Our last day at the beach was peaceful. We stayed at the deluxe (spider-free) side of the Eco camp, and found our land legs. During our morning walk sans cameras, we watched an elephant bathe and I secretly marveled at how an enormous animal (granted in a distance) delighted me while smaller ones inspired fear. We had a last seafood lunch while watching fishermen, and then were Bangkok-bound. I made T look up the lyrics to One Night in Bangkok and started singing it, and couldn’t put that genie back in the bottle. Cliche of me, I know. In Bangkok, we met T’s college buddy and were fortunate enough to stay with them. We’d sadly missed their wedding, but maybe it was all for the best as we now get to spend a few days with them!

The sky was a beautiful blue, the water super turquoise, and we were green. We had breakfast on our live-aboard snorkeling boat, which ended with our guide passing around a Dramamine, even taking one himself to emphasize this was a good idea. We went along, but an hour later wondered if we’d received placebos or expired pills. Though the crossing to the Similan Islands left an impression, the islands themselves were more remarkable. We saw moray eels, cuttlefish, sea stars, a flirtatious sea turtle or two, barracuda, needlefish, parrotfish, angelfish and many colorful more. I missed my parents who are snorkeling aficionados, and when I tried to take pics for them I nearly killed my iPhone. Seems waterproof cases require more careful closing than what my excited state allowed. Our boat held 17 passengers and 5 crew. Had my father seen our sleeping berths, he would have said “like hell!” and swam to the luxury yacht at the next mooring. But he might have liked chatting with the four Swedish grandparents there with their children …

While we had admired many a BBQ lobster at local restaurants, we weren’t looking to become ones ourselves. So we sought the beach and shade, and found heaven at a little restaurant/bar which seemingly does less daytime business. In other words, we had a near private shaded cabana, beers and private swimming at the Andaman sea. No German tourists nor clouds in sight, and no complaints from us. With a few lunch options in mind, we ended up with late lunch at a yummy spot featuring cuisine from Northeast Thailand. This has made us excited well in advance for Laos, as it was delicious. A knowing waitress advised us on two rather than three peppers, and suggested the other dish may be more salty than we were accustomed to having. Though T was thoroughly pleased with his meal, he found a second stomach when he saw the market setting up. The Saturday market is for locals and foreigners, and sells prepared foods, fruits, clothes, spices and probably much more. “Let’s just look,” I heard, and …

A SIM card, a seafood dish and a humid summery night marked our arrival in Phuket. The next morning started with a swim and a second forray to street restaurants. We’ll have what they are having, we told ma, plus an omelet to be safe.  A stroll around the area revealed coffee shops, construction of a fancy charter flights terminal, and a vendor driving with literally a pig’s face on offer. We were suppose to be off to a remote island, but we read it might rain and read a review of a fellow traveller having to wade with their bag through the mangroves; suddenly we were rebooked to Khao Lak whose past weather made it famous as the tsunami survival town. Turns out Thais drive on the left, which I associate with having been colonized. But this kingdom has its own ways, its own king and his picture around to prove it.  We arrived in the middle of the three Khao Lak towns to a lovely auntie with a warm manner to match the …