Day 51 & 52

Sunday

Today I’ve organised to go into Phuket Old town to the Night Market.

I did this with Som’s Husband, who is better know as ‘The Tiger King’ 😁

He did me an excellent price on the taxi there and back. 

Im not leaving till around 2pm so spend the morning doing Yoga, Planks (😩) collecting laundry, writing my blog, swimming. 

I also got chatting to a young Russian guy who is staying here. He has previously lived for a while in Chiang Mai so we chatted about how lovely Chiang Mai is and also the issues he’s having with trying not to return home to Russia, if he returns he will be conscripted into the army to fight a war he doesn’t believe in or want. It’s so hard. He keeps renewing his visa but I guess at some point he won’t be able to do that anymore. Although the Thai Government are helping Russian & Ukrainian tourists by not charging to renew/extend their visas and offering accommodation and help to those who are running out of money. They have also promised not to deport anyone without their consent. (Take note Priti Fucking Awful Patel!!)

After our chat he then asked if I wanted to buy some cannabis, which is now legal in Thailand! I politely declined. I guess that’s one way to bring in some ££. 😁

I walked round the corner at 2pm to grab my taxi, Som spoke to the young lad who is always around, I assume her son. He quickly sorted keys and Som told him what was required: Drop me off at the Old Town then pick me up again at 7.30. 

As we were driving I asked him if he was Som’s son? His name is Boss, I thought he asked about my family so I told him about Georgia, Grantley and Rebecca the next thing I know he’s slowed right down and is handing me his phone and Som is on there asking if everything is ok? I explained that I was just asking about Boss and his family, and telling him about mine! I hand back the phone I guess she translates everything to him. I think he thought I was asking him to stop to collect my family! 😂 He is so sweet, he is always the one told to drive me whenever I need a lift, or get me water, find the laundry man who is missing, he does whatever is asked with a smile. He reminds me of Grantley and how wonderfully helpful he is! 😍

It takes around 30 minutes to get to Phuket Old Town, Boss drops me at a large Temple with a big car park. We agree to meet back here at 7.30. 

The Old Town is great, lots of fabulous buildings, bright & colourful. There are galleries, street art, boutiques, bars, ice cream parlours and the Night Market. It’s wonderfully vibrant. A few of the shops are closed as it’s Sunday and I guess the focus is on the Night Market. 

I am pretty peckish and the smells of waffle cones cooking makes me want something sweet! I stop and have a delicious Caramel Frappe!! And watch the market being set up and the people wandering by. 

The place I stopped at looked quite small and when I asked for the toilet they pointed towards the back, there were 2 large archways, which I had thought were the end of the building, but they were open to a larger area behind, it really threw me for a second, like I was walking into a wall or doing a Harry Potter Platform 9 3/4s ! 😂😂 The Café is huge and beautiful. I may come back later. 

The Market is starting to pick up now and my plan is to buy some street food and have a wander. 

There are so many food places, unfortunately for me the majority of them are selling sea food or pork based food 😕 neither of which I like. 

I grab some fresh mango and eat it in a shady little park, built for Thailands previous Queen SiriKit.

When I head back into the market there is a large group of young school  pupils collecting money for charity. One young girl is talking into a microphone asking for donations, she does such a good job, in English, that I stop and pop 20baht into the collection box at which point every single one of them cheer, and say thank you in unison! It’s so loud it makes me jump! Some guy takes a picture, another young girl shouts over the microphone “Thank you for your kind a loving heart’ everyone turns to look 👀 , more pictures are taken! Seriously, it was mad and very funny!! 😂😂 For some reason their response made me think of Minions!!

Whilst I’m here I also take the opportunity to look at a Hotel I’ve seen online. I have 3 nights not booked at the end of my stay, my choice is to either extend my stay at my last hotel or possibly move inland to the Old Town. The hotel is very pleasant, right in the heart of the Old Town. It has a small pool (a must for me, as I’m now such an avid swimmer! Plus it’s soo hot) the price is similar to the other place. I’m torn. Not sure what to do?  I think I’ll wait to see what my new hotel is like first. 

I stop to have a beer break as the sun is still out and it’s hot, hot, hot! 🥵

The Sun has dropped quite a bit now and the market is packed! I grab a couple of items, and just enjoy the hustle and bustle. They have a couple of great areas for children to make painting or candles. They are very busy. 

The food looks amazing, Rebecca would love all the seafood!! 

As I’m walking I spot a group of young guys all wearing great outfits, but particularly fab shoes! I love a group shoe picture, so I ask them if I can take one! They are all American and whilst looking at me a little strangely they are too polite to refuse 😂😂 I take the picture, say thanks and walk away leaving them looking bemused. 

I head back to the Temple and find Boss, it appears that he has just stayed in Phuket the whole time, I hope he did something fun. 

It was really fun going to Phuket, I loved being able to mooch around, need to remember this when deciding about which hotel to choose. 

I am starving, as I didn’t eat anything other than Mango, so head to the Siam Restaurant and opt for Thai Chicken fried rice, it’s nice but a little bland, wish I’d had the chicken biriyani or a Massamam. Hey Ho, there’s always tomorrow.

I read some more of my book, it’s the book club choice and it’s excellent and horrid at the same time; ‘American Dirt’ by Jeanine Cummins. I highly recommend it. 

Sorry Rebecca, couldn’t face the Netflix thing tonight.

Monday 

Thought I’d have a chilled day today. 

Spent the morning in the pool and reading then thought I’d walk down to the beach, the tide is extremely high today, so no walking along the beach to get to my favourite bar, it’s a road walk. It’s actually really nice because so many people say morning and wave at me now! 

When I get to Silmie’s there is literally no beach, only a few tables out. It’s around 12.30 and the tide is due to turn around 1.30.

It was actually really sad, the amount of rubbish and debris in the water and being bought onto the beach is the worst I’ve seen. Unbelievable amounts of plastic in all shapes and forms, fishing ropes and nets, shoes, also plastic, bottles, bags, not to mention the micro plastic and nurdles, which get lost in the sea of waste. 

As the tides recedes I collect some larger items, which will just washed out again. It feels pretty futile to be honest. You could beach clean all day every day and not make a difference. 

The guys at the bar rake and collect all the debris in front of their place, but not either side, it’s done as a business decision, to make their bar more attractive, not because they want to protect the environment. I guess they have bigger issues, trying to make a living for themselves and their families. 

It’s really quiet at the beach today, I stayed till around 4.30 and very few people had stopped for lunch etc. 

it is the low season, and it is definitely busier at weekends. 

This whole area has been so badly hit by COVID restrictions and now again by the war in Ukraine, as Russian tourists have stopped coming. 

Things will pick up from October/November 🤞🤞 

I go back to the hotel and enjoy the pool to myself, again! 

The little cat I fed has taken to following me from the hotel to whatever restaurant I go to, miaowing all the way and drawing everyone’s attention. 😸😻 

She followed me to the Indian where I had a delicious Chicken Biriyani and finished my book, ‘American Dirt’ Probably not the best idea to finish it whilst in public! It made me really cry at several points. 

Early night as I have a day trip tomorrow to the Phi Phi Islands! ❤️

Big Love ❤️