A Little Glimpse of ...

Driving here is interesting...   At the traffic lights you see all sorts of things.

We went and visited the Big Buddha, still under construction.
It is 45 meters high and 25 meters across at the base

with these small brass ones around the base.

This is our little car.  Note above it the power/internet lines.

These photos are of our
home ...


We have a spare room if
anyone is interested!

Change of Course...

This is something we will have to get used to... heading off on our beautiful boat, somethings plans will change and there will need to be a change of course.

Well, this was a rather unexpected one.  Our 14 week sailing course has come to an abrupt end.  I have been struggling with my eyes.  Unfortunately my long distance vision is shocking.  I am struggling to see and the strain on my eyes has been quite painful.  My eye specialist has assured me that he will re-laser and fix it on our return to NZ.  I couldn't distinguish buoys, boats, land-marks and by the end of a day on the water my eyes were very sore.  We discussed Richard continuing, however, this is a journey we are on together and the course is such a major part of it, we have found that we can do the course in South Africa - that is what we will do.

The new course - Richard starts his dive courses on Tuesday.  Though having dived for more than 30 years, he has not furthered his education.  The Dive Courses were something we both wanted to do once we had "Our Rose", so our present little change of events has enabled this to be brought forward for him.  He will be doing Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Deep Diver, Nitrox, Digital Underwater Photography, Dive Master, then hopefully Instructor.

Richards Birthday...

Yesterday was Richards birthday - we were supposed to be sailing, but no wind... so we had a day of theory on Charts.  I had organised a surprise night away, so we went to the Cape Panwa Resort for the night with dinner in the Cape Panwa Homestead

 - all the staff came out singing Happy Birthday with a cake for Richard!

Today I took him to get his birthday present - a Harmonica is his chosen instrument - its small enough to learn on the boat - then I had organised (again as a surprise) a full afternoon cooking course at The Blue Elephant.  We were so very lucky - the Chef who usually does the classes was away, so we had the Head Chef Of Blue Elephant and just the two of us - we cooked Kaeng Phed Ped Yaang (Red Curry with Roast Duck), Plaa Phaow Samoon Prai (Grilled Fish with Herbs), Nan Jim Plaa Phaow Samoonprai (Chilli Sauce for Grilled Fish), Laab Kai (Spicy Chicken Salad), Tom Klong Koong (Spicy & Sour Prawn Soup) and Kao Niew Ma Muang (Mango and Sweet Coconut Sticky Rice).

Back to school again in the morning - hopefully with enough wind to sail!

Busy Week - STCW95 and Boat Decisions...

STCW95 - our course content this week - PSSR, Sea Survival, Primary & Secondary Response/First Aid, and Fire Fighting.

In the background the others on the STCW 95 with us this week and the Phuket Fire Station.

What an interesting group of people and professions -  Australians, Canadian, Egyptian, Estonian, Danish, Korean, Italian, Russian, Thai.  The Professions so varied - Captain, Chefs, Head Stew, Underwater Diver, Maritime Security, Diesel Mechanic...

Our boat decisions this week, after a lot of research - many emails to Rudi we have decided on... 2 x 40hp Yanmar Engines, a 5kw Northern Lights Generator and a 154lt per hour Spectra Water Maker!  (We love our water and don't ever want to run out!)  BIG Decision week!

Pricing...

I had a one hour cucumber and honey facial AND a one hour Moisturising Thai Body Massage
Richard had a one hour Foot Reflexology and a one hour Thai Massage
Total Price for the four hours treatments - $60 NZD Total

Dinner
Tom Yum Goong (A "huge" bowl of spicy fragrant lemongrass, galangal, ginger seafood soup (with lots of seafood in it)
Pork Oyster Sauce
Rice
2 x 500ml beers
Total Price $16 NZD

First Day At School...

There are three of us doing the 14 week course.

Mike (owner of Sail In Asia) covered the course syllabus with us today...

The first 6 weeks we will be doing 500 miles on the water and covering all the theory and practical required to Bareboat Skipper.

We then go on a 5 week sea journey, where we will cover 2500 miles by the time we return.  Our 5 week journey will take us from Phuket to, Butang, Penang, Singapore, Kuching, Brunei and Kota Kinaballu, then back.  The boat we will be doing this on is actually a racing boat.  She goes very fast, there are no luxuries on-board (except there is a toilet!) but it has the necessary things for an ocean passage.  She has recently had brand new rod rigging, a new engine and has powerful electronics.

What an exciting journey we are on!