As we approached Thailand we were required to turn our clocks back 1 hour. But you know, you always feel a little nervous that you have got it right. Especially when you have to be somewhere in the morning. The somewhere that we needed to be was waiting for our tender to take us across to the island of Phuket at 7:30 am. So being the over preparers that we are we decided to get up at the normal time (an hour early) just in case we mucked it up. Consequently we were eating breakfast at 6:30am with the other over preparers as we arrived offshore and anchored. Not long later as we were preparing our stuff for a day on the water around Phi Phi Islands and the blue lagoon (were already packed but didn’t feel quite over prepared enough) the Captain announced that some of the tours had been cancelled because of weather (Don’t know what happened there because it was a beautiful day). And of course one of them was ours. Maybe we should not book tours with the word blue in it because eight years ago our Blue Grotto tour was cancelled on the Isle of Capri. Anyway they said money would be refunded and we decided just to go onshore and take a look anyway. So . . . We reprepared and after and hour or so went and got some tender tickets. The wait was endless, over an hour but at least we were sitting in the air-conditioned bar. The captain had said people wanting tenders should wait for a while because it would be busy getting the other tours off. BAD MOVE! We heard the call for all of the dozens of groups who had raced to get their tender ticket to early whilst we waited. Lance is not the most patient person and was beginning to get grumpy when finally they called our group.
At the port there were just a few market stalls and a pergola tent with the money changers working. We changed US$50 and a guy asked Lance if he needed a taxi for tour. And just like that we were back in the game. Lance asked how much and the guy said US$40. We had got some US dollars from the atm on board just in case. I think we probably made his day because we didn’t haggle and just said "Okay, where can you take us". And as we were walking to the van Lance told him that he would make it $50 if he looked after us.
Tai took us into Phuket town to a touristy shop but you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all and there was nothing of interest to us. We asked about food and said we wanted good Thai food that was not too touristy. Hualampong was perfect, and the food was sensational. If course we ordered way too much. All washed down with a cold Heineken or two. We didn’t sit in the air-conditioned area as it was a bit, well, just a bit nothing, where as the open area was more authentic. They turned the fan on for us, although at first he did think that I was asking for Fanta. As well as being tasty with all the great qualities that Thai food brings; it was also just spicy enough to make tears run down Lance’s face but not enough to burn your lips. I did worry about repercussions later on but decided this food was worth a dose of the trots.
Toilets: I do feel like I have let you down a little bit my readers. I haven’t had much to say about toilets. None have been horrendous but have meant a hover without even lifting the seat up. Many have no paper but I have wet wipes (prepared again). The toilets at this restaurant were okay but again no toilet paper and I had left my bag with Lance. So it had to be a drip dry! No fancy blow dryers here.
After lunch Thai took us around the corner to a massage place. Lance and I were treated to an oil and grease with suspension work out. We were in the same room and these little iron fingered woman were all over us bending us, whacking us and prodding out our travel worn chassis’s. It was great and cost about the equivalent of USD $25 for both of us.
And then it was a quick scenic route back to the ship. All in all an unexpectedly satisfying day.
Note on the top left of this picture the huge Buddha on the hill.
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