After checking out I went to the lobby and the bell boy gave me an option. Meter cab or 400bht. Including tolls. Foolishly (will I ever learn) I opted for the the latter. The driver didn't speak good English and was trying to converse with me. Fuck knows what about, I was ill. Anyway, arriving at the airport he asks for 1000bht. Despite the fact that this is a non confrontational race, I lost it. In the end I gave him 500bht and basically told him to shove it !
I have to confess, I was a bit apprehensive about the weeks holiday with Nic in Phuket. It was the full term at school and Nic had broached the subject about going away atba party when I was a little worse for wear. I agreed and we agreed Phuket. Nic is a bit of a party boy. Sheltered upbringing and all that shit. His idea of a 'holiday' is sleeping all day and drinking all night. Not mine... I'm 51 years old for gods sake.
The hours flight, once again with Air Asia ( I almost work for them these days) took me too Phuket airport. I used my 'travellers' savvy and got a taxi for 450bht for the 30 minute drive to Patong. We hadn't booked any accommodation but I'd arrange to meet Nic in a bar in 'gayville' a particularly seedy part of town.
I arrived at 6 ish and he was already pissed. After a couple of beers, he went on a recky and came back having found a room at 1000bht per night. I think it used to be a massage pal our. On the ground floor with a little terrace, straight out ontonthe pedestrianised road. It was good, clean and roomy.
I have to say, the week was an absolute hoot. Not before the first night of going out on the back of a motorcycle taxi for wine. Lashings of drink and Nic being still pissed at 8.00am the following morning.
It wasn't quite as bad. As drinking all night and sleeping all day, for me at least. I did have a couple of very late nights and a couple of very big hangovers but it was fun. One evening we went to Simons Cabaret, a great night. Most evenings we went to the drag shows. Apart from a couple of nights I was in bed by 1.00am. Apart from a couple of evenings Nic stayed out all night.
The weather was appalling! It rained most days, a lot. We had one day on the beach where, despite the cloud Nic managed to get sunburnt. Apart from that it was sitting, chatting, drinking.
We did have fun chatting to the vendors, all taken in good part. The classic was.
'where are you from'
'england'
'do you speak english'
' a little'
Closely followed by they hawkers looking for you to fill I'm a questionnaire, and give money!!
'where are you from'
'que?'
Do you speak English.'
'que'
' it's OK'
We laughed like drains
We were there for earth hour, a real shame as the locals had spent so much time on it and it absolutely pissed down all day. They made the best. All the lights went off for an hour but I suspect that the big lights, big sounds etc that were the precursor for the evening more than cancelled out any savings
Opposite our 'apartment' was a gay massage parlour. We had a foot massage there one day, it was very average....
We did however 'befriend' one of the employees. Oman (made up name methinks)
Nic spent many hours helping to compose e-mails to his friend. We took him out for dinner one day and it was very sweet that we just had a face wash and he got dressed up.
Hen was keen for us to sample his massage skills. We didn't oblige! Most nights he came over and had a drink with us. On us of course! One particular night, after a few beers I though it amusing to set us up as a massage parlour.
'massage, massage, where you from' was my pitch.
Quelle surprise, I got a couple of customers, two Korean blokes wandered past, stopped carried on the. Came back. We quickly sent the. To Oman. He was chugged.... Maybe he'd get more custom if he did a bit of canvassing rather than sat on his ass swigging beer!!
All in all it was a great week. Far too much drinking. Hardly any eating and a lot of laughing. Thank you Mr Nic!
Attend the of the week I was flying back to Bangkok, then KL the. Singapore (fuck knows.... I don't, why I didn't just go Phuket to Singapore. It must have been, cheaper!
Nic was going to KL for a few days then back to Borneo.
Our flights were at similar times. I got in my queue, as the board indicated. Waited 30 mins only to behold that his was the earlier flight. There is absolutely no reason why this woman could not have checked me in but she chose not too, I've not been so angry in a long while. I did the auto check I. And went back to show her the boarding pass. So much for customer satisfaction Air Asia. Although, only one bad experience in 40 flights isn't that bad I suppose....
I got on my flight quite looking forward to seeing the kids, Les, Billy and Dad. Also catching up with Martin Godden in Singapore for a beer.
Alas, it was not to be..........
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Location:Phuket. Thailand
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