Bangkok Week 123 — Mika's Photos

An especially low-hanging cloud stands out as we descend into Phuket International Airport (HKT).

I would love to stand on this beach to get shots of planes approaching the runway!

We were a huge group -- over 200 in all -- and we stayed at a newly-opened resort on the northern end of the island.

The resort, like most beach-front resorts, was long and skinny -- to fit within the sliver-shaped plot of land.

I shared a room with a colleague from Singapore. Unfortunately, they'd run out of 2-bed rooms! So one of us slept in the bathtub.

This whole window-into-the-bathroom style is quite popular these days. Dunno if I like it...

I don't know what these wax-like flowers are... but I haven't seen them in Bangkok.

Rows of rooms... the resort opened officially on October 1st.

Near the beach, they have an "infinity pool" and plenty of loungers.

In this sun, these chairs look more like baking sheets though.

It was really odd: the beach was lined with pine trees.

We were at Mai Khao (White Wood) Beach on the north-western tip of the island... one of the least-developed beaches.

Beautiful water, but too hot to stay outside for long!

There were lovely areas of grass in front of the beach... perfect for tossing the frisbee! Did I mention the pine trees?

The resort also had beach front villas ... with an appropriately chubby price tag.

The sky is as blue as the ocean (and the infinity pool). But too hot to swim during the peak of the day.

The resort was landscaped with a mix of sand, steams and ponds.

They had a pricey cafe that I only walked past.

The comfortable open-air lobby, in which I spent much time using the free wifi.

As the sun set, the more athletic of the group played a game of beach football -- made particularly challenging by the steep slope of the sand.

Most of us were just spectators.

Colleagues from Jakarta, Singapore and Bangkok.

Lovely sunset. Time to head back in for dinner.

Lots of little shells mixed in with the sand. And maybe that's the white wood after which the beach is named.

The 3 other vegetarians and I got exiled to the corner of this restaurant... with little more to eat than plain noodles and chili sauce.

What's inside? A blind toilet?

Ouch. Hurts just looking at this sign.

Another picturesque beach sunset; another pine tree.

How lovely.

The water blends into the sky.

Another lovely sunset. Actually, the same one.

Somewhere out there, there's a ship captain in deep doo-doo.

Phuket town: could be any town in Thailand.

Cute decorations at the culminating dinner / performance show.

Someone made this crazy chart, which links everyone in the Southeast Asia system to everyone else.

Not sure what these crazy people from Jakarta were up to.

My brave Bangkok colleagues represent our office with a heartfelt rendition of the Asia-craze Wonder Girls.

Oh no! Stiff competition by Jakarta's spoof on the Wonder Girls: the Wonder Boys!

BCG Idol is down to the top 2 offices: Lady and Mister Gaga represent Bangkok and Jakarta respectively.

The courageous performers from Bangkok (all of whom subsequently contracted H1N1).

Over-the-top? Never!

Early-morning fishing for this Phuket local. He actually caught one in my presence.

Drowsy from the night before, the Bangkok office assembles itself for the flight back north.

A Monday night dinner with old Brown friends... at an Irish pub?

It's just like being in Ireland... but safer.