Day 50 – Phuket to Brisbane
Alas, it was my final day in Thailand and my final day of the trip. 50 days as a solo traveller, although it didn’t feel like it thanks to twitter, facebook and the strangers I spoke to on the way. I spent the morning doing a final pack since I couldn’t really go swimming if I wanted to have a dry suitcase. The final pack took a long time and I had a big mess all over the room.
Day 49 – Phuket
Breakfast in the hotel today – a very expensive buffet and really probably not worth it except for the incredible omelet the egg chef made. Although the selection was ok, it just didn’t have that “oh la la” feeling that I’ve had in places like the Marco Polo hotel in Hong Kong or the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Probably has something to do with the coffee not being great – that really is important to a grumpy person in the morning.
Day 48 – Phuket
Ain’t much going on today. Went in hunt of breakfast and found it down a side street just off the main beach road near the hotel. Obviously a tourist strip, with pizza shops and tourist brochures. Dropped off my laundry in the same street – the final one before I would go home. Breakfast wasn’t anything to talk about, a lame attempt at the muesli and yoghurt that I had grown to love, but didn’t have that Thai flair – just slops for the tourists basically.
Spent a few hours laying on the beach in a spot near to where I hung out on my first visit to Patong. The beach wasn’t as pleasant this time, it seemed a bit dirtier and choppier. But still an excellent place to people watch. Went back to the hotel for lunch by the pool. An expensive club sandwich ordered from the swim up bar was my choice – it was nice, but I won’t be spending that much on lunch next time.
The pool at Banthai Beach Resort & Spa is amazing. There are three wings of the hotel and each has it’s pool with it’s own bar. You can sit on stools in the water and order your drinks or lay on deck chairs beside the pool sipping your cocktail. There is also two spa things either side of the long pool – a shallow one to lay and get battered and a deeper one. I made a dent in my book while eating my lunch then headed upstairs to sit on my verandah overlooking the pool to read.
Day 47 – Phuket
Woke up in a bus only to see a “phuket animal quarrantine station” sign out the window. Thought they’d finally figured me out but no, it was just a pause as we continued along the freeway. It was 5am and I figures we were close to the end of our destination. I had managed around 5 hours sleep which impressed me – also impressed that no one snored. The hostess who was my sleeping partner (chair beside me) got up and made us all coffee and gave us clean wipes. I made one last visit to the loo since I didn’t think it would be fun to do with all my bags at the station.
When we got off the bus in Phuket town I avoided the tuk tuk drivers when I saw a sign for Phuket. I was looking for the information window (all Thai bus stations seem to have one) when I saw a caucasian couple negotiating a tuk tuk ride. Throwing caution to the wind I ran over and asked if they would share a tuk tuk. I said I’d give them 200 baht (450 baht was the full price) which they agreed to. I dont think i ever would have done that at the beginning of my trip. They were from Finland. read more…
Day 46 – Bangkok to Phuket
A visit to the it mall was on the cards again after breakfast where I saw Mel and Hema and once again farewelled them. I took my laptop with me as I had to book a Phuket hotel and previous agoda iPhone experience had been poor (it wouldn’t let me pay!). At 9.40 the mall still wasn’t open so I sat in the S&P bakery aircon and used my truewifi that came with my phone simcard (great purchase btw). After much deliberation I had decided to go back to patong as most of the cheap accomodation was there and I actually liked the beach (even though there were prettier ones). Got the aok from Pauline to buy some gadgets (always need a sanity check in case it’s impulse) and headed upstairs to get the stuff. Managed to buy P’s Belkin ac anywhere but the 3g router store was still closed. Couldn’t wait around as I had to check out of my hotel room so decided to go back later.
