Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Phuket, just relax




Phuket was so safe that it made Bangkok seem like it was in a different country. I joked with locals if one was wearing a red shirt and they loved it.

Phuket was way more expensive than Bangkok but the beach was amazing (Le Meridien had its very own private beach and was full of day activities like kayaking, soccer, tennis, basketball, pool sports, wall climbing, etc.). The nightlife in Patong was a bit too young/commercialized with throngs of lady-boys, sex shows and young drunk Aussies. But Phuket was also a great launching point for getting to the southern islands and that was next on the trip.

First stop was Don Phi Phi (said like “Pee Pee”) which was destroyed by the tsunami a few years ago and totally rebuilt…although I wish they were a bit smarter about the redevelopment because the place, while beautiful with mountains and oceans, was just too overrun and too cheesy. Highlights were me jumping rope a rope on fire (I have the video to prove it!), eating amazing curry dishes at Papaya (where the cats hang out in the fridge to keep cool), watching sunset from the highest point of the island and the day trips.

Day trips included an early morning journey to Maya Beach where the movie “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed. We successfully avoided the crowds to enjoy one of the most spectacular beaches in the world. Then we went snorkeling to see some fantastic coral reef and an impressive array of fish. The next day we did another boat trip to check out Monkey Beach, the Viking Caves and of course more snorkeling and beach time.

Then I was dying to try some rock climbing after successfully negotiating the climbing wall at the hotel. Railay, another island, is known as a climbers’ paradise and it did not disappoint. Since it was slow season, the Canadian girls that I met in Cambodia and I had a private climbing session and did some really cool climbs just on the beach. It was one of the biggest thrills and I can honestly say I’m addicted!

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