Adrian.gfc's travel blogs:
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Thailand
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Phuket & Ko Phi Phi, Thailand
Arrived in Phuket - my 3rd visit there & it was really roasting here, i mean its been hot wherever we've been, but Phuket was REALLY hot! We went to Karon Beach - where i stayed the previous 2 times, & was really shocked. It was packed to the rafters, with fat European tourists, package holidaymakers, & the prices of everything had doubled since i last came here in Oct 2005 (10 months after the Tsunami).
This place had really gone full circle, from a ghost town crying out for tourists, & now to being completely overrun - it could have been anywhere in the Med! The beach is still lovely though, & spent the afternoon relaxing, before taking Dan to meet my mate Ging, who i've met twice before - a lovely local lady who owns a restaurant in Karon.
We had a meal at Gings place - very nice too, she recognised me straight away, & came rushing over "hello Adie my brother!", gave me a bug hug & a kiss - such a lovely lady, not like many 'ladies' in Thailand. We had a great evening, catching up on things, Dan was quite impressed i have friends 6000 miles away in Thailand! And at the end of the night, Ging refused to allow us pay - we had starter, meal, dessert, beers & cocktails - her treat on us! Fantastic, but i couldn't leave there without paying, so i left some money on the table anyway! And talking of other 'ladies' i treated Dan to a beer & bit of 'Thai culture' in a Bar with lots of 'Love you long time mister' type ladies! Not sure if he was gobsmacked or loving it, but it made him laugh, all these ladies expressing their undying love for you, touching you, you get the picture...Well i thought it was fun!
Next morning, we boarded the ferry to one of my favourite places in the world - Ko Phi Phi Island. Beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, then devastated by the Tsunami, recovering slowly when i visited in Oct 2005, now nearly recovered, & now struggling to cope with the popularity again.
But once the day trippers go back to Phuket, its fine. We had an absolute bawl in Phi Phi, stunning weather, no idiots, crystal clear water, cheap beer, even cheaper whisky, cheap lovely food, no motorised vehicles, nice people - it was a perfect way to end our trip. There was another near death experience for us still though, as we hired a Thai bloke & his canoe to take us over to Phi Phi Leh Island, where Maya Bay was - more popularly known at "The Beach" - the one where the Hollywood movie was filmed a few years ago, & which increased Phi Phi's popularity tenfold overnight.
Its an awesome sight, huge towering cliffs, surrounded by crystal clear warm water. But unfortuntely it got a bit choppy in the sea, the waves started rolling & towering way above the boat, me + Dan were riveted to the spot, thinking, not again!! And it got scary. Again. And we also had to get back to Phi Phi, which was even worse! We made it though, not exactly dry, but alive. Again!
Next day was scuba diving - Dan recently became qualified too, so we chose a day trip with a firm i knew - a mate of mine called Drew, who i met in Oct 2005 in Phi Phi worked there, & still does! We had a great time doing 2 dives, the viz was pretty good - up to 20 metres (65 feet), & we got some nice underwater snaps using Dan's camera. It was Dan's 1st ocean dive after learning in a lake, but i'll give him credit, he done pretty good for a newbie!!
We both had an amazing time, & swam underwater with a huge turtle too, unfortunately the camera ran out of battery though! An ace experience though, & another giant turtle spot for me. Oh, & i nearly ran out of air when diving too, Dan thinks i have a deathwish..... So that was it really, had a great last night in Phi Phi, at the Rolling Stoned Bar, on full moon night, listening & singing along to a rock band doing all our favourite tunes, & drinking buckets (yes buckets) of local whisky & coke.
Next day it was homeward bound, back to KL, then back to the UK, after an amazing 7 weeks on the road, seen some amazing things, met some amazing people, had the time of my life, & had great company along the road with Flash, Jez, Angharad, Katie, Laura, Anna, Helen & Danny Boy. And i'm still alive somehow!
Adios. Adrian x x x
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