Today was day one in Thailand and day one of two in Phuket. It started a bit late in the morning for me, at least, because I was dog tired from traveling yesterday. I finally got up and showered and dressed around 10:30, and we set out. The Professor and I walked around Phuket Town looking for food. We stumbled upon a place called Circle Cafe, and we ate some Thai food there for brunch.



Really just an early lunch. Mine was good, some seafood in a broth of coconut milk, lemon grass, garlic stalks, and seaweed, and it was served with some sweet-tasting white rice. I know that sounds really weird, but it was delicious. The cafe itself was open on the front to the street, and we were able to sit comfortably in there with just a fan overhead and the shade of being inside.

After brunch we looked around town a little on foot. We went in a store that sells Thai stuff, and looked but didn't buy. We looked up and down different streets in the town, and I took all kinds of pictures. Some things struck me. For instance, there are small altars everywhere here. Like, every home and business has at least a small altar. Some of them are quite elaborate.



I noticed that most of them have offerings of fruit and incense. One had beer, as well. I guess the people want their god to be either especially lenient or especially forgetful. I dig the ingenuity if nothing else.

Later we bought a few things to remind us of Phuket. Then we found a guy to drive us to the cape at the south tip of the island. We wanted beach, but really, it was better. It was the perfect spot to hike around and take sunset pictures. My point of reference for pretty islands is the beginning of Jurassic Park, which, I know, is lame. But even so, I think this place was prettier than that. Check out the sailboat.



On the way to the beach, we stopped the driver to take some pictures of boats at low tide. Apparently the boats are just kind of pulled up close to the beach. When the tide goes out, they are beached like whales. The only sad thing about the sunset was that a bit of fog rolled in and blocked the sun itself, and made things a bit hazy for the setting. It was still beautiful, and I stood there alone and amazed.

Apparently Blogger doesn't want me to upload any more pictures right now, but I have lots. I hope those will do for now, though.

So far, this is what Thailand seems to me:
Take a slice of India, mix it with a good and hearty sprinkle of China. Then dominate it with Portugal for a while. All of this should be super-imposed on some Malay peoples. Elephants, characters, a confusing alphabet, Old World architecture, and good ol' fashioned poorness. Thailand, the land of a million Buddhas.

T