50 something on her travels

We've stayed in a few lovely small hotels and guesthouses in Thailand.  Many of these places offer a complimentary buffet breakfast which is a nice touch. But the majority of the time they are inedible due to the temperature.  Take where we are staying now. Breakfast is from 7-10. Even if you get down there at 7am the food is lukewarm.  Cooked Thai food sits in silver trays with lids and a heater underneath. The heater is barely on, if switched on at all. Staff don't proactively replace or add hotter food. They open the lid, give it a stir and move on.  The Thai tourists seem to eat it even if stone cold, so I assume it's the norm and not an issue. At my current hotel, the western tourists have taken to bringing their own food to the breakfast room.  We only go in there now for a coffee and fruit, before walking across the road to get a freshly cooked fried rice for £1 each. Much tastier. 

I saw these large beans in a restaurant last night. Google Lens tells me they are called Petai beans They are also known as "stink beans". Why? Because they have a strong, pungent smell that some people compare to sulfur or garlic. I'm not sure I really want to try them! 

Highly recommended sea shoes to avoid stepping on jellyfish or other sharp objects. I think I picked up for a fiver on Amazon. 

This morning I had my photo taken in front of a lovely spirit house outside our hotel.   Spirit houses are small, ornate shrines places on a pillar outside homes, businesses and public buildings.  The houses prevent spirits from causing trouble, and instead encourage them to guard the property. You'll see daily offerings of food, water, garlands, fruits, and drinks (often red Fanta) placed there to keep the spirits satisfied. The spirit houses vary in size and really do sparkle in the sunshine. 

Last night as we cycled back from dinner, we heard a massive crunch two cars ahead of us. I kept to the side whilst George and locals ran to a local man laying on his front in the road.  Knocked off his scooter. No helmet on. Not sure if any lights on. He'd been hit by a car. It wasn't clear what had happened.  Luckily the hospital was just down the road and the ambulance arrived very quickly. The man had thankfully regained consciousness as it arrived. A few minutes later we passed A&E where he was being wheeled inside.  When we stayed in Cha-am last month, a waitress from a regular restaurant we visited, proudly showed us her new motorbike.  She then recounted on new years eve that her restaurant had a big party, she'd had lots to drink, and then rode home with no helmet on. She couldn't remember what had happened when she woke up two days later in hospital. She now wears a helmet.  There are many sad stories of tourists having serious motorbike accidents ...

On our way to Ao Manao beach today we took a detour to see the Dusky Leaf Monkeys. What a joy! The  Dusky Leaf Monkey,  also known as the  Spectacled Langur , can be found in forests within Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar. They are distinguished by dark grey fur, a long tail, and white, glasses-like rings around their eyes. These endangered, shy, and peaceful monkeys live in small groups and are known for being born with bright orange fur that darkens over time.   These are so friendly and totally unlike the thieving monkeys in Sri Lanka, Bali and other parts of Asia. No need to ensure all your belongings are in your bag! When offered food, they politely take from your hand, and don't snatch.  Definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Prachuap Khiri Khan.  There is no charge to get into the Historical Park. You just have to leave a passport at the army check point before entering.  ...