Hi, my name is Claire and I am 60 years young, welcome to my blog. I am new to the whole travel and blog writing world, so no judging!
I recently made some big life changes, leaving my job in education and moving myself and my younger children to Newquay in Cornwall, I then started a business with some fantastic friends #coffeeonthecornernewquay. And now I am about to embark on my first big travel adventure...I would love to share this with you.
Since starting this blog in 2018 I have made more changes, and now in 2024 I will be traveling full time for the next year!
Please join me in sharing my Big Adventure! ❤️
Having finally arrived at my lovely hotel; Somwang Boutique Hotel.
I am so pleased to see that it hasn’t changed and even more pleased to learn that this year they have opened the little restaurant and breakfast is included in my costs! 😍
My room is lovely and I off load my bags, unpack a few essentials and have a much needed cold shower.
It’s now early evening and I figure I will be asleep very soon, so head off to my favourite eating place ‘Kats Kitchen’
Initially it looks the same but after sitting down and being greeted by the lovely staff (who remember me from last year!) I realise that they have expanded.
Last year the restaurant was next door to a motorcycle hire shop and one evening when they were full they produced a table and chair and stuck me on the forecourt of said shop! (See picture attached) now they have taken over the shop and updated the outside and the motorcycle hire shop is across the road!
It looks great and has made the whole place massive. I’m so happy that they are doing so well as it’s a fabulous place to eat.
I order spring rolls, a Northern Thai classic of Khao Soi and a Singha beer, it’s delicious! Total 220 baht approximately £5 Happy days.
I then head back and climb into my lovely bed!
I’m woken up by someone talking really loudly outside, I’m not impressed, so selfish to do this in the middle of the night, before I go and tell them to shut up I check the time, it’s 8.30pm! 😂 I get back into bed and go back to sleep, I’m woken again a little later by someone trying to get into my room, I shout hello, they apologise, go next door to their own room and I go back to sleep again!
I then don’t wake up till 7.30 am and feel quite rested but chilly. The problem is the air conditioning, which the guy put on when he showed me to my room and it’s very cold! I was too tired to figure it out last night but this morning I manage to turn the fan off and the temperature up, which makes it less noisy and a lot less artic! So much for cryogenic Claire! I think the heat at home the last week has helped me acclimatise 😂
It’s around 32 degrees and humid, but somehow doesn’t feel as hot as it was last year, or as hot as Hertford felt last week 🥵
I amble down to the new, fancy, breakfast area, it’s lush! Breakfast is buffet with cooked as well. I have yummy fruit and an egg on toast with a cup of tea (how very English)
It’s so handy having breakfast included as it will start my day off well, not to mention saving me money on food etc.
it’s very tempting to make big plans for my day but I try and remind myself that I’m here to relax and I have plenty of time to do everything, so for today I just head out for a little stroll, which I manage to do at Midday, mad dogs etc! 😂
It’s so lovely to be back in Chiang Mai, I really do like to vibe here, relaxed and calming.
After my wander I treat myself to a wonderful foot massage OMG! It’s the absolute best thing ever 1hr for £6 and worth every penny. Heavenly.
I walk back to the hotel and go for a swim, chat to a lovely Irish couple Kira & Andrew. Then it’s dinner at Kats Kitchen, tea, bed!!
A perfect first day.
Books read so far 1.
The Ladies Room by Carolyn Brown. A prime free one. It’s was OK.
After a slightly disappointing Lounge experience at Terminal 2, I’ve been in there before but now it’s a little shabby, they charge for premium drinks and food options are limited. Still it is a great deal easier and probably cheaper than hanging around and eating and drinking in the airport. I chilled for a while then It was time to walk the 350 miles to my Gate!
I arrived in plenty of time for a very relaxed, calm boarding procedure! Hats off to Singapore Airlines. I had pre selected an aisle seat, as I like to wander around a lot and hate being hemmed in, my seat was great, the food was ok, the film I watched was good; “Living” with Bill Nighy. Then it was nap time, I did struggle to sleep properly and got restless legs early on, but think I ended up dozing for around 6hrs which is miraculous for me! (Thanks Marsha!)
We landed in Changi Airport in Singapore exactly on time, well done again Singapore Airlines. The airport here is one of the best in the world and as I’m going to be here for so long, I’d done some research and knew they had a pool, gardens and other entertainment options.
I was still feeling a little tired and discombobulated but had a slow stroll through Terminal 3 then took the Sky Train to Terminal 1 to track down the pool!
OMG! Well, what a bloody marvellous sight to behold, an outdoor rooftop pool with a bar, changing rooms, towels with entry at £15 which I think is worth every penny!
I had a fabulous swim, cooled down and stretched my muscles; Heaven 😍 It’s busy but not super crowded, the music is great, the air is fresh, the bourbon is cold! Joy. ❤️
I managed to while away 4hrs, swimming and chilling.
I then had a little mooch around, popped into Tiffany, not sure they were thrilled with my slightly crumpled, frizzy haired, pyjama wearing look! 😂
Then I checked into my lounge and hour early to try and get some rest. Unfortunately there were no reclining chairs, only the massage chairs which were taken! But I had a glass or 2 of bubbles and curled up in a chair and snoozed for approximately an hour before being woken by the guy cleaning the food area. I moved to a far corner of the lounge, curled up again, drifted off to then be woken again by power tools and hammering!! It was now 3am! 😬 I grabbed a cup of tea, and a slice of toast as I was starving and tried again. Finally gave up at 5am, when I had to leave the lounge!
The airport was lovely and quiet and I made my way the 1000 miles to my boarding gate! (Why are my gates always so bloody far away!) Where everything was calm and serene, this serenity continued on the flight which was half empty and quick, 2hrs.
Finally I arrived in Bangkok! Yippee 🥳
What is it about approaching the customs check that makes you believe that you’ve somehow acquired a criminal record, forgotten to obtain all your necessary paperwork or inadvertently picked up a kilo of cocaine since you last checked your bag!! 😂 suffice to say I sailed through to find my case straight away, result!
Next bit was to find the free shuttle to take me to the correct airport….nailed it!!
As an explanation, for this, I thought I had booked my connecting flight to Chiang Mai from the large Suvarnabhumi International airport, where I landed only to discover 4 days ago that actually I had somehow managed to book it from the smaller Don Muang airport across the other side of Bangkok! Luckily I had enough time between flights to commute between airports.
On the shuttle bus I Chatted politics to a lovely Australian guy called Richard the whole way, fun.
I had checked in online, so simply dropped my bags off, breezy!
A 3 hr wait, a 2hr flight, a 20min taxi ride and I should be at my first destination and my first bed since Sunday night.
I hit a wall! About an hour before the final flight and I literally can’t keep my eyes open! Sooo tired 🥱
The final leg is a doddle, only an hour and I snoozed most of the way (pretty sure I dribbled at some point! Classy) as it’s a domestic flight collecting luggage and leaving the airport were speedy, I’m in a taxi to the hotel and arriving at the hotel inside 30mins. 👍
After 40hrs of traveling I am finally at my first destination!
So, here we are again, another year and another blog from me!
I can’t quite believe it’s been 9 months since my last post.
What a turbulent and difficult winter/spring we’ve had: Energy crisis, cost of living crisis, climate crisis, Tory crisis, ongoing Brexit crisis! In short a bit of a shit show.
I decided to go back to Thailand again this year. This was for several reasons: it’s beautiful, the people are lovely, the food is amazing and it’s Cheap! 😃 I also found it incredibly relaxing last year, which I needed and definitely need again this year.
As I’m visiting the same country, I’ll try not to bore you all with the same stuff. I will be visiting different parts of Thailand, although to begin with I will be back in beautiful Chiang Mai, staying at the same hotel, possibly even the same room! 😂 I find it quite reassuring knowing where I’ll be and what to expect. I also plan to travel to different areas later in my trip.
I left Newquay a week ago and have been staying in Hertford and Stevenage catching up with all my lovely friends and family (unfortunately I didn’t get to see everyone!)
Thank you to Tish & Ken, Hayley and Tracey & Jaques for looking after me, plying me with beautiful food & drink, driving me places, letting me use your cars and generally being awesome 😍It means the world to me.
I am currently sitting in the lounge at Terminal 2waiting for my Flight to Singapore. I managed to get a great deal on my flights, perhaps because I have a 12hr layover in Singapore 😬Singapore airport is fantastic, so my plan is to go to the butterfly garden (yes, they really do have one) walk around the gardens, go for a swim the the last 5 hours will be spent in a lounge trying to get some sleep before my onward flight to Bangkok.
I booked an onward flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai several months ago and then discovered on Wednesday that my onward flight is from a different airport!! 🤦♀️ Luckily for me I have 6hrs between flights which should be enough time to get to Don Mueang airport by free shuttle or a taxi! I will finally arrive in Chiang Mai on Wednesday afternoon I hope.
Right guys, that’s it for now. Once I get settled in Chiang Mai I will start blogging more regularly.
Have a great evening.
I’m not going to add pics to this as the WiFi is a bit pants here!
It’s so very different! You board first through a different door, a door I’ve always wanted to go through!
On this flight there’s no 1st class so I’m top fucking Dog seat A1! Oh yeah!
It’s so amazingly different. Massive seats, i can do a Star shape without bothering anyone! Huge screens, loads of leg room, storage, fleecy fancy blankets, water, a Diptyche toiletry pack! Lounge wear made by “The White Company”
Even the windows are bigger!
Then I have a glass of Tattinger Rose Champagne! Oh yes! My first Champagne in 3 months, heaven. It comes with a nice hot towel!
More Champagne, Obviously!
I’m asked about my dinner options! My wine choices!
Whatever happens I’m eating and drinking my way through this flight!! I have 6 hours to recover in Gatwick!
Damm I’m going enjoy this Ride!! I feel I earned it!
It’s refreshing to note that I’m not the only virgin Business Class flyer! I end up being the designated photographer for everyone!! 😂
I’m a little bit giddy with it all!
We leave approximately 40 minutes late but seriously I dont give a shit!!
We Taxi to the runway for what seems like ages? Which is a tad annoying as they took my Champagne away for Take off!!
Take off also feels different when you are at the very front of the plane. Smoother and less scary, but to be fair that might be the Champagne!
We are airborne!
After take off they bring me more Champagne and Nuts, which are warm, I kid you not!
I’m going to watch Top Gun: Maverick, even though I’m still pissed off with Tom for ruining Jack Reacher! I mean really, Tom’s 5ft nothing and Jack Reacher is a foot and a half taller & built like a brick shit house! It was never going to work! Anyway, I’ll put this aside for now.
Dinner is about to be served so movie postponed for a bit.
I’m now thinking that it’s a shame this flight is only 7hrs, imagine the fun I could have in Business Class over 12hrs! 😂
The food is amazing! I get a white linen table cloth, little individual salt and pepper shakers! Real cutlery!
More Champagne.
I’ve ordered a chicken curry and it’s yummy!
If only I could fly like this every time! 😪
I’ve drank & eaten so now I either watch Tom or get some sleep? Let’s see how it goes.
The food is delicious.
Once I’ve eaten the excitement and Champagne take their toll and its sleep time!
The absolute joy of being able to recline my seat to a horizontal bed is unreal! I think I’m asleep under my fleecy blanket almost immediately.
I sleep for around 4hrs which is 4hrs more than I’ve ever slept before on a plane!
I think I only woke up because I needed a Wee!
I drink some water, and order some Tea, the lovely stewardess is adamant that I have cookies with it! I give in and oblige. The tea comes in a China mug, total joy.
It’s around 5.30am UK time, the sun is rising and I’m nearly home. ❤️
My breakfast arrives, another white linen table cloth. It’s a lovely light breakfast, fruit, croissant. Some yogurt thing.
Although I’m feeling OK I am aware that I’ve had very little sleep over the last 72hrs! From previous experience I know this will make me grumpy, intolerant and tearful!
I’m praying that everything goes OK in Gatwick; especially the arrival of my luggage which I haven’t seen since Saturday afternoon in Bangkok 😬🤞
I’m also hoping that I can find a lounge or somewhere pleasant to chill for the 5.5hrs before my Newquay flight.
I’m tempted to see if I can get an earlier flight to Newquay.
I’m sitting here debating whether to have a glass of Champagne to celebrate my arrival home?? It’s free, it’s, delicious and why the hell not!! Fuck it I’m going to do it!
I ask, and the bar is closed! Wtf! That’s outrageous 😳
But then as if by magic the man appears with a glass for me!
Oh how the other half live! It’s so true that the more money you have the more shit you get for free! This flight would normally cost around £3,150 which is an extortionate amount, more than all my flights and hotels for my entire trip. The waste is also an issue, all the unused Pyjamas, Diptyche bags, the fleecy blankets will not be reused.
I just spoke to the steward and ge confirmed that all the complimentary items if not used get thrown away! The blankets do get laundered. He said the amount of waste is shocking. My PJs, toiletry bag and slippers are in my Bag!!
Just flying over the UK! The sun is rising it looks amazing! Makes me a bit tearful.
You can clearly see the impact of the Drought!
Landing was good, disembarking was so calm and relaxed.
I’m thrilled to find my luggage has made it!!
Unfortunately I can’t get an earlier flight to Newquay so 5hrs to kill in a rather grubby, depressing Gatwick South Terminal.
But I’m home safely. I’ve had a fabulous adventure so all is wonderful.
I managed to get around 4 – 5 hrs sleep, the bed is comfy the pillows are lovely and soft!
I feel much better and much calmer this morning, my brain is also now functioning properly so I’m able to go online and change my Newquay flight, praise the Lord! So glad I paid the extra for a flexible ticket!
Actually the only reason I can do this is because the hotel Wifi is decent.
I’m disgusted that such a huge transport/transfer hub such as Doha Airport has such shockingly bad WiFi, especially as Qatar is apparently one of the wealthiest countries in the world! Sort it out you Numpties! I got better wifi on a Bloody Beach in the middle of the Andaman Sea!
There is nothing to do in Doha Airport, I pay a fist to the Duty manager and get a letter which I’ll use to apply for compensation, I ask if I can leave the terminal and he says, sure, but then I’ll need a PCR test to get back in! Well that’s fucking helpful Not!
He does however give me more food vouchers to use in the terminal instead of the hotel, this is nice but I’d have to be a professional eater to get through all the vouchers, especially as they don’t include any Alcohol!!
I have a wander round the pretty deserted terminal, looking at all the massively expensive designer stuff I can’t afford!
I go back to the hotel and discover that there is a big swimming pool on the next level, I go up and investigate it looks great. The lady tells me they sell swimming costumes, handy as mine are in my suitcase which is who knows where! She tells me the have a large and an Xtra Large, she is holding up a costume as she tells me this. I ask to see the xtra large and she says this is it, I’m like, WTF? This thing looks like it might fit a malnourished 12 year old, I shit you not! So now I not only can’t have a swim I also feel like a Goodyear blimp!
My Doha Airport experience just gets better and better!
More mooching, then I go back to my room for a nap. I still have 9hrs to kill.
The time goes by very slowly, around 11pm I find a bar and have a drink, extortionate prices!
My flight is finally on the board and it’s on time. I get to the gate with my fancy Silver Boarding Pass and prepare to be amazed!
I’m going to dedicate a separate post to my experience!
It was pretty hard getting up so early! But I made it.
My taxi is on time and check out is easy. Off we go.
The weather looks ok when we leave Phuket Old Town but as we head towards the airport the sky gets darker & darker, then the heavens open and it’s torrential rain! After driving for another 10 mins the traffic slows, then stops, the road ahead is completely flooded! Everyone has to turn around and travel on the wrong side of the motorway to bypass the flood, this is a little chaotic and scary! The flooded road is totally impassable, water is almost waist height! At this point I’m not sure we’ll get through as the levels are rising on our side of the road quite rapidly! 😬
We make it, Just! Luckily we are almost at the airport. I’m not sure if this storm will have a knock on effect for my flight but fingers crossed 🤞.
Check in is a breeze, security a breeze, the flights on time, the flight is great, I arrive safely in Bangkok with no problems! Fantastic Job Thai AirAsia!
I grab a nice and cheap taxi to my hotel, 150tbht Bargin!
The hotel is a short drive away and is lovely, my room is great. It’s just for one night so all good.
There is a Mall across the road so I decide to go and try and get some food, I’m starving and I think it’ll be cheaper than the hotel.
Crossing the 6 lane road out front is a terrifying mission 😮 but I survive!
The Mall is pretty big, with lots of food options, unfortunately this kind of throws me, I’m tired and hungry but just can’t decide what I want to eat! Lots of noodle options (nope) lots of Pork options (another Nope) the longer I prevaricate the hungrier I get, the more I can’t decide!
I finally opt for a restaurant with a salad bar, but there is a wait,m the girl says I can have a table when the the next one comes free, so I wait patiently, a table becomes free and a group of guys behind me just March up and sit down at it!! I’m like, WTF! I decide to leave, go to the hotel and fuck the cost!! Risk my life crossing the road again!
But the hotel restaurant is an oasis of calm and tranquillity! And as if that isn’t balm enough for my hangrey soul they also have Khao Soi as a lunch special!! 😍❤️ it’s a really reasonable price as well.
It arrives and it is one of the best ones I’ve had in Thailand!! So scrumptious! I’m a happy camper!!
The pool here is also pretty lush! I have a refreshing swim and chill by the pool and gardens for a while. Passing the time watching cranes fishing in the waterway nearby and wondering why there are literally 100s of dragonfly’s spiralling around the top of the hotel? 🤷♀️
Dinner is back at the hotel restaurant, another lovely meal.
Then off to my bed!!
Saturday
My flight for Doha isn’t leaving till 20.25 and I need to check out of the hotel room by 1pm so the day is spent marking time, reading and waiting to leave.
Bangkok Airport is pretty busy and I have arrived quite early for my flight, no surprise there! This was o I could take advantage of the hotel shuttle service.
Qatar Airways allow me to check in and drop my baggage early, which is great. Once again a pleasant experience with check in and security. Bangkok is a large airport, so I locate my gate then have a mooch around the shops before finding a nice little bar and having a beer.
This bar seems to attract a lot of western tourists and I end up having a lovely time chatting to various groups of people; a couple from Plymouth, flying to Heathrow. A nice guy flying from Sydney to Manchester, with a 9hr stopover in Bangkok 😬 A guy flying to Edinburgh, then onto Aberdeen. It was a lovely way to pass the time.
My flight is delayed by around 50mins which isn’t a huge issue.
I’m seated next to another nice guy from South Africa, the flight is OK, my screen doesn’t seem to work very well, so movie watching is a little challenging! But overall an OK flight.
I arrive in Doha and it’s pretty Chaotic! Loads of people rushing for connecting flights, it’s seems like loads of flights have arrived at the same time and everyone is frantically trying to get to their connecting flights.
I find my gate, my flight is on time which is fabulous, I have 1 hour before departure, so I go to the loo before going into the departure lounge.
When I get to the departure lounge the fun really starts!!
I rock up, present my boarding pass jokingly suggest that any upgrades would be gratefully received! She smiles and says unfortunately the flight is full so that’s not possible, that’s fine but at least I tried.
Then she looks at my boarding pass, looks at her computer, speaks to a colleague, turns round and says to me
“I’m sorry but you are unable to board this flight as it’s fully Booked”
I’m gobsmacked! Of course I can board the flight I booked it 6 bloody months ago!! She is adamant that I can’t. I really don’t know what to say to this!
She tells me to go and speak to Customer Service which and see what they can do.
There is no point arguing with her as she can do nothing to help, so I leg it the 500 miles to the Customer Service desk, forgo my usual manners and English propensity for politeness and barge to the front of the queue. I explain the situation to some guy, who checks the system and again says, yes I’m sorry but the flight is fully booked so you can’t get on it! I just about lose my shit! I know it’s booked, because I fucking booked a seat, 6 fucking months ago and now 40 minutes before departure your telling me I can’t fly? WTAF!
I tell him I have a connecting flight from Gatwick, but because it’s not with Qatar they don’t give a shit!
I ask when the next flight to Gatwick is and he says tomorrow at the same time, so 24 fucking hours away! Are you shitting me?
Then he starts dealing with someone else’s lost property problem and I’m thinking, seriously? So I interrupt and tell him to focus and sort out my issue, get me back in my flight! He explains that, no that is not possible at all! He looks again and suggests I fly to Heathrow via Rome on a flight leaving in 7hrs….are you actually serious?! Absolutely, no way is this a workable or acceptable solution.
By now I realise that I have Zero chance of flying on my original booking, especially as it leaves in 15 mins and the gate is mikes away!
I ask to speak to a manager. He directs me back further into the Airport, I suggest he gets the Manager to come here, he says that’s not possible, of course it’s not!!
I storm my way through the airport back to where to the area I arrived in. Ask where the manager is, someone points out a man in a grey suit.
I March towards him, he’s about to walk away, so i demand to speak to him. He ask me what the problem is, he then gets it with both fucking barrel’s! No swearing, no shouting but I am livid! He takes my boarding pass and says he will go and see what he can do.
After he leaves, I get chatting to 3 women who are also waiting, they too have been bumped from the same flight. They are all Arab Woman, I point out, it’s interesting that it appears only Woman travelling alone or without a man have been bumped off the flight!!
The staff are not being particularly helpful. The WiFi in the airport is totally shit, you can’t make calls on WhatsApp and the WiFi drops out every 5 mins. This makes it extremely difficult to contact people.
I demand that they find seats for us all and also provide us with bottles of water. They do this.
Three of the woman are given letters for compensation and placed on flights to Heathrow in the morning. Another is placed on a later flight with her 2 daughters. They are expected to just hang around the airport, I tell them to at least ask for an Airport Lounge Pass.
The manager offers this option to me. I once again explain that I have a connecting flight from Gatwick. Is he going to pay for the transfer from Heathrow to Gatwick? That’ll be a No!
By now I’m extremely tired having been awake for what’s seems like forever, I’m stressed, upset and cross.
I tell the manager, that he needs to find me a hotel for the night, provide me with refreshments, and get me on the next available flight to Gatwick. I point out to him the interesting fact that it’s all females that have been bumped off the flight, no single males! He tries to say it’s a random selection, I don’t fucking believe him!
He comes back to me after 10 mins. I now have a hotel room, the hotel is inside the Terminal, with a food voucher of a decent amount, he has booked my into the Gatwick Flight leaving tomorrow at 1.40am, he has the good sense to upgrade me to Business Class! This is all very nice, but doesn’t compensate for the stress and massive inconvenience caused by the Qatar airline’s disgusting practice of overbooking flights!
I find my hotel, it’s OK, at least their WiFi is good! It’s staffed by males, who are not particularly kind or helpful.
I’m feeling dizzy and sick, so I just drink some water and go to bed.
I’m going to have a last look around, visit the museum and then have a Massage!
I’m actually up pretty early so head out in search of a place to chill and write my blog. Downstairs in the Coffee shop is fab but just far too many Mossies! The last thing I want is to get munched just before I leave!
I find myself sitting in a Cat Café 😻, it’s quiet, they sell Lemon Iced Tea and there are Cats!! The perfect spot.
The cats are all looking rather rotund!! All the little treats no doubt, I don’t help on that score as I buy a sachet as bribery!
It’s a lovely way to spend a few hours. Really think we need more of these in the UK!
After a pleasant walk and cat cuddles I go across the road for my massage.
I thought I’d booked an aromatherapy foot, neck & shoulder massage, but it was actually the same foot massage I’d had the day before, so I decided to change it to a 90 minute Neck Back & Shoulder massage.
My masseuse was absolutely tiny and looked a lot older than me, which probably means she was in her 80s!!
She took me into the room, I got on the bed and off we went! WTAF 😳 This was not going to be the 90 mins of relaxation and calm I’d anticipated, oh no, theirs was full on, hardcore massage. I genuinely thought that I might be broken in half by a Thai OAP! But Wow!!
They don’t use oil or really massage in the way we are used to, it’s more leaning on you and intense pressure, then comes the bending and twisting! It was painful and at times uncomfortable but I have to say I felt a million times better afterwards! What a fantastic experience! She was so, so strong! I now need to find a Thai masseuse in Cornwall.
After this I headed to the museum. It’s only a small place in a fabulous old building. It charts the history of the Chinese in Phuket, their customs and festivals. It was fascinating and a little gory in parts. The mural depicting Hell that went with Poh-Toh, or Ghost Month was pretty lurid!
It’s also amazing that they have valuable artefacts just displayed with no protection!
I had a delicious Pad Thai in a little family restaurant and then headed back to the hotel for an early night.
I’m up tomorrow at 5.30 to get to the airport for my Flight to Bangkok!!
I had a reasonable nights sleep, the air-con still isn’t great but better than nothing.
I’m going to go downstairs to the little coffee shop for a tea and to write my blog.
The Coffee Shop looks really cute, lots of comfy seats and loads of plants.
Unfortunately it also has quite a few Mossies!! Little buggers get me a few times, so annoying, as I’ve had hardly any bites this whole trip! Luckily I have my magical white tiger balm, which most certainly stops the bites from developing.
I shall spend the rest of my time in the Old Town in long trousers!
After a nice cup of Tea I’m going to do a bit more exploring.
The Old Town isn’t very big but it is very interesting!
The buildings here are Sino Portuguese, also known as Peranakan Style, which is a mixture of Chinese & Portuguese architecture. This style was created when Portuguese immigrants who came to Phuket employed Chinese workers to build shops, houses & Mansions.
Before Phuket became a tourist industry it gained wealth from Tin Mining. The Mining industry attracted Chinese & Malay people to the area. The Mining trade was dominated by the Chinese until the 20th Century when European companies were bought in.
This mix is what makes the area so different and interesting.
The building are amazing, and deceptively large, going really far back, with living accommodation usually on the upper floors.
After a lovely walk and stopping at a few fabulous little galleries I was starving, I walked back to a place I’d seen the first time I came for the night market, I wasn’t sure what they made I just remembered that it smelt delicious 😋.
The place is hugely popular so no room inside their tiny café, but I order a take away.
This place makes “Burnt Butter Toast topped with Various things! OMFG! The smell is insane! 😍
I order one topped with toffee ice cream and honeycomb. I can’t even begin to tell you how gorgeous it is! Honestly, it’s one of the best things I’ve eaten, very sweet but sooo Good! I can see why there is a constant queue.
I munch on this whilst walking around. I stop for a cold drink in a cute little cafe, which is also a B & B they opener shows me around, it’s fab, I also get to have a nose around the upper floors of one of the buildings.
On the way back to the hotel I decide as it’s my last few days here I should have a final Foot Massage! The place I call into is packed and I think they are mostly locals on lunch breaks, they make a call and after 10mins another lady appears and off we go!
These massages are so good. They use very strong ointment that smells like red tiger balm and makes your skin hot. They also massage your arms, hands and finish with a little neck rub! Heaven.
I’m going to spoil myself and book an aromatherapy treatment for tomorrow.
My feet feel fabulous and I decide to treat them to a lovely cooling swim!
I counted the number of strokes for 1 length of the pool, then did some complicated maths in my head and figured I need to do around 24 lengths to be equivalent to just over 7 lengths of the last pool. So that’s what I do. There is no one else around, the pool is cool, although very shallow at one end, which I think makes it harder to swim (I must check this out)
Then I chill on my balcony in the sun reading my book. 11.22.63 which I’m really enjoying.
I head back out around 5.30 and find a few more Galleries.
I wander in to one, drawn by the sleeping cat! The art is good, there is also another cat! The Owner/artist is head down on a table fast asleep!! I have a good look around, the Cat follows meowing incredibly loudly, the guy sleeps on! It’s so funny. He is still fast asleep when I leave. 😂
I have a good look around a beautiful Hotel called “The Memory at On On Hotel” it is stunning! apparently, Leonardo DiCaprio stayed here whilst filming the beach, or perhaps it’s in the film, one or the other.
I really feel I ought to watch this film, now I’ve seen a few of its locations!
I stop at a fab looking Turkish Restaurant for dinner. They invite me in, the guy says there are no tables at the front, although we walk past 1 that is empty, and takes me further into the restaurant where it’s quite warm and offers me a table with large velvet chairs, I say it’s ok, but I would really like to be seated in the main part, he says he’ll try.
I look around, there are no other customers in this part of the restaurant the only other person is a young child doing homework, I assume she is a staff members daughter.
I sit and wait, staff go past with food, they come back, they go past again. Eventually someone takes my order. A Falafel wrap & a Lemon Iced Tea.
Again I sit, customers from the restaurant go past to the toilet, they come back, staff go by with more food, they come back & repeat! Eventually after 20 mins I ask for my drink. They disappear, 10 mins later I ask again. I’m now a little pissed off not to mention hungry and thirsty!
I stop a staff member and explain that I’ve been stuck out here at the back and basically ignored, I would like my drink at the very least.
After this several people then come and ask what I need, they apologise, the manager comes over, she apologises, then they send a lovely lady called Mai, to be my personal server! She gets my drink, my food appears, she brings, sauces, water, stands and chats. She is so sweet that I can’t be irritated anymore!
Although this wasn’t among my best dining experience’s compounded at the end when I go to the toilet and have to walk through a completely discombobulating Mirrored passage! Seriously! Who thought that was a good idea!!
Back to the hotel, read then I end up,watching a few episodes of “Selling the OC” pure trash! Love it! 😍❤️
There are lots of photos with this post, sorry but there is so much to see! I’ve had to do 2 separate posts to be able to get all the photos in!!
So I’m moving hotels today and spending a few days in Phuket Old Town, I’m sad to leave the beach but excited to see more of the Old Town.
I have a nice chat with Joe, the Resort owner, he’s given me his card as he is coming to Cornwall in October and has promised to visit the Coffee Shop!!
I’m not feeling 100% today, my throat feels a little scratchy and I think I might be getting a cold! Bloody marvellous, just in time to come home. 😬
I’ll grab some vitamin C when I get to Phuket, that a plenty of water should sort me out.
My taxi arrives and off I go!
My new hotel seems lovely, the room is big and clean, there’s a pool, small but better than nothing, and to be fair I have been spoilt in the pool department the last 10 days!! 😂
There is a little confusion about the air-con, it doesn’t seem to want to go lower than 26, which would be ok, but the room gets the sun almost all day so is quite hot. I speak to reception and I think that we are clear on the issue, she says someone will check it out a little later, I say that’s great and then venture out to start exploring.
Although the old town is quite small it’s packed full of interesting shops, galleries, restaurants and loads of Coffee Shops!
Unfortunately I’ve not been out long and it starts to really rain, which is not a problem except I’m wearing shoes which are so slippery on the wet greasy pavements and I have no umbrella, I have managed to survive my whole trip without going arse over tit, I don’t want to ruin it now!
I head back to the hotel, get changed into safer shoes! I also pop on long trousers as there are lots more Mossies here! Grab my brolly and off I go again!
I’d found a pharmacy and bought some vitamin C, so I’ve taken a couple to get my immune system off and running.
The sun is now blazing and it feels really hot, I think it always feels hotter when you’re in a city.
There is so much to see! I’m so happy to be back walking and exploring.
I stumble on a sort of Art Gallery/Space/Coffee shop. I’m pulled up short by the most amazing, huge canvas at the back of a workshop. I spot a guy lying in a hammock and ask if I can come in and have a closer look, he’s happy for me to do that.
His name is ‘Ids’ and he is the artist. Wow Wow, the piece is absolutely stunning, really detailed and intricate. It reminds me a little of some of the art work at The White Temple that references modern culture.
I ask how long the piece took to complete and he said around 3 months, he sells his work through an agent in New York, this piece will go for around $40,000 or £35,000 and worth every penny. I love it, perhaps when I win the lottery!
He’s such a quiet, sweet guy who apologises about interrupting our chat to run off and feed his Cat! 😍
There is so much street art in the old town, I’ve posted some of it before when I came for the night market.
After my chat to Ids, I pop across the road to a very trendy looking coffee shop, called “Graph” is ultra modern and very Instagram friendly. The coffee menu is insane! Such amazing, very different ideas on coffee. I open for an almond Flat White, which is the best coffee I’ve had on my travels (obviously not a patch on Georgia’s delicious Oaty Flat White!)
It’s a revaluation, I’m going to go back and take pics of more menu items!
I have a slow walk back to the hotel and enjoy a gentle swim, only a few lengths.
My rooms Air-con is still set very high, I go and speak to reception again and after lots of Google translation it transpires that the hotel thought I wanted my room warmer not cooler! (Which they thought was odd) The lovely lady tells me just to leave the key in so it runs all the time, it’s an old system and not hugely efficient.
I find a cute little place for dinner, very local by the looks of it.
I only have some spring rolls as my tummy is a little unsettled, a combination of Vitamin C and Coffee!
My room is now sufficiently cool and I relax and read before going to bed.
There is a karaoke bar or just a very loud music bar nearby and I can hear the music, it’s so strange after being in such quiet places. Luckily Chris had given me a few pairs of ear plugs which sort it out!
We are back to hard beds, but I do have a lovely soft pillow! 👍
I had a good swim, 7 lengths, as the pool got very busy with children.
I spent a while chatting to a lovely lady called Fiona, she’s Australian and in her late 70s very chatty and friendly, she’s staying here with her husband. She mentioned about having a drink later that day, as they are leaving tomorrow, I said that would be nice.
I mooched about a bit had lunch in my room, Ryvitas! My favourite they were selling them in the posh supermarket 😂 and then by the evening figured I’d go to the restaurant for dinner, I thought about Fiona and the drink but guessed it was a loose arrangement, if I see you kind of thing.
Dinner was OK, I had Pad Krapow, which is minced chicken stir-fried with holy basil and a fried egg in top! It’s really good, but this one was so bloody spicy 🥵 🌶 🌶 I spent about 10 minutes picking the chillies out and there were loads. A little disappointed tbh, the food in the restaurant hasn’t been the best, it’s ok but for what you pay it’s not worth it, the little stall outside does better for 1/2 the price! I did have a dessert, which was yummy.
Then it was off to bed.
A slow but relaxed day.
Monday
It’s my last day here today so I’m going to go for a walk after my swim.
I head to the pool and spot Fiona and go over to say Hi, she says there must have been a bit of miscommunication, as they were expecting me to come to them for drinks last night!! 😬😬 she even tried to locate me by asking reception what room I was in, but they weren’t helpful apparently. I feel so bad, I explained that I hadn’t realised it was a set plan. She had done a lovely cheese board with olives, bread etc. I honestly feel terrible, and apologised profusely. I think she forgives me. What an idiot I am.
We chat for a bit longer then she’s off to pack, I have a swim then also start packing before I go out for a walk.
Once again it’s timed that I’m walking in the middle of the day! Seriously 😳.
I walk a different route but come into the little town and walk through it to Boat Avenue, then back to the hotel.
As I’m walking along the road a guy in a moped goes past and waves, I recognise him, it’s Alex the manager of the restaurant at my last hotel. Rebecca, Chris & I got chatting to him a few times, but then he disappeared and I didn’t see him during my stay. He stops and says do you remember me, I say of course it’s Alex and he looks so pleased that I remember him. We have a nice chat, apparently he had injured his back which is why he hadn’t been back.
So lovely and kind of random to bump into people you know! 😍
On the way back to the hotel I stop at a little place called “Chit Chat Corner” I’ve seen it a few times, but never been sure if it’s open.
I’m starving so I order the vegetable rice. I’ve been a little disappointed with the fried rice I’ve had in Bang Tao, a bit bland and boring.
This rice is delicious! So so tasty, it’s restored my love of rice! Yippee 🙌
I wander back to the hotel and finish my packing and do a little bit of laundry.
Then I’m going to head to the beach.
It’ll be my last beach visit In Thailand, which is sad. I’m hoping for a good sunset.
Unfortunately, the weather isn’t playing ball re the sunset, annoying.
It’s still a lovely evening, the beach is looking the cleanest I’ve seen it, the tide is very low and it’s actually really beautiful.
I have my last beach Cocktail at “Aloma” I chat to the owner, her name is Ping Ping, I tell her how much I like her restaurant and also that Rebecca, Chris & I love her little walkie-talkie!!
I get some wonderful news and pictures from Nikki, which makes me extremely happy.
I enjoy my Cocktails, a Pina Colada and an Aloma Sunrise watching the Ocean.
Then it’s back on the shuttle to the hotel.
I head back to “Chit Chat Corner” for another portion of Vegetable Rice then off to bed.
This Hotel Resort has been great, but if/when I come back to Thailand I don’t think I’d do a Resort again. It’s not really me, I like a bit more variety and something smaller and more intimate. That said, it’s been perfect in light of the bad weather and the pool has been phenomenal. Tomorrow I’m off to Phuket Old Town for a few days.
Hereandthereclaire.com 