Thailand was built on compassion

Connected to Phuket by the Sarasin Bridge, Phang-Nga is home to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the Monkey Cave, both parts of a tour we took from our hotel in Phuket.

We had to be up early as we were being collected for our first trip! We got a minibus to the harbour with an American couple who were also doing the trip.

Phuket island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ships' logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English traders, but was never colonised by a European power. It formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber and now from tourism. It was our base for the second half of our Thai holiday.

Bangkok is busy, historic and modern at the same time. The seedy side coexists with a deeply spiritual environment.