| Now, truly homeless, we flew to Phuket, Thailand, to visit an old friend, and start our journey home. Fittingly, we visited the Big Buddha, and were enthralled... |
| Carved of white marble blocks, the head is the last to be finished |
| The shrine below the Buddha welcomes all who come in peace |
| A saffron robed monk blesses the prayerful |
| Images of the Buddha watch over the proceedings |
| A cast iron temple bell |
| This is a summons you'd better heed! |
| The view from the Big Buddha over the lush southern Thailand landscape |
| A golden Buddha in the lotus position |
| View over the Indian Ocean |
| Our hosts were Dave, whom we've known since junior high, and his Thai girlfriend Pin |
| Green coconut jelly is refreshing on a hot day |
| Pin is the enterprising owner of this streetside bar, the beauty parlor it fronts, as well as the massage parlor upstairs |
| A shoreside restaurant |
| Waiting to be served - What an incredible view! |
| Dusk along the shore of Phuket and traditional Thai fishing boats |
| Full-moonrise over the pier |
| Dave and pin get fish pedicures |
| But Pin can't get her money's worth-- the fish like only Dave's flesh! |
| It tickles! |
| The site of Dave and Pin's former bar, post tsunami. Only months before, their lease had expired, and they were elsewhere when the wave arrived! |