Phuket, Thailand - I got Sneezed on by an Elephant

Hello All

Click on the title of this post to see my pics from the trip.

Thailand was a blast and I would have posted the daily going-ons, but for some reason I didn't have access over there. So here you are - enjoy my babblings.

General Summary

Friday

- left for Bangkok

Saturday

- left Bangkok for Phuket
- luggage lost in process
- the most sucky New Year's Eve ever!!!

Sunday

- tried to start to enjoy my vacation
- went to the beach
- forgot to put sunscreen on my feet and burnt them to a crisp

Monday

- nursed my burnt feet with anything and everything
- relaxed and read my books
- still had met no one by this point

Tuesday

- decided to do fun stuff
- decided to go Elephant treking
- met Shaz (from Malaysia), Joanne and Malcolm (from Perth, Aus.)
- we all went Elephant treking, shopping and to Bangla Rd.
- Bangla Rd - where all the bar's are at Patong Beach
(where all the lady boy's are)

Wednesday

- went to Phi Phi Island to go snorkling
- met Julia from Moscow
- saw a Moray eel
- had fish swimming all around me
- it awe of the damage that was done by the Tsunami

Thursday

- shopped for gifts and such

Friday

- went to Raya Island to go snorkling again
- met a couple with two kids from Sweden
- went to a fantastic Italian restaurant (yay, real food!!) with Mook (owner's of
Casa Brazil), Dave (her bf) and David (once member of The Almighty Ultrasounds)

Saturday

- walked on the beach on last time :(
- make sure everything was packed
- last minute shopping
- waited to go to the airport

In-Depth Version with Excessive Detail

So, I left Friday right after work and got to the airport on time and relaxed until my flight departed. It was finally time to board and I was seated at the back of the plane. The flight was chalked full of Koreans and this one guy I swear boarded the flight drunk because he eventually passed out standing up and eventually fell over.

I arrived in Bangkok around 1am and had to be awake by 5:30am. So I luckily got a room to crash in. I woke up at prepared myself for another flight. I arrived a little tired and waited for my bag...and waited and waited. Well, it never came, they sent it to Cambodia. I was told that it would be arriving in 20 minutes on the next flight and then I started to freak out being by myself and all. So then I was told that it has been located in Cambodia and it will be in Phuket at 7:30pm and then delivered to me between 9 and 10pm. So off to my hotel I went.

When the taxi cab guy finally got me to where I had to be - Karon Beach, I was just drained. So I went and got as settled as I could, changed in to my bathing suit because I did have those and then I went shopping. So I shopped and explored. I went to Patong beach and looked up a guy I met on the way in to the hotels and then ceremoniously got ditched. So I went to do more shopping because I really didn't know when I was going to get my bag. So this was how I spent my New Year's.

I was back at my hotel, chilling and waiting for my bag and eventually called the Lost and Found people at the airport. I spoke to some guy who was totally rude and not helpful and they still could tell me where my bag was. I went and called my dad and had a good cry. When something like this happens, travelling alone sucks!!! After that I had had enough and just wanted the day to be over. So on New Year's Eve, I went to bed at 11pm. I was woken up by the fireworks which they had on the beach - or something like that. Then I have no idea what time it was...one of the girl's that works there knock on my door and I groggily got up and answered the door to find that my bag had FINALLY arrived.

Sunday I decided to go to the beach and I completely lost my ability think properly. I think it was either the warm sun or the fresh sea air that clouded my train of thought. I COMPLETELY forgot to put sunscreen on the tops of my feet and I got second-degree burns (including swelling) because I am an imbecile. It wasn't too bad that day, but the next day was hell. So on Monday, I really didn't do that much. Just relaxed and read a couple of books.

I figured by Tuesday my feet would be somewhat better so I decided to venture out and go Elephant treking. This was so cool!!! I met some cool people from Malaysia and Perth - Shaz, Joanne and Malcolm. We hung out all day and it totally brightened my vacation. So I joined in and got to watch Malcolm go bungee jumping and we shopped since (tear) they were going home the next day - go figure. I had a blast - thanks guys, it was great meeting you.

That night we went to Bangla Rd., which is the party area in Patong. That is the area where all the lady boys hang out. Watching the men there was hysterical, mouths hanging open and all is shock and disbelief. It was an entertaining night.
Wednesday, I decided to go snorkling on Phi Phi island and I am so glad I did. I have some wicked underwater pictures and met Julia (from Moscow). Her and I talked about the camera she had and different lenses and after using the disposable camera for underwater pics, I want the attachments for my camera. Curse spending money!!! Phi Phi is beautiful even after the tsunami.

Thursday I really just puttered about and such. I went really did most of my shopping for things I wanted and got some things for others at home. I just relaxed and enjoyed a day to myself. I realized how much I enjoyed snorkling on Phi Phi, so I decided to go to Raya Island on Friday. I was even better than Phi Phi. I am basing this on the incredible underwater picture I took. Plus I met some cool people from Sweden. Friday night I was trying to think of what I wanted to do for dinner and then I was invited to go with Mook, Dave and David for Italian. It was this amazing place with fantastic food. Prepare yourselves, David got me to try spinach and I didn't die!!! Ha ha - those of you who know me, know I have VERY select eating habits. Let's just put it this way, not just anyone can get me to try food ;)

So Saturday came faster than I wanted it too. I had to exchange a book in Patong because it fell apart and then of course they were sold out, but at least I finished the book. I did some last minute shopping for gifts. Those of you these gifts are for, you'd better appreciate them because I had a heck of a time finding something nice, something you'd like and something that wasn't touristy or tacky.

Sunday I arrived back home. When I arrived at the terminal in Bangkok, I found the same drunk Korean passed out on the chairs snoring away. Which makes me think that he was completely drunk from arrival to departure. I caught my flight and almost had a heart attack on arrival to Seoul. My bags took forever to show up and I had an almost panic attack about lost bags again, but they finally showed.

So that was my trip to Phuket, Thailand. So I guess I can include Koh Phi Phi and Raya Island to my Thailand resume too. So I have been to Bangkok, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Raya Island. I think on my next vacation I might try somewhere new.