Flowers, Birds, and Animals

Heather w/ water lily pond - hotel in Chiang Mai

Hornbills on Coral Island.  They mate for life.  Are the size of large crows.  They came through the resort once or twice a day in a flock of about 20 at a time.  Have a very loud and distinct call.

Hermit Crab on the path to Bungalow, Coral Island.

Hermit Crab, Coral island.

Outside door to room at hotel in Patong, Phuket

Hermit Crab on the beach, Coral island.

Georgeous flowers on a bush beside our bungalow, Coral island.

Magnificent tree across the Ping river from our hotel in Chiang Mai.  Early spring, so no leaves yet.  Enourmous canopy.

Strawberries in the 'Flower' market Chiang Mai.

Flower market stalls, Chiang Mai.

Orchid at Flower market, Chiang Mai.

Don't know what these are.  Look like oddly shaped oranges on branches.  Edible ?  We saw them used as decorations elswere.  And growing up in hills outside of town where we went zip-lining.

Lizard on hotel wall, Chiang Mai.  About the size of a Gecko.  They would come out at dusk each evening.  Very fast.  Startled us often as we walked in the halls of the hotel after dark.

Gifts for wedding on porch of Opal's neighbour's house.

Flowers at the evening reception

Arrangement on brekfast table, hotel in Chiang mai.

Water lilies at hotel in Chiang Mai

Coconut tree.  Red and green 'berries' are actually very young coconuts.

Hibiscus in water jug at bungalow on Coral Island.  Jug is on veranda to rinse the sand from your feet before you go inside.

Bush in resort on Coral Island

Behind our bungalow on Coral Island

More Island photos

Sunrise on Coral Island (Ko Hi), low tide

Sunset looking towards Phuket

Breakfast and Lunch dining area w/ 'Lobby' in the background

The beach looking east

Island resort beach chairs

Chalong marina on Phuket with storm coming in across the sea

View from our Bungalow veranda facing north towards Ko Lone

Beach around the corner from the resort - great reef for snorkelling

Two Long Boats anchored off the beach

Heather posing for the swim suit calendar

View from Bungalow

Coral Island - with day-trip boats anchorred on the beach

Golf Chiang Mai and Phuket

 

The whole gang on the first tee.  Jonathon Thain, Linn Thain, J. Massie, Mike Ackland, Jamie Chilcott, and KenTremblay.  Chiang Mai Highlands g.c.


Mike A.  tee #2





Mike 'plays in the shade all day', even if it is 8:30am.

Round 2, 1st tee.  Mike A.

Mike w/ his two caddies, Emm (l), and Gaan (r).

Linn T.  1st tee

Jonathan T.

Linn T. and Jonathan T. out for a walk on a hot day.



Phuket Golf club.  #10 tee.  Fairway follows far side of lake (l - r)



Mike A. with his two caddies.  Phuket g.c.

Jamie C. on the tee.

Mike A. and his two ladies at Phuket g.c.

Jamie C. taking the safe, advisable route on #10.

Mike A. taking a more risky line on #10.

Mike A.'s safe landing spot (except for the swan) on par 5, #10 - missed the chip for an albotross, made the eagle putt.

Jamie C. on deck as Mike A. tees off, #11.

Golf in Thailand truly is a unique experience.  Simply because of the difference it makes having Caddies.  All I was responsible for was swinging the club.  These Ladies did everything else.  From hauling the clubs, giving yardages, helping with club selection, fixing divots and ball marks, and even providing the line for putts.  They were cheerleaders whether you hit a good shot or not.  If only this level of service could be transported to the courses back home.  Of course if it was it'd probably cost a lot more than $20 we gladly paid here.

  In Chiang Mai we played at Highlands.  One of the top rated courses in all of Asia.  Very nice.  Conditions were ideal.  It's easy to see their attention to detail and cleanliness on the course.  The Caddies don't replace divots.  The fill them in with seed, and pick up the turf to place in the garbage.  The same for any trash (rare), or cigarette butts they encounterred.  I don't think I've ever putted on truer, or more consistent greens.  The scenery was beautiful, surrounded by the hills east of the city.

  On Phuket we played the Phuket Golf club, located just east over the hills from where we were staying in Patong.  Again a very nice course.  Much 'tighter' than Highland was up north.