Sunday 29th April 2012

Our shuttle service collected us at 7:15am to take us to the airport.  Another boiling hot day but it was good to be in an air-conditioned car.  We got to the airport at about 8am and eventually boarded at about 10am and after a pleasant flight of about an hour, arrived in Phuket.  Our shuttle service was waiting for us and we were taken to Kata Beach Resort and Spa.  It took us about an hour and what a difference with the traffic here – certainly more normal.   After checking in we quickly changed and went down for a swim.  Dereck had a beer at the pool bar and I had an ice-cream sundae. 

We then went for a walk around the area and at 3pm had lunch.  We carried on walking and went down to see Kata Beach.  The beach is beautiful – lovely white sand with turquoise water.  Went back to the hotel but made a pit stop at the local supermarket and stocked up on some Beer and Bacardi Breezers for later!  Back at the hotel it started raining for about an hour which certainly made it cooler.

At 6:30pm we went out walking again and went to the tailor we found where he took my measurements for some shirts I am having made.  We then went to Café Opera to have supper where we both had Manama curry which was very tasty.  There was a local guy playing his guitar and singing which was most enjoyable. 

Saturday 28th April 2012 - Chatuchak Market

We left the hotel at about 10am, caught the tuk tuk down to the station and then caught the sky train to the Chatuchuk Market. This is a huge weekend market that sells absolutely everything, even pets! After wondering around there until 2:30pm with having a few rest periods, we left the market, caught the sky train and got off near the Central World Mall. We wondered around the mall for a while and then had lunch at a noodle bar. We shared a selection of starters which were rather tasty. After wondering around a bit more, I managed to find myself some new walking shoes and then we walked down the road towards our hotel. When a tum tuk drew up next to us offering us a ride, we took him up on the offer (having to pay of course) and got back to our hotel at about 5pm! We changed into our costumes and went to have a swim to cool off but it was like getting into a warm bath!! Anyway it was refreshing While Dereck caught up on his e-mails, I took a walk down our street which was getting really busy both by vehicle and people coming to eat. We will have an early night as we are being fetched at 7am tomorrow to go to the airport to go to Phuket. Photos to follow 😄

Friday 27 April 2012

Another boiling hot day with temperature at about 42⁰C.  We had breakfast at the hotel at about 9am and then caught the tuk tuk.  This guy offered to take us all the way to the river front area where we wanted to go to on condition that we went to a factory that makes clothes.  We knew the trick (but for his sake we agreed as he got free petrol).  At the shop they wanted to get us to have shirts and suits made.  It was tempting and I might still do it as the material is 100% cotton and really look well made & cheap

We got the river boat which was a long tail boat and Dereck and I were the only passengers.  Our ride lasted about 45 minutes and we were taken up the river and into the canals which was very interesting to see how some of the locals live right on the water edge with their house balancing on stilts and kids swimming in the water (which did not look very clean at all) and others fishing.  We got off at the Wat Pho stop and went to the Wat Pho which is a Buddist temple with the largest collection of Buddah’s and is also the home of the famous reclining Buddah.  Again it was absolutely boiling and both dripping with perspiration.

From there we walked back to the river and caught the boat and got off 5 stops further up the river and then walked to Chao San road.  We walked through an alley and found a restaurant called the Chada Café where we had lunch.  I had a tuna salad on fried chips (Thai meal) 

We then headed to Chao San road which is a huge market where you can buy anything and everything.  It is also a place where there are lots of back packers. 

We wanted to see China Town, so we caught a tuk tuk there.  I must say I was rather disappointed (compared to what I saw in San Fransisco) as there was really nothing of interest.

We caught a tck tck again and headed off to the MBK mall which is the busiest mall in Bangkok and is 6 floors high and again where you can buy absolutely everything you should desire.  Eventually at 7:30pm we had supper and then caught a tuk tuk back to our hotel, having been on the go for 10 hours.  I say again that this place does not cool down as even at 8pm we were still dripping with perspiration.  It was good to get back to our hotel to the cool and to relax after an interesting day.

 

Khao San Road

Wednesday/Thursday 26 April 2012

We had a good flight to JHB and then had to wait in queues going through customs.  After settling on the plane we were served supper at about 3pm (SA time) which was about 8pm Thai time.  At 11pm (SA time) we were served breakfast (4am Thai time).  We had a good flight and landed at about 6am (Thai time) which was about 1am SA time.  Both our bags had been tampered with, mine the lock completely removed (it was a brand new TSA approved combination one) and Dereck’s has been bent with the zip hook broken off.  Someone had certainly been looking into what we had as our things were all over the place!!!!  We had a hotel shuttle service waiting for us and were taken to our hotel – the Eastin, which is quite central.  The temperature was about 42⁰C and the sweat just poured off us.

We checked in and had a shower before heading off to explore.  We decided to walk to the big Computer/IT mall.  It was about 4 floors high with all types of electronics you could think of.  We then walked down the road to the local fashion mall which was 6 floors high and literally thousands of stalls selling all types of clothing you could possibly think of.  It was actually a relief being in the malls as they were certainly a lot cooler than outside!  We then headed further down the street to Central World which was another 6 floor mall, but this was a bit more upmarket.  From there we caught the sky train and made a couple of stops along the way and wandered around the area before going to the next stop.  At 2pm we walked back to our hotel, having been on the go for 4 hours.  It was extremely hot and the perspiration was literally dripping off us.  We relaxed a bit at the hotel before heading out again at 7pm to the Soi Cowboy area which is where all the go go bars are.  Had a drink at one of the go-go bars and went inside to escape the heat and it was full of naked pole dancers !! We had supper at “The Dutch House” on Soi Cowboy where they had a great menu catering for western food and Thai.  We then caught the train to Phang Phong which is the red light district where a lot of “ping pong” shows take place.  It is also a huge night market where we were offered plenty of shows to see (but didn't !!)  We finally go back to our hotel at 11:30pm and it was still about 35⁰C.  I don’t think this place gets cool at all.

 41 in the shade

 Taxi's are all bright colours

 Soi Cowboy

Tuk Tuk