Thailand Part 3: Phuket
Trip Start
May 07, 2008
1
31
90
Trip End
Jan 06, 2009
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Phuket,
Thailand
Friday, August 22, 2008
Welcome to our Thailand trip part 3: Phuket.
Phuket was an unexpected trip really. We had to get to Kuala Lumpa from Koh Lanta. A logistics nightmare. So we were advised to fly from Phuket, a much bigger airport, instead. As our flight to K.L. was at 10:25am, it takes approx 4 hours driving from Koh Lanta to Phuket airport meaning we would have had to leave Koh Lanta at 5am-ish to catch our flight. Sod that. So we booked into Phuket for a couple of nights for more relaxing and with the sole intention of getting our next flight onward.
Our Hotel was another slice of paradise. A resort but a flaming massive one. Very daunting. Just too big and very easy to get lost. We prefer more intimate places. This Hotel had 4 different pools - one had a bar in the middle of it that you had to swim out to to get drinks! As well as a children's slide and play swimming pool. There were expansive gardens to meander in, with hammocks hanging from palm tree trunks, lotus ponds, little bridges, secluded fern-framed huts for yoga sessions, bars, restaurants and shops. And then there was the beach. Well, just look at the photos. No explanation needed.
As David and I got there in the afternoon, we got our bearings then went for dinner. Our first night there was great fun. Naturally, I said my four memorable words to David: "Get your cards out!" and he wowed this one bar's staff with his tricks. They all salivated over him and gave us both a free drink. They wanted our email address, they all sat with us and their female boss was NOT happy as they were all skiving work to watch the magic tricks!! Oh, and there was some bint on the microphone screaming out "Cococabana" with a pianist which was quite fun.
What our housekeepers did for us
The next day was our only full day there. So we headed down to the Blue Pool which had a bar in the middle of it. (pool was only 4foot deep). However, the bar in the pool served cocktails so your automatic reaction would be it's an adult only zone, presumably. But there were kids everywhere screaming and splashing and having water fights. I adore children and I would not for one minute deter a child from having a wild time in a pool. But there was a group of bikini-clad girls sipping cocktails and these 2 Japanese boys were going mental in a water fight and these girls were getting splashed considerably while they were trying to have a gossip session in the sun. It just wasn't the place for children. The Japanese boys parents led them away to a different area but there were other parents letting their children have water fights around the bar when there was a perfectly great children's pool with a mega slide 5mins away that they could have gone to instead. There was also this woman who was walking around the pool reading a book! She also got peed off with getting splashed. Adults need adult places to go and children have their places to go. It's not a selfish concept. The Hotel staff didn't intervene, it was all very laissez-faire. In the Hotel, there was a 'Teens Room' with playstations in...what would have happened if a group of adults went in there to play cards?!
We walked down to the beach later on. See the photos, see for yourself. Heaven. White sand. Blissful. David lost his sunglasses to the Sea as he played 'catch me' with massive engulfing waves!
That night we went to a Thai restaurant and ate the most beautiful food and then went to a Hotel bar next door. This bar was all lit with blue neon lights and had massive round beds for seats on the decking outside. We lounged, sipped Gin and listened to the Sea rush in and out (when the DJ didn't turn up the volume to the pumping disco beats!)
We didn't go out and explore Phuket. We were very close to the airport, for our onward flight, so to get to the bustling mayhem of Patpong or Phuket Town which is where all the late night action is would have involved a lengthy taxi ride and we didn't really want to see Aiya Napa done Thailand Style. This was our 'chill out' time and for only 1 full day there we thought: sod it, we'll definitely be returning to Thailand again so can explore more then.
The next day we had to leave for Kuala Lumpa to see our friends. Once again, it was time for some full on drinking, cavorting, sightseeing and running around.
Love us xxxx
Comments
To ye wandering nomads...
Absolutely fantastic!! Just caught up a load of your blogs for the past hour, your adventures have had me in fits! Charging that manageress $500 for your 'magic show'... heheh!
Really pleased you're both having such a fab time, keep em coming!
Matt xxx
P.S. You lucky lucky bastard! What I wouldn't give to be spat at in the face! :D