The timeshare

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At 3.30pm was my appointment with the Timeshare people and to this end I wanted to request the sale of my timeshare and implore them to help me to sell it. This duly done with a worst case scenario presented to me if I had to hold on to it, I headed back to my room to prepare for the Owners Cocktail evening tonight to be held inside as it was still raining intermittently with an expectation of further rain.

I had no great expectation of meeting anyone in particular at the owners’ night, but knew they had wine there and I was hanging out for one, even without bubbles. The red they gave me was very mellow and thoroughly drinkable and while I stood like a dummy at the back I was aware of a man standing close by doing the same. As you would expect we commented on the evening and next thing I was in a conversation. The first one for several days.

He was originally from Karachi in Pakistan and married to a Californian lady who he met whilst she was volunteering to care for children with disabilities in Karachi many years previously. Up until two years ago they lived in Karachi with their two daughters, but have since set up home in California where he designs and builds houses, having previously been a lawyer. Included in their group was another couple from Karachi and the woman had attended school with him and their youngest daughters are best friends.

Aiysha is a teacher of literature in Karachi and says the money is very poor to teach in the schools so she teaches privately from home making more money with this option. Aiysha had a very strong philosophical belief about life and death, really admitting that you get on with this one and make the most of it. I made the comment when asked that my husband had died and her immediate retort was, “Well get another one! You can have mine if you want.” Her response was refreshing and we immediately liked each other. So now I was kidnapped, not being allowed to go home.

After the cocktails were over, we headed back to Zeb and Nancy’s rooms where more alcohol came out and we chatted on their deck for a couple more hours. I just assumed that from here I would go home, but not so. It seems that they had not had their tea. I explained that I had (but I hadn’t) and so about 10pm we were all bundled into a car that took us to another car that went back for the others and headed out to Kin Dee a local restaurant that I had eaten at the night before on my own and the only one in the restaurant at the time. Anyway, it was too late for them at Kin Dee and they had closed the kitchen so it was off to yet another local restaurant that these guys sussed out. Here Aiysha had ordered about six or seven dishes and rice as well as more Singha beer and we proceeded to talk and eat.

The interesting part about these people was that for one they all spoke perfect English as it seems Pakistan is a British colony. They were all Muslim except for Nancy who was Christian but alcohol flowed freely and without concern for the fact that Muslims are not supposed to drink. They said that they all know that but everyone drinks anyway. It seems the only thing they all agree with is they do not eat pork having been raised to believe that pigs are dirty animals. So all in all it was a very unique evening and if Aiysha and I find each other this morning before she leaves then we will catch up in Bangkok at the weekend….I hope I can hack the pace.

Today, Wednesday, I headed into town to pick up my British friends, Emma and Casper. We had arranged to meet at Central Festival and head back out to the timeshare. It was lovely seeing them again and they were looking quite tanned after having completed their advance diving courses and spending time snorkelling too. They are on holiday here in Thailand for six weeks and go home on Monday.

The rain came down and continued to come down intermittently for the remainder of our stay at Phuket. Even though it was not cold at all it meant there were activities that one did not want to do like spend time lying on the deckchairs in the rain. So we tried to make the most of things and did a couple of classes each. Emma and I did a Pilates on the Ball class and Animal towel making and Casper did a Mai Thai Boxing Class and we all did the Pilates and Yoga for beginners’ class. Yes I think we all feel we have exercised. For me it is a reminder that I have lost all my mid-rift flexibility and have set a goal of attendance at a Pilates classes on my return.

The first night we went to the English pub here and all of us decided to eat a more traditional English meal not with- standing the hamburgers Emma and I had. The pub was full of Australians it seems as a rugby league match between Queensland and NSW was on and there was only one point in it so there was much excitement and noise. Within a few minutes of the game finishing the pub emptied and we were better able to enjoy the evening there.

Casper and I had a game or two of pool and Emma learned how to hold the queue (cue) helping each of us to sink the balls. It was fun and Casper turned out to be a bit of a pro so it was hard to compete.

The last day we had a panic on about the purchase of the tickets for the overnight bus for Emma and Casper and had to take a trip to a bus station about 10 kilometres away. Once the language handicap was sorted a ticket of sorts was produced and we were able to relax. Instead of heading back to Phuket we continued to head north and decided to explore a bit and eat up that way. Fortunately we found a local restaurant and it turned out to be very cheap. Emma had a ginger chicken dish, I had a green curry chicken and Casper had a soup dish that he normally likes but today was a bit fishy although it was a chicken dish too. Still the cost was well worth it and for once I think we all thought we had left some money in our pockets.

Oh the night before we had been out too to celebrate a bit and I used two 1000baht vouchers I had been given and Casper topped up the leftover. So we budgeted for the meal and we bought two vodka cocktails to share amongst the three of us and an appetiser of chicken satay, followed by meals of our choice that we shared. It was a lovely evening and I am such a cheap drunk, so we all wandered back slowly to the timeshare, watched a rather gory dvd and went to bed. I think Emma and Casper have figured out that I can not sing. Emma has a lovely tuneful voice and she loves to sing a lot so we were well entertained.

This afternoon I had a lovely chat with my grand- daughter Shelbee who now owns an ipod and we were able to talk on Skype. Skype has made the world a much smaller place. Today there were 34 million people on Skype at the same time while Shelbee and I were talking.

I leave here in the morning and head back to Bangkok to start the last leg of my adventure in Cambodia and Vietnam. Emma and Casper will stay in Bangkok for a day or two before arriving back in London on Monday. You were great company guys and thank you for sharing some of your time with me.

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