Gav: We arrived in Phuket a couple of Days ago and are staying Phuket Town with the locals! We found a great backpackers place to stay which costs next to nothing and doesn't have cockroaches (only the odd lizard!). We're hanging out at a local cafe which is a bit of a retreat for local Thai musicians, which is great!!!! The owner took us around the island yesterday and showed us all the beaches on the west coast which were breathtaking. The colours of everything are tremendous. The sun set's about 6.30 so we saw the whole process from about 4 different places. We went to Patong beach which was hit pretty badly in the Tsunami (20-30 metres high the guide told us) and it's strange to see the dramatic warning signs on the serene beaches, it kind of reminds you of the whole thing. Pretty moving stuff! We were also taking to a food market last night after the tour, which was a totally Thai event! Two big stalls surrounded by tables and chairs and you picked all the food you wanted raw and then the waiter brought you a fondu thing for the table and then it's cooked in front of you (yes Mum-I can cook!!!). The food was ace and it was all you could eat for 89 baht (1 british pound and twenty uk pence). so we stuffed our faces and then walked home to get a bit of exercise. Moving on soon to Phi Phi Island and then back on the mainland to Krabi and up to Bangkok. we'll keep you posted.
PS. Don , you only beat me at pool cos I couldn't hold the cue straight for laughing!Looking into getting a flight from you to BKK? any ideas ?