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Phuket is Thailand's largest island and apparently the most touristy place in Thailand too. What we've noticed so far is that there doesn't seem to be any middle ground here. Stuff is either really cheap and a bit dodgy or expensive and nice. There are no standard hotels like we are used to, there is either cheap hostels or expensive luxury hotels. (Not that we mind hostels). Having said all this we had a lovely meal on our first full night in Phuket in Karon Bay. (Really cheap tasty fresh seafood and an amazing cocktail in a pineapple). After the meal we wandered karon as our waiter mentioned we should visit the night market on the beach, on our way we ended up in an Aussie bar ( so matt could watch the football!!) then played pool with the staff (team pip won).
From karon we decided to head up to Patong for a few days, experiencing our first tuk tuk. Our sleeping pattern is still super out due to the time difference, hopefully it will correct itself soon and we both stop waking at 2am (7pm uk time) wide awake and starving hungry!
Here is some information about Thailand based on what we've seen so far...
- There are only 4 professions in Thailand: Masseuse, tuk tuk driver, tailor and general crap seller. The rest of the jobs, like builders, waiters, police and hygiene inspectors seem to be performed by unskilled labourers.
- Bald middle aged men are worshipped as gods by the Thai women, as witnessed when we saw a group of 4 violently fighting over 2 of them.
- People drive on the left side of the road here but that's the only traffic law. A red traffic light means keep going but just put your hazard lights on.
- Hostel photographers are camera wizards, somehow able to make a swampside dump look like a 5 star resort.
- Shop/stall owners will rip you off if they can, here is an example of a typical trade: (Pip buying bikini)
Pip: how much?
Shop Owner: 900 baht
Pip: 300?
SO: no, 500 minimum
Pip: 300?
SO: no 400
Pip: never mind
SO: ok 300 (£6)
Apologies for the lack of pictures, there hasn't really been much to photograph as we like to get scenery rather than our ugly mugs. Steve, we've managed to get a photo of some boob, albeit a wall statue, as a stopgap until we find the postcard you want. We'll hopefully get more pictures in the next place we're heading, Krabi. We were going to go to Koh Phi Phi but reviews of it being an overdeveloped overpriced new Magaluf put us off. Shame as the scenery looks fantastic. I hope I'm not over-generalising when I say that the Thai people don't really know how to preserve anything nice. Most are out for a fast buck. There is too much competition for everything which may lead to occasional low prices but it also means poorly run and probably unsafe. E.g. PADI open water course - £25... no thanks. Here's hoping Krabi is not like Phuket.
Pip has been a little bit eaten by Mosquitos tonight. Knowing that I'm usually their favourite dish I forked out on some safari strength stuff which I've nicknamed mosquito nuke. It seems pretty effective, anything small that comes within a 3 metre radius melts instantly and according to the warning on the bottle that includes children too. She foolishly opted for Jungle Formula tonight as she said my stuff was "burning her".
The hostel we're staying in is nice, though it is right next to a river/swamp which looks like you would dissolve if you ever fell in.
Our first experience of clothes washing didn't go too well. We thought we would save a meagre £1 by doing it ourselves in the hostel only for the sun to disappear when we wanted to dry them. Ah well.
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