Thursday
Today I’ve decided to head into town to Boat Avenue and have a proper look around. I’ve been there twice with Rebecca and Chris and both times it was absolutely chucking it down!
It’s also a way of hopefully staying out of the sun for today.
There is also a “Walking Street” which I’d like to visit.
Boat Avenue is an area of restaurants, shops, bars and supermarkets that is quite upmarket and caters for all of the more wealthy locals and foreign residents as well as tourists.
The shops are gorgeous but soo expensive 😬 I found another supermarket that is bigger than the one we’ve/I’ve used before, it has lots of imported products and a huge cheese room! 😃🧀 I spent a pleasant 1/2 hour wandering around in the cool!
The only downside to this supermarket was the couple of young lads outside, manning the covid sanitation and temperature check area (this is optional ) I asked them if the knew where the “walking street” was and one of them said I didn’t want to go there, not good, I was like ok, thank you for your advice and opinion but I’d still like to know where it is and he just said no, I laughed, asked again where it was and he again said no! I said are you seriously not going to tell me and laughing he said no! By now I’m getting a bit pissed off tbh. He continued to refuse to tell me so I said, that’s fine I’ll go in and ask your boss and explain that you are being a dick! I marched into the store and searched for a manager, feeling irrationally fucked off, I found a manager/supervisor and asked them where the “walking Street” was, he didn’t really understand me, so I continued my search for a senior member of staff, which I eventually found and they did understand me, and told me where I could find the “Walking Street” by now I’m a lot calmer and I can see the guys outside have come into the shop and are looking a little worried, I chat to the manager some more, and look over at them, kind of point in their direction, they look more worried, I thank the manager and walk away, having not mentioned the lads and their dickish behaviour at all, but they don’t know that! 😂 I’ll just leave them to sweat a little; fuckers!
The rest of the complex by this supermarket is very fancy, I went into an amazing Crystal shop which had some huge Geodes, but things that I’ve never seen before, I so wanted to take pictures, but I was being followed around very closely by the owner!
I saw a couple of things/signs that really made me think of Nikki!! Who would love this shopping area. 😍
I had a really good look around everything, lots of great restaurants, cafes etc, it sadly most of them really quiet.
At my next hotel, there is a free shuttle to and from this area, so perhaps I’ll try more eating places then.
For now I grab a few essentials from the less fancy supermarket, biscuits, bananas and Cat Treats! Then go to a French restaurant I visited with Rebecca and Chris, I go here mainly because, I know the food is good, but also it’s busy and that makes for a more enjoyable experience for me, when I’m on my own, I can people watch.
I am actually really hungry by now, and so end up ordering a Truffle Croque -Monsieur it arrives looking amazing! Loads of fab melty cheese, truffle, ham! 😋
I only managed to eat 1/2 of it, it was yummy but so rich and as I haven’t really been eating cheese or dairy I just couldn’t manage it all, I thought about bringing it home, but knew that I simply wouldn’t fancy it cold later! 😬 annoying, as I hate wasting food & money!
I grab a taxi and head back. Just a word on the taxis, wow! They are super fancy inside, they are Toyota People carriers and inside are beige leather, with full air con, music, fancy ceilings! And it’s a flat price, which actually is great if there are a few off you, not so great when you’re on your own!
This is a another annoying factor to traveling alone, and why the Songthaews in Chiang Mai where such a great idea, cheaper and you could share the ride.
Once back at the hotel I jump straight in the pool, which by late afternoon is in the shade.
I don’t end up having any dinner as the lunch has left me feeling stuffed! Although I did manage to demolish an entire packet of biscuits…Caramel Palmiers (OMG my new favourite thing!)
I watched a film on Netflix: ‘A Simple Favour’ with Blake Lively & Anna Kendrick, I read the book last week, which I kind of enjoyed but didn’t like the ending at all, so thought I’d see if the film was any good. It was, enjoyable, bit silly, but a much better ending than the book. 👍
Friday
Today started with a nice bit of Yoga! I’ve decided to try and start my morning with a Yoga Salutation, I do the Moon one as I prefer it to the Sun one. (Not sure if this is allowed? 😬) I have also started doing a Plank every day. I did this during Lockdown and got quite good. Then a nice swim in the pool, before the sun is fully on it!
I’m going to visit the gym I spotted yesterday, not to,do anything you understand just to look! 😂 it’s a huge MMA & Mauy Thai gym, which looks amazing. I went, it is bloody huge and looks really professional.
The gym is right next to ‘Arinara’ my ‘Day’ Hotel Handy.
I did my usual thing, grabbed a towel, went to pay my 100bht and the guy asked me for a room number, I said I’m wasn’t staying there and he then said I had to pay 300bht to use the pool and spend on food/drink. I explained that I’d been coming for a few days and that I always bought food and drink anyway, he was looking over towards the bar and said that his big boss was there, when the big boss moved away a little he said, no worries just give me 100bht!! Yeah!! 👍
Spent a lovely afternoon by the pool, under the shade or sitting reading in the shade at the swim up bar 😍
It’s been around 34 degrees today, which is pretty much the same as parts of the UK, which is ridiculous and scary.
I’m heading round the corner to book some trips with the guys that I’ve chatted to and used for taxis and Tuk Tuks.
The lady who organises the trips is called Som, which means Orange, Jen the manager at the hotel told me her name and she was very surprised when I greeted her by name 😍 She is so lovely. She got very upset on my behalf because one of my trips charges an extra 100bht to collect from Bang Tao. She then discounted my day trip to the Phi Phi Islands by 800bht! Which is a huge discount, she says the trips are run by her friend. So kind. While I was sitting organising everything, her husband and son both bought me bottles of water, asked if I was ok? They are all lovely. 💖
So all the trips booked, everything should be great if the weather holds, I’ve checked and it all looks OK 🤞
I had dinner at the hotel restaurant, and ordered a Beer, when he bought it over, I said, sorry I didn’t order a Tonic Water. He explained that todays is the Thai Quuens birthday, so no alcohol sales allowed, so my beer has been cunningly disguised in a Tonic Water Can! Love it!! 😍😍
Saturday
Not had a great nights sleep, the bed here is very hard, and I think lying on my side reading and sleeping makes my hip hurt 😞
I also had weird dreams; (Adele and I are now good friends, and she’s doing a gig at the Coffee Shop!!! I bloody wish that were true 😂😂)
I woke up at 1.30 and couldn’t get back to sleep for ages.
Still not really much to complain about.
Another morning Yoga and plank session, a swim and I’ve decided to spend the day at the beach.
I had a lovely chat with Nikki who was having a day of rest and relaxation! The chat was followed by a day’s WhatsApp banter, always hysterical, Nikki & Jenna really are a little bonkers, but like Alice said all the best people are!! 🙃
I also had lovely chat with Anne and WhatsApp catch-ups with Hayley and Sandra.
I know I’ve said this before but the Beach Bar is so so fabulous. The guys all work incredibly hard. When I arrived the tide was very high, so very few tables, sun beds out. They rush around, flattening sand, moving tables, clearing rubbish, serving people! Tonight they are doing a Fire Show, which we saw when Rebecca and Chris were here, but due
to the tides and the wind they are going to have to move the big wooden double swing set.
This involved 6 of the guys digging out the Swing, then digging 2 more very deep holes, one of which halfway down had lots of netting and wood buried, so then that needed digging out and clearing. They were using 2 old tools and a coconut shell, no measuring.
The holes were eventually finished, the swing hoiked out and lifted back 6ft where it fitted perfectly into the new holes and was then buried and voilà! I gave them a huge round of applause, they all took a bow. Impressive. 👍👍
I really enjoyed my day at the beach today very chilled and fun.
I got some pics with Charlie one of the waitresses who is always checking I’m OK. ❤️
Back to my hotel and a lovely long swim in the pool. 20 Lengths.
Dinner at the Indian restaurant, but I had Thai food, a yummy Penang Curry. Then I tried to watch more of ‘I just killed my Dad’ on Netflix but kept nodding off! Rebecca I will finish it in a day or 2!
That’s it for now.
Stay Cool, use sunscreen, drink lots of water!
Hereandthereclaire.com 