Phuket Frenzy

Welcome to the beach!!!

Phuket Provide, March 12 -17, 2009

So…we arrived here a bit later than originally planned. I wish I could claim I had no part in the error, but the error was wholly mine. Once we were back in Chiang Mai waiting to catch the next day’s flight down to Phuket, I logged into my email to check the times and said to Jon, in all sincerity, “Why do our tickets say the 10th?” (It was the 11th). I was waiting for a mini-explosion, a huge incursion of fees, and the possibility of even further delays to get to the beaches. Having spent a significant amount of time in the North, we were ready to see something different. To his credit, he remained pretty calm and I promised I would take care of it - apparently he’s not very good at dealing with airlines - so I spent the next morning seeking out Thai Airways and trying to clean the mess up. They recommended we go to the airport and try standby and thank-goodness for only $15 we were able to get on the flight! He relaxed significantly, and ordered two boat drinks at the airport bar to celebrate the victory.

Like a Pheonix rising from the ashes (or the ocean) it did not take Phuket Province long to recover from the 2004 Tsunami. You really could not tell how badly it was hit, and the beaches were already back to their mega-chains, suit shops, and lady boy bars. And there was a Dunkin Donuts in the airport, and apparently that’s a clear sign of development in the right direction!


Our time in Phuket was mixed, I’d have to say. The beaches are white sand and the water is turquoise, but the island itself is huge and really built up. We stayed on Kata beach, which is slightly less developed, but if you’re looking for a party Patong is the place. Between the lady boys and the odd bars full of nothing but Thai women, it wasn’t my favorite place, but it was worth seeing. Put it this way, sex on the beach isn’t just a drink in Patong, we actually saw a couple going at it around 1am and another couple was recently arrested for the same activity (in broad daylight).

Sunset action!

Once you leave the craziness behind, it is a beautiful spot. We took a speedboat trip to Koh Phi Phi and the famous Maya Bay, inspiration for the book/film “The Beach.” Water really does not get more beautiful than it was on the Gulf of Thailand and Mai Tais taste much better out of a fresh pineapple! Also, we were able to visit the Gibbon Rehabilitation Center and learn about these amazing animals. Seeing as I’m traveling with “the missing link” it was a mandatory stop. The Center rescues mistreated pets or street performers and attempts to pair them up with a mate and eventually releases them back to the wild. Since gibbons are 100% monogamous and live isolated from other gibbons once they mate and form a family, the Center helps pair up likely couples to rebuild the wild gibbon population.




Me channeling my inner monkey

After Kata and Patong, we went to Ao Nang and Rayleigh beach where I experienced one of the highlights of the trip: rock climbing while overlooking the Gulf of Thailand! I was a bit worried that I’d lost all my strength after not climbing for 3 weeks and tentatively approached the first climb. Invigorated by the ocean breeze and my guide Jane’s encouragement I was soon sending so many climbs I should’ve worked for UPS! J I also met another girl from Norway, and we ended up meeting up again in Koh Tao, so all in all a very fun day. Jon didn’t join me for the climb, but considering he ended up on an island playing with monkeys, I think he was happy. Next stop, the islands!!