Bangkok: 27^th and 28^th February; Phuket: 7^th March, 2023

Big win: Our ship, low draft, just small enough to dock at Klong Toey on Chao Phraya – river of kings, inside Bangkok. Otherwise, would have had to be “Bangkok Cruise Port”, Laem Chabang, about two hours south of Bangkok.

Thailand, “Land of the Free”. Population 72 million. Never dominated by a foreign power – rare in Asia. But: Curtailed free speech; Torture not criminalised.  Still, it’s also the Land of Smiles and friendly people!

Major rice exporter. Balancing five Thai cuisine flavours in a meal: Sweet, Salty, Sour, Bitter, Spicy. Value of King’s role in protecting the people, 90% practicing Buddhists – but open to all religions. What makes a person honourable? Becoming a Monk! Often as possible – even 3 months at a time. Brings the family honour. The head is sacred, feet dirty, so remove shoes when visiting a Wat (Temple).

Fascinating:

Walking through frenetic flower market, purchased for devotions to gods. Crowded vegetable market – with abundant chillies!

Viewing and visiting sites via water taxi – beautiful Wats, fish jumping for bread thrown in water. Royal Barge Museum: astounding designs: intricately carved, goldleaf painted. Many traditionally dressed people at Temple of Dawn, which we later determined, people hire for Instagram photographs of themselves!

We travelled the efficient, punctual, fast, clean Sky Train and “flew” above Bangkok’s substantial traffic problems below.

Wonderful exploring river canals – houses on banks each with Buddhist temple to bring good luck. Spicy, tasty fresh soup purchased from floating market. Impossibly crowded Maeklong Railway Market.

Then, after Singapore and Malaysia, Phuket: synonymous with 2004 tragic tsunami. By bus through bustling city, across countryside. Then boat to uninhabited island with swimming in crystal clear blue sea. Large lagoons, cleaner, more beautiful than Halong Bay. Viewing James Bond Island! By canoes to incredible caves. Headlights on through dark sections. Narrow passages through small gaps in rock… Sumptuous Thai lunch.

Do Countries visited blend into each other? A case of Et cetera, Et cetera, Et cetera*?  No!  Thailand distinctively different; magnificent! Thrilled with our first-time visit, as we set sail for Chennai, India.

* “Et cetera, Et cetera, Et cetera” Was immortalised by Yul Brynner in the 1956 film: King and I, portraying the King of Siam – now Thailand.