Phuket

We eventually arrived at Phuket town after the journey from hell! We got up at 5.30am and got picked up late at 6.30. Grrr. After getting on a minibus, big bus, boat, big bus, minibus and then another minibus we arrived. We stopped way too many times, with transfers, stops at random places to see if we wanted to pay extra to go somewhere else or book accommodation (which we already told them we didn't). In the end we got shirty as we arrived much later than planned at 5pm. If we hadn't stopped so much, we'd have arrived 4 hours earlier!!

We decided to stay in Phuket town as the lonely planet said so and we also didn't want to stay on the bus any longer! We found a really good hostel and asked where bars and restaurants were. The receptionist said there's loads of them on this street. We walked and walked but found a grand total of 2 bars/restaurants! We decided that the town ain't big enough and caught a bus the next day to the Costa Del Sol, I mean Patong beach.

We got there pretty early using a local bus and found a 'room to rent' above a shop. We saw a sign on the place next door that said, 'no high heels' and 'we will not be responsible for missing items from your guests'. It was cheap though and was nice enough but did smell of wet dog.

We excitedly headed to the beach and was not happy with what we saw! You couldn't see the sand from parasols and deck chairs!! To make it more annoying most were empty as it's still low season, they just didn't want to leave ANY room for people to sit on the sand. It looked like a costa del...!
The weather was cloudy but was getting better!

That evening we went out to Bangla road which is where the 'action' takes place. We ended up having drinks in a bar whilst *hundreds* of ladyboys paraded themselves around the punters. It was really funny. It is really difficult to tell what's what and who's who!! (apart from the muscly one on the guys shoulders in the photo! - and the topless one!)

I had a bad belly the next day (not from beer) so we didn't get out til late but when we did we felt heat coming from a burning object in the sky...the sun was back!

We decided we'd had enough of Patang beach and headed up the coast in search of nicer beaches. We ended up at Surin beach which lonely planet said 'this could be your paradise'. Again we were disappointed as deck chairs and parasols covered the beach completely! Without them, it would be an amazing beach with palm trees behind and warm clear water. We bought some more souvenirs, which means another box of clutter winging it's way to Britain. Hopefully there's a box big enough for the hat!!!!