In September we spent three weeks in Thailand and Laos.

Our first stop was the west coast island of Phuket, in Thailand.

Phuket is a big center for scuba diving. The beaches are quite stunning. The sand feels powdery smooth on your feet.

We took a two day diving cruise, where we got our Advanced Open Water Diver certificates.

This is the rock next to Shark Point. We didn't see any sharks.

You can see a few divers in the water

I think this is Bida Nok. One of the dives just off of Phi Phi island.

Sylvia, the dive-master in training.

Mick, our dive master.

The upper deck of the boat was where we had our dive briefings.

Sarah on the upper deck.

Back in Karon beach. The Beshert Hostel is essentially a brothel, but the rooms are clean, and the girls were always polite. In the mornings, we would catch them saying their prayers.

Sarah took a cooking class.

Cashew Chicken and Spring Rolls.

Sweet & Spicy Shrimp Soup.

Green Curry.

One of the fun things to do is rent a motorbike and drive through the mountain jungle. Matt even found a helmet that fit.

On our whitewater rafting trip, we stopped to ride elephants.

The farm had probably twelve working elephants..

The whole trip we followed a stream.

Outside the Monkey Caves.

On the other side is where all the monkeys hang out.

Reclining Buddha inside the cave.

A little nook sat at the top of some stairs cut into the stone. More Buddhas inside.

Out front, several hundred monkeys begged for food.

They don't sit still for pictures, at least not when you get too close.

Vendors hang out nearby, selling bananas and peanuts. Word to the wise: peanuts last longer.

Nice monkeys...

Attack Monkeys!!

No Sarahs were injured in the course of this photograph.

Matt monkeys Leopard Chief.