Tramping tales for April 2010

A Pictorial Review of the Begg Family Reunion:

6 -16 April

Colleen first muted the idea of a family reunion to bring together our far flung families which was followed by three years of planning orchestrated by Saxon to bring it to reality. She finally managed to whittle down a venue to Bangtao Beach Resort, Phuket Island, Thailand. Such high hopes and expectations for the gathering of our clan of 15 evoked all kinds of agitations about the two matching up happily but no matter what, it would unfold...

Here, follows pictorial evidence of a sublime time

BEGG-INGS ... Together for the first time in over 14 years...

Prospective ‘artistes’ within our family made themselves known as they took to the stage on the first night.

Celebrating the First Birthday of Erin Ashley, our youngest grandchild.
Her Mum, Saxon, provided a sea themed party in her inimitable style that went down well with all the Begg cousins.

Steamy conditions prevailed and natural gatherings took place within the many pools of the resort.



Long-tail boats tied up in the bay captured the men’s attention... Cutting a “deal” for an early morning snorkelling trip to test out George’s underwater camera just added to their fun. Otto was delighted to be included in men’s business!

Wild Kids – naturally many moments of joie de vivre arose...
This one was captured on camera!

Out running on the beach, Dan came across a baby elephant.
Talia was the only little one brave enough to ride Nina.

Roo thoroughly enjoyed Nina’s friendly throttle while Otto keenly checked out the inside of an elephant’s mouth!

Keith struck a ‘family deal’ for a day out to James Bond Island, the location where ‘The man with the Golden Gun’ was filmed. From the moment we arrived at Ao Por Pier our every need was attended to by Ali Baba and his small crew aboard the large speed boat that was to whisk us round Phang Nga Bay with its extraordinary limestone stacked islands.

This boarding party had no idea what a perfectly wonderful day Medsye travel and tours would give them within magnificent Phang Nga Bay.

Exploring islands with wonderful caves formations and scenic lookouts; drifting alongside rocky cliffs with our skilled pilot gently nosing our speedboat through a perilously narrow opening, massive outboard motors revving furiously, to enter hidden sink holes surrounded by lofty limestone walls. Later, a very slick and professional company of canoeists at Talu Island gave us a close up and personal view of limestone overhangs that required us lying flat to squeeze beneath only to find ourselves within an enormous hollow amidst a mangrove forest as the tide was waning, enabling us to observe the mud skippers that abounded. An adventure enjoyed by all.

Intrepid little explorers with their grandparents!

A team photo as we awaited our speedboat to reverse in and collect us.

The excellent lunch served up to us in fine surrounds at the floating village of Pan Yee, inhabited by a Muslim community was an eye opener as they efficiently provided meals for hundreds of people simultaneously in the segmented eating houses. Keith began feeling guilty for driving such a hard bargain over this first class day that involved so many people!
The heat of the day was searing and we certainly appreciated being given the afternoon to relax on the beach of Lawa Island where we wallowed around in the sea before it was time to head back to Por Pier while feasting on freshly cut fruits.

Breakfasts and early dinners were the best social times with our age ranged grandchildren... The Thai people were very hospitable and thoughtful no matter where our big mob went. We never had a bad meal either.

Eight miles of beach stretched round Bangtoa Bay with eating places dotted along. We found these informal sandy dining spots perfect for the children rather than our hotel dining room. Sea Sea Restaurant became a favourite!

New dresses to see in Songkran!
Grace and Lily had joined our merry throng. Their parents, Melbourneans Adam and Laura and little baby Mia congregated around the paddling pool with us each day. Adam, a pilot for Air Emirates always had an amusing phrase amidst his chatter.

Songkran or Thai New Year is spread over the 12-14 April. Being an especially hot month with high temperatures and humidity is most appropriately celebrated with WATER. Our hotel set the scene with a drum parade through the grounds and gorgeous Thai girls flicking water blessing and daubing faces with talc powder paste which ended in a free for all in the swimming pools. Water guns added to the delight of the adults and children alike. Out on the streets we immediately found ourselves swept up in an exuberant afternoon of water throwing. Passing motor bikes and cars fair game – certainly a fun filled way to keep cool and enjoy the festivities and yet underlying it all was a modicum of respect for everyone. A boisterous New Year’s Eve nothing like our Western equivalent booze fuelled celebrations. Otto and Roo particularly enjoyed the Highway Holdup outside Nok & Joe, a delightful fusion of Thai and Canadian cultures that we used beautifully crafted driftwood chairs as a safety fence from the road and its ensuing high jinks to protect our small folk and stayed for dinner.
The previous evening, grandparents had kept guard over sleeping kid-lets in the hotel while their parents set off for a late night dinner in Patong and the keen to find the famous markets. Disappointingly the markets had closed while they were dining but they’d arrived home pretty damp from early “blessings”! Dan, Paul and Keith bubbling about “being prepared next time”...

Late New Years Eve, Dan drove the trio plus Gran and Grandad into Patong. Only in Thailand, thank goodness, is it possible for such hilarity to arise from the drive by shooting of unsuspecting passengers in vehicles, buses, motorbikes and pedestrians with bursts of icy-water! Candid camera would hardly match the giggles that filled our car after each surprised shriek of shock. The crowded Bangla Road, in Patong, was awash with good humour and water that we happily walked its length many times while Dan and Paul thrilled to the chase with their brightly coloured plastic machine guns. This was adult kid’s stuff at its best!

“Whoever wants to make merry, does so; whoever wants to laugh, does so”
Our men on a mission down Bangla Road!

Ella’s Third Birthday was delightfully celebrated with a morning out at “Siam Safari”. Thanks to Adam warning us not to take the half day safari Keith negotiated a personalised trip to watch the young elephant and monkey training shows with a ride in a buffalo cart only. This worked PERFECTLY!
That afternoon the party continued with icy fruit shakes and a ‘Noddy’ birthday cake.

Volley ball matches took a natural split of the Poms against the Afs!

Words cannot do justice to moments like this. Our last night- the sunset was mesmerising when unexpectedly, a large elephant materialised through the gloaming. Keith shot out of his chair to bring Ella’s wish to fruition- a ride on an elephant!

Our sky lantern being prepared with all our wishes aboard to repeat this gathering somewhere in the world to equal this...
Plus an extra measure of love added for the ancestors watching from above.

“Our best seeds and our dearest fields – Those are our children”