Thailand and Sri Lanka

Leaving Malaysia we sailed on Northwards to Langkawi and several smaller islands to Thailand. The dominant features in this part of the world are the ‘hongs’. Magnificent limestone islands which rise straight out of the sea in all shapes and sizes with overhangs and caves

The water is deep right up to the hongs and it is possible to sail through these huge rock outcrops in flat water, unlike anything we have seen before

Some of the hongs have caves, which go through the rock and sometimes come out in hidden ’chimneys’ within the island itself. The water running down the walls inside the caves can produce some extraordinary colours and effects

The dancing in Thailand was different to anything we had seen before and here on the edge of a pool with the sun setting behind them we were given a beautiful display.

The dancing involves traditional hand movements performed by beautifully made up girls, and their hands and nails are painted to emphasise the drama.

Several of the hongs have featured in films, the James Bond Island is well known and here we visited Phi phi Lee, the location for ‘The Beach’

The day after New Year we set off across our last ‘ocean’ en route to Sri Lanka. We were greeted and made welcome near Galle and once again the dancers were performing for us.

We made a tour of the South of the island (sadly the North is still in a state of civil war) and visited a nature reserve where we saw native elephants in the wild. Quite different to the ones we have seen in Africa in the past

We were transported in open toped four-wheel drive vehicles across tracks in the reserve, which were, at times, quite exciting

After the game reserve we were on to the high country where the main industry is tea

The landscape was breathtaking and every turn in the road produced magnificent views

We were treated to displays of dancing and fire eating and here, fire walking on embers that were so hot that the heat was uncomfortable on ones face taking the picture 20 feet away

Finally to an elephant orphanage where among the many elephants was this four-day-old calf, disproving the theory that all baby creatures are more cuddly and attractive than their adult version!

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