Setting Sail

May 9

We’ve been lucky: it hasn’t rained (so far) – allowing us some wonderful pre-sail explorations of Thailand.

We’ve gone elephant riding, taken Thai cooking classes, enjoyed traditional massages where the petite women customarily jump on the table to twist and thump your body into a vegetative state; shopped, walked, lounged by the pool, done morning water aerobics and 12-ounce curls* in the afternoon (* beer drinking), and last night: took in an extravagant Ladyboy cabaret in Palong Beach – where young men dressed as woman (who look better than I ever have or will) (in costumes that would make Liza Minelli jealous) dance, prance, sing and sashay to pop tunes and traditional Asian music alike, after our gourmet dinner at Mom’s Tri Regatta restaurant, where we doubled up our happy hour drinks and enjoyed the posh surroundings of the Royal Phuket Marina, beneath a spectacular heat lightning show (‘In Vietnam,’ explained Holly, when worries of potential rain and thunder arose). (Yes this is a tremendous run-on sentence however it gives you an impression of the non-stop, can-you-catch-your-breath? excitement our gals have experienced since we arrived!)

The hotel (Supalai Resort in Ao Po) has treated us like queens (or, I should say more clearly: ‘royalty’) shuttling us around in the air conditioned van, while we gape and point out the windows at the temples and scenery; so everyone is healthy, safe, well-hydrated and happy.

But today is Mother’s Day and our adventure takes a turn. Around noon we’ll board our yacht (we haven’t nicknamed her yet) and set off for our first anchorage. A few of us sat around the table a couple days ago with Captain Morgan (great name for the head of a yacht charter co. isn’t it?) going over charts and perusing our many options for anchorages. We have the lush scenic islands and karsts of the north bay, sandy beaches with monkeys and giant lizards to the south, and several coral reefs to snorkel and explore along in between. I imagine we’ll do some of each: in typical character of our women who want to do it all!

Our internet access now is about to become nil though (until perhaps, when we get to Phi Phi – pronounced ‘pee pee’) so fear not! We’ll send our SPOT messages out regularly and email/post whenever we can.

Happy Mother’s Day to you all! Over & out - Betsy