As we had been to Phuket a year or so ago, we opted to take a hiking tour into one of the National Parks and one of the last remaining true tropical rainforest areas left in Thailand. Along the way two things were very apparent. Firstly, that Phuket is a much richer part of the country than Cochin is in India. Yes, there are lots of stalls and markets and cafes and workshops along the route, but there is very little rubbish and litter. Also, there are some very nice houses and even some small housing estates that would not look out of place in leafy English suburbia.
Secondly, that there are signs of mourning for the recently deceased King everywhere. All flags were being flown at half mast, there were black ribbons adorning buildings and many locals were also wearing a small black ribbon on their arms as a sign of respect. (I had to look twice because the one our tour guide was wearing looked like a black spider crawling up his arm).
The excursion had been billed as "strenuous and off the beaten path". Well, it was more like down the lane and along the track that leads from off the beaten path. After an hour on the road passing rubber plantations and vast fields of pineapples, we reached our destination and then splitting into two small groups, we set off on the trail accompanied by two local guides. Now, I am not against adventure, but this hike soon turned out to be foolhardy at best, and downright reckless at worst. The trail followed the course of a series of waterfalls which meant that we had to scramble over smooth, slippery rocks, thick mud, streams, and rotting foliage and across stepping stones and fallen trees with very little to hold on to by way of balance, all whilst one of the guides carved a path through the jungle with his machete. Yes, we really felt like explorers and the trees, ferns, vines, bamboo, and all the other exotic plants were fascinating, but how the group made it back with no broken bones and nothing more than soaked shoes and muddied trousers I will never know. For the two of us, reasonably agile 50 somethings, it was difficult enough, but for the more sprightly 70 somethings, it was extremely dangerous. Bear Grills would have been proud of us.
Unfortunately, there was no real wildlife to speak of other than the inevitable ants and termites, some rather fascinatingly disgusting worms, butterflies the size of small birds and spiders the size of dinner plates. Well, perhaps side plates then..... but definitely big.
The slow going negotiating the trail meant that for the second time in two ports we were late back for departure time. This also meant that for the second time we incurred the wrath of Third Officer Susan, the ship's security officer who rules shoreside operations with a rod of iron. But at least it wasn't our fault and the ship waited for us.
So now we are heading down the Straits of Malacca towards Singapore where we shall dock tomorrow. We had a tremendous thunderstorm last night and as I write, the skies are becoming ominously black....but that is just part of the daily process in this part of the world. We will remember to take our umbrellas ashore in the morning!
As for the sweet taste of victory...well, we finally won a round of trivia! This was a specialist round based on nautical knowledge and Claire and I as a team of two (or three if you include Lady Luck), came first, winning a bottle of sparkling wine for our efforts. Much more useful than a pen or a lanyard!
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