Bats in Ko Roi Hong

Ko Roi. The entrance to the hong is from the small beach near the center

We went SE from the top of Ko Thalu to Ko Roi. It is an island with a hong, a hole leached through the island from the top to sea level in the inside. These islands are a mixed limestone with some hard spots and soft spots. Often during the leaching process tunnels and passages are created too. Last year up year we went to James Bond Island.

This hong is so big that the bottom is now covered in mangroves and a few trees. Large bats have taken to roosting in the trees. They look similar to the fox bats from Samoa. They don't seem to mind a little light as at noon they are only shaded by the trees above them.

The photos are not very good, but the black spots are the bats hanging from the branches.

The black spots are the bats

More black spots

Greg and Grace in front of exit

Greg in entrance

The back wall inside the hong

Guess who

The Katie Lee over the dinghy

Cruising the Islands Near Phuket

We went to Phuket, to the bay Ao Chalong where we checked into the country. Then bought a few groceries and such. We rented a car to do most of the shopping. Then we left and headed north to the unique limestone islands in Pang Nga Bay. This was the furtherest north we went. Ko Thalu has a natural 'thru-the-mountian' cave. I went through and photographed the boat back from the far side.

Approaching the cave under Ko Thalu

Looking back at Katie Lee and Shanghai

Zoomed in some

Greg and Grace on Shanghai

Trinda has Knee Replacement OP in Penang

While seeing the sites in Penang during Chinese New Year Trinda kept having trouble with her knee. Finally a friend talked her into having it checked. The doc immediately asked for an MRI. It showed the damage she had done back in the 70s in Judo practice was irreversible. So we scheduled a replacement the following Wed, Feb 12,2014.

The morning after the knee replacement

I was supposed to show this long ago. Now 6 weeks later, she is planning to visit the boat Saturday to see if she can manage the ladders.

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!