A Taste of Thailand

Seasoned Traveller 1 

Perhaps the best thing about being away from one's home, living in the desert and teaching in utter chaos some days, is the fact that one can escape it!

Due to my Achilles injury we couldn't fulfil the dream of visiting South East Asia.  We decided for Spring Break to remedy this.  I planned two weeks away that would give us what we really needed; sand, sun, surf, sumptuous delights and the opportunity to 'schway, schway' (in Arabic meaning: take it easy!).  

Seasoned Traveller 2

We headed off early in the morning from Abu Dhabi Airport to Phuket, Thailand.  It was a relatively cruisy flight with kids happily ensconced in front of the televisions in front of their seats, Jason in front of his, and me with the latest book.  We arrived at Bangkok Airport and then a short flight later arrived in Phuket.  As always with me, organisation is the key to a happy family and happy overseas experience; so the rental car guy was ready with our name displayed brightly on his sign and within half an hour we were headed off along the road looking for our overnight accommodation.

Nuyang Beach

'Trip Advisor' and 'Booking.com' have become firm friends in the planning of our overseas excursions. With careful consideration of ratings and reviews I've been able to get it right...most of the time.  Our first night in Phuket was a small exception to the success rule.  We stayed at a little hotel on the side of a busy main road called Nuyang Cottage.  You couldn't get more earthy.  The host was nothing but pleasant - a good start.  The rooms, despite being roomy were what you might have found in NZ in the 1970s...or in a small backwater of NZ today!  Added to the interesting decor, very loud air-conditioner and bathroom that flooded when the shower was used, we faced not-as-clean-as-I'd-have-liked linen and ants crawling over the floor.  Too late.  We had to get the head down for the night.

The next morning renewed our faith.  We headed down to Nuyang Beach and it was delightful.  Along the beach front there was a tremendous juxtaposition; on the one side very basic local food outlets (one displaying the sign "Come and eat.  Love you long time.") and on the other were the resorts with alfresco dining, triple the price of that from 100m across the way.  We had a quick bite (at the cheaper end of the scale) and then drove down towards Karon Beach where our condominium awaited us.

Our pool

We were not to be disappointed (thank you Airbnb).  The drive down to Karon gave us a lovely opportunity to see a great deal of Phuket.  It isn't a huge place.  It is easy to get around and despite the thousands of cars and motorcycles competing for space on the roads it is actually quite pleasant driving (especially for those living in the UAE and driving on THOSE roads). 

Karon Hill Condos

Karon Hill Condominiums were exactly what we anticipated. Great.  Two huge bedrooms, a huge lounge and dining, two bathrooms, balcony, kitchen and infinity pool with gym.  Just what the doctor ordered for tired travellers.  We couldn't have asked for better, and with being only 500m walk to the beach by foot and a short drive to markets, shops and local beaches we were set for an awesome holiday.

Our intention this holiday was to just relax.  And that we did.  The beaches in Phuket are terrific.  We frequented a few of them in our two weeks; Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi, Kamala, Rawai, Nuyang Beach, Patong...each beach had a quality of its own and we left our footprints with vigour.  The kids absolutely loved the beach and the pool at the condo.

Chalong Temple

We spent many a day swimming, snorkelling, jumping waves, reclining on a sunbed reading a book (me, actually), making sandcastles, exploring rocks and watching para-sailing and jet-boat skiing.

Thailand in April is warm.  Really warm.  Much weight was shed sweating it out in the humidity.  Not a problem really if you are spending your time in the water; whether the pool or the sea.  Nights were glorious; eating out become a second passion to the beach!

Having our feet eaten by fish!

There are not enough superlatives to describe our love affair with Thai food.  Eating out in Phuket was gloriously cheap.  Unlike when travelling through Europe, we could eat out every meal.  We couldn't get enough of the wonderful meals; particularly the seafood.  The kids enjoyed eating out and partaking in the delicious fruit smoothies on offer.  We would go back...just for the food!

Phromthep Cape

We had many highlights while in Phuket.  We took the kids to the Butterfly and Insect Farm/Museum... where Lily delighted in the butterflies landing on her.  Ben's attention was captured by the fish and the larger than life sized spiders and insects on display. The local aquarium was a lovely visit too...the kids enjoyed walking underneath the sharks and spotting the sting-rays.  Phrom-thep Cape was gorgeous at sunset...and our children were something of a highlight for those of Asian decent who wanted to touch and take photos of them...we didn't hang around too long!

We visited the Big Buddha, Chalong Temple, Jungceylon Shopping Centre and hundreds of local markets.  The shopping is to die for in Phuket.  Bartering skills are essential and you can come away with tremendous bargains.  We bought a whole suitcase full of clothes and house adornments; not bad for non-shoppers!

Two highlights of our exploration?  The elephant trekking and boat tour to Phi Phi Island.  The greatest highlight for the kids was riding the elephants.  They absolutely loved it.  Even better was playing with the baby elephants and being kissed by them!  We had a one-hour ride through jungle with some awesome guides.  Jason and I rode the elephants on their heads at one stage...scary but cool.  A new experience to have an elephant flapping its ears against you!  Lily's and my elephant decided to shower us with water...she was impressed.

Maya Island

Phi Phi Island was a highlight for Jason and I.  It was a day trip around a number of Islands.  We went to Maya Island where we jumped into the deep water to snorkel.  That didn't last so long for Ben...who decided it was all too much, but Lily dived from the boat and enjoyed the snorkelling.  We visited the monkeys on Monkey Island and visited both Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lae Islands.  Lunch was quickly downed so we could explore Phi Phi Don Island; a place you could quite happily spend a night and day.  Khai Island was probably our highlight of the day.

We snorkelled around the rocks and even Ben decided at that stage to join us.  As the thunder rolled in and the skies opened to thunderous rain which made our speed-boat ride home a more subdued,

Phi Phi Island

wet affair, the day closed on four very tired but happy travellers.

We felt sad to leave Phuket with the knowledge we would be returning to the desert. I guess it shares something with the desert though...the fact that it is a land of contrast.  You can't ignore the poverty that exists. You also cannot therefore, fail to notice the wealth that resides adjacent to it.  The Thai people however were
a point of difference.  They were lovely.  Friendly, respectful and humble.  They spent time chatting, they went the extra mile and they welcomed us.

Khai Island

Our 'one night in Bangkok' was also a thrill.  What could have been a disaster quickly turned into one of the highlights of our trip overall.  We had headed to the Grand Palace only to be met with very high humidity and very large crowds.  Added to this was the high price of visiting...and the fact that Jason was wearing shorts and couldn't get in without hiring something to cover himself.   We were quickly becoming disillusioned until we stumbled upon the Mekong River and the long-boat!  A one and a half hour cruise around the floating markets and the river houses was further enhanced by the fact that it was Songkram (Thai New Year) and the local custom of spraying water at others was in full force. We returned from our day out in Bangkok absolutely soaked, tired but happy.

One day in Bangkok

We slept well that night, albeit feeling like we really didn't want to leave.

Thailand and Phuket proved to be the right tonic at the right time for us.  It was an awesome place to visit with heaps of things to do and yet, lots of things not to do!  We loved it.  If we were travelling for a number of years we would go back...that's a definite.  But we aren't.  So it now gets added to the wonderful collection of photographs, videos and memories of our overseas jaunts.

We would highly recommend it as a relaxing  holiday destination.


For now, it is lovely to be back 'home' in our own comfy bed surrounded by the things that make up our life today.  And of course the place to start planning our next escape!