2 October - Science Centre and goodbye!

I am up early and try to recover the game on the PSP. Manage to find them, but not sure how to get them to work again. We pack and leave our luggage before setting off toe China Town. Have read about a stunning old Chinese pastry shop and make the mistake to assume it is in China Town. We get off the MRT to discover that it is on the other side of the city. The lady who shares this news tells us to go across the street to find something similar there. We walk through a few food stalls at the station, cross over the street and discover a stunning market area full of stalls selling everything from chopsticks to curios.

When we get to the “Yellow Chair” restaurant, she talked about we discover it is not a pastry shop. Winsome is having serious coffee withdraw symptoms and they decide to go to their favorite Starbucks and then to Sentosa Island, whilst the two of us decide to venture a bit deeper into Chinatown. We finally discover on of the most famous, local pastry shops and buy a collection of pastries – of which we liked only one (egg pastry – like a custard cake). Back at the MRT we discover another great pastry shop (we walked right pass this one on our way in!). Luc has a Vienna rolled into white dough and then backed, whilst I have the best almond pastry.

From here we take a long MRT ride to the Science Centre stop – we actually come up above the ground and see some of the local suburbs. At the MRT we get more pastries!! It is a short walk to the Science Centre and Luc is soooo happy when we finally arrive, It must be the cheapest attraction in Singapore – S$6 only!

We are just in time for the Space Imax – which is incredible! Also great because I can sit down, rest my tired feet and chill out in the aircon.

The rest of the day is spent on running from one great exhibition to the next. Luc meets a very hyper boy – one of the few times in his life that he actually was sorry that he started chatting to someone. The little boy is completely ADHD. His nanny is a Pilipino and says that they go to the Science Centre every day. Close to 4 I finally manage to get Luc out of the Centre – into the shop. Big mistake – he wants everything and I have very little cash left. This ends up in a big tantrum, me storming out, and him scratching me because he looses his temper! I refuse to get anything more for him.

When we get to the station, he is nearly in tears and apologizes. He is hungry and we get more “Vienna pastries”. I also get 6 moon cakes seeing that it is the festival of lights this weekend.

Back in Little India we quickly pop into the brand new shopping centre right next to the famous 24 hour Mustafa Center – for which I did not have the energy. Find some great toys at great discounts.

When we get to the Mitraa, Winsome and Katie are already waiting for us. I quickly download my photos and Luc has long goodbyes to all the staff. We take lots of photos and Luc even phones Frank to say goodbye. He gets everyone’s Skype addresses.  Edburt tells us he is from the Philippines!  Finally we all squeeze into a taxi with all the bags.

At the airport we pay to get into the Premier Lounge. It is great – we raid the food section as we are all starving. After a shower we look and feel great and have energy to do some final shopping. A bit broke so even resist the giant Toblerone, but ends up getting a nice Chinese T-shirt. About Winsome’s shopping I will say nothing – as June might be reading this….!!!!

And now we are sitting in the lounge, waiting to board.

It was a holiday filled with sun, lots of rain, shopping, research, massages, great food (and not so great food), adventure trips, tsunamis and earthquakes (this went by unnoticed because the credit cards were working in the shopping centers!!!).

Thanx for reading our blog – hope you had a great time on holiday with us!!!!

1 October - Sentosa Island (and the pink dolphins)

Well, sleep did not happen until 2.30… too hot and people talking downstairs kept me awake for very long. Luckily we are up early. After great breakfast (so says Luc – white bread, butter and Nutello) and banana and best pear ever tasted for me, we set off to the MRT station. They do not sell the tourist pass at this station, so we opt to buy single tickets. Great system, you get plastic card and if you deposit on the other side, you get S$1 back!

We get off at Harbor Station, but have no idea where the Sentosa train or bus departs from. We end up in one of the big shopping centers and try to follow the Sentosa signs. We eventually end up at the cable car, which is not working right now, so, a long trek back to the bus after we get directions for a cleaner. It takes us more than 1 ½ hour to get there.

Sentosa Island is situated just outside Singapore and linked with cable car, monorail and bridge. It has been created around entertainment – like a mini Disney World on the beach. Our first stop is at the Imbuia Section where Luc immediately insists in seeing the 3D movie shows – at a price – about R 300 for the 2 shows… I complain bitterly, but what can you do?! The first show is Pirates of the Caribbean – it is 3D with extra effects, added by the chair that moves around and blows out wind, creating the feeling that the giant spider in the movie is climbing over you. Luc freaks out when it feels like the crabs are climbing up your legs – next moment his 3D glasses are off and he is hanging onto me! There is no stop – bats, skulls and we even get sprayed with water!

The Extreme Ride is slightly different – now we are strapped into more “active” seats and we are going down a rollercoaster ride, following the story of a tree being logged down.

From here we take the bus down to the Palawan Beach area, where we are booked to swim with the dolphins. They are not yet ready so we go for quick lunch – we share stunning roasted sweet pork and rice, great clear soup and lots of fruit. The prices here considerably more than Phuket.

We cross over on the hanging bridge to a little island, which is the Most Southern Point of Asia. It is nearly one and we run of to the Dolphin Lagoon for our date with the dolphins we have been waiting for since April. 

Whist I sign all the indemnity forms, Luc makes friend with Elliot, how is from Perth. Luc also meets his match when it comes to talking, because Elliot talks non-stop (but very entertaining!). We are dressed up in live jackets and booties and after the briefing on the beach – of which I missed half cause I was worried about the locker keys I lost! However discover that it takes a very long time for these dolphins to get their pink colour – more than 15 years – they are born grey and then slowly they loose the grey to pink.

We are divided into smaller groups and I take Luc and Elliot under my wing. Finally we are in the water and we slowly swim into the deeper section. Our first session is with one of the teenage girl dolphins (who’s name in the excitement and chatting between the boys, I missed). She circles us and then gradually comes closer until we are finally allowed to stroke her. We get a chance to give her some instructions – and the boys love the “jumping in the air trick” – until Luc gets a big fright when she does a spectacular jump right over his head!

We then go off to meet Pat – the most mature dolphin. He is a character – has nearly no teeth left. We get to pose for a painting – whilst we hold the paper, Pat does the painting!!! It is supposed to look like the two of us (must add that Pat did a good job of the female anatomy - two very distinct outcrops!).

We have several pose opportunities and before we know it the 30 minutes is over….

Luc now wants to go to the Eco Ride – those two wheelers on which you stand and steer by leaning to the front or sides. We end up walking for miles (or so it felt), until I manage to persuade him to rather use the free tickets to the underwater world (and aircon!). We meet up with Elliot and his parents again and the two boys are full of beans – running from one exhibit to the next! I must say that Cape Town Aquarium definitely tops this one by far! It is finally time to say goodbye to Elliot and his parents and also to Sentosa, as we have to run to meet Winsome and Katie.  We take a bus to the Sentosa Monorail.

On the bus Luc chats up a group of very nice young ladies. Turns out they are from Thailand and on a conference. He entertains them with his stories and as we say goodbye, one of the girls (Srichawin) gives us her business card and invites us to come and stay at the resort she is working at – turns out they are all in the hotel industry! Luc is so chuffed with his new friends and we bump into them again on the other side!

We take the MRT to City Hall, where a very nice security lady explains to us where to get the bus to the Singapore Flyer. We are running late and I am worried that we are not going to meet Winsome and Katie within the time we agreed upon. Struggling to find the right bus stop and as I get onto the third bus to speak to the driver, I hear a familiar voice behind me – Winsome and Katie – how is that for timing – coming from completely different directions, what are the odds!

We finally get the right bus, for which we have to pay $2 – which we will supposedly get back on the other side the conductor tells us. Turns out to be a travel agent who immediately lures us into his office when we arrive at the flyer. Luckily we are streetwise and make a quick run for it. Winsome and Katie decides that this trip is not for them and opts for a coffee, whilst we find the real ticket booth and get discounted prices!

The Singapore Flyer is the highest Ferris wheel in the world (at 165 meters). Each cabin can take 28 people and we are amazed to see that some people actually host conferences inside. It is a spectacular ride – as the sun is beginning to set. We can see the whole city and as far as Indonesia and Malaysia. It is a 30-minute ride and we see a floating soccer field – which they turn into an amphitheatre. Also see the rooftop of the sport stadium built for 2010 World Junior Sports Event. There is a lot of development all around the city and we see for the first time how much of the land has been dry-docked.  Heard that Singapore was established by Mr. Raffles – after which the Raffles Hotel was named – this hotel has the most photographed person in the world – the bellboy! We have  a great laugh when we see waiters having to run with plates of food to the capsule next to us, where they were serving dinner – shame the poor waiters, only have a few minutes to get the food there in time!

We are starving and the next stop in Clark Quays, really pretty area around the river and lots of shopping centers. Here all the restaurants are high end and we walk around stealing with our eyes and noses!

We make a quick stop at the top end of Serrangoon Street so that we can give the girls a bit of the Little India feel – this is only a block from our hotel. I venture into a local Indian take-away café. Discover great fruit juice. The owner is a really nice man who tries his best to get me something that is not spicy. He makes me taste his Yellow Dhal – which is divine, but not so good for my “bugged” tummy. In the end I take a big bowl of his flavored basmati rice.

We chill out outside the Mitraa – it is very hot and I have my last Tiger beer. Jack and Luc have long conversations. (Jack by the way, discovered who we are and wanted me to share the story of meeting Mandela. We even pose for a photo!).

When we get to the room, I try to get Luc to bed, but he does not want to put down his PSP. Eventually it bombs out and he looses all his games! He is in tears, whilst I have to juggle between speaking on Skype to Uri, my dad and Rozelle!. Eventually I manage to get him to sleep, looses my wireless reception (which was a miracle that my computer managed to pick it up on the 3^rd floor). I take a ¼ sleeping pill that I got from Winsome. 

30 September - Singapore and Little India

After yet another restless night – shared ideas for Winsome’s new business until late and as I was about to fall asleep Luc strolled in. Took an hour to get him back to his bed, we struggle to get up. Quick breakfast with Katie and Winsome and then off to the airport. Winsome and Katie is staying another day and we will meet up with them in Singapore tomorrow.

We end up behind an Afrikaans man in the immigration line and then Luc kept the conversation going in the waiting area. Turns out that the he is the “dominee” from Potch Dutch Reformed Church, on his way to a conference in India, where they will discuss the Evangelical mission for Maldives. Ended up having an incredibly interesting conversation with him and he shared much about what he discovered by talking to the prostitutes in Patong. Very sad to hear the other side.

The immigrations man in Singapore is so friendly. Tells us about all the Nigerians who come here with fake SA passports – I tell him to see District 9! We take the airport shuttle to the Mitraa – a very funky looking hostel from the outside! The staffs are stunning, they run out to help us with our bags – and end up carrying the heavy bags up 3 flights of stairs.

They give me their phone to phone the Travelex company to sort out my missing Travel Credit card (the call is about an hour) and then directs me to the closest Western Union to collect some emergency travel funds.

We have a small little room with enough space for a double bed. Luc is not impressed – immediately wants to go to other hotel – I just hope Katie and Winsome will survive this! We have a shared bathroom at the other side of the hall…

We venture into Race Course Road to find the Western Union. It is close to the Little India district and looks very much like downtown Jburg. We finally find the Western Union and get money – by now it is 5 and Luc is very miserable. We walk through very dodgy looking streets to find somewhere to eat. Discovers an Indian market – with no food. Ventures deeper into the streets – just to realize we have left the borders of Little Indian. Gets a Portuguese custard cake and some water and sits down to “regroup”.

Finally we are in the right road and we discover interesting Indian shops full of all sorts of things. Once we manage to get over out SA fears – we actually start to enjoy the people and the sites. We end up in the Little Indian Shopping Centre – more like an under cover market. Amazing site – full of colorful linen, bracelets, saris and amazing things.

Luc stop for a henna tattoo and I get Callie some silk ties and a pachmina. Shame, the lady in the shop tries to sell me some more stuff – so I told her that my card is lost and I have very little money. After paying for my things, I ask her where we can eat local, cheap food. She directs us to a food court and then gives us each an ice-cold bottle of water!!! Such kindness – or perhaps we looked so desperate!!

The food market is really local. We order from a really nice man who is very friendly. Decide to try the Roti and stew and tea with condence milk. This is great! Luc is still hungry and we order Nasi Goreng – uggh this is revolting! We take it as a take-away, which we dump as soon as we hit the street!

The main street looks incredible – the whole street decorated with lights in preparation for the Festival of Lights. We stop at a curio shop to get Luc a cheap watch and some handbags.

Back at the Mitraa I tried to update our blogspot – gr1eat spot on veranda outside. Jack introduces himself to us – he was the person who responded to my first email. The staffs are really very friendly and great.  It is now 10.30 and we are going to hit the bed. A big day tomorrow. 

29 Sept - Shopping and more research

Last night was yet another eventful night – when we are hit by a tropical storm – strong winds and hard rain. With visions of our clothing scattered across Phuket, I storm outside to rescue the washing, but thank goodness all is there – but I am soaking wet.

We are lazy to get up. Slow breakfast and then off to town to do some shopping. Bump into more South Africans on the hotel “taxi” – Ronel works for the police and we have a quick gossip session! On our way to the taxi I also bumped into Primmy, who gave me directions to their favourite salon and the restaurant, Sweet, which is stunning.

We quickly drop PSP off for more games and last movie uploads. Also do some nice shopping in Jungceylon – shoes for both of us!

From here we stroll to OTop Market, where we are looking forward to arts and craft shopping. This turns out to be extremely disappointing – yet another flea market…. UGHHH – so tired of Chinese fake products. After strolling around for about an hour – and one silk gown (which I don’t really need, but was so cheap…) later, we are starving.

We sit down at a little Indian Restaurant for some masala tea and we share a Yellow Lentil Dahl. It rains off and on again, so we wait for the rain to stop before moving on. Winsome and Katie discovers the Little Kittie shop and whilst they shop we set off for Jungcelyon – of which we own about 50% by now!

We pick up the PSP from Nicha Store and say goodbye to Nicha and Ton who are now like family!

Now it is time for some more “research” – we stop at our favourite facial shop and go for stunning full hour facial (take note that the price of this is only R 125 – will pay at least R 350 for this in SA). The kids are very happy – they are playing on their new toys.

On our way out, we see a massive outdoor sale – and immediately buy a “instant tent’. This is for Callie who always takes hours to erect our tent – this one you pull out and flip and there it is – open and ready!!!

It is 6.30 and we decide to try Primmy’s spa and Sweet restaurant. I follow the directions she gave me, but about 5 km later (or so it felt), no sign!!! We are exhausted and tired of carrying all the parcels. Come to think of it – we must have been a  hideous   site – women, children, bags and a big round tent!!!

We decide to take a Tuk Tuk back to Sala Spa, where we will have our final treatments. Winsome and I take a Foot Spa treatment and the kids are full of orders – they order all sorts of treatments – Luc a foot massage and back massage. It is absolutely fab – we understand why Sala Spa is the best spa in Patong. After his hour Luc comes out from behind the curtain holding his back and groaning – we are all in stitches. Whilst we finish up with our treatments he gets all the girls to sign his diary and one keeps on calling him “handsome boy”. It is a grand farewell with the owner taking photos of us all to post on their website – just wanted to add that I paid for both our treatments, what I paid in SA for one pedicure!!!

We take the Tuk Tuk back to the hotel and go for a later dinner at our local food stall. Tonight we mostly eat Fried Rice with chicken and drink our last Singha Beer. As usual the rain comes pouring down as we sit down.

I do last minute packing and we get in bed late again!

Monday, 28 Sept - Phi Phi Islands

Last night ended eventful – with Winsome almost kicking the bucket… The two of us played on the internet, after receiving instruction from June (Winsome’s mom) to find her a nice, rich husband we searched Facebook for old and new flames! It was at about 1 in the morning when Winsome decided she needs to spray some medicine down her throat, but unfortunately itl missed the throat and went down her air pipe (could be cause she saw a good looking man on my Facebook!). She could not get air and was staggering around in the room – huffing and puffing! Eventually she got some air but then did not stop coughing for another hour. After that she did not get much sleep – but her bedmate was fast asleep within minutes – schucks, how can you survive life with such lousy a friend – snoring away….

We had to get up very early to be ready for the transfer. VJ told us that they waited or an hour, so we also decide to push our luck and get to breakfast 5 to 7 (with our pickup at 7). We barely sat down when our driver arrived. We eventually made him wait for 15 minutes and after raiding the food counter (banana muffins and “worsies”), Winsome with her croaking voice (and thick head – she told me to write this!!!!) chased the kids to the taxi.

The status of the transfer should have given us an indication of the rest of the tour. It made us feel right at home – ala Soweto taxi….. We drove (once again) for a very long time and eventually picked up two backpacker girls. When Winsome asked them where we where, they had no idea – but eventually they shared with us that we were in Phuket town! This little island is very confusing – up is down and down is up, east is west and west is east – thank goodness we did not hire scooters – we could have been on China Mainland already!

Our boat did not look anything like the brochure at all – and let me warn you – on this trip very few things looked like the brochure….  The Sea Angel Cruiser doubles as a ferry transport boat (with 600 seats – on our trip mostly filled with loud Asians) and a tour boat on the other side. Thank goodness for Monique, cause she sussed it out very quickly and made everyone sit inside – in aircon and out of wind and wave and spray.  It is an hour and half trip during which we all fall asleep.

Phi Phi Islands are beautiful. It has high straight cliffs which apparently goes straight down under water – the diving must be excuisite! Our “tour boat” drops off all the locals and one-way travelers on Phi Phi Don – the only island where you can stay.  From here we depart to Phi Phi Lay with its Viking Cave, We sit in the sun right on top of the boat. Unfortunately the sea is too rough to go to  Maya Bay (where “The Beach” were filmed – great disappointment  – were hoping to bump into Leonardo De Caprio. Would have made a great jungle team the two of us!!!!). We go back to Phi Phi Don where we are supposed to snorkel. This in itself is Mission Impossible! We are transferred with the 100 + Asian tourist to two other boats, from where they all jump in with their lifejackets. We quickly get into our snorkel gear and try to get as far as possible away from the masses!

After nice hour snorkeling we depart back to the main pier for a “great lunch” (as the brochure calls it). Luc chats up a Pakastani man who is too friendly for my liking. I join the conversation. The man tells me that he has 3 sons (10, 8 and 10 months and his family is in Pakistan – wonder what he is doing here on his own).  Luc falls in love again – this time with a beautiful petite French little girl – who sits in nothing but her bikini panties! He immediately tries to learn a few French words – and we teach him “Je Taime” – but shame, he never gets the chance to use it.

The beach front is lined with little tourist shops and we follow the group upstairs to a large dining hall. It looks terrible – like a school hostel. The “great lunch” turns out to be the worst food of the whole holiday (so far!). Deep fried chicken, rice, some seafood soup/something dish, and spaggetti with terrible sauce. Winsome is the only one with some taste and wants to leave immediately, but the rest of us outvote her, by now the kids are starving.

The toilet at the restaurant also gets the prize for the worst toilet of the trip – let me not expand further – because you might just never get to go to stunning Phi Phi.

I have a mission to complete – Dayanand Naidoo (SA Foreign Affairs Director – who had to identify the South Africans killed in the Tsunami), asked me to go to the Memorial and to take a photo of all the names, to make sure that they have all the South Africans listed. This turned out to be a impossible mission. The tour guide told us the other side of the beach is just 3 minutes walk, more like 15 minutes a local tells us. If we walk there and back we will not be in time for the departure of the boat. I am very disappointed as  I made a promise, but what can we do? In our search for the Memorial we however discover the quaint section of Phi Phi. With lots of dive shops (one diver made a comment about my fins Luc was carrying “mean fins for a little man!”). We see stunning boutique shops selling really pretty goods. After aborting our mission, we follow the narrow street back and discover a pancake shop. This will have to make up for the terrible food and we all order pancakes – banana and chocolate (for skinny Winsome), banana and cashew nut (for healthy and not skinny Monique) and sugar and lime for our unimaginative children! Whist we are waiting for the pancakes, we witness a Phi Phi crash. Two bicycles both cut the corner and after cries of warning, a soft bump against each other, lots of smiles and laughter, both “drivers” are off again – no road rage! We have so much to learn for these gentle, friendly (perhaps too friendly is some areas – if you catch my drift…) and very patient people

We have to hurry to get back to the ferry. The inside cabin is already very full and we end up sitting far apart. We try to watch the Startrek movie, but the swells are high and I am very tempted to take one of the plastic bags on offer!! Soon Luc is snoring away next to me and I fall asleep as well. Just to wake up by the spit drooling down my chin! (Winsome thinks this is charming – my fellow passengers did not agree!).

We hit town during peak hour. Luc decides to count the scooters, but 3 blocks and 220 scooters later, he gives up! We get to the hotel early, go for a quick shower and then off on our “research project” – yet another visit to our local massage parlor! This time Winsome opts for the Back and Neck massage, I take the sport massage and the kids get 30 minutes foot massage and 30 minute oil massage. Luc does not stop talking as usual, Winsome and I groan and Katie is dead quiet. After the massage Luc says his knees are weak and he is “so tired” – but they both loved it! (Each family’s massages were about R150 in total!).

We decide to try the food stalls next to the road on the beach for dinner. There are some suspicious looking soup and kebabs. So we get some fruit – watermelon in a plastic bag and a little kebab stick. Finally we stop at our local road stall. May I just mention this was the one that no-one except me trusted on the first night here!!! We order fried noodles (same thick noodles as last night) and Winsome has some Tom Yam Soup (“very good” she says as tears are streaming down her cheeks because she bit into a chilli). Well, at least her sore throat is better now! The kids don’t like the local ice-tea – real tea, with condensed milk and ice. Finally, after looking for it all over the island, we discover the banana rice in papaya leaf dish! It is not as great as it sounds!!!

We make a pact that we will come back in less than 4 years time so that the kids can do their scuba diving courses on Phi Phi Island. If you are planning to go – do not make the mistake we did – do not take a day tour. Rather spend the night (or the week!) on Phi Phi – it so stunning and laid back and not at all like Patong. More backpackers, pretty and sure it must have stunning diving!

The kids end the evening off by playing on their new machines and Luc prays that Winsome and Katie will have a good nights sleep.

27 September - Lazy days and more research

We are very lazy in the morning – no gym. I try to catch up with the blogspot. I book our trip to Phi Phi Island with an outside agent. During our last two bookings we have made a typical tourist mistake – we booked our trips through the hotel and paid full price. A very nice Indian couple from Sandton, VJ (whom we call “oom”) and his wife Primmy, gave us the name of this agent. The trip to Phi Phi is half price than what the hotel quoted – same trip, same boat everything, but possibly so cheap because it is low season.  (For anyone coming to Phuket, this is his contact details – Aaron 076 345225). We of course waited for VJ and family to come back from their trip, but heard during the morning that it was great, the sea was just a bit rough!

After breakfast we hit the pool and Winsome goes off again for some research….(!!!!!), When it is my time to do some “research”- the hotel spa is fully booked and I go to the local salon right next the hotel. I opt for a back and neck massage. Oh, it is painful and fabulous at the same time! After an hour of being properly worked over, and at only B300 (R 70), I now understand the reason why Winsome has to do so much “research”!!! I now offer my services to her as a research agent – and I think after the visit to the spa yesterday the kids do too!

Luc has been irritating Katie and at the pool they are a point where she tells Luc to stay on his side of the pool. Shame, his heart is broken. He shares his pain by telling me “that he thought if they are big he will ask Katie to marry him, but now he is not so sure as she is really rude to him”.  Poor Katie is just not used to a wild, energetic boy!

After swimming and massages we get dressed to go to Kata Beach. As we sit on the hotel “bakkie” (The hotel transfer is a bakkie with seats and a high canopy), a dog jumps on. He is very friendly and although he looks like a street dog (all dogs here do!), he has a collar and must belong to someone. We are terrified as the driver wants to leave for town with the dog on the back. How will the dog know to get back home if he jumps off? After serious protest from us, and a great effort to get him off, the dog is left behind – and we feel great about helping!

The two kids are absolute horrors. Luc has been irritating Katie, who has in turn been unforgiving to him. They do not stop on the truck and there is a big fight about Luc not being allowed to look at Katie. Winsome and I are at wits end with all the fighting and eventually I smack Luc on the leg (very hard!). I think both kids are very rude and threaten to give both of them a hiding. It is very exhausting and tiring for the two mothers who have no idea of what to do with them – and gives the outing an unpleasant start. Later on the beach Luc says that he does not think he wants to get married! Shame my boy, you have to learn the hard way!!!

From Patong we take a Tuk Tuk to Kata Beach and the Reggae Bar Winsome heard about. Our driver is not sure where it is, but quickly does some research of his own and soon we are on the beach. It is a really pretty beach, reminds me a lot of  Chacala in Mexico where we lived for a month three years ago. Luc cannot stay out of the water and soon he is wet. We sit and chat on the beach and then go for our first cocktails of the holiday. The kids get Pina Colada (with no booze) – which they do not like and the mothers have to finish. Winsome has a Pina Colada and I order a strange blue concoction.

After drinks we walk down the street to find a restaurant. Down an alley we see a nice restaurant, also on the beach. Just to discover that it is actually right next to the Reggae Bar and we could have taken a much sorter route.

The kids order Noodles with Chicken, which turned out to be really nice. Thick flat noodles with crisp vegetables and chicken. Winsome has the green curry, which does not come close to the one we made at Pums. I order Chicken with cashew nuts pretty mediocre.

We look at a few shops and see one shop where they copy art (there are a few of these on the island and we have seen some Van Goghs!!). This shop has a Gustav Klimpt reproduction that is stunning and I am very tempted to buy it.

Our Tuk Tuk man, who offered to come back to get us, is there waiting for us. Winsome is impressed with the effort the locals make to accommodate you. So far we have not yet had a bad experience.

We get off at Jungceloyn Centre to pick up the last of the PSP shopping. We notice a stunning ice-cream shop, with decadent ice creams. Luc takes a Banoffi Creation, which he later swops for my Chocolate Vanilla hazelnut ice cream. She gets Winsome and Katie’s order wrong and serves a double Mint chocolate ice cream for which Winsome has to fork out B 260 (nearly R70!). Winsome decides to keep the slip as a souvenir!

The man at the shop happily hands over all the purchases. He give the kids some free covers for their PSP’s and there is a very happy exchange of goodbyes as we depart.

We rush to the hotel pickup point. When we get there we get a great surprise. Sitting next to a South African couple (there are a lot of South Africans here on the Thompsons Tours Package), is our friend the DOG, whom we kicked off the bus. The couple inform us that they also saw him on the bakkie earlier on. We come to the conclusion that he knows the route and must have a girl in town that he visits. When we get to the hotel, there is another couple that is frantic about the dog. They also saw him get on and did not know what happened to him. So a great ending for our Gigolo dog!

On the way to the room we witness a big cat fight and one cat ends up in the pool – which does not stop the fighting! What is it with the animals in this town?

Once again we struggle to get the kids to bed, as they are now absorbed in their new games. Luc gives me the chance to test the Mind Game. Which informs me that I have a brain age of 72!!!! Ouch!!!!

Luc is still very bothered about the fight with Katie, he promises not to do it again (let’s see how long that one lasts!) and even apologizes to her – but she is still ignoring him. Eina – the poor guy and his broken heart!

            

26 September – Mission PSP (& Nintendo!)

We are getting lazier by the day. Today we sleep until 8 and only get to the gym at 9. After 30 minutes on the treadmill I am dead and Winsome is starving. After nearly a week of noodles or rice for breakfast, I can feel it on my middle and decide it is time to perhaps eat a bit less. Our plan of late breakfast and early dinner (to save money!) is not working – the food is so great here, it is hard not to eat all the time!

Today is the morning of sorting out the PSP purchase for Luc. By now Katie is about to get a Nintendo and I think between the two families we are about to pay for the shop rent for the year!

I quickly make a stop at our back alley DVD shop. The first trip here was a bit scary. They display the DvDs in the street and when you want to buy the say “come to shop”. We had to follow them down a little back alley lined with small local food stalls (the smell in here is terrible), right to the back of the alley. By now any South African is holding on to their handbags, ready to make a run for it. Then he opens a little door and you go inside, waiting for someone to hit you over the head. The little room is filled with any DVD you can name. And it is cheap – with no guarantee that the DVD will play. Back to today – I get a DVD for Ninah and Kyla and the whole collection of James Bond.

From here we set off to Jungeceylon Shopping Centre again. The PSP man is very happy to see all of us. We juggle about the price again, tell him which games we want and what movies we want on the PSP. Uggg – it takes forever because he can barely speak English and keeps on calling me “Yes sir, madam). We discover that the movies will take a whole day to load so we have to come back again!

There is a big underwear sale in the courtyard of the shopping centre so the girls decide to shop. For Winsome it is no problem, but this shopping turns out to be a gigantic challenge for me. These Thai girls are seriously petite and have never seen real African boereboude – so I just manage to squeeze into XL. Ai – I will have to go on a 12-month stint in the jungle to loose enough weight to be able to wear any of the sexy bras and panties!

It is nearly 2.30 when we are done and now we have serious shopping centre fatigue – Winsome needs a massage to recover and I need food! As we are waiting at our hotel pick-up point we see a massage parlor hidden away between Starbucks and Macdonalds called Sala Spa. On their “menu” it says it is the number one attraction in Phuket – not sure if it meant this specific parlor or just going for a massage, but heard later that it is was voted the Best in Patong. We all immediately agree to try it out. The two Strydoms run to get some food before the massage – and we decide to try the local stalls in our DVD alley. Food turns out to be great – at R17 for two Phad Thai.

We then go up the stair to the soft-lit massage parlor. The kids go for a foot & back massage, whilst we opt for the Thai massage. It turns out to be an hour of agony! My legs are in pain because of the running, my back because of all the old stress. The whole session when like this:

Monique : Uggh aaaahhhhh ouch!

Masseuse : Oh sorry…. (with lots of giggles)

It is a great massage. She climbs all over you, pushes your body into very strange positions whilst she exhorts serious pressure on all those aching muscles. Whilst the rest of the group is in total ecstasy….

I am dead after this massage. We get home I hit the bed and try to sleep for a while, as Winsome goes off for another massage (she justifies this by saying it is her job and she has to do research…. She says this sound fine in her head – you let us know what you think….!!!)

I never get to sleep because all of sudden I realize that my camera is missing! I go through the room and suitcases about 3 times. The kids are watching movies so they are not interested in helping. Winsome comes back and helps, but eventually we decide that it must have been taken from the room. I phone the reception and before I can expand on my opening sentence “I have a problem, my camera is missing” the lady informs me that they picked up my camera in the gym and have it in reception! I cannot for the life of me remember that I took that camera to the gym – old age! Well at least I have it back (and that is why there are very few photos today!).

We go into Pantong town to collect the PSP memory card. At the shopping centre we see the end of the water fountain display. The cards are not ready yet, so we have to come back again – we are now truly gatvol of the shopping centre and this loud, bright, busy streets. We all agree that some place quiet and out of town sounds great for dinner. Back at the hotel the receptionist tells us to go to the White Box restaurant, but when she says “they will pick you up”, we realize that it is a tourist trap. She then tells us about a stunning local restaurant of the cliffs. It is about 5 minutes on the Tuk Tuk and turns out to be really good food – at a good price too! Winsome eats a stunning fish in red curry sauce, whilst I try the Masaman Chicken Curry. Luc eats Chicken Stir Fry Rice (which is a winner for kids) and Katie did the Western Menu – hamburger and chips.

We decide to walk the food off. It is an easy 15-minute walk back down the main road. There are some dark sections but the waiter told us it was safe and of course we get lots of offers for lifts by taxis and Tuk Tuks.  We quickly dip our feet in the sea – nice moon and sky tonight. As we walk pass the pool I trick Luc and push him into the pool and quickly follow suit – in clothes! He enjoys this very much!

Tonight we manage to get the kids in bed without too much drama – they now have two fold-up beds after Luc woke up yesterday morning with about 25 (he counted them) “itchy bites”.  The two beds also sorted out the “sleeping conflict” between the two.  Luc, true to his Palm tree Island personality, immediately wants to push the two beds right next to each other, to much protest of Katie!

I am exhausted – must have been the release of the tension, and fall asleep before Winsome and Katie.

(Now you know why the blog posting for today is so late!!!)

25 September - Cooking!

It is pouring with rain when we wake up. After our very late night everyone is lazy and the gym is not on the list of things to do. It is pouring with rain and we are very happy that we booking an inside activity for the day. We arrive at Pum’s Cooking School in Pantong Town just as it starting pouring down and make a grand “running” entrance into the restaurant.
Bunny (Subun) is our teacher for the day. She is a petite, soft-spoken girl and looks like a young boy with her hair hidden away under the cooking bandana. We start off by getting an introduction to the local herbs and spices. Luc opts to watch Transformers on the computer whist Katie joins the cooking team. We each choose 4 dishes we would like to make and then it is off to the kitchen – complete with our aprons!
We start with Gaeng Kheo Wan Gai (“Green lipstick”). Cooking turns out to be a pleasure as all the ingredients are already cut and measured into little bowls. So it is just a matter of adding and cooking! It is so quick and within minutes we have done our first dish. This is followed by Tom Kha Gai (Chicken in coconut soup), Tom Yam Goong (Thai hot and sour prawn soup) and Phad Prio Wan (Stir fry vegetable and chicken in sweet and sour sauce). The best tip of the session is that you have to “massage” the food – “they very happy, get massage’. To massage the food is to press the spatula down on the meat and move to around. So slightly different than the Chinese way of stir-frying.
After an hour we sit down with a big bowl of rice and our delicious food. The kids join in and we start the tasting feast. And a feast it is indeed! The food is absolutely divine! The green curry and Winsome’s red prawn soup comes up tops!
The rain is a little less and we decide to venture off to the local market. We are bundled into a cute little truck with Bunny in the driver seat. The poor girl is holding on to the steering wheel like she is terrified and we come to the conclusion that she is a very new driver. She drives very slowly and even stops on the side of the road when the traffic gets a bit hectic. The market is absolutely incredible! Incredibly clean with many stalls full of goods from herbs to vegetables to amazing fruit. We have a long stop at the fruit stall where we buy Jack Fruit, Dragon Fruit, Rose Apple (funny shaped apple), custard apple and Lon Tons (similar to leechies). The sweet shop is filled with bright coloured sweets of which we buy a variety – they all turned out to be better looking than tasting – not sweet at all! The seafood section causes great entertainment – when Katie gets sprayed by a clam (thank goodness she was wearing her raincoat) and the bucket with the slimy catfish, still moving, got everyone squealing.
When we get back the to the restaurant, the rain is pouring down again and we are half soaked! It helps a bit balancing the heat of the kitchen. Now it is time for our last dishes – Haw Muk Pla (Fish Cakes in Chinese Kale Cups), “Fish dancing under green lipstick”, a Pum’s special and Phad Thai. Luc finally joins in and is in charge of doing the Phad Thai – which is rice noodles with egg omelet. The highlight of this session’s food is definitely the fish and the Phad Thai.
We are stuffed when we finally leave – it was definitely one of the best days of the trip!
We meet up with Quentin to look at the PSP’s – eventually Winsome decides to get a Nintendo DS game – with 50 free games! We have a quick beer with Quentin before hopping onto the hotel transfer. It is a quiet night. We put the kids into bed early and we have a long girly talk.

Looking for James Bond

After an eventful night – Luc crying because he cannot sleep and then end up in my bed (perhaps because they went to bed at 11!). We all go to the gym – I manage to run a bit further today, but it is difficult in the heat. We have yet another great breakfast – exotic fruit, tomato spaghetti and nice salad. Today we are on a mission to find James Bond, so we head off to James Bond Island (where “Man with a golden gun” was filmed.  The weather looks more and more like the monsoon predictions we have been hearing about. 

We are the second group to be picked up and soon discover that the group of Arabs sitting behind us is not only the most obnoxious, arrogant, loud tour group, but that they are drinking beers early in the morning and eventually ended up spilling some over us. This makes the long trip (about an hour) to Phang Nga on the main land. Due to the rain, our stop at the rubber sheet demonstration is cancelled, so we go straight to the Sauankuha Temple (or sadly called the Monkey Cave). This is because of all the wild monkeys, who are being fed by the hundreds of tourists everyday. We refuse to feed them, but they create some great entertainment when the steal a King Cone Ice-cream out of the hand of one of the Arabs! The cave is very interesting. Lots of Buddha and other figurines, some stamps in the cave walls by Thai royals who paid visits centuries ago. And lots of bats! I buy some beautiful freshwater pearls for much cheaper than at the shop the previous day.  Of course we share our thoughts on the Arabs with our tour guide and the two Germans and Auzzies join in!

After another long drive (and by now the rain has started to come down), we stop at the Port. We take the advice of the tour guide and buy some plastic raincoats. From here we board the colourful long tailed boats and set off into the rain. We find ourselves on waterways surrounded by mangrove forests. We are amazed to see interesting formations appearing next to us through the rain – they look like gigantic boulders in the middle of the ocean, with straight cliffs and overgrown with trees and ferns. We are surrounded by these magnificent giants and so sorry that we cannot see properly through the pouring rain – must be a spectacular site in sunshine.

As we come around one of these beautiful cliffs we see a picturesque village on the other side. This is the famous Koh Pan-yi fishermen’s village. Most of the village is built on water. We sit down for a lunch in one of the restaurants. By this time Luc is chatting to Quentin, another South African who has been working in Abu Dhabi for the last 5 years. He gives us a great insight into PSP’s and promise to meet us at the shop tomorrow to check out the “goods”!

The food is very interesting. Big plate of rice to start with – and a bottle of coke to drink away to burn of the spices! We are served an interesting soup (which we skip), deep fried drum sticks, prawns in batter, spicy vegetable calamari, sweet vegetables, great fish (the surprise of the day cause it looked revolting initially!) and fried rice with prawns.  We have 20 minutes to explore the village, which turned out to be mainly very touristy and expensive shops. The toilet was an experience – you have to squat, which proven to be painful after the running session in the gym.

When we depart the rain stopped and we can get good view of the village. We now seriously have to find James Bond and his island before the rain starts again. And finally, there it is!!! The famous pinnacle rock, private beach and high cliffs. Not so private anymore – the little beach is full of tourists and little shops. But it is still stunning. We get off on the one side and walk across to the famous beach. From here you can get stunning photos of the pinnacle rock.

We challenge Winsome to be the Bond “girl” and walk out of the water in her bikini. This causes great unhappiness with Katie, who does not want her mother to do it. In the end, Winsome is a great sport and does a spectacular exit out of the water that even got the Arabs staring with the mouths wide open – which also got them to shut up! Katie is in tears and does not stop crying!!! The fallen rock is the height of the island cliff (100 meters up) that looks as it is a piece of butter sliced in two by a hot knife.  It is spectacular!

After saying goodbye to Bond – or not goodbye, cause we only found his girl and a wanna-be Bond (Luc!), we board our boat again. After a short drive we arrive in a little bay filled with about three “mother” boats, pumping out lots of little rubber canoes full of tourists. This is where we end up 5 minutes later. On a little rubber boat, with a tour guide who wants to know if we are Muslim (!) and very happy to hear that we are from South Africa – “football!”  Poor Quentin ends up with a very fat Arab, which puts his life in serious jeopardy!

He garbles a lot of words we cannot understand, but finally figure out the following:

“camera, take photo”

“where’s pappa?”

“mind mamma head” – every time we went in below a low cliff

“VIP you VIP”

“mamma sexy, mamma Thailand” – working towards his tip!

We stop on a little beach (about 6 meters wide) with one baby palm on the beach. Quick photo session and then off to look at walking fish in the mangroves. Luc tries to paddle, but after a big dice with against the Mortimer boat, he is exhausted. It starts pouring with rain – thank goodness for our plastic raincoats. And finally, as we approach the “mother boat” our guide starts asking for his tip!

The ride back to the port is mostly in rain. We are thankful for the fat Arab and his friends sitting in front of us shielding us from the rain. At one stage it even looked like they were in serious prayer!

At the end of our trip we are surprised by a free coconut drink – in the coconut! When Winsome discovers it is a natural laxative – she immediately downs one! Luc takes his on the bus, which eventually ended up in the pool at the hotel… It’s a long drive back. Our tour guide is a star – he got rid of the Arabs – who protested seriously – must be after seeing Winsome in her bikini!!!

It is dark when we finally got home. The kids got into the pool, whilst we use the opportunity to drink our holiday drink – Singa Beer with Sprite. Or two…..

We struggle to get the kids to bed. Needing some space, but not even allowed to have frivolous girlie talk and giggles in the room. We even take some crazy photos and have lots of laughs talking to Uri on Skype. Poor kids – must think their mothers are crazy!!!! One day they will understand…..

WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER - Sight seeing

We cannot get the kids to wake up so we make turns to go to the gym. I run a 3 kilometer, but is dead – the heat is just too much! We just make the end of breakfast, which is great with lots of fruit and rice! We spend the morning trying to unlock the safe – which Luc managed to lock and getting info and booking trips for the next two days. Whilst I chill out next to the pool, Winsome sneaks out for a cheap (R 70) massage in the little shop behind the hotel. The kids can be demanding sometimes – so the mothers need their quiet times! At about two we rent a little Tuk Tuk to go one of the most visited and most ornamented  Buddhist temples on the island, Wat Chalong. It is unusual, with many people praying and rubbing gold leave off the statues – we still need to figure out what the ritual is all about. On our way back we stop a pearl and jewel shop – or rather a very fancy “warehouse”! Winsome gets some stunning black pearls and Cathie her birthday stone – Opal. Luc is very upset because he also wants his stone – what he plans to do with it, we have no idea, but it ends up in a big tantrum, because he got nothing!  Not even his mother got something – we however got Mrs Solomons birthday gift! I am very weary of the male shop assistant who keeps on telling Luc that he is a handsome boy!

After a quick stop at the hotel we go to Pantong town for dinner. The plan is to go to the night market to eat local food. We have no idea of where it is and after walking for a while, and hiding under our umbrellas (local rain shower), we ask a lady at one of the stalls selling curios. She informs us that this market is in another town! But a Tuk Tuk driver directs us to a local restaurant across the street. Where the food apparently is very good and cheap!

We make a quick stop at a DVD vendor, which turns out to be an adventure. He takes us off down an alley into a back room to look at his full collection. Thank goodness for the internet where I read about the procedure of buying DVD’s. We get a great collection – about 15 DVD’s for R 250 – including some of the latest movies not even being released in SA.

We struggle to cross the busy street full of tuk tuks and scooters and eventually he pulls his tuk tuk out in front of the traffic and helps us to get across – really kind! The restaurant is full of locals and looks a bit dodgy – with the food being cooked right there and then! The kids have their doubts, but the mothers are brave! On recommendation of the waitress we end up having the best (and cheapest!) dinner yet! Only Winsome can eat the Som Tum Thai – spicy green papaya salad. We try the sticky rice – absolutely divine! The kids love the Kau Op Sapeloo (not sure if this is right!), which is fried rice with pineapple and chicken. Our main course is Pad King – chicken with ginger.

We have our holiday drink – beer and lemonade – and the kids immediately tell one bottle (which we shared!) is enough for us!!!

We still wanted the durian ice cream, which is a great local ice cream. The waitress sends us off to the French grocery shop in the Jungceloyn Centre. A shop assistant offers to show us durian – which we discover is a type of fruit! So no durian ice cream, but we get Cathie a miniature cake (to celebrate her upcoming birthday) and a cute key ring holder.

We have our hands full with the children and their demands. Luc is comparing everything Katie gets with what he gets and complains bitterly about all the stuff she is getting.

We wait just outside the party street for the hotel transfer. We are amazed by the many Western men walking around with the Thai girls. Some of them are definitely underage! So lots of bright lights, drunken people and men looking for a good time. Combined with the rotten smell on the streets, this part of town is not one of our favourite stops.

 

TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER - Diving

It is a struggle to get the kids out of bed for our early pick-up by Dive Asia.  We decide to go for a big breakfast so that we can last the day – forgetting that we are getting breakfast on the boat! Stunning fruit and I go for the local breakfast option – rice, cashew chicken and pad tai – man, I can certainly live here! We are the first of the group to be picked-up and it takes about an hour to collect everyone and drive to the dive shop. From there we go through to the jetty where we discover we have a great 3-story dive boat. It is an 2-hour trip to the first dive/snorkel site. We are four in the dive group (including the dive master). Winsome has decided to skip the diving (sore back, ears – I tease her about old age!).

We dive/snorkel on 3 spots around Racha Noi and Racha Yai Islands. (Diving log – max depth 25 meters, time 60 minutes for all). Diving is not spectacular. We see Leaf Pipe Fish,  sea horse, clear shrimp stations, few boxies, few eels. One spot bright sea stars. The last dive looks a lot like Malawi – lots of boulders and nothing else. There is also signs of coral bleaching and lots of dead coral – on a more positive note, you can notice the sea life beginning to rehabilitate. The three on snorkel  also see eels and lots of other fish – including the trigger fish, of which I stay clear after being attacked by one in Tioman!

In between diving we are served lunch consisting of green bamboo curry (which none of us tried as the local dive master said it is spicy) and fried rice with minced chicken, and lots of watermelon and pineapple (kids love this!).  I am exhausted after the third dive and tell Winsome about really feeling old age, when I struggle to get on the boat with full gear on my back! Ai, how we miss the youth.

We have a nice slow boat ride back, each with a  beer shandy in the hand (will have to do some serious running in the morning!). Stunning sunset on our way back – even Luc comments about this.

Back at the hotel Luc goes for one last quick dip in the pool. We make croissants with ham and cheese for dinner. The kids refuse to get into their sleeper couch bed and we all end up in one bed! Lots of talking and telling stories. It takes Luc about an hour to share the story about the strange man at his school, as the girls interrupt him every 5 minutes. But he says he loves telling stories like this! It is only 11 when everyone is in bed and asleep.

SUNDAY/MONDAY 20/21 SEPTEMBER - Flying, flying, flying

The day started off with an early morning flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg. We are very sad to say goodbye to Callie at the airport. It is seldom that we go on such an adventure without him, but someone in the family has to write an exam and he is the brainy one after all!

 We find ourselves in a brand new international OR Tambo and the confusion on not knowing where to go, having to find Winsome, wrapping bags in plastic (cause we are terrified of someone putting drugs in our suitcases!), buying forex (which we never got to do – thank goodness for credit cards!) and having to declare computers, cameras, ipods and having to run for about 2 kilometers to gate A 14, we nearly missed our plane.

 The kids are all excited when they see the on-board entertainment and Luc gives everyone a demonstration on how everything works. Including his mother who manages to bomb out the whole rows system by pressing the wrong buttons for too long! The plane is great, the seats are great and when the girls come around for drinks the third time we realize how great the service is! Very tempted to drink a Singapore sling, but the early morning stress climaxed into a killer headache, but even that is not a problem for the crew – within minutes I have a painkiller and it is time to start the movie marathon.

 And one it is indeed. I manage to watch XMen – Wolverine, Of Angels and Demons and some Ben Afflic Movie – and sleep for exactly 30 minutes. Luc went from movie to games to movies to games non-stop – and managed to sleep 0 minutes. So did Katie – which became a huge challenge later in the trip. Moving 6 hours forward we wanted the to go to sleep 11 o’clock Singapore time, which was only 5 SA time. Of course they didn’t.  Which meant that after landing in Singapore at 5 – it was 11 o’clock SA time and the fatigue was beginning to set in. But all the excitement of Singapore airport, the sky train and the shops kept the eyes open.  (The old ladies had an eye opener as well. Discovered the free feet massage machines outside the boarding gate – and oh, what a quick, few moments of ecstasy when the tired feet got a serious, mechanical massage.

After a nearly 4-hour wait, we were on the plane to Phuket and then the problems started. Luc and Katie fell asleep and when we landed we could not wake them up. After many threats and promises Luc got up with great protest and arrived half asleep in Phuket.  The 40 minute minibus ride to the hotel, was effectively used by the kids when the immediately fell over and continued their sleeping.

The island reminds me of Mexico, Malawi, the Philippines, which means it is third world with lots of green, clear blue water and “charming” third world buildings. The roads are filled with little scooters. We drive past spectacular beaches and grand hotels. When the bus finally stops at a little run- down establishment at the end of the beach, I am so glad when I don’t see our hotel’s name outside. Followed by a great surprise when the driver informs us that this is our hotel indeed – the name is on a big sign a bit further down! In the end it turns out not to bad. On our way to the room we spot the pool and the kids finally awake from their sleepwalking. Excited to think that we might have a pool view room. Turns out we got the last in the row, which has a view of the room of the wing in front of us and a far distant view of the sea. Well at least it is on the third floor and not as exposed (in the case of the hopefully unlikely appearance of a Tsunami!).

We have a big studio with living area, kitchen with pots and pans, but no knives and forks (very strange!!!!).  We all agree we have to stay awake as long as possible. So we unpack and get the kids down to the pool. It is very hot and humid and no sign of the 7-day rain prediction Callie made before I left. I now believe that it is a clever trick by the islanders to create low season, so that they can take a break from the tourists!

 After swimming we take try to find the hotel shuttle into town. Waited a whole 30 minutes in the wrong spot. But eventually got to Pantong town. Apparently Pantong was the first beach to develop as a tourist attraction and it was a mainly backpacker paradise. It has kept a bit of the backpacker feel. With a main beach road clutter with little stalls, restaurants and curio shops selling everything you can think off. I manage to swop some Malaysian currency we still had left over from our eventful trip when we got free accommodation for 4 months, compliments of the Abu Sayyaf. 

 Seeing bright red watermelon in a street cart we immediately stop the lady and soon each on of us has a plastic bag with a skewer digging into sweet watermelon! Our first stop is the biggest shopping centre in Phuket, Jungceylon. There are many shops and lots of stalls as well. Cathie gets very pink sunglasses and Luc starts negotiation for a very kitsch watch – thank goodness his mom has the purse! The two of us ends up negotiating for a PSP – not a bad deal and the man promises to load all the game Luc wants. I find that a bit dodgy (this as well as the fact that he has a region coded SA PSP!) and we are not sure if we should buy this. We join Winsome in a great salon where the two of “old women” get a stunning facial – and the cheapest in the world – R 70 for a full facial. The poor kids have to sit (and sleep – Cathie) through it. Luc even joins in to give me a few minutes of reflexology! After being so good I get him what he has been wanting for so long – an original bactobung (or whatever you call it!).

 When quickly run into Carrefour (big supermarket) where we have to choose between an interesting arrays of food. We are not brave enough and end up buying croissants, cheese and ham! When we get back to the hotel transfer pick-up spot, we realize that the street has been closed off, for the partygoers and we have no idea where to get the transfer!

 The Pantong beach are has now transformed into a vibey, party spot with bars and restaurants and lots of people. Fortunately we are not yet seeing the signs of prostitution – sure we were still a bit early. By this time Winsome is dead of exhaustion and looks like she is going to burst into tears when the kids want to order an ice cream. Shame, they were so patient in the salon, we finally give in. We decide to take a Tuk Tuk home (looks like a miniature taxi with 4 seats. We are even too tired to negotiate a price and the driver gets a good deal, whilst we are just too happy to finally get home.

 I persuade the others to go for dinner in a little restaurant next to the hotel. One beer shandy later and Winsome has some more colour in her face. The kids are still full of beans and make jokes and talk a lot. We order two pad Thais (noodles with chicken). It is spicy and the kids are complaining!  Back in the room we all hit the bed – the two kids on the sleeper couch and the old women in the giant king size bed!