January 24,

Up and about appears to be another beautiful day. We had our Javas and attempted French toast. That did not go so well, so we just had one piece each and watermelon & a yogurt each. We had attempted to walk on the beach when we first got up, but the tide was too high to skirt the resorts that overhang and cut off the beach. So instead, did our resistance bands, then decided to swim in the ocean. By now the tide was going out. Jeff tested and was able to walk out a long ways in the bay. That surprised us both since the “spit” of beach is pretty steep going into the water. Then we came back to the pool area rinsed off and jumped into the pool to really rinse as it is fresh, mountain water.

We changed and went out on our Little Honda. We went to Dusit Dheva Cultural Center. It cost us 120 Baht ($3.57) each. It is like a small park with temples and sculptures. There is also a stream running through it. The entrance is picturesque with steps up to an arch lined with “guardian statues.” Then the statues continue, but in the middle of the pathway; and they become women statues with water trickling out of their pots – fountain like. There are all sorts of statuary here. Then the hall-like entrance opens up to the rest of the complex and some temples, but also the area now was showing signs of deterioration. The buildings were falling apart and statues had fallen over and not been righted. It was sad to see and seemed to be beckoning for some attentive care. There was a penned area across the stream – on a rickety bridge – that had a couple of peafowl, but even the birds seemed shabby somehow. Anyway, we were not as pleased as we thought we would be after that entrance. It was definitely not worth the entrance fee price.

We headed out in search of lunch. I had seen a local rotisserie chicken place twice before, but each time we had just eaten. So we hunted it down. Jeff spied it and we flipped a U and pulled in. The sign translated to “Buakaw Chicken Rotating”, and below in English was “Grilled whole chicken BBQ, open everyday”. The lady smiled at us and asked if we wanted chicken. Yes, yes indeed we did!😋😁  The birds were small so we got a whole one. She expertly cut a chicken off one of the half dozen skewers she was tending. Each large skewer held at least six chickens, all in various states of readiness. She asked if we wanted it cut. I said no – because when they cut it, they just chop away and bits of bone get splintered, making for rougher eating. So she wrapped our chicken in butcher paper & into a plastic sack with two small baggies of a hot looking sauce, which she said were “spicy”, smiling as she said it. We paid the 160 Baht ($4.76), and happily went back to our place.

Once back at our place, I was cutting the bird when I discovered the head and feet were still attached but had been tucked inside the cavity. I should have know this but it was a shocking reveal nonetheless! We served it up (minus the head and feet, of course) with the sauce & sesame dressing we had, and some bread. Excellent rotisserie chicken! Jeff called it a carnivore lunch. 😏😂🤣 Afterwards we had a siesta and relaxing rest of the afternoon. At sunset time we went out and walked down the beach and back. There was a huge cloud bank so not a sunset tonight. Back at our place, supper was a light French one – a Greek salad and more of the sourdough bread. Another chill evening.