Krating
Had been wanting to try foil boarding for years and finally got the chance. It is a small surf board with an electric motor and remote. When you go fast it rises out of the water and you are flying over the water. Pretty fun.
Like this street art.
A Pillow and a Blanket Cafe.
Rustic and Blue by the Sea. Good goodies and great view.
Phuket is beautiful and fun.
Can’t wait to go back.