It's been a week, so I thought I would get a first post up for this trip as an introduction. By the way, this is not going to be a Judith Chalmers or a David Bellamy travelogue but more my experiences and my usual warped views.
Uneventful flights all on time, so got to Kamala Beach on Phuket island early afternoon. Watched Pirates of C. 3 film - brilliant piece of overacting by all!
Staying at PapaCrab Guesthouse about 1 minute from beach, this is right at start of season so all the beach bars are just being built and restaurants gearing up.
First night's sleep was interesting: right next to Bob's Reggae bar (hate reggae), down the road from a club, fighting the mozzies, then at 4 am the sound of stilleto heels on walkway outside and my neighbour enjoys what I shall politely call a bit of slap and tickle (literally) until 5 am, just in time for the Mullah at the mosque down the road to blast the town with loudspeaker-driven 5 am call to prayers! Not finished yet, at 7 am next door other side is a large school and they start at 7 am with outdoor assembly conducted over loudspeakers complete with music and drum rolls - fantastic!
So, exploring beach and town for first few days. Managed to fall into "Sports Bar" where only sports were ladies and "lady boys", got invited to their grand opening night by Evie, a lady (no adam's apple) who is my size and height, so I didn't argue! Escaped intact and avoided the place on Opening Night only to be spotted by Evie who came stomping down the road after me! Anyway, managed to get out of it and we are still talking (Dodgy Uncle Mike strikes again, and NO, Lindie, I still don't want to buy those - in joke, ask her, but you can guess I expect).
Kinger, if you are reading this, you were right of course, a bloke on his own here stands out somewhat - unless you then have a Thai lady (or lady boy) on your arm, which so many of the older ones do, thankfully I'm not old yet (mentally, anyway)!
Went to Kata and Patong to see what they are like, very large, very crowded and all the lady bars you could possibly want! I'll stick to Kamala. Met with the Dive team and firmed up all dive dates, so that starts from 10/11 and finishes with a week aboard a dive boat in Similan and Surin Islands plus going into Burma to Mergeuil banks, doing my Advanced PADI at same time, firsat week of December - at least that's the plan.
Living here is so good, get up for walk on beach, breakfast at beach bar, laze on beach (when not raining, still end of rainy season) cruise the bars for the evening and eat at seafood and Thai restaurants. A dinner with a Singha beer costs about 3.75GBP, a beer or a Thai (Mehkong) whisky is about 85p!
Anyway, getting known around town now - even the Indian tailors are starting to give up, and the ladies just shout and wave. Really friendly people particularly if you try a little Thai speaking.
Finding my way around the island using the local buses (not tuk-tuk's), 40p for about a 1 hour journey (tuk-tuk is about 5GBP for same trip as I can't divide the cost with anyone here), if you don't mind sitting with chickens, sacks of rice and all sorts of locals.
Off to Phang Nga, neighbouring province, for a few days next week - island stacks out of the sea, James Bond film-style, caves, temples and nature reserves plus sea kayaking and rafting, I hope. Catch the bus there and see!
Cheers!
Mike / Mick
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