Phuket, Thailand (4/6/07 - 5/6/07)

Phuket was another island I'd wanted to visit for many years and again, I was expecting just a little more than it provided. The weather was a little muggy but the beaches weren't quite how I pictured them - nice but not prestine. We were all feeling exhausted from the constant travel and drinking, so I made the first day one of recovery... got the washing done, had an afternoon nap and watched the movie, Click with Adam Sandler. Exactly what I needed in the best hotel of our tour.

In the evening, the group went out for our last dinner. I was ready to say goodbye to everyone but not so much to Thailand. After dinner, half the group went to a show called FantaSea. The show itself was OK with heaps of elephants but the highlight for me was holding (and briefly feeding) a cub. Cameras weren't allowed but I wasn't missing the photo opportunity. I paid a fortune for them to take my photo with the baby tiger. It's one of my favourite photos (my folks have since taken it home).
After the show, we met up with the rest of the gang for some last drinks. Patricia had taken everyone's details and was going to photocopy the list for us to take. However, I got home in the early hours of the morning and missed my alarm to see off Patricia and give her a tip. I tried to get the details from the reception where she was supposed to leave them but the man couldn't understand me. I kinda felt bad for not tipping Patricia as she did a good job but screwed up on the last hurdle. I would have been happy to transfer a small tip but didn't have anyones contact. I figured I would wait until someone emails me and I'd get in touch with Patricia but to this day, nobody has dropped me a line. Says something about my group. Oh well, one out of two aint so bad cause my Peru tour group was brilliant.

In the afternoon, I went to Phuket beach with Bec and another couple that hadn't left yet. Bec was even getting on their nerves too. We organised a taxi to take us around the entire island and be our driver for the day. Splitting it 4-ways, the cost was fine. We visited a butterfly and spider musuem, many more beaches and a lookout. I had my last Pad Thai in Thailand (again a little bit disappointing compared to what I've had in Oz) and called it an early night as I was due to catch yet another flight early in the morning. Bed knocked on my door and apologised for 'being a bitch the last couple of days'. I was surprised but was only concerned about getting my flight in the morning.

Return rating: 6 (nice but many more places to see before I return).