Mon 9th
An early start for our 8 .40am flight from Hong Kong to Phuket. #A21 bus back to airport. Smooth flight with a great breakfast from Cathay. Arrived in Phuket and all good for our 60 day visa, picked up Thai Sim Card, so phone hooked up and rearing to go. Got AIS provider for BAHT 549 (CA$20) for 30 days. Hard time locating Tourist Office for a map of Phuket and to find out where to get the Orange bus into town. After much to and fro we found the shuttle bus to take us to the domestic terminal which is in chaos as being rebuilt as well at the same time the heavens opened with a torrential downpour! This is about the time I read a message from Nikki telling me of the floods in Thailand! Unseasonable rainfall seems to have caused a lot of damage and still don’t really know the extent of it! After a bit of confusion in the downpour and running around getting soaked and being instructed to stand in the middle of traffic chaos we were happy to see an orange bus appear. After a 20 Min wait we were on our way, rain making way for sunshine and lots of humidity! Friendly bus conductor told us where to alight for Sino House Guesthouse, took about an hour on the bus . Almost outside the door so very convenient – rain started down again so ran for guesthouse...a little gem of a place and lovely to have so much space after the cramped HK quarters. Huge room with king bed, air con and a mini kitchen all for BAHT1150 night (CA$44), central for old Phuket town. Al called his old school buddy, Neil Northwood, who has been living in Thailand intermittently for about 6 years and lives in Patong area. We waited for the rain to quit before heading out into the sunshine to go and get some water and breakfast supplies at nearby grocery store. Neil arrived in his purple banger of a car with a Tuk Tuk engine which he parked and we headed off in search of a Lonely Planet recommended restaurant nearby. Beautiful old town Phuket is being renovated so pavements ripped up and of course many puddles but picked our way through to Th Thalang where we found the Kopitiam by Wilai restaurant. We had fun catching up with Neil and hearing about all his antics here in Phuket as well as going down memory lane with Alan and his school days. Food was so delicious and only about $5 for a delicious plate of green chicken curry..yum yum. Made a plan to meet in the morning. So nice to return to a big bed and spacious room! Finally a nights sleep with no jet lag from time difference waking me in the early hours!

Tue 10th
We wandered around the town a little and grabbed an expensive black coffee which Alan has now cut me off from - no more coffees from Starbucks style stores :( we got back to the hotel to meet Neil who was going to take us on a driving tour of the southern part of Phuket Island! The purple beast spluttered into action and we chugged off, heading first towards Chalong Bay and the Big Buddha . Sitting on Nekkered Hill and visible from half the Island, the 45m high white Buddha is pretty impressive. Made of white alabaster and is a modern creation, starting in 2007 and is an ongoing project. Gorgeous views towards Kata Bay, Karon and Chalong Bay. Very steep climb up but made it in the purple Tuk Tuk, a few mopeds overtaking us on the way! We then continued on our way to Hat Rawai - a pebbly long-tail boat and speedboat harbor with stunning views of islands and had a smoothie and papaya salad on the waterfront. I tried to order the salad with pickled crab and oysters but the young Thai server laughed and said I'd better not as way too hot for my sensitive western stomach! Compromised with no pickled additions and mild spiced and was a delicious salad. We wandered around the waterfront for a bit. I am amazed how there are little stalls and shops lining all the roads - I had thought we would see green space between towns but it is solid commercial space all the way..mainly little stalls. Driving is crazy - thought Mexico was bad but throw the millions of scooters in the equation and its bedlam! Apparently the Thai's know what they are doing - the crazy foreigners cause all the problems! We then jaunted down to Laem Phromthep, the most southerly point of the Island . Gorgeous views of the bays and islands. We headed past Hat Kata and Hat Karon - lovely beaches but the start of the all inclusive resorts, and so busy from here up to Patong. So many tourists and restaurants and bars - way too crowded for my liking but party central for all ages, not just the young. Foreigners from all over the world but heard a lot of Russian being spoken. We briefly saw one of Neil's 4 condos - the one he lives in - brief visit as typical bachelor pad ! He parked the car and we wandered around town - bar after bar and really grossed me out as many older European men sleazing with young Thai girls - not my kinda town! Huge European Mall as well as many local stalls - headed to a large market and had a yummy pad Thai with shrimp - cooked in the wok stall in front of us - $2! Bought a little sarong to cover my shoulders in the temples - bargaining down to BAHT100 ($3.70)..by now 9pm and we told Neil we would venture home by ourselves but had missed the last buses to Phuket town so grabbed a cab for the 30 Min's ride back for BAHT550 ($20) and fell into bed again!
 
Wed 11th
Usual 7am wake up now so crept out of the room and sat in the lobby for an hour - catching up on emails and texts and finding out why my bog was blocked . All sorted now. We had our cereal and yogurt breakfast in the room and headed out to wander around town, looking at the architecture and stores and visited the Shrine of the Serene Light. Situated in a little alleyway has Taoist etchings on the walls and donated fruits on the alters, adorned with flowers and incense! Then the rain bucketed down, pouring for about 20 mins so sheltered under a tin hut until eased off and then found a yummy little lunch spot called Sombat Prongthong where a lovely smiley Thai man whipped up another pad Thai for us - chicken and pork - BTW definitely not eating red meat in Asia for obvious reasons! An equally gracious smiley Thai lady served up delicious refreshing green tea drink. This afternoon has been one for just catching up and putting our legs up, spoke to Tim as he's trying to make decisions about studying in Europe in Sept 2017. Taking it easy till we are picked up for our "Lady Boy" Cabaret show tonight - highly recommended by Nikki. Tomorrow morning we set off by boat for Ko Lanta Island, stopping for an hour on Ko Phi Phi of Leonardo Di Caprio fame in the Beach movie!
The minibus from Simon Star Cabaret arrived on time to pick us up and do the rounds collecting other patrons for the show. Arrived at the theatre and was very busy as it is well organised with one show finishing and next starting 10 mins later. This was the smaller of the shows as the main one is in Patong Beach area. We had seats right in the front row which was a little concerning as didn't know what audience participation was involved. Luckily the younger kids sitting around us were picked on and smothered in lipstick kisses! The show was very entertaining, all mimed of course and very elaborate costumes. All cast are young men who have had sex changes or in process of changing...totally unbelievable as the majority of them are extremely attractive young women now, many petite, slim and of course well endowed! Thailand is apparently one of the leading countries in the world for these surgeries and people come from all over the world as they do so many here! The show was an hour and 10 mins and as we walked outside Alan was lynched by 2 of the "Girlie Boys" as they are known and I was made to take a pic, at which they of course demand money, Alan offering about a fifth of what they thought they were worth, so he soon heard the husky voices! After being dropped back at the Sino House we walked through the old town to try another Lonely Planet suggestion for dinner. We ate at The Cook restaurant and had another tasty Thai meal for about BHT400 ($15) - another full eatery with many nationalities thanks to Lonely Planet.