Going to Yala

After the amazing Issahn experience, Vic and I turned up the style, flying back to Bangkok and down to Songkhla where we were met by Joob and her father who had arranged for us to stay in the poshest hotel in town with a room overlooking the beach. We had only been there 15 minutes before I took an evening dip in the sea. As you might imagine, Joob had us treated like royalty for a few days, being driven around Songkhla and Had Yai, and eating lots of nice food (some of it free cause Joob knows half the town).

On Friday we got up early to offer food to the monks who walked past the house before sunrise. Then it was off to our next destination, and unfortunately I had to say goodbye to Sis who was returning to Bangkok for a day of shopping before going back to England. Joob and I sent her to the airport and then we headed to the bus station to catch a bus to Phuket!

We arrived in the afternoon to be greeted by Tam — my fellow computer scientist — who we were to stay with for a couple of nights in this bustling tourist destination. Actually it wasn't as touristy as I thought it might be; away from the beaches in the town there were very few tourists. The first night was a trip to Phuket FantaSea, an evening of entertainment featuring the very best of Thai culture — food, music, dancing, and animals! It is well worth a trip if you are planning a trip to Phuket, the show keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout, and I especially liked the animals. Chickens sliding around the stage, goats, birds flying around the theatre, and at least 10 elephants on stage all at one time. Issahn dancing was good too. I am going to buy me some instruments to bring back to England and form my own band!

The next day got even better with a trip to Koh Phi Phi, one of the most famous islands in Thailand, the home of the movie The Beach, and also heavily damaged by the Tsunami over a year ago. Although it has mostly been cleaned up now, you can still see places where trees have been destroyed. The island itself is beautiful, from a distance it looks like a big rock protruding out of the sea and as you get closer you realise it is covered in lush green vegetation. There are so many small islands surrounding it waiting to be explored! We had a great time on the boat tour, swimming, snorkelling and generally getting a bit of a tan. The water was so clear I was swimming underwater without any mask. I really wanted to stay there longer!

On Sunday though, I took (yet another) flight back to Bangkok and prepared myself for the final part of my trip — to the north.

Note: I didn't actually go to Yala.