Thailand

Maya Beach

Patong

From Singapore I took about an hour flight to Phuket.  I went to four different places in Thailand. Honestly, I had no idea what Phuket was like.  I had seen pictures of these beautiful rock islands and formation coming out of the water and expected to find this in Patong.   I booked a hotel that got rave reviews from Trip Advisor, which is a site I use that rates hotels.  I was picked up at the airport by their cab driver and taken to the hotel.  I was greeted at the hotel by a young Thai man and I paid for the room for one week in advance.  I walked into the room and it smelled musty and mildewy.  I went the bathroom and the toiled was dirtily.  The room was dingy to begin with.  I was very upset and the next day, I told them I wanted out.  I talked to the owner (an Australian) by cell phone and he let me out and gave me my money  back and actually paid for the night as well.

The next hotel was very nice and reminded of a Miami hotel.  It was actually cheaper at $39 a night and by far the best value of my whole trip.  Only draw back was it was on dusty road and a bit out of the way.  Patong, the city I stayed in Phuket is a bit like the wild west.  The bars are filled mostly with westerner as well as Thai girls that you can buy drink for or buy something more.  There are more bars than any place I ever seen in my life.   Since I don't really drink, I did not spend any  time in them.  Besides bars, there is a ton of shopping and a lot of cheap foot and regular massage places.  A foot massage is around $10 and I had a bunch of those.  A few regular massages and there was nice spa I went to, too.  I did a lot of window shopping and picture taking.  The food was good, especially the squid.  I also have a new favorite drink a watermelon and banana smoothie, which I had almost every day as it is terribly hot there
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Buddah At Restaurant Near Hotel

Street With Lots of Bars

Ronald McDonald in Traditional Thai Pose

Ubiquitous Massage Place

Me At The Fish Spa

Bar With Bar Girls

Fresh Fish (Not From Fish Spa)

Cat By Pool

Back of Mini Van Bar Hard Rock Hotel in Background

Street Bar Made Out Of Minibus

Night Food Street Vendor Area

Kiosk In Near Mall

Watermelon and Banana Smoothie

Phi Phi Island

My main interest in Phuket was going to see the exotic locations with the protruding rock formations.  I found out that there were several places to go to but I would have to take a ferry.  I took a cab ride to the port and boarded the ferry with around 200 other young people.  My destination was Phi Phi island.  For a young person, I would say that this area is pretty much the closest thing to paradise.  The are is absolutely beautiful and it is filled with bars and restaurants.  The are is made up of several Islands and if you want to see the real beauty, you need to take an excursion boat.  For around $15 or $20 I bought a ticket and took one of the greatest trips of my lives.  The boat was charming and the crowd were some young couples as well as some single girls.  I actually went with a couple of British girls I met.  The scenery was breathtaking as we headed to Maya Beach, where they mad the film "The Beach" starring Leonardo Decaprio.  The boat stopped in a few places to let us out to snorkel.  The water was clear and the fish looked like they were in an aquarium.   I hadn't snorkeled since I was very young.  I ran into a whole school of tropical fish and it was like being in a dream.  Later we went to a place where there were sea turtles and I was able to follow one for quite a bit and almost could touch it. 

For going to our main destination, Maya beach, we need to go over land a bit for a short hike.  The beach was not disappointing.  There were quite a few other tourists there but still quite beautiful.  The combination of the scenery, snorkeling and adventure could not be beaten.

Beach at Phi Phi Near Hotel

Boat To Maya Beach

Group Swimming To Maya Beach Path

  

Long Tail Boat Maya Beach

Incredibly Beautiful Maya Beach

Thai Boxing At Bar Phi Phi (Taken by Blackberry)

Noodle Making ( (Taken by Blackberry)

Tattoo Parlor ( (Taken by Blackberry))

Beach Night Life Phi Phi

Fire Dancers on Phi Phi Beach

Kamala Beach

When I returned from Phi Phi, stayed at a very nice resort in Kamala Beach which is north of Patong.  The resort was huge and the room was big as well and freshly decorated.  This was just a place to relax.  In the middle of the resort, they had a massage hut outside that I had a few massages at.  I think the massages were around $15.  I enjoyed eating on the beach especially the banana crepes, which they make at a stand.  I bought a new pair of eye glases and on the way to the store, I got pelted with water.  The it happened again.  As I walked along the road I found out it was Thai New Years also known as Songkram and the ritual is to throw water on people.  The idea behind this is that the water cleanses one of the past.  Luckily I had a swimsuit on but my Blackberry took a few hits and has not been the same since.  It was actually a lot of fun.  Later back at the hotel they had a ritual at the restaurant where you could pour water over the Buddhas shoulder for good luck.  I was able to do it and they gave me a string bracelet for participating. When traveling you can get lucky and run into to a local ritual.

 

Kamala Beach (Blackberry Photo)

One of The Many Pools at the Resort (Blackberry Photo)

Massage Hut At Resort (Blackberry Photo)

Beach Cafe (Blackberry Photo)

Banana Crepe (Blackberry Photo)

Tree House on Beach (Blackberry Photo)

Sokran Holiday Water Throwing (Blackberry Photo)

Sokran Holiday Children Water Throwing (Blackberry Photo)

Couple Taking Sunset Picture (Blackberry Photo)

Ko Samui

My last place in Thailand was on Island called Ko Samui.  The ship stopped at this spot.  I had wanted to go on an Elephant ride in Thailand and I had my Chance in Ko Samui.  I booked a tour at the pier and was taken in a van to the Elephant ride.  I enjoyed the trip through the jungle and held on for dear as he went down some steep grades going into the river.  The jungle was really beautiful.  The elephant and the guided both did not seem too happy.  After the ride, I got to feed another one bananas.  Right next to the elephant was a Buddhist shrine and a small waterfall where people swam.  My next stop on the tour was a famous rock formation.  I have been to Pu Pu springs, Phi Phi Island (pronounced pee pee) and now you will see the interesting shaped formation, that they call grandfather rocks.  I ended the Island trip with a foot massage for around $7.  The women spoke a little English and were very fun and friendly.  One of them, that was sitting around, got up and gave me a shoulder and neck massage while the other one gave me a foot massage.  They were not exactly fashion models, but they were so kind and good natured.  Something you don't find every day.

Me On Elephant Ride

Feeding Elephant

Monks Taking A Break

Grampa Rocks

My Massage Harem From Foot Massage Place