However, before we could enjoy our treat, we had to dinghy across Chalong Bay and walk up the hill towards the Big Buddha in sweltering heat. It didn’t help matters that the Google Maps directions indicated a 1Km walk, which was more like a 2Km walk. Regardless, the meal and the festive cheer was well worth the effort:
Santa’s Amuse-Bouche: Beetroot Carpaccio Capes
Seasonal Starter: Home-Made Yuletide Gravadlax with Rye Bread and Cream Cheese
The Main Event: Roast Turkey and Roast Smoked Ham, with all the trimmings; Pigs in Blankets, Stuffing, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, Carrots and Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Grated Parmesan Cheese, accompanied by Cranberry Sauce, a Turkey Gravy and a delectable bottle of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
Yuletide Dessert Plate: A Christmas Pudding Elf, a Gingerbread Man and a Christmas Tree Chocolate Slice, accompanied by Tea or Coffee.
We’d just finished our meal when Santa arrived, swiftly followed by a surprise video call from Justine and Paul, who were just starting their Christmas Day in England. A surprise phone call from Roy’s brother in South Africa was also enjoyed between courses.
We certainly needed the return walk to work off some of our indulgence, but on return to Panwa Bali, instead of returning to Paw Paw, we dinghied ashore to greet cruising friends who had gathered at At the Beach for their Christmas festivities.
Today, although Boxing Day, it was a desperately needed laundry day on Paw Paw, requiring help from Roy on the heavier items, like the bedding and towels. In between his help, he cleaned the transom deck area, before Elaine dinghied him ashore for his walk, giving her the time to tidy up in preparation for our cleaning efforts. Elaine was delighted, though, to see a baby Sting Ray leap out of the water in front of the dinghy on her return to Paw Paw.
Also, being the 26th December, it was the 17th Anniversary of the 2004 catastrophic tsunami, the most devastating natural disaster in history.
Phuket remembered the tsunami victims with a “Soul of the Sea” memorial service, where hundreds gathered on Patong Beach this evening to remember the lives lost in the disaster. Following the speeches, attendees were invited to place candles in the sand to remember those lost to the waves. The day began with the traditional merit making of giving alms to the monks, followed by various activities, including a Tsunami Remembrance Exhibition, a street music show, a lights show, an orchestral performance and the candle lighting ceremony.
Similar events were held in Phang Nga Province, which bore the brunt of the disaster; 4163 people confirmed dead, of which 2213 were foreigners, mostly tourists and an additional 2113 people confirmed missing. In Phuket Province, 259 people were confirmed dead, while 700 remain listed as missing. Thailand as a whole, recorded an official count of 5078 people dead, 8457 injured and 3716 missing, presumed dead.
On a lighter note, this afternoon, we enjoyed a “drive-by” visit from Craig, off Il Sogno, to relay season’s greetings, before they set off with a number of the other “Dock A Rebak Refugees” up the west coast, something we had decided not to do again. Instead, our Christmas celebrations ended perfectly with our Family Zoom Get-Together. Of course, we wouldn’t be in Thailand if it didn’t rain, or rather, bucketed down as a thunderstorm passed over us just as our Zoom Get-Together was wrapping up. We were, however, grateful for the torrential rain that cleaned the decks and saved us the hassle.
