 click for larger image |
Roughing it - in style!
Local transport involves perching on top of a pile of rice sacks in the back of a pickup truck. En route to the Thai border, we paid extra for the relative comfort of seats in the cab, looking back at the locals bouncing around stoically over the pot-holed roads - we must be getting old! |
|
Cheryl's first day at school
Ever the teachers pet, Cheryl can barely contain her excitement as she heads off on the bus to diving school on Phuket Island. Poor Magnus had to suffer as her teacher banged on afterwards about how she was the 'perfect' student - bleagh! |
 click for larger image |
 click for larger image |
You should be certified!
3 days later our tutors Axel and Peter present us with our PADI Open Water Certificates (always one step ahead, Magnus did the Advanced course!). In the process we saw harmless leopard sharks, deadly stone fish and swam through the car deck of a ferry wreck. |
|
Spot the lunatic
With fellow divers - Ludmila and Andy - we prepare for the final dive of our 2 day liveaboard at the famous Similan Islands with divemaster Matt (smiling strangely in the background). Over-excited by spotting a giant manta ray, Matt abandoned the dive group and raced off after the manta into the blue beyond. Without a dive computer between us, we improvised our safety stop and crossed our fingers that we would avoid decompression sickness as we surfaced. |
 click for larger image |
 click for larger image |
The Barry White of the waves
Clearly suffering from a mild case of nitrogen narcosis ('the drunkenness of the deep'), Magnus poses R&B style in the mistaken belief that he has a bevvy of beauties on each arm. Erm, they're air canisters, Magnus! |
|
SHAAAAAAAAAAAAARK!
The Andaman Coast teems with sharks. Fortunately most (like this leopard shark) are harmless. This little beauty is catching 40 winks on the sea bed. |
 click for larger image |
 click for larger image |
Aliens of the deep - the giant manta ray
Mantas seem like a cross between the American stealth fighter and some bizarre sci-fi alien. This beast was 5-6 metres across but glided through the water with incredible grace. Fortunately mantas live on plankton and appear totally uninterested in groups of little scuba people staring bug-eyed at them. |
|
Seasonal shenanigans at the Shangri La
After cramming in 7 dives in 2 days followed by an overnight bus to Bangkok we were ready for some serious pampering. Thanks to our office buddies at Razorfish, we had a leaving present of 2 nights in the 5 star Shangri La hotel (a significant upgrade from our usual accommodation). We checked in with our dusty backpacks to impeccable service, a gorgeous pool and a scenic view of the river to boot. |
 click for larger image |
 click for larger image |
Santa found us!
Despite our concerns (no chimney in our room, no cookies and milk left for Rudolf & co) Santa decided we'd been good this year and our stockings were filled with pressies - yippee! We acclimatised to Christmas away from home with a flurry of presents, a fantastic breakfast at the hotel and then purged any remaining homesickness with a dip in the outdoor pool! Merry Christmas one and all (and thanks to Kitty for reaching us with a Christmas card)! |
|
Christmas dinner - It's all Greek to us
With Doug & Sarah - fresh off a flight from Scotland - we went in search of a traditional Christmas dinner and found a place advertising 'a 5 course meal based on turkey with stuffing'. Very tasty it was too but there was not a drop of cranberry sauce, a solitary brussel sprout or a jug of gravy in sight. Then again, what do you expect looking for Christmas fare at a Greek restaurant in Thailand?! |
 click for larger image |
 click for larger image |
The Ladyboys of Bangkok
The Patpong district of Bangkok is renowned for its ladyboy sex shows. After reviewing the menu-style programme of events we decided that the show might put us off our dinner. Here Doug smiles through his bitter tears of disappointment! |
|
What's bugging you?
Po and Marijke display an insatiable appetite for deep-fried bugs munching grasshoppers, beetles and maggot-like larvae with frightening enthusiasm. Po's verdict: "A nice little snack if served with a side order of a steak, 3 cheeseburgers, 2 orders of fries and a whole roast chicken." |
 click for larger image |
| - see more pictures from this section |
| - go to next section : Thailand - New Year 2003 |
| - go to previous section : Cambodia |