Another one of the joys of being the trip's organiser is that you get to choose where you have your anniversary. Not just any anniversary. Today Jess and I have been married for 25 years. Our silver wedding anniversary, and in all truth the happiest 25 years of my life. Jess presented me with an American Silver Dollar from 1876 - a very lucky charm - and a mounted photo of some tuk tuks that will take our minds straight back here when we hang in on our wall at home (once we find some room). She has exquisite taste. I gave her the Tiffany silver necklace that I had bought back in Europe and had been hanging onto for her. She was suitably impressed.
We slept in late, not sitting down for breakfast until after 10. Cameron sent us a text message with some bad news - he had broken his toe. Six weeks to get better. Not good timing at all from his point of view.
Unfortunately, horror of horrors, when we got down to the beach they had given our beds away. They looked very embarrassed, even though we hadn't asked them to reserve it for us and we were more than an hour later than usual. Feeling quite put out we took another bed further down the beach. More swimming, tyre play, reading and observing ensued. It is quite amusing to watch the antics of the elderly Scandinavian bathers here. Once they are out of the water (most of them never go anywhere near it) they have to change from one costume into another. No idea why, but it involves the women, no matter how fat or old they are, baring their cauliflower breasts to the wide world. They don't appear to care one jot that this is deeply offensive to Thai people. I can add that it is also offensive to good taste. I watched a woman who weighed perhaps 120 kilo walk past in a g-string. Hmmm... there oughta be a law...
Around lunchtime the weather changed. A squall came in from the south, driving some rain with it. The clouds moved over and most of the beachgoers disappeared faster than a rat up a drainpipe. We toughed it out for a while, but then the rain got heavier so we took shelter under a nearby tree. After a while we decided to go to the restaurant and have something to eat. After this the rain had gone and we were able to take our place again, this time on an almost deserted beach.
The squall had brought in a fresh bunch of shells and the girls were keen to investigate what had turned up. They were soon joined by some Thais who appeared to be looking for unopened shells perhaps for their dinner.
We had asked our host for some advice on where to eat for a special night out. Once again he came to the fore, providing some excellent ideas and booking it all for us, including taxis to and from. He also organised a posy of roses for Jess to carry and arranged with the restaurant that we were eating at for a celebration cake to be brought to our table.
The Sasi Restaurant describes itself as 'Dinner Theatre'. To be fair to them they probably don't realise the connotations this has with a western audience with any sense of taste. I was a bit apprehensive as we headed off. When we arrived we were put at ease by the surroundings straight away. The setting is a lovely garden with fairy lights all around. We took a table overlooking the stage. Jess and the girls, not knowing what was in store, pondered about the use of the stage.
All of a sudden some musicians started playing and some lights came on to illuminate them. Some time later the dance show began. Full of traditional Thai costumes and a huge cast - at least 20 of them - the show was very tastefully done and held our attention the entire 80 minutes that it went for.
All the while we were served out four course dinner. It was a set menu, but we had four choices for each course. The food was very good and beautifully presented. My only complaint was that they brought the courses too quickly. As they took the plates for one course they dropped the next course in front of us. This was only a minor concern though. Overall it was splendid. At the end of the meal they presented us with our anniversary cake. It was a butter cake iced gorgeously with red roses and a happy anniversary message.
At one point in the show audience members were asked to come up on the stage and try their luck at the dancing though the clacking bamboo. I had no intention of going up, but the girls begged me to go so I dragged myself up there and had a go. Of course I made a complete fool of myself and stuffed it up completely but it was all in good fun. Jess assured me that I didn't look that bad but then I reminded her that the girls had videoed the whole thing and she looked a bit concerned.
After this our taxi turned up to take us to Let's Sea, a wonderful restaurant/bar by the, err, sea. Tastefully decorated and reeking of wealth this very mellow place was the perfect way to end our day. We ordered enormous cocktails - recommended by the waitress and the girls had mocktails. We sat and watched the waves crashing against the beach and the twinkling of the lights on the fishing boats out to sea. The balmy evening air washed over us as we chatted and day dreamed. It was really very pleasant.
Our happy-go-lucky cab driver was still waiting for us as we left. He took us home and we tumbled into bed.
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