Written by Rod.

It’s Monday and we have a half-day, “best of Phuket” tour, booked through Megatours. It all sounds promising! Our minibus arrives at our hotel before we head off to collect an extended family of 6 of the French persuasion from another establishment. Our guide then introduces himself: “my name is Tong … James Tong.” Just kidding, but it would have got a laugh had Tong introduced himself that way and, like most tour guides, he does like to get a laugh. Our first stop is at the Karon Lookout (which the locals know as the 3 beaches lookout, since … well, I think you can guess why.) As we are about to get back into our van, we notice a white-bellied sea eagle tethered to a bike parked next to said van. Not something you see every day. Naturally, they are after cash if you want a photo with the very impressive eagle. “Take photo, eagle on arm? 50 Baht.” We decline.

Why would you go to just one lookout when you can get to two? Windmill Lookout Is next on the list. There is a wind turbine here (just one) and, although it is windy, it is not spinning. I ask Tong “why?” and he replies they must not have “switched it on.” I could have quizzed him further about the whole point of wind turbines, but I let it go. Anyway, the views are stunning, despite the grey weather of the moment.

The road then winds its way to the Big Buddha. On the way up the long and narrow and winding road we see dozens and dozens of cottage businesses, mostly offering very similar products to god knows who. There is some foot, car and motorbike traffic along the way, but seemingly very few paying customers. We wonder how they all survive. But, they are industrious, these locals, always looking for ways to make a living. (We are most appreciative, though, that there is very little hawking and no begging. The locals are respectful and not aggressive salespeople.) The Big Buddha is something we have been seeing from many vantage points and now, finally up close, its size does not disappoint. At 45 metres tall, it could easily be called the Very Big Buddha. There is a lot here to see and we easily wander around for 45 minutes.

Wat Chalong is a stunning temple complex in many parts. Here the Buddhism is even more apparent, as many people are actively worshipping as well as admiring the architecture. We wander around, to frequent bursts of firecrackers. It is getting hot and still and humid and there are many steps here, so Hamish is starting to lose his cool. However, we reach the top of the 3 tiered Chedi (which has a splinter of bone from Buddha) and we get a bit of a “cool change,” with a fresh breeze and some rain. Hamish’s mood improves.

Next we head to the Cashew Nut Factory and here Hamish sparks up even more, as we sample 11 different “flavours” of cashews. We also see how cashews are liberated from their shell, one nut at a painstaking time, before buying up big in their shop.

It’s lunch time and we head to Phuket Old Town to what Tong declares is a “zero star restaurant.” It’s actually a little local food court with a lovely range of dirt cheap options. (Average price is about $2-50 per generous meal.) By now Hamish is positively ecstatic. After lunch we have 45 minutes of so to wander around the so-called old town, which looks quite a bit like the rest of Phuket. However, we get an unscheduled highlight when the local police accost some boisterous, motor-bike riding tourists. We are not sure why, but it is great theatre and the whole street stop to watch for several minutes. At least one motorbike was impounded. Just before this scene, we had to step aside to allow a young tourist sprint past us, as he called out “out of my way!” Were these two incidents related? You be the judge. As we are stalled in the street, watching this scene whilst keeping our distance, Hamish and I turn around and notice we are outside a French patisserie, which advertises croissants filled with coconut ice cream. Ooh, we both say. This serendipity is rewarded with a couple of these very tasty treats.

Back on the bus and it’s back to the Novotel. More than half a day and an excellent value tour. We take it easy before a late dinner and another early night.

Tuesday (written by Belinda)

We are finally getting the hang of this holiday thing and eventually make our way to the restaurant for breakfast sometime after 9am. It’s definitely going to be struggle street when we get back next week and have to get up for work and school – and make all our own meals!

Breakfast is our biggest meal of the day and it’s a delightful array of Asian and Western foods. I have had soup and rice every morning, followed by tropical fruit, yoghurt, coffee and sometimes a sweet treat to finish strong. Hamish has something similar, but he usually has fried rice and curry, followed by whatever he can lay his hands on. He puts it like this: “I start out OK, but then everything goes downhill” Rod is more of a traditionalist and enjoys pastries or an omelette – sometimes he tries the soup. He has however, perfected the coffee machine.

Rod and I walk to Karon Beach and leave Hamish to catch up with his friends online. The weather threatens to turn and it does. We ditch the beach and sit in a café and share a pineapple shake for the cost of about $2. The weather still isn’t amazing, so we head back to Kata Beach via a Bamboo Mart for some beers and snacks.

Back at the hotel, would you believe the weather is starting to clear up! So we re-pack our backpack and head to Kata Beach for a few hours.

It’s back to the hotel for a very late lunch and pool time. We have a fun game of ‘piggy in the middle’ until Rod and I are done. I am reading on a very comfortable pool lounge when I hear Hamish yelling – “Can I order a fruit shake from the swim up bar?” Oh boy is he our kid or what! I give him a literal thumbs down. He does eventually get a fruit shake, but Rod orders it from one of the staff walking around the pool.

We’re about to walk into town to get a late dinner. The boys are heading to Andamanda Water Park tomorrow and I’m having a day of beach, shopping, reading and eating – which isn’t that different to most of the days we’ve had here. Not really keen on heading home, but we’re already talking about how/when/for how long we can return to SE Asia in the near future.