Another Sort Of Early Start,

we parked outside the TukCom Centre,

 but our first port of call was a few streets away,

 we were making our way to Soi Bukaow,

 the tethered Ripley's Believe It Or Not balloon, over the sky in the distance,

 we had come to the market not only to look around, but Steve also wanted to buy a wallet,

 but whilst there he also decided to buy a belt,

 the choice was almost endless,

 meanwhile I made a move to the plant section to have a look around,

I did in fact buy another air plant, a Tillandsia, it is a genus of around 540 species of evergreen, perennial flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, native to the forests, mountains and deserts of Central and South America, the southern United States and the West Indies, we bought some last year and attached them to some pieces of driftwood, to say most failed would be an understatement, but I will try again,

 in buying a belt Steve saw some even better ones, at 100 baht it was too good to miss, next to the TukCom Centre,

 where I bought a couple of plug adaptors from Big Tiger,  

Steve then bought a couple of speakers for his phone from Galaxy Phone, plus a mains to USB charger, 

 we then meet back up with the girls for a coffee on a cafe on Pattaya Tai,

 I was already coffeed up as I had already drank 5 or so already so a beer for me,

 whilst there a second group of school children came past on their way out to a school trip, so many happy faces,

 we then made a move for home, walking past the TukCom centre shrine,

but on the way I noticed this sign, the Green Shark Karaoke Pub, nothing wrong with the sign, I just wondered why the shark in the sign was painted blue,

 after a coffee or two we were on our way again,

 to the night market on Thepprisitt Road, just slight cloud looking inland, the previous picture looking towards Jomtien,

 Steve stopped to have a look at some of the fish on display,

 opposite the bar this evening the Ford Motor Company was exhibiting a couple of their vehicles for sale,

 there were quite a few people in the food aisles,

 but not quite so many looking in the pet section,

 again we stopped to look at one of the tropical fish shops, but unfortunately they have nowhere near the selection of fish that they do in Bangkok,

 sunset over the market,

 while sitting at the bar some clouds came rolling in so once again I guess no stargazing this evening,

 there was quite a crowd of us at the bar tonight, in the background Brian, Steve, and myself, in the foreground Mr Tony, Kai and Noi,

 and of course as Diana took the photo we had to have a picture of Diana along with Noi and Kai,

 then a surprise as Craig and his son Adam called in to say hello,

 rather than cooking at home this evening we decided to call in to the punch and Judy,

 and who was there? None other than Steve,

 and of course little Laura,

 Diana decided on a Gammon steak,

the rest of us went for the Friday night fish and chips special and one or two other dishes, 'Cheers!', from all of us, we then made a move home, there it was feet up and we watched some television until it was time to say goodbye to Mr Tony and then we were all off to bed.

We Were Up Early,

as we were going to the coral island,

 so off we went, first a quick picture on the jetty,  

 if you want to travel to the island a ferry like this one will take you, the trip takes about one hour and costs 30 baht each way,

 Kai and Diana settle into the trip,

 as we leave harbor,

 a reminder that things can go wrong at sea,

 the new marina is taking shape, I guess anytime now it will be open,

 we meet a couple of boats heading in to Pattaya on the way out,

 the first one a small fishing boat this one just a touch larger,

 there are faster ways to travel to the island, speedboats can cut the journey time to just 20 minuets, but cost 300 baht each way,

 one of the ferry's parked near the island,

 another speedboat flies past,

 although there was not much wind the crossing was a bit lively, I think that the girls were happy that the crossing was nearly over,

 happily no such worries for Steve and myself,

 before we docked a long tail boat pulled up alongside,

 and took a number of people ashore,

 next a jet ski came out to give us a look over,

 and then we were on terra firma, 

 as you walk off the jetty there is a small beach to the right,

 which looks quiet nice, but we prefer the large beach on the other side of the headland,

 but if you do decided on the smaller beach this is the walkway to it,

 walking on the beach we go to you pass lots of food venders,

 plus a few souvenir shops,

 back to food, bar-b-qued chicken from this one,

 and naturally lots of seafood on offer,

 Steve and Kai getting settled,

 taking the 08.00 ferry we were pretty much the first visitors that day to the island,

 so the choice of where to sit was a difficult one,

 at the front,

 or at the back?

 after a coffee the food arrived,

 and there was lots of it, so eyes down and tuck in!

 all washed down with a beer or two,

 we then had a visitor,

 one of the local cats that lives on the beach,

 turned it's charm on Diana,

 who then fed it some left over chicken,

 all to soon the day just drifted past,

 and it was time to leave,

 but even when we left the beach was not that crowded,

 and our boat was in,

 as we stated our journey one of the many speed boats past us by,

 on the way home we decided to call into one of the markets, we needed some potatoes,

 and Steve wanted to buy a durian,

 now here is a tip,

 if ever you get into a fruit fight chose a durian, the spines on them are wickedly sharp,

 Steve just loves them, I am afraid I do not, having tried them 3 times I now leave them alone,

 getting into the fruit is a fight in itself,

 after cutting the top and bottom off of the fruit,

 it is time to put the glove on,

 and not just any glove,

 it is made of thick leather,

 then  the delicate part of removing the fruit itself,

and here it is for Steve and the girls to eat later tonight, this is the first part of today's post, as there are so many pictures I have split it into two, so just scroll down or hit the 'older pots' button if you are at the bottom of the page.