The return to Thailand -

So amazingly although I knew Lou and Yazz were flying to Phuket the following day none of us had worked out that we were all staying in Bangkok the same night!

We got in touch by text and once they had checked into their hotel they took a cab over to me.  It was sooooo good to see them after 3 months on the road and gave each other the biggest hug!  We headed out so that they could go and see Khao San Road again after nearly 10 years and reminisce a bit.  I thought I could find the way again walking without a map and we went past City Hall as there was some kind of event going on there – although we aren’t sure what but there were loads of locals and stalls and stuff going on.  From there we headed towards KSR but I ended up not really knowing where we were so we flagged a tuk tuk down and it turns out it was only across the road – whoops! 

Still we walked down KSR and they said it hadn’t really changed much and stopped off for dinner in one of the busy bars down there for their first thai meal.

We were all pretty knackered so headed back to our respective places at a reasonable hour.  That night I shared my dorm room with 3 Japanese guys – who came in, turned the lights on, faffed about doing stuff and then went out again without turning the lights off! V.annoying!

I had to get up really early the next morning for the 2^nd day in a row to get my flight to Phuket. I am being quite a bad backpacker really as I seem to be flying everywhere apart from my overland journeys in Laos, but when I look at the costs of the flight and they aren’t that much versus the amount of time taken to do an overland on my own, I can’t help it. Lou and Yazz were taking a slightly later flight than me so the plan was for me to hang around the airport for a couple of hours for them to arrive as their friend Josh was picking them up.  Typically their flight was delayed but Josh came and found me and we waited for them to turn up. 

We headed out to Josh’s place which was in a very residential area of Phuket away from all the touristy stuff, then he took us to a beach (can’t remember where again!) to chill for the afternoon and have some lunch.  

  

We all took a dip in the lovely warm sea J and then headed back to Josh and his girlfriends place for takeway thai food!  Thai style!  Its great, apparently they call this guy up and he delivers this big box which has this electric plate and bowl thing into which you pour a stock soup thing and then add all manner of other veggies and meats and fish to and just let it all boil up together and then start helping yourself as you add more stuff to it.  They even supply all the bowls and spoons and stuff and after you are done you chuck it all back in the box and leave it outside for them to collect the next day – I’m liking this style of takeaway J It was yummy and healthy with absolutely no work – well apart from cooking it yourself!

  

The next day we took a drive into Patong and I have to say I’m pleased I didn’t spend much more time in this area than the day as it felt like a really touristy resort full of tourist shops and bars but more than anywhere else I have been.  It felt a bit like a cheesy Spanish resort – but in Thailand - and the beaches were heaving and not particularly pretty.  Josh did tell us though that there are some much nicer areas of Phuket which aren’t as developed so if you go, don’t go to Patong, find somewhere else, we saw a bit more of Phuket as Josh gave me a lift to the airport that afternoon and we took the scenic route and saw a lot more of Phuket than just Patong.  We mainly went there as its where the Resturant group Josh works for is based and Lou and Yazz know the owner there as well so they wanted to go and say hello. 

Pum the owner wanted to come out to Lunch with us as well but didn’t want to eat there as she wanted “traditional” English fish and chips so we drove out of down to this amazing 5 star resort where we had lunch.  It was beautiful but nearly ruined as I think I got a bit overly hot and felt quite nauseous!

  

So as I say, after lunch Josh gave me a lift to the airport for me to head over to Samui and it was time for another tiny little plane.  This time though I have never seen a plane full literally of young people going over to party! I ended up sitting next to an aussie guy who was scared stiff of flying – not what I needed as I was pretty nervous myself on that tiny plane. 

Next installment - party times on the Islands!