Day three: Phuket adventure – Juggy Brodeltein

If there’s one thing I really enjoy about Thailand, it’s the elephants. And what a day it was, filled with not only elephants but adrenaline and laughter.

We started the day with our awesome breakfast again, and was picked up at 8:30am by the Sealand Camp people to take us to Phang Nga. At one point, the bus stopped on the side of the road in front of a field and I was thinking to myself, “yup that’s it – we’re being sold. Just run guys and may the odds be ever in your favour”. Luckily, it was just a bus swap over.

Our guide, Tum, was everything people perceive Thai people to be – kind, funny, generous, sweet and, of course, complete with a beaming smile. He was so lovely. He took us through the plan for the day during our 45+ minute bus ride to base camp. It was a typically bumpy bus ride which rendered Maggatron very ill. To be honest, I wasn’t feeling crash hot either. It’s a good thing we’re not going on any jet boats. There’d be chunder craziness.

First up was white water rafting. The steerers of each boat were so cheeky, splashing us with water at any given moment, trying to pull us in and even at one point throwing a live frog from boat to boat. Watching S cower at the end of the boat at our captain’s feet was classic. It was so much fun and now my arm’s are aching from all the “FORWARD! FORWARD! BACKWARD! HOLD ON! NO HOLD ON NO FORWARD!!!” rowing. I feel like we were given extremely conflicting messages just for kicks.

After about 40 minutes of laughter and furious paddling, we went back to base camp to prepare for the next part – elephant trekking and swimming in the waterfalls. I think the elephant trekking was my friends’ favorite part of the day and with good reason. It is a beautiful experience to ride an elephant and they are amazing, intelligent creatures. The best elephant experience I have had was in Chiang Mai, up north. But this is right up there because at one point, we were riding on the elephant’s neck without a rider. Maggatron and I got the elephant who always stopped to eat and shared Maggatron’s name. Another Aussie on the tour (we made up most of the tour. Aussies are everywhere when you travel) cried it was the best thing she has ever done in her life.

We fed our elephants some bananas to say thank you and then we were taken to the waterfall. It was the perfect way to end the day. The water was clear and refreshing, and there were fish swimming with us. We were even allowed to jump off a rock cliff into the water which felt unbelievable. I wanted to swim to the base of the waterfall but I was at risk of a serious wardrobe malfunction and decided to not expose myself to all of these strangers.

Lunch was served! And it was delicious. Most tour included lunches are pretty mediocre. But I’ve found the Thai ones have always been outstanding. Maybe because I just really like Thai food. But let’s be real – I like all food so when I say mediocre, I really mean “nom nom nom” rather than “NOM NOM NOM!!!”

It was time to say goodbye to the mountain we were on and make our way back to our hotel. We were all so completely knackered from such a jam packed day but it was so worth it. We took a dip in our pool when we got back home before heading to dinner. Dinner was at a place called Phen’s Restaurant along Nai Yang beach. I’m glad we took a stroll that way because there were a fair few restaurants and bars. Quiet and mainly filled with families but it’s good to know they’re there for us to explore.

S is passed out on the couch, Maggatron and I are watching a doco and Mushy Bee is doing her girly thang. It was barely 9:00pm when we decided to call it a night even though we thought we’d be heading to the hotel bar (where I saw some promising friends to be made). Not tonight. Tonight I just want to sleep to prepare for tomorrow. Tomorrow, it’s time to connect with our inner child and get silly at Splash Jungle Water Park! I love water theme parks. Excitement!

And if you’re wondering what we had stuck in our heads ALL bus ride and ALL freaking day:

Enjoy.

So many adventures to be had!

I did say that this wouldn’t be a blog solely dedicated to my new flat (I’ve decided to call it a flat.  Apartment doesn’t sound right).  The great love of my life (one of anyway) is travelling.  So I thought we’d take it back a bit, chill out and talk about THAILAND.

As mentioned in a previous post, on the 21st of July, I’ll finally be on a plane to Thailand for a very much needed holiday away from the dreary -Melbourne weather and all those little pain-in-the-ass trials that this lovely thing called “life” likes to throw our way.  I’ve been to Thailand a few times in the past and have always enjoyed it.  Along with Malaysia, I rate it very highly on my “places to go in Asia” list.  It’s no-fuss, fun and affordable.

My travel companions have never been to Thailand before, let alone Phuket, so I took it upon myself to suggest some activities we should do in amongst all the relaxing and cocktailing and general merrymaking we’ll be doing.  Some of these things I have done, but most of them will be a new experience for me too which I’m really excited about.  So here goes – our finalised itinerary for Phuket, Thailand.

White Water Rafting and Elephant Trekking in Phang Nga
Not only do we get to ride elephants, which I have always loved, and go on an awesome water adventure, we get some time to visit a waterfall where we can swim around for a bit.  At least, from the description, that’s what it sounds like!  I love a bit of adrenaline and outdoors-ey fun so I can’t wait for this one.  At 3000 baht per person (around $100AUD), with snacks, drinks and return trips to our hotel (which is hard to come by because we’re about 40 minutes from Patong beach.  Most tours charge extra for that.), it’s a pretty decent price.

   

http://www.phuket-travel.com./water_ac/index-rafting.htm

Splash Jungle Water Park
A water theme park!  WATER THEME PARK.  My favourite kind of theme parks are the water variety so as soon as one my travel companions found this one, it was an immediate yes from me! There’s one particular ride that caught my eye called the Boomerango (how fitting that an Aussie wants to go on a ride called the Boomerango).  The website says: one of Splash Jungle’s star attraction offering a combination of thrilling sensations. Rider in an inner-tube start with a step drop down then are propelled high up a vertical wall. Then a reversed free fall a accelerates riders over a 15 metre high transition bump and into a splashdown pool.

Vertical.  Wall.  Can’t wait!  Entrance is 1295 baht (less than $45AUD) and there’s a bus that can pick us up from our beach and drop us off.  It’s not too far from Nai Yang so that’ll be a good day – super fun but not too intense.

http://www.splashjunglewaterpark.com/feature.html

Hong Kayaking by Starlight
Exploring caves on a kayak during lunch and at night.  It sounded amazing so I was quick to suggest it.  I’m not entirely sure what “Hong” is and Google has been about as helpful as a monkey with a trombone.  If someone would like to let me know, that would be awesome.  We also get a seafood dinner once we’ve finished exploring and, again, free return trip to our hotel.  I expect this to be an amazing and beautiful experience with nature – something I think is important to do even just a little bit when in a different country.  Heck, even in your own country!

   

This was the most expensive tour but at 3950 baht (less than $135AUD), it’s still not too bad.  We get dinner and transportation, plus a great story to tell people back home.

Koh Phi Phi Island Express Cruiser
Now I’ve done this Phi Phi Island tour before except I did the speedboat one.  Anyone who has been on speedboat out in ocean waters will know it is a crazy ride.  Like, fly out of seat-constant bumping crazy ride.  The last time I went on it, one of my friends had to take a different boat home because she was so violently ill.  Even I, with a stomach of steel, felt a teensy weensy bit unsettled on this ride.  So with that in mind, and knowing how well my friends deal with boats (one friend anyway), I had to track down a Phi Phi Island tour that involved NO SPEEDBOATS.  And after much searching and many transportation surcharge fees, I managed to find one that not only went to all the places that we need to go, but charged only 200 baht extra for transportation.  That’s still cheaper than the other options out there!

I hope we get to stay at Maya Bay for a little bit to enjoy the beach there but I have a feeling we’ll only get to have a look.  We get to swim and snorkel at Coral Bay though so that will be great for everyone.  Maya Bay is just so iconically “Thailand”, I just wanted my friends and I to take that cliched Maya Bay photo all us tourists take.

      

1200 baht ($40AUD including transportation from our hotel) and lunch.  I love food.  I especially love Thai food.  So any included meals is a super big A+ for me.

http://www.phuket-trips.com/phi-phi-cruiser.htm

Rollerball
I’ve always seen this “Zorb” thing in New Zealand and have always wanted to try it.  Considering the only time I’ve been to New Zealand has been with my parents, safe to say we did not engage in any “zorbing”.  But now I can.  A couple of minutes from Patong, we decided to use this as an excuse to go to Patong, do the Rollerball, see Simon’s Cabaret (next dot point) and then hit the nightlife scene.  I know it’s hideously touristy and disgustingly trashy but this is their first time in Phuket – they have to experience the glory AND the gory!  It’ll set us back 950 baht (less than $35AUD) and up to four people per ball but I think we’ll just split into two.  HOWEVER, we were very adamant on getting into filming things so maybe having all of us in one ball will make for greater footage for our final “Phuket trip” video.  I’ll be sure to post it for all of y’all.

Just out of curiosity, why would you need a life jacket in there?!  The water looks like it’s about 10cm deep?!  Anyway, if you can, YouTube “zorbing”.  Apart from looking like you’re being birthed, it looks like epic fun.  Why WOULDN’T you want to try it?!

Simon’s Cabaret
And finally, Simon’s Cabaret.  A Phuket institution celebrating what we all know and joke about when we hear the word “Thailand” – lady boys.  You can’t go to Phuket and not see Simon’s Cabaret especially if you’re not game for a Ping Pong show (which I still haven’t done… yet have done Simon’s Cabaret a few times).  It’s pretty much just lip-syncing lady boys but man, they are convincing!  Not only in the lip syncing but as women!  You wouldn’t believe some were men previously.  But most of them have “man” qualities.  It’s amusing and entertaining – for me anyway.  Plus, these tickets came free when we booked one of our tours so really, no excuses!  It’s fair enough some people wouldn’t want to pay to see something like this (my aunt didn’t overly enjoy it – maybe she was expecting something more wild?) but I think it’s cute and did I mention it was free??

   

It’s a little depressing that these former-men have better female bodies than I do as a born-female.

http://www.phuket-simoncabaret.com

And there we have it.  An eventful but what I’m hoping will be a relaxing trip away.  Time to unwind.   Time to laugh and smile; and live fully and fearlessly with some of the most important people in my life.  To reunite with a sorely missed and dear friend.  To remind myself that this is all worth it somehow.  That it’s not all dreary, grey Melbourne winters.  That eventually, there’s a sunny, warm Phuket beach waiting for me at the end.  And after working hard, crying hard and falling hard, that’s definitely something to look forward to.