The Chinese influence in Thailand!

Our day started as usual with Jim and Di hard at work and Don waiting for me to finish my water aerobics in the pool so I could go up the street for coffee with him.

On our way down the street we saw these large creatures which we thought would appeal to Aneirin and Lowri.

We had coffee and breakfast at delish. Don even has a loyalty coffee card.

We did some shopping on the way back.

We headed off to explore the most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. 

One of the monks revered here helped stop the tin mining trade being taken over by the Chinese.













We saw this amazing flower growing out of side of a tree.

Suddenly a burst of loud noise had us putting our fingers in our ears. A large number of crackers were set off in this beehive shaped building.





The next place we visited had been the first Chinese speaking school in Phuket and is now a museum devoted to the Chinese participation in Phuket.

It lists all the poor rural Chinese labourers who mainly came to work in the tin mines and who made good becoming successful businessmen of influence in Phuket.

Some became governors of the area, building roads and buildings and establishing schools. 

Of course after all that history we needed a coffee. Don said Rachel would have approved of the colour of this cup.



While organising a taxi to take us back to the villa we saw this house painter not following Australian health and safety procedures!