Lily's Travels

We arrived at Phuket Airport in Southern Thailand along with the other beach-driven Farang and found our way to a mini-bus for our hotel. The mini-bus dropped us off in muggy Phuket Town after telling me they would take us to the hotel. From Phuket Town we boarded another bus to our hotel only to be dropped off an hour later on the side of the highway nowhere near our hotel.

In rush hour traffic, we walked along the highway with our heavy backpacks in the direction of the hotel for another hour. Many kind people stopped on their scooters to help us, only to discover they also did not know the whereabouts of our hotel. It was starting to get dark and another young women stopped on her scooter and said she would be back with her friend. Five minutes later, her friend pulled up in his pick-up truck and called the hotel for us. We negotiated a price and he kindly drove us to our hotel. Third time's the charm.

Phuket International Youth Hostel - don't stay there. It is way too far from anything and no one knows where it is or how to get there.

The next morning we headed to Hat Karon and booked ourselves into The Little Mermaid Hotel - yes, I have always been a fan of the Little Mermaid. Good thing I brought my sleeping mat because most rooms for three people come with just one bed.  Hat Karon reminded me a lot of Vina del Mar or Valparisio, Chile - colorful tall buildings built into the hills an arms' throw from the beach. I could barely see any sign of the Tsunami which nearly recked the island in December of 2004.

We spent the day swimming at the beach similar to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Lots of colorful umbrellas. sunburned tourists, and for $100 Baht ($3 US dollars) one can sit in a folding chair - so instead we sat in the sand. The next day we walked to the neighboring beach, Hat Kata which had a little more happening in the town. Overall Phuket is much like Las Vegas: sunglass stands, tattoo parlors, bars, swimsuits and prostitutes on every corner.  The only difference: Thai Massage - five on every corner.

Today we are in Hat Patong which is by far the busiest of all the beach towns on Phuket thus far. All prices are near triple compared to Chiang Mai. Paying seven dollars for dinner or two dollars for a coconut shake is highway robbery! Tonight we are splurging and going to the Cabernet... I am curious how it will compare to the ones I have seen in Argentina and the states.  Tomorrow we head to Krabi to kayak.