16th – 18th January 2015
We took a two hour ferry journey from Phi Phi to Phuket. We needed to visit a Thai immigration office to find out the definitive information regarding a Thai visa extension should we need it. (we had been given varying contradictory information about the new rules) We also needed to complete our Indian visa application forms online, get 2×2 photos taken, and print off copies of various documents. We basically planned to use our two days there for office admin. We didn’t expect to get much out of Phuket as we thought it would be touristic and a ‘kiss me quick’ kind of place. We were pleasantly surprised that where we stayed there were not that many western tourists; probably because we were not near a beach. We took some time out of our admin day to walk to the old town and to try some local food on grubby little stalls in the their food market at night. Grubby, cheap and very good as always.
Thalang Road, in the old town.
Old colonial buildings in Thalang Road
Our area of Phuket had a Chinese feel about the place. Staying in a hotel run by a Chinese family helped. The young man (We assumed he was the son) who was on the reception desk was a really helpful friendly guy. Unfortunately however, he had the sort of sniff that gave you the impression that he must surely be slowly drowning himself with each deep throaty nasally-swallow. Not sure if you know what I mean, probably best you don’t. Anyway like I said a lovely chap! We will also remember him as ‘the eater’ as every time we walked through reception he was eating. Even he became aware of it and was very self-conscious. (chuckle) I think we could write a sitcom about the various characters we have met working in or running hotels in Asia….. Yes we did come across a character like Manuel in a homestay in Sanur, Bali during our last trip to Asia. It is their custom that states younger people should bow down lower than an older person and this can be amusing to see when we are sitting down and a younger person tries to bow down lower than us as they go by. It is endearing and they are very respectful. However having said that, it is a bit hurtful to be seen so readily as older when we are feeling so young at heart here. (chuckle)
Random odd vehicles
I always think it’s a shame that all of the mannequins we have seen in the shops in Asia are white western style models. Goodness knows where this scary one is from however.
We walked by an opticians that seemed very much like any opticians you might see in England, however as we looked in through the window we could see that it was full of Monks in Orange robes trying on glasses. (Chuckle) No matter how western these places look it is always obvious just how different they really are if you make time to take a closer look.
A little afternoon treat, freshly made banana roti.
While my tour guide, money changer, safety officer and general all round travel companion extraordinaire filled in and printed off our Indian visa application forms in an Internet Cafe I amused myself by looking at the difference in their keyboards that had Thai characters on the keys. Bored? Of course I wasn’t bored (wink)
Visa documents complete we took our Tenth flight in three months, back to where it all started last October; Bangkok Indian Embassy here we come.
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