We've passed the test

Some pics from Southern France, Nice/Antibes/St Tropez/Porquerolles:

It has been a wonderful vacation. Started off with a very intense 48 hour fiesta in Ibiza, sailed over to the romantic Italian island of Sardinia, spent a couple of weeks in the rustic world of Corsica and ended up back in the civilization on the Southern French coast. A perfect mixture of different worlds! Also it has been a good testing time to see how well we actually do this, just the two of us. To be away from the reality (as the reality has been so far, this sailing life will obviously be our reality from now on!), living so tightly together and to actually live the aboard life fully. As a matter of fact, we just met each other ten months ago so this was definitely what we needed to go through before leaving for the circumnavigation. And we passed the test, both of us I guess. (with some exceptions of smaller fights about how to really to take up the god damn anchor, how to handle a temperamental women's PMS in remote locations without access to a functioning wifi, who's in charge of making sure the boat is completely secured from things not flying around in the galley and saloon before sailing into rough conditions or how to in the smoothest way possible be able to combine a French temperament with a stubborn, Finnish sisu character in such small space etc..) So, what can I say, we're now officially ready for the next big adventure! From the bottom of our hearts, it really feels like this is what we were meant to do. Sail the world together.

The memory card on the camera is completely full with thousands of photos from these lasts two months and as soon as I have the time I will get some of them up here, along with stories from this trip. I hope you've enjoyed the ride as much as we've done! /T

Tunk Ka Restaurant

Tunk Ka is a well known restaurant, a bit of an institution in Phuket, located near the top of Rang Hill in Phuket Town, open since sometime in the 1970's (I seem to remember reading that somewhere). I have meant to visit and blog Tunk Ka for ages, but my wife and I had the idea that the food prices were really high, putting it into the "fancy" bracket that we non-fancy folk avoid. We used to go there a lot 8 - 10 years ago just for coffee. They claimed to have the best ice coffee in Phuket and we agreed, plus you had a nice view and a calm environment. I don't recall ever eating there, just ice coffees, and I can't remember the last time we went.. it was years ago, although we have been up Rang Hill many times.

So last week after lunch in Phuket Town we had some free time and I convinced my dear wife that we should try Tunk Ka again, just for a coffee. You need to drive up Rang Hill. There are a couple of different roads up there, both ending up at a hill top park with a fair amount of parking space, views over Phuket Town and a statue of a man called Korsimbi Na Ranong who was governor of Phuket about 110 years ago and is credited for introducing the rubber industry into Thailand - rubber became a major source of income for Thailand and for Phuket in particular.



There is some work going on next to the carpark, as a shop and toilets are being built - the old building there was rather dirty. Past the little shop is the main viewpoint with lots of benches. Quite a lot of tours come this way. If you want great views there are plenty in Phuket - see Phuket Hills and Views.



The Tunk Ka restaurant is clearly signposted, although you can't see it from here, as you have to walk down a stairway in the trees, the stairs being made from old railway sleepers, which is an oddity since there is no railway within 200 kilometres of Phuket! The restaurant is perched on the side of the hill with views to the South and West. It's around 350 feet above the town. Most of the view is towards Chalong, you can't see so much of Phuket Town, as the center is to the Southeast.



There's lots of seating inside and some on a balcony outside which is where we chose to sit in the fresh air. We spent some time looking at the menu, and after a quick browse we decided we'll be back soon for dinner. I think arriving around 5:45 - 6pm would be good. Sunset at this time of year is about 6:30pm, but if you get there too early, it might be a bit hot to sit outside in the sun. And by the time you finish eating it would be dark, so there would be some night views with pretty lights.. we plan to go again later this month.



So next time I can add some comments here about the food. The menu is very local food, no western options. I have already decided that I'll go for the fried rice made with dried shrimp chili paste (nam prik gung seab) and grilled pork (moo yang). Can taste it already. Most things on the menu are 80 - 120 Baht. The iced coffee we had is 60 Baht, but there are lots of drink options from fruit shakes to various teas and coffees and beers. This felt like a "discovery" in a way - although we had been here many times before, it had been years, so I guess we have rediscovered Tunk Ka.





(above) We went again in the evening for dinner when my mum, dad and cousin were visiting. We bagged the balcony table with the best view. Very nice evening. You gotta get this table!!

Happy B-day Mr Captain

This beautiful man is rolling over to his 37th year today. Celebrating it on the island of Porquerolles. Congrats my love! /T

On the streets of St Tropez

St Tropez is, as you all might be aware of, one of the most glamorous locations and favorite vacation destinations of some of the worlds most celebrated, rich, Nouveau riche and/or beautiful jet-set people. No matter if you like the old, filthy rich man/young beautiful girl-kind of parties, this is one of the places in the world to be for the ones who want to see and be seen. As we decided to come here just after the season closings, the town is more tranquil compared to what it can be in the peak of the high season - but ever so less delightful to spend some days and nights in.

St Tropez was a fairly small and modest little fisherman's town all the way until the late 19th century. The exquisite coastline got widely recognized by wealthy French holiday makers after the second world war but the one bringing the International fame to the town was Birgitte Bardot and her film "when god created woman", by Roger Vadim. Miss Bardot as an icon is something the St Tropez restauranteurs and retailers have taken under their wings as a serious marketing tool as the whole town is covered by posters, videos, restaurants and even cakes produced with her face, name or style.

The picturesque town has it's own charming style with the über luxurious fashion shops, boutique hotels and jewelry shops placed one after another on the adorable little cobblestone streets, mixed with the bohem-chic or fancy bars and small restaurants around them. Wheter you come here for the glamour this town oozes of or not, this small piece of coastline is one of the most delightful areas to indulge in the Southern France's characteristic ambiance. /T

In this very moment..

We're sitting here in the lounge of the fantastic Hotel Byblos, St Tropez. Live jazz, Himalaya tea and a calming ambience is what is offered. Perfectly relaxing and some time to catch up with work, with a wifi that for once works like it should. /T

Sweet chicken

A very simple chicken stew: Pan fry chicken filet with some drops of olive oil, add some soya, curry, a pinch of salt, some pepper, some honey, a bit of cabbage, snow peas and freshly squeezed orange juice. Preparation time: Around 13 minutes. Perfect for those days when you need to make it fast and easy. /T

Wordless Wednesday ~ 36: The Desert

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From my trip to Dubai in 2005.