Wednesday 28 September 2011

Journey into the unknown…


After a fun last night in Phuket that involved avoiding a Go-Go bar which was full of Thai girls very interested in Dan and what was in his trousers – and I don’t mean just his wallet – we happened upon this brilliant little place that was basically a modified VW camper van fitted out as a bar with lights, optics and everything required to service a mobile bar!  It was a bit out of the way so we decided to only have one drink, but in came in a bucket and in order to drink it quickly, we suffered major brain freeze as it was full of ice!  It was pumping out Americano and reminded Dan of when he and Jack were in Spain!  The less I know about THAT trip probably the better.  Anyway back to Phuket…. We walked the half an hour or so back to our own hotel at around midnight and by the time we arrived there, despite a day of rain, it was so humid we decided to break the pool rules and make use of the pool to cool us down.  We thought we were being very clever indeed and being quite so’s not to distube any of the nearby residents but after Dan dived straight in making a very loud splash we feared being discovered so beat a hasty retreat back to our apartment, some 90 steps upwards away not realizing we were leaving a trail of evidence behind us as to whom the culprits were in the pool at midnight – two sets of perfect wet footprints all the way to our door!  Ooops!

We woke at 5am this morning and packed up our rucksacks ready for the journey to Ko Samui.  Ruckies are the way to go – takes about 10 minutes from start to finish!   Our mini-van turned up around 6.20am and transported us to Phuket Town Bus Station whereby we boarded a bus/coach that was to take us onwards to the ferry terminal.  The bus was full of all sorts of  local Thai people, some looked liked they must be going to work, groups of school children, some other traveller looking types too but nobody who spoke any English.  Our one word of Thai, Kar Poon Kai – thank you – was not much use today! 

Dan slept for the first two hours but I stayed awake to take in some of the scenery on the way.  We passed so many contrasts in buildings and living accommodation from tiny little shacks to very impressively decorated large, ranch type places.  There were baby elephants roaming in some places along with huge oxen in fields with no apparent fences meaning they could have come on to the road at any point.  Scary considering the size of them and the traffic on the roads.  Eventually we stopped off at what could only be described as Thailand’s answer to a Little Chef! NOT!!!!!  If it wasn’t for the fact that the loo was required, I would have stayed put.  A hole in the ground was the offering alongside a few market stalls selling food and drinks, non of which were recognizable and even though we were in a dire state for a coffee, the hygiene standards were anything but acceptable to us so we opted for a bottle of coke out of a fridge and a straw we brought with us.  Typically I have always carried around our recommended alcohol hand wipes but were they anywhere to be found when they really were needed – not on your flippin’ life were they.  Anyway two more hours until we hit the ferry port and on to Ko Samui.

No comments:

Post a Comment