Staying Cool in the Pool….
What do you say??? Sound like fun?????
Sometimes it's just nice to hang out at the pool. Let's have a lazy day, okay???
We staked out our pool-side lounge chairs. You'd better go claim your own. They seem to go fast.
See that palm frond (not actually sure what that plant is) in the foreground? A little bird keeps flying in and out of it….and if you look closely (from a different angle) you'll see it is building a nest between two fronds. Cool!!!
This pool has a swim-up bar! Have you wondered what it'd be like to have a drink at a swim-up bar??? I have! Here's your chance to find out. Tell the truth…it's not as awesome as I thought it'd be. The chair that Ava is sitting in keeps tipping over. Not so much fun when you spill your drink!!! (not naming any names but she's got a name that starts with A and she's wearing all pink…and she's also the one that BEGGED us to take her to this swimming pool)
Ummm….is anybody else enamored with Instagram??? Tell me I'm not the only one!!!
How about we get a massage? We saw a "massage shack" located next to the beach here at the resort. The sign said that you can get an hour long massage for only 400 Baht!!! They even give kids massages! So, why don't you come with us and getting a wonderfully relaxing massage?
Need a potty break??? Check out the cool faucet outside this bathroom located next to the pool!
Hey…remember that stop at the Cashew Factory the other day??? Well, we picked up some cashew fruit juice. Why don't we try it??? Mmmmm….it's pretty darn yummy and tasty! Why don't we see this stuff for sale in the stores back home????
Oh yeah…do you see the shutters in the background??? They open up to the bathroom. That means you can't have a …ummm…private moment while sitting on the potty. I'm not actually sure what the architects or designers were thinking when they designed these rooms. Kind of…weird.
Hey kids! How about a little time at the resort's Kids' Club??? The girls wanted to get braids with beads in their hair. Here's your chance to have it done!!!
Ava posing with beloved Shasta.
Happy Annika with her new tiger t-shirt. Remember that t-shirt shop we had to stop at to get Ava a change of clothes the other day??? This is the t-shirt that Annika chose. I didn't pick out a t-shirt, did you?
Here's the sad news. We went on a short beachcombing expedition. (that's not the sad bit) We didn't bring our cameras or iDevices (that is the sad bit). And OF COURSE when we see some really neat and cool things….
Like a baby elephant and her trainer frolicking in the surf at the beach. That little elephant had so many admirers!!!! (us included) Do elephants like to play in the ocean??? The answer is "YES!!!"
AND…since it was the Thai New Year…..they (ummm…not exactly sure who "they" are) released BABY SEA TURTLES into the ocean!!!! (what do sea turtles have to do with the Thai New Year??? Sounds like a research project!!!) Those little things were a lot of fun watching them wiggle and waddle their way out to the edge of the water. The wave would then pull them into the ocean.
I know, I know…it's a bummer we forgot our cameras!!!! Those were cool, perhaps once in a lifetime, events to witness.
Speaking of Thai New Year…have you seen the hotel workers splash other hotel workers with water??? They're ambushing each other with buckets of water!!! Apparently, getting doused in water is a way to celebrate the New Year here in Thailand. Ha ha ha!!! What a fun tradition!!!
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Are you getting hungry??? It's almost dinner time. Since it's the Thai New Year some of the restaurants in the hotel are closed. Bummer! There's one we really wanted to try (called Ginza….you might recall the name as the cooking class was hosted by it). Anyway, how about we get a recommendation for a place to eat that's not at the resort??? I'm up for a little drive and try something new. How about you???
The concierge made a reservation for us at some restaurant and booked a taxi to come pick us up in ten minutes. Should be interesting!!! No idea where we're going.
Time to hop in the taxi and go! Hey…we just crossed over a pretty big bridge. I wonder if we're now on mainland Thailand??? (yes)
The "restaurant" isn't what we were expecting but I think there was a bit of a snafu- the taxi driver pointed at a big building with open air seating and tables when I *think* we were supposed to go to the closed-in building next door. Whoops.
But hey….check out the fresh fish selection they have here!!!!
Here's the open-air restaurant…
Pull up a chair and join us!!! The girls are having frozen lemonades and us grown-ups are having Thai beer. What do you want???
Lovely sky.
Here's the spread:
a randomly selected fish (with head on) from the fresh catch-of-the-day platter, curry with rice and…of course….pad thai!!! WOWEEE!!! When they say spicy they mean Spicy, with a capital S!!!!
Thanoon Seafood restaurant (big bridge is lit up)….
Ooof. I'm stuffed. I hope you've had enough to eat! Tomorrow is our last *sniff, sniff* day in Phuket. Cheer up!!! We've got one last outing planned and I think it's going to be amazing!!! We're going on a snorkeling tour of the Similan Islands. It's going to take about two-hours to get there (one-hour drive north followed by a one-hour speed boat ride out to the islands). Everything I've heard makes it sound like we're in for a treat tomorrow!!!!
Get some rest and see you tomorrow!!!!!