17th March

We arrived off Phuket at sunrise, always a good time for such a maneuver in this port.  It has a buoyed channel which takes one to the dock, however the turning area off the dock is silted up.  Consequently this results in having to turn south of the channel and then backing in astern to the dock. 

An overview of the Gulf of Thailand; our route towards Phuket, (green) on the peninsular.

An overview of the Gulf of Thailand; our route towards Phuket, (green) on the peninsular.

Our 'wheelie' turn at the southern end of the buoyed channel

Our ‘wheelie’ turn at the southern end of the buoyed channel

...and our track up the channel to the dock

…and our track up the channel to the dock

 

Looking back down channel towards the open sea.

Looking back down channel towards the open sea.

On the dock, the inevitable market

On the dock, the inevitable market

On our port side, vessels at anchor

On our port side, vessels at anchor

...including this beautiful private yacht

…including this beautiful private yacht

The view over to port

The view over to port

..and the hotel resort, (where K1 and K2 spent their day

..and the hotel resort, (where K1 and K2 spent their day

Work beckoned and I spent my day on board, however K1 and K2 took a quick taxi-ride to the Radisson Blu resort, where, for $15, they obtained a day-pass and spent the day lazing by the pool.  Phuket itself does not appeal to us; it’s a ‘bun-fight’ there, constantly bothered by locals and not at all my cup-of-tea.  I rely on Karen’s camera for the photos today.

The Amsterdam on her berth, from the resort

The Amsterdam on her berth, from the resort

The channel down which we passed.

The channel down which we passed.

Looks tempting?

Looks tempting?

K2

K2

...and K1

…and K1

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The market, taken by K1 before she mounted her assault

The market, taken by K1 before she mounted her assault

..and one taken by me, ha! Caught her by surprise :-)

..and one taken by me, ha! Caught her by surprise 🙂

Some children passing the time while Mum or Dad looked after the stall

Some children passing the time while Mum or Dad looked after the stall

I shouldn’t be too hard on K1 though, she was thinking of me when she went into the market and came back with 4 lovely Thai silk shirts, $10 each!!