How many times can you say you walked under a tanker? Once, if you're me. The vessel's currently in drydock, so I took the once in a lifetime opportunity to walk under the ship. I had to stoop, because I am a little taller than the blocks she's resting on. 

Today I did a safety round with my new Tamil friends, Chandramoorthi and Aziz. They are teaching me some Tamil phrases, and so far, no one has freaked out when I have used them, so I think I am legitimately saying hello, thank you, you're welcome, etc.....

I know I said I wouldn't post work-related things here, but this was just too weird for words. On the vessel today, a small clump of bees showed up on board. They grew all day, and were just hanging around some piping....not flying around or buzzing, but hanging there in a cluster. The most odd thing about this is there is so much work going on in the area around where the bees set up shop...lots of noise, wind, vibration....maybe they think the vessel is a giant queen bee?? 

This is ALL BACKWARDS!!

Ok, I know that when photos are posted one at a time as this program and associated photo editor force you to do should not be that hard. Problem is I start posting in a chronological order, according to the trip...first New Zealand, then Thailand. This is how I go through remembering the details and locations of the images. It takes a bit of time.

In order for me to do that so that it makes chronological sense to the reader, I would have to jot it all down, and post it in reverse, because the latest post always appears at top. But, as much as I like you all, I just can't be bothered to do that....I am tired, sunburnt, a little sleep deprived, and I just don't feel like resorting everything I have posted. So, if you'll bear with me, this series of posts is all backward. If you start with the New Zealand, 2005 posting, about half way down the page, and work up, you'll get the order as I plugged it in. It is certainly not necessary.

In the meantime, I will look to find if there is a way to reverse the posting for more chronological continuity, or maybe even think about how I post things in the future. Enjoy~!

This is leaving Phi Phi. 

Arriving on Phi Phi. 

Arriving on Koh Phi Phi for a few days' R&R. 

Tall shot of Phi Phi's harbor. 

The beach. There is nothing better than walking along this with Jack Johnson playing on the mp3 player, peeling off your clothes when you get to hot, and running in for a swim or snorkel. 

Limestone karst, made famous as backdrop for settings in Goldfinger. Not this spot, but one just like it.... 

The NE harbor is too shallow for boats...you can walk out to that limestone karst. 

The northwest side of Phi Phi on arrival. 

Typical thai fishing boat. 

Tsunami effects. The locals who were displaced afterward were allowed to live free in the upper levels of this once luxurious hotel resort. I have to wonder about the structural soundness of that...but necessity probably outweighs safety in that regard. 

Tsunami effects and main dump site.