It's all gone a bit Patong!

We remain in Patong, Phuket.......until further notice from Etihad Airways. The weather is lovely and sunny today - so aside from the uncertainty we cannot really complain!

Diving at Phi Phi Islands

On Saturday, I organise a diving trip with Dive Asia.

Mum is suffering very badly with heat rash so is going to stay indoors for a couple of days, which is a pity as there really is nothing to do but read or watch Oprah and The Nanny.

It's the morning of the trip, I wait and wait but alas no pick-up truck appears. After a number of confused phonecalls, it turns out they have forgotten about me :-( So after quite a lot of comotion, it is decided that a taxi should bring me to the pier in Chalong Bay. Arrive at the pier, hand over the 400 baht decided prior to getting in the cab but realise I am locked in the car and the driver is demanding that I pay him 600 baht! I am not in the mood for this nonsense! 10 minutes of assertive Elaine demanding to be let out of the car, and I am free (paying the original price of 400 baht). Arrive at the pier and there is no-one there but a few locals who inform me I am "toooo late, tooooo late". Arrrgh I'm so annoyed, and ring the dive centre again.....and then, B, one of the dive instructors appears from somewhere....... wohooo, I'm aboard & ready to dive!!

There are two islands, Phi Phi Ley (the smaller, less developed one where the super-hot Leo DiCaprio walked upon the shores of Maya Bay during the filming of The Beach in 2000) and Phi Phi Don (the larger, more developed island). Both islands were badly destroyed during the tsunami (2004).

There is a great bunch of people on board.

The team: Horsz, moi, Benedict, Ton & Roman (my buddy)

Our first dive of the day is at Koh Dok Mai. Sorry no pictures from these dives so you will have to use your imagination. We see butterfly fish, giant trevally, yellow boxfish, sponge, amazing coral and much, much more that I cannot remember!

Second dive, at Bida Nok, where we see stingray, leopard shark, sea snakes, trumpet fish, and giant moray eels.

Third dive, at Maya Beach. Another lovely dive, visibility is not great but we find an ornate ghostpipe fish, anenmone crab, a great baracuda (hunting) and my all-time favourite a TURTLE!! We see lots of clown fish (Nemo!) and I get excited every time.

The approach to Maya Beach

Ton (our lovely instructor) & Horsz (Italian team member)

Wet patches posing for a cheesy shot

Good students completing logbooks

We all get on so well that we decide to meet in Patong later that night (I cannot persuade Mother to join us as she is not feeling too well). We have lots of fun & visit many of the various bars & shows on offer....beginning in Scruffy Murphy's.....

Elaine, Dusanka, Ralf, Pete & Benedict (clockwise)

Benedict, Turlough, Jeff, Elaine, Ralf, Dusanka & Pete

Bars around Bangla Road

Day trip to Phi Phi Islands with Mum (December 1st!)

Next morning bright and early (6am wake-up call), Mother and I are going to Phi Phi Islands - this time via speedboat.

The departure pier at Roong Aroon (not so glam as Chalong Bay!)

The itinerary is shared by Eddie (our Leo look-a-like tour guide)

Phi Phi Ley & Maya Beach

I've been on a few speedboats in my time, but nothing so bumpy as this one! Seriously, our backsides were lifted a couple of feet in the air and we got very, very wet! The water is choppy and the skies are grey - still a beautiful place.

Around Maya Bay

First steps on Maya Beach

Despite the clouds, the water is heavenly

After a couple of hours sleep and too many beers, floating in the ocean for an hour is absolute paradise on earth (obviously the beautiful beach and scenery enhance experience immensely). I think these may have been the most relaxing moments of my life!

Next, we are snorkeling around Maya Bay. After a few minutes, Mother is in her element! Lots of little fishies!

How the hell does this thing work?!

Clear, clear water

Viking cave - where security protect the Bird's nests

Glowing from a dip in the salty water

Monkey Beach

Next we go to Monkey beach, where there are lots of.....monkeys and tourists. They are grumpy and just hang out at the beach in order to grab watermelon from the boat-loads of tourists.

Monkeys

Phi Phi Don

We stop at the larger Phi Phi island for lunch - it's also very pretty.

Then on to Khai Island, where we spend two hours snorkeling and milling around the beaches.

Then back to Patong, it was a really nice day out! Mother is feeling much better today.

Our local shopping centre, Junyceylon, has an interesting sign for their disabled toilets.

Back home in time for happy hour, Singapore Sling.....we've had enough Mai Tai!

After days of not knowing when we will be able to leave Thailand and numerous phonecalls to Trailfinders (who have been fantastic - especially Paul in Cardiff!) and Etihad Airways....the breaking news is that the protest has been called off. Now, we shall wait to hear from the airline when we will be able to fly. We have looked into flights from Singapore and Malaysia but all flights to London are booked until Sunday.

Meanwhile, I guess we will just have to lie in the sun and wait.......!

Christmas Lights.

This evening we go to the Christmas lights being switched on at the Millenium Resort, in aid of the Sussex House (charity set up to support children who have been left orphaned from tsunami).

Speeches....

Lights....

Food.....

We buy gingerbread cookies (inside the gingerbread house) and I am eating on at the moment (tastes delicious)!

I get a haircut today and the hairdresser asks 'originaaaal?', yes, yes I reply. 'OOOOooh' he exclaims excitedly....'originaaal oraaaange!!'. Yup, 100% originally orange.