Phuket Taxi Ride - You Couldn't Guess

We rented a taxi again and went for a little sight seeing. A really large Buddha on top of the mountain here. Yes, again that is our boat in the far distance in the bay. Haha.
Phuket is an island, barely, divided by not much more than a river width from the mainland.

The Big Buddha

Some really neat looking chairs

You ranchers might guess, YES I'm glad elephants don't fly!

Sorry about the pictures. The elephant driver is not in line for the greatest photographer, but he did try. I forgot my camera again. I thought we were only going shopping, but Trinda had other plans.

I remember reading stories about how uncomfortable the gait of an elephant is. I can confirm, after only a 30 minute ride, I was done!

You would never have guessed!

Langkawi Drive

We rented a van and drove all around the island of Langkawi yesterday. First stop was the cable car to the top of a mountain, but it was closed for 2 weeks for the off season yearly maintenance.

Terry and Greg. One of these guys is going the wrong way.

Then we drove to the top of a different mountain where the microwave towers are and had a view. The poor van just made it to the top. It was 'not new' and over heated a little on the way up. 

Sleepy Greg, me, Grace, April and Trinda on the lookout tower.

We had complementary tea that was quite good. It was local tea flavored with black pepper corns and maybe ginseng and mint.

Trinda and April relaxing after the strenuous elevator ride up.

The view was nice.

Looking southeast, The Katie Lee, Shanghai and Paktiya just left of center, in front of Kuah Town and below the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, where the wedding was.

A Wedding in Langkawi

JB and April getting married! Our special friends did it today. April asked if I would stand in to "give the bride away". It was very nice. On the fore-deck of the catamaran Paktiya (Terry) they take their vows as a dozen friends look on.

On the bow of Paktiya, after the vows

Of course it rained a little in between the ceremony and tossing the bouquet and garter!

Giving April away

Greg and Grace. Grace caught the bouquet...

Penang Hill Train Ride

The train up Penang Hill is a funicular train meaning it has two cars balanced on a cable, when one goes up the other comes down. It is a 51% slope and made the 2,000 feet in just a few minutes with 100 people in our car.

Greg and Grace at the top.

There is a Hindu temple and a Masque at the top.

You can just see the Katie Lee center frame with a little imagination.

A closer view of Katie Lee from the ferry to Butterworth yesterday.

Before

After

Oh yeah, and as we were walking almost to the top, there was a snake charmer. That really is a king cobra she is kissing!

Ole Georgetown on Penang, Malaysia

We took a walk around Old Georgetown here on Penang. Some of the sights are below. A sign on a busy street saying "no street food vendor carts. Hahaha!

Then there was this confused prickly-pear and ocatilla. Don't know if it is an oriental one or just too close to the equator.

Trinda found a hat that doubles as a paper fan.

And Grace is ready to defend us against the pirates at the old Fort Cornwallis.

Our last trip to Singapore included lunch again.

Ahh... but not this lunch! We ate Indian food across the street from this!   They also had "Pig's Organ Soup" and Trotter stew (pig's feet).

Trinda is fascinated with the toilets here...that's her foot for scale. She calls it a 'squatter'.

Singapore across the strait, from the top of my mast in Danga Bay Marina.

Looking north from Dang Bay

Our second trip to Singapore included lunch in Old China Town with Greg and Grace.

A temple at the end of China street. Trinda, Greg and Grace lower right.

It is way over time for an update here! So I'll try. Some of these were posted on FB, but here again. At the Sunday market in Kuching I saw the bananas. Mostly in this part of the world we do NOT se "Chiquita Bananas" but smaller. These beauties are the largest I have seen.

Sunday market - Kuching, Malaysia (Borneo)

Before we left Kuching, we went to the 'Cultral Village'.

Our first visit to Singapore included a visit to the top of the Sands Hotel. Three buildings with a 'boat' on top.

Top of the Sands Hotel, Singapore with really large ferris wheel in the back.

The infinity pool on top

Part of the new botanical gardens park and part of Singapore Strait.