The Giant Buddha and the Seaside

Hello. There is a huge hilltop statue of Buddha that is visible from the entire south of the island of Phuket. It is made of marble tiles and appears to float over the trees that cover the islands hills. On Wednesday we went to see it. The base of it is unfinished and ultimately it will have sweeping steps leading up to it. At the moment there is a back stairway. The views from the top are magnificent even on a greyish day such as the day we visited. The Buddha himself glints in the light close to and is dizzying to look at. All around it are prayer bells and wheels and golden Buddha statues and statues of monks. There is a temple below and even with the tourists it feels very peaceful.

In less cultural news we spent a few days at the beach. We visited Kata and Karon which were hideously busy and a few seconds away held the same hideous tourist meccas of Patong. But the sea was crystal clear and the views outwards around the bay beautiful. Today we went to Nai Harn which is my favourite in Phuket. It has quite feisty waves but they are clear blue and then pristine white. The bay is small and there are several small islands visible. Pine trees line the beach and the few restaurants there are under umbrellas amongst the trees. However on Christmas eve it was well populated especially compared to the last time I visited in November. It was a lovely day but I understand now why everyone in Bang Niang was so worried by the lack of tourists. Often there were only five of us stretched out on that beach. I was spoilt!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Love Jo xxx