Day 62 - Phukt, Thailand

Weather
Upper 80's, overcast, very hot and humid

Map

What we did
After tendering into port, we joined the included shore excursion, which took us to several highlights around the island. Our bus tour first headed to the opposite side of the island to a scenic lookout at Promthep Cape. The climb to the top involved quite a few steps, but the effort was well worth it. At the summit we were greeted by sweeping ocean views and dozens of elephant statues scattered around the viewpoint that were left as offerings. Our next stop was Wat Chalong, a beautiful and important Buddhist temple. It was fascinating to observe the many types of offerings that worshipers bring to the temples. At some temples you can purchase small birds and release them to earn good karma. Here, visitors could buy small fish in water-filled plastic bags and release them into a nearby pond. The grounds were also filled with the scent of burning incense and the sharp pops of firecrackers used during prayer rituals. Visitors should note that temple etiquette is strictly observed: shoes must be removed before entering, shoulders and knees must be covered, and hats are not allowed.Our final stop was a cashew nut factory. There we watched demonstrations showing how cashews are harvested and processed. The visit ended with free tastings of different flavored cashews and, of course, the chance to purchase a few cans of nuts, which we did. Although we did not stop, we saw the beautiful 45 meter tall Buddha on top of the mountain several times as we drove around the island. It's made of white marble.