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After departing India we did a complete 180 and headed to the opposite end of the spectrum… Thailand. We headed to Phuket where we had to overnight before catching the morning ferry to Phi Phi island. What a difference a day makes… we left India, a rather conservative country and ended up smack dab in the middle of hedonistic Phuket (Patong anyway). Phuket is the kind of island that has something for everyone, ranging from a nice family day at the beach … to partaking in some of the islands (not so) thinly veiled sex tourism industry and everything in between. In Phuket we were also re-introduced to the Thai “ladyboys,” (cross dressing, transgender thai men) who are readily available around the main tourist areas to service the needs of those with a more refined pallet… Patong is not bad and it has a nice beach but is not a quiet island getaway as the oceanfront and surrounding area is hotel after restaruarant after bar after hotel... it is a little more of a party spot than we had in mind so we only spent one night.
The next day we caught the morning ferry to PP and the island
Outside hotel
Not sure what the name of the tree is but they have all kinds of colors of these flowers throughout S.E. Asia. looked much the same as it did during our last visit… with just a noticeable increase in the amount of boats in the harbor. We checked into our hotel and spent the first day close to the room because Venny was still getting over a stomach bug she picked up in India but after that we settled in to enjoy the island. We did some hiking to the islands viewpoint, some snorkel trips, ate cheeseburgers (sometimes it’s the little things) and some excellent Thai food (Venny loves the pineapple shakes). While we were there we were also able to experience the Thai celebration of Songkran, which traditionally marked the Thai new year. During Songkran celebrations water is used to signify washing off the old (last year) and beginning anew with a fresh slate. During Songkran public streets are turned into roving water fights as crowds gather and splash each other with waterguns, buckets of water and (I think) a mixture of water and flour that they streak on your body… if you happen to be there for Songkran hide your electronics because they wet everyone indiscriminately and you just have to go with the flow. We only got caught in
the splashfest for a little bit and Venny got it worse than I did before we reached safety and watched for a while.
Other than some snorkeling trips, eating and some general relaxing we did not get much done on PP (which is a good thing). PP is the kind of place where you can roll out of bed, get something to eat, head to the beach… and just relax the day away before you know it. PP had changed some though since our last visit in 07… the damage from the 04 tsunami had been repaired, there were more people and prices had gone up. Because of a higher dollar value and less tourism in 07 we got to enjoy things on the cheap, but now the room prices at the hotel we visited last time had doubled (ouch) and the dollar has lost 25% of its value (double ouch) against the Baht. We did have a great time in PP but eventually had to pack our bags and move on to Khao Lak … which is the jumping off point for both the Surin and Similan islands… our next destinations and islands I have wanted to visit
for a few years now. I am working on the posts for those two and Surin and Similan are amazing… will post shortly.
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Evelyn
non-member comment
Love it
You both look great and very relax. I am so happy ya are having a great time.