Phuket, Thailand (October 2006)

Phuket, Thailand cover page.	Map of Thailand with the star indicating Phuket.	View of Patong Beach which is one of Phuket's many beautiful beaches.	Chairs and umbrellas in a line along Patong Beach.
There weren't that many people at the beach that day.	The Indian Ocean waves washing up on Patong Beach.	There were a few boats at the beach.	Me standing on Patong Beach. I did not have my bathing suit with me.
Enjoying the good life on the beach.	We took a trip to View Point to see the bays of Kata Noi, Kata Karon and Kho Poo Island.	A dog was taken in by the excessive heat that day.	A man had a hawk and charged me money to take this picture.
The hawk's claws were really digging into my arm!	Sign for Promthep Cape, our next stop.	Phromthep Cape is the southernmost point of Phuket with stunning views.	A pleasure boat and small island off of Promthep Cape.
A small beach adjacent to Promthep Cape.	Another view of the beach.	The water below was a chrystal clear blue.	Palm trees along the water beneath Promthep Cape.
More lovely coastline with palm trees.	A small boat along the coastline.	Another view of the Promthep Cape coastline.	Another overheated dog at Promthep Cape.
There was a shrine at Promthep Cape with a Buddha and lots of elephants.	The Buddha was covered with colorful garlands and decorations.	Closeup of the highly decorated Buddha.	There were miniature elephants lined up in rows.
More rows of elephants. These were more colorful.	More elephants lined up at Promthep Cape.	This dog was more lively than the others.	Elephants are the national symbol of Thailand.
Two lovers, I suppose, under the palm trees.	Statue of Prince Kiartiwonges who became an admiral in the British Royal Navy.	No other Thai person had ever attained such a ranking in the Royal Navy.	Prince Kiartiwonges is best remembered for his great contribution to the development of the Royal Thai Navy.
Born in 1880, he was known as His Royal Highness Prince Kiartiwonges during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).	Another view of Prince Kiartiwonges.	This monument stands next to the statue of Prince Kiartiwonges.	Our last stop was Wat Chalong, Phuket's most important of its 29 Buddhist temples.
Incredible entryway at the temple.	Nice gate and archictectural details.	Beautiful carvings over these exquisite doors.	These two praying Buddhist figures are also carved into the doors.
Some colorful dragon carvings.	The dragon carvings with a Wat Chalong temple on the right.	Shrine of flowers, candles and miniature Buddhist figurines.	Oval ceiling design and chandelier inside the temple.
Three golden Buddha images with flowers in the foreground.	A frontal view of the three golden Buddha figures.	A closeup of one of the Buddhas with flower offerings in front of him.	People were burning religious candles outside of the temple.
Young Thai girl who was lighting candles.	Wat Chalong is typical of temple architecture found throughout Thailand.	Wat Chalong is associated with the revered monk, Luang Pho Chaem famous for his work in herbal medicine and tending injuries.	In 1876, he led the people of Phuket to fight against the influx of immigrant Chinese who came to take the city.
The government sent troops to defeat them. The King bestowed Luang Po Chaem the title of Phra Kru Wisit Wongsacharn.	A vase of orchids inside the temple.	A shrine with many golden Buddhist figures.	A flawless white marble Buddha at Wat Chalong.
Closeup of the lilly.