Patong Tower

07 January Auckland - Bangkok: Leisurely start before returning the car and heading to the airport. Didn't manage an upgrade but at least our 60 kg of luggage was not a problem, and we got breakfast in the lounge. Can't ask too much when we are using frequent flyer points for free flights! The Singapore Airlines flight was great as usual, and we both had a movie marathon and got two quite decent meals, and the obligatory G&Ts. Stopped in the lounge in Bangkok, then we continued on to Bang...

Started the day with a walk along the beach then sat on the terrace enjoying the cooler morning temperature. Went out to explore some more shopping areas and had a nice lunch. Went for a swim in the afternoon but decided that the beach will be a better option. It is a nice enough pool but there are no sunloungers or any shade, and there is a construction site right next door. I had a lovely foot massage while Russ went to a bar, then we retired to our terrace with some San Miguel Light, to wa...

11 January On the way to our morning walk on the beach we were accosted by the tuk-tuk drivers at the end of the street offering various tours around the island. We decided to take one so we headed out after brekky, about 1100. Stopped at a few beaches and viewpoints then had lunch in a beautiful setting on Rawai Beach. A table on the sand, under some trees, right on the seawall. Had an interesting salad which had something fiery in it that made the beer "fizz" on my tongue. Drove up to the b...

13 January Usual walk, vege in the apartment with the internet, beach, with a massage on the way. NZ$12.50 for an hour is pretty good! Came back to bar balcony until 7pm which was the pickup time for the Simon Cabaret. Simon Cabaret was a great show with some stunning ladyboys/katoys, in flamboyant costumes. Mostly dance numbers or lip-syching singers, but there was a fatter comedian(enne?) who was very funny, and the rip-off of a popular Japanese pop song was very good. Otop for dinner and a...

15 - 18 January A series of days in which we didn't do too much more than go to the beach in the afternoons. The beach boys run up to us as arrive there and immediately find a couple of deckchairs and set up the umbrella. Throughout the afternoon they move the umbrella to make sure we have lots of shade, and constantly ask us if we want a drink or some food. Two Tigers was quickly the order of the day, and the beach stall made quite good filled rolls. We found a little bar run by a Thai lady ...

The van was late picking us up and then there was a lot of waiting around at the pier but eventually we were on the big speedboat heading out to the Phi Phi islands. Not a very comfortable boat, with everyone seated sideways on a sloping seat, and not able to see out. Monkey Beach was amazing snorkelling with very clear waters and heaps of fish. Lots of monkeys on the beach, one of which had a go at the guide so they are not that friendly. "The Beach" at Maya bay is beautiful but there were f...

0630 alarm for the 0730 pickup - ouch! A very long drive in a minivan down lots of bumpy backroads to pick people up all over the island. Stopped for coffee at a nice place overlooking Khao Lak which was the hardest hit area on Phuket by the tsunami. There was a so-called tsunami museum closeby, but they have not really done much with it. An 80 foot police boat washed 2km inland so you can walk around that which feels a bit odd, but otherwise there is just a small tent selling dvds and a maga...

23-26 January Found a bar that is quite entertaining, watching a very odd mix of Aussies and Poms touting a nightclub. They have 50 Baht beers during happy hour so it is another place to start the evenings. Had our first experiences of bartering which the Thais are not too overwhelming on. I bought a new top and the girl started at 750 baht, but I said I would only pay 200 and soon had it for that. Similar results for the dice game we bought for Jose. Not enjoying some of our Thai toilet expe...

Early start again with a 0800 pickup. Full bus again and we couldn't even sit together. We got to the marina and there were vans and boats and people everywhere, all going to the same place as we soon saw. Quite amazing how each of the tours has appeared to be absolute chaos yet somehow we end up going where we are supposed to. James Bond Island was crazy with people, and walking around the island on the narrow track was rather awkward, not least with the Eastern Europeans wanting to get ther...

28 January Both had headaches this morning but were not sure if it was due to the Singha beer on the boat tour or the cocktails last night. Probably a combination! We stayed in the airconditioning all day to recover, and both actually did some work. We had both received some new software so needed to have a play with that rather than arriving on the boat next month never having seen it. 29-30 January The construction noise has increased with the apartment next door currently in the process of...