Thailand: Patong...and the last days of ShelleyandErik Adventures

Our Phuket routine goes a little something like this—hotel breakfast, chill, hospital trip, walk around, DQ, people watching from our favorite bench, chill, movie, dinner.  Be sure to sprinkle (actually pour) in a ton of rain--this sequence repeated and lots of foul smells (plus Erik has a super sensitive nose, so he is ready for no smells). 

We stop at the hospital (in Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, and Patong Bay) every day for wound cleanings and more pain.  The hospitals we have been to have no air conditioning, bugs flying around, unclean rooms, zero English, no doctors and only a couple of nurses (usually techs doing the cleaning).

The sign looks better than the inside of this hospital!?

Leaving Erik back in the cool and dry hotel room to relax and heal, I headed up to the jungle in Kata to do some elephant trekking.  From what little English my elephant handler could speak and I could understand, my elephant was 45 years old and quite calm and very hungry.  The guide jumped off and let me sit right on the elephant’s head, with my legs tucked behind his ears.  He even made me a hat from a large leaf and took plenty of photos for me.  A bumpy ride but quite an experience, which of course ended with, “Will you buy a bracelet from me?”  Even when riding the elephant I was asked to buy, buy, buy!

Such a cute picture.  Shelley has been talking about doing this since arriving in SE Asia.  I am so happy that she was able to finally do that!

She got to ride on the elephant the way the locals do...lucky girl

Heading in the bush for some food

Walk a few steps, get some food--repeat.  Kind of like what we do on our walks!

Hello everyone back home.  Are you jealous yet?

The basket in the back is for the typical tourist, which Shelley is not!!

A view of Patong Bay

Each night we walked around, seeing all of the lady boys and “losers” and visited our favorite dinner spot, #6.  Cheap and cheerful and always with a few cockroaches scurrying around the table.  I’d say we’re ready for America and its definition of clean.

Last day here and the sun is still not out.  We’re packed and ready to go and will enjoy one final day on the island.  Up next is our three legged flight journey to Singapore to Hong Kong to Chicago.  Safe travels ahead we pray!

USA here we come!!!!!

Thailand: Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi

Our first full day and another full day of rain.  WHERE IS THE SUN??  We watched a couple of movies, read, went swimming in the pool and got eaten alive by the bugs.  We had dinner and that was really everything to do here, as when it rains you have to entertain yourself as the electricity went out again in the evening.

A rainy view from our balcony

We loved it here, just wish we had more sun

Another view of the lush green vegetation and the pool

Rain rain go away

Here is our cute little bungalow

Path down to the ocean

 Finally, a day full of sunshine.  There was a bug bite on my stomach (Erik’s) that seemed overly aggravated.  But, the sun was out and we were going to enjoy every bit of it as we had not seen the sun in days.  Since there were not many bungalows, we were able to really get to know some of the other guests.  We met three girls and their mom (all from Trinidad, but grew up in the US) and a German combined family (both husband and wife brought kids from their first marriages).

We had dinner with the girls and their mom and it was a great chance to hear about their adventures and share ours with them.

Day three and we only had about two hours of sun—we did make the most of it by the pool and along the beach.  The German husband turned out to be a doctor and I asked him to check out my bite as it was starting to hurt.  He looked at it and said it needed to be taken care of as it was infected.  He tried some things, before he said I would need to head to the hospital, but he would come with.

So, after dinner, worried Shelley, Erik and the German doctor (Gerald) headed to the islands hospital.  No air con, bugs flying around, and the nurse called the doctor who refused to come in.  So, Gerald asked for items to lance the infected bite and pack it with gauze.  I asked Shelley to leave the room as I did not want her to have to see this.  Yes, it was painful…but thank goodness Gerald was willing to join me and help take care of this.

Shelley tried to baby me a little, but knew it wouldn’t work.  She just prayed that I would be okay.  The next few days would be Shelley and I going back to the hospital to get the dressing changed.  It bothered me a lot as this was supposed to be our relaxing beach time of the trip, but the sun wasn’t out the next couple of days anyway.

On Friday, thanking Gerald one last time, we headed back to Phuket, with a layover in Koh Phi Phi.  We spent the day exploring the island.  There are no tuk tuks or cars on the island.  There are only bikes and motorbikes, which can be dangerous on these small sidewalks.  We checked out the markets, the beaches, and the many restaurants/pubs on this small island.  I am glad we stayed on Koh Lanta as this island is super touristy.  Shelley insisted on us having another of our favorite drinks, the mango shake and I insisted on having some pastries.  A win-win for both of us.  Bellies full, we headed to the hospital by foot on Koh Phi Phi to have the dressing changed where the doctor here gave me some antibiotics.  No more beer or swimming for me these last few days of our trip.  I will just sit under the umbrella and check out Shelley working on her tan and swimming.

The sun pokes out of course as we are leaving Kho Phi Phi

Here is a great view of the beach at Kho Phi Phi

We had a large boat back to Phuket, so no memorable or fun travel stories here for you…sorry!  We did meet a nice couple on their honeymoon from Texas.  They were young and had guides and drivers everywhere they went—which was only Bangkok and Koh Phi Phi.  I think that they were “mortified” by the way we traveled.  They couldn’t believe it when we hopped on two scooters driven by 80-year old Thai men to take us to our hotel.  They had a driver waiting for them.  In 2.5 weeks, they spent as much as one of us did in 3-months!?

Back on Phuket and so far the sun peeked out early in the morning and was gone by 9am.  I am so happy it has been so nice for us the past three months.  This is rainy season here, but they say that it is more than usual.  So, Shelley and I are playing UNO together, watching movies, taking walks, checking out different parts of Phuket.  Even though I cannot be out in the sun—in order to heal—I wish it was for Shelley.  But we are making the most of our time and still loving every minute of it.