Thailand

Simon searches the reef at Rawai at extreme low tide. Phuket Province.

Simon buys live shells near the Sea Gypsy village at Rawai.

Simon relaxes at Rawai, with Ko Racha Yai in the background.

High tide and low tide at Rawai, near the southern tip of Phuket Island.

The Sea Gipsy village at dusk, looking from Rawai towards Ko Bon (right) and Ko Hae (left). Many of the specimen shells from Thailand are collected from these boats.

Simon holds a large Pteria penguin (family Pteriidae) while diving in Ao Lah, Ko Racha Yai, Phuket Province.

A large Chicoreus ramosus (family Muricidae) in Ao Lah, Ko Racha Yai.

Simon observes a pair of robust ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus) in Ao Ter, Ko Racha Yai. These fish are able to change their colour to imitate a floating piece of seagrass. Family Solenostomidae.

Simon and Tom Rice at dinner in Rawai. Simon – a strict vegetarian – contemplates a bowl of Babylonia spirata. Photo by Jom Patamakanthin.

A bowl of cooked Babylonia spirata (from the previous photo).

For a first-time visitor to Phuket it is almost mandatory to ride an elephant (Elephas maximus). This elephant is named Manāw (“Lemon”). If you are used to riding a horse, the gait of an elephant feels very strange.

Simon’s first visit to Phang Nga Province, searching for landsnails. Limestone hills can be seen behind.

Dawut Ananthaaphipong (left), a local farmer (centre) and Simon complete a successful search for Stomacosmethis somnueki (Alycaeidae). Photo by Jom Patamakanthin. (The species is named after Jom’s father, Somnuek Patamakanthin.)

A common tree frog (Polypedates leucomystax), near the town of Phang Nga. Family Rhacophoridae.

The fish market at Ao Noi, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. The vast majority of shells from Thailand are collected from the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) side, but Ao Noi sits on the Gulf of Thailand (Pacific Ocean).

Stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides), Prachuap Khiri Khan. The macaques are common enough to be considered pests in many parts of Thailand. Family Cercopithecidae.

Simon (left) and Adm. Chorchat Gra-tes share lunch in Bangkok.

Street food for sale in Bangkok.