On Tuesday 6th December 2005, Carole & I
finally got away for our first holiday of the year. We were
heading back to Thailand, a week in Phuket followed by a week
in Kho Samui. It was a real last minute affair as we had only
booked the trip 3 days earlier.
Nathan took us to Heathrow
to catch the 10pm direct flight to Bangkok, and after a few
hours hanging about at the airport , another flight down to
Phuket. We were rather surprised to find we had a 747 to takes
us Phuket as usually it's an Airbus. We arrived there late
on Wednesday evening and after finding the car taking us to
our hotel, headed off to the Blue Marine at the northern end
of Patong Beach. We had hoped to go back to the Le Meridien,
but could not book it up in time, so we were wondering what
the hotel would be like.
As you can see we had nothing to worry about,
it was superb! The restuarant had closed by the time we had
settled , but we had the first on many wonderful meals brought
to our room. I had Chicken & Cashew Nuts and Carole had Chicken
& Rice served in a Pineapple, washed down with Singha Beer
and a Milk Shake.
The following morning we crawled down to breakfast
about 10.00am, and reacquainted ourselves with a typical touristy
Thai breakfast. Then it was off to find a tuk tuk to go down
to Patong beach (about a five minute trip). Wandered around
the shops before heading for the beach to lie in the sun. This
turned out to be the one of only nice days we had on the whole
trip. The weather considering the time of year was awful. The
monsoon season had just go on and on, and worse was to come
when we got to Samui. We got back to the hotel about 2.30 and
went back to the Blue Pacific for lunch. He we met the team
who made our stay so memorable, in particular Aad who looked
after wonderfully the whole time we were there, and become
our Thai teacher as we struggled the the wonderful language
that is Thai. Still tired form the long flight we wandered
back to the room, to shower and rest, and before we knew it,
it was 9.00pm and off we went back to the restuarant.
Friday 9th December
Took the hotel shuttle bus to Phuket Town and visited the shopping
centre on the outskirts of the town. Rained all day so we
thought it would be a good day to be indoors. The Centre
is on floors with plenty of shops and cafes. Wondered around
for a few hours, had lunch and then went to see the new Harry
Potter movie in the De Luxe cinema, free popcorn and Pepsi
and armchairs the size of settees. Really nice! Then outside
to try and find the shuttle bus back to the hotel. The traffic
was solid with the usual chaos presided over by the local
traffic police. The bus eventually turned with profuse apologies,
but we had had an interesting time watching the hustle and
bustle. After a wash and brush up it was back to Patong Beach
for a few drinks and a meal in an Italian restuarant, before
heading back to the bar in the hotel before heading for bed.
Saturday 10th December
Monsoon time again, so after breakfast lazed
around in the room and on the balcony, catching up, on the
holiday reading. Checked to see what was going on in the evening.
Not a lot was the answer, didnt fancy going back to the Simon
ladyboy caberet or Phantasea, so ended up in the Blue Pacific
where we were royally served and entertained by Aad and his
colleagues.
Sunday 11th December
Aad had changed his day off from Tuesday to
Sunday in order to spend the day with me. It was quite a nice
day so Carole lazed by the pool whilst I toddled of to the
Big C shopping centre to meet up with Aad. Asked the tuk tuk
driver to take me to the main entrance. Ended up in a huge
car park with two entrances and wandered between them and he
road road looking for Aad. No luck, texted Carole saying I
would hang around a bit longer and then wander around the centre
before returning back. I had looked around the ground floor
in case Aad was inside, but about an hour after we had supposed
to meet, started a good look around inside. It was then I discovered
that the centre is built on on a hill and on the thirds floor
is another entrance with a huge outside car park and eventually
met up with Aad who had been there for nearly two hours and
was just about to give up on me!
Anyways we then took a trip around Phuket
Town on the back of his motor bike. Our first stop was at Aad's
wonderful girlfriend Po's house, where we chatted for a bit,
took a few snaps, had a cold drink before setting off again
We set off around the town ending up back at
the Big C where, after we bought a couple of CD's by the major
Thai band Carabou, Aad had a game of bowls arranged at alley
at the top of the centre. We met up with Nunng and her friend,
ordered some food and drinks and spent a pleasant hour or
so chatting while Aad and Nunng played.
After the game it was back on the road again.
The next stop was the Thai outdoor market in Phuket Town. It
was huge and packed out with locals. It was one of those markets
where you could buy almost anything We wandered around foir
ages and ended buying a few bits and pieces for considerably
less than the stall and shope in Patong Beach. Aad met up with
some Thai girl friends and introduced me to them, nice bunch!
Finally time to go, and Aad took me back to
Patong, where I caught a motor bike taxi back to the hotel.
A magic day with special people and an insight in to the life
of the ordinary folks of Phuket. Magic! |