FIRST DAY IN PHUKET!

Today was our first day touring in Phuket, Thailand and it's a completely different world. This is the first time in a long time that I'm in the minority as a westerner. Phuket is like beach city with the combination of a thriving urban life but mixed with the slower paced beach bum lifestyle. In Phuket we stayed at the oldest hotel in the city call the Onon Memory and it was just wonderful. It was completely different then hotels back in the states, with beautiful mosaic tile everywhere and lots of outdoor living space. I really loved all the courtyards and gardens at the Hotel. From what I've seen so far, there seems to be strong Chinese influence here, especially with the amount of Chinese shrines Thailand has. We got to visit one today and it was beautiful with tons of sculptures and gold plating. I've never seen a shrine back home and here they are on every corner which is very different! I learned that the statue of the women is the goddess of mercy and she is worshiped by many in Thailand, especially after the tsunami.
All the people here seem very reverent and I can't wait to learn more about the religions here.