Phuket

Phuket, Thailand

Yesterday we arrived in Phuket and so this morning have sorted out the internet connection for the room. On our last full day in Hong Kong we went to Stanley market which is a very tourist orientated market selling mostly exactly what we had seen in China at inflated prices. They did seem to get a bit upset with our China learnt bargaining skills as at one point we were told to go back there. We bought a few little bits but more importantly another small suitcase to get everything home. I have a bit of a cold which has slowed us down a bit. Yesterday we flew to Thailand. There weren’t many people on the flight making us think it would be quiet. Oh no, not the case. A few seats behind us were a couple of toddlers who persisted in a crescendo of screaming each time they were made to sit still. When their noise subsided it allowed us to hear the man from Hong Kong with the heaviest runny nose who snorted at 5 second intervals for the entire 3 hour flight. There was a wall of heat that hit you when you got off the plane and it was only a short drive to the hotel, which is incredible. When we arrived they put bracelets of orchids around our wrists and they escorted us to reception. Whilst booking in they provided us with cold towels and gave us freshly made fruit cocktails. Our room is beautiful and I’ll get Amy to put a picture of it on. We look out over the Lagoon and only have to walk about 100 yards to get to the beach. We had a short walk round yesterday and came across the hotels baby elephant called Yum Yum. At the time he was just returning from a dip in the sea and was playfully rolling in the sand. After posing for a few photos he decided he needed a shower. He rolled on the tap with his trunk and then stood in the water whilst his handler put a hose in his mouth for a well earned drink. Apparently, the hotel has two elephants, the other of which no doubt works just as hard for a living. Today we plan to sit on the beach. Amy thought she might have a pedicure or a massage, or both. We are going to meet with the Kuoni rep to see what else there is to do as I fancy the elephant trek, but we’ll see how energetic we feel. Rob