Near Phuket is a Thailand national park of fantastic limestone peaks rising out of the sea.

For just $17, I went on a memorable bus and boat tour to that park. The photo below shows some of its limestone peaks which were featured in a James Bond movie "The Man With the Golden Gun." The center spike-like peak above was the movie source of a solar power empire. On the bus ride to the park, the first half of that movie was shown, while the last half was shown on the way back - a nice touch.

The James Bond movie also featured Thailand's longtail boats, one pictured below passing through an arch in one of the sea peaks, just as our tour did:

Afterwards on the boat trip back to the mainland, we stopped at a unique Muslim village on stilts: This picturesque town had formerly made its living from fishing; now it has become much more prosperous fishing for tourist dollars.

On the mainland, the bus made a stop at a limestone cavern featuring a golden reclining Buddha.

Next to the statue was a figure of a saffron robed monk that looked good enough to be in a Disney diorama - until he moved, startling the crowd. The extensive cave had several back-lit limestone drip formations that vaguely looked like sitting men - obviously a source of worship to early area residents. Outside of the cave was a troop of monkeys working the crowd for snacks. I wondered if they had inspired the fishermen's village to switch to the easier pickings from tourists!