Beaches, fruit and icecream

The group tour ended just over a week ago so we all said our goodbyes in Bangkok and then went our separate ways. Keryn and I made our way down to Phuket where we have been unwinding on the beaches all day, which makes for a nice contrast to the comparative hecticness of our trip.

Phuket is awesome. It's hot, fresh fruit is available everywhere and it's still very cheap by western standards. It is however, not without fault. The prostitution industry here is huge, and there are filthy old men everywhere with their hired girlfriends. I can't walk the streets at night without Keryn otherwise I'm practically forced into a bar. The gogo girls come and start dancing next to you and try to sollicit you in any way possible.

We went and saw the Simon Cabaret a few nights ago - it was awesome for the costumes and set design, but not something you'd go see for the lip-syncing or the dance routines. All the performers are ladyboys, and we had quite a tough time trying to pick some of them. All in all it was a good night, marred only by the fact they entice you to take photos with them after the show and then make you pay through the nose for it. Not the sorta girls you'd want to mess with either. Also, driving over the hill from Patong back to our beach in Karon that night there were bats out everywhere, which decided to fly directly at my scooter. Nothing like that to rattle the nerves a bit.

I'm feeling very disconnected from the world at present. I hear through facebook that the New Zealand embassy in Bangkok has closed due to a resurgence in violence. Apparently last time the violence got this bad (a year or so ago apparently) they actually had to close the airport. As I depart in 12 days I've got my fingers crossed that things will sort themselves out.

Speaking of which, I'll be in Germany in 12 days! While I've been down here I've had a lot of time to think to myself, and I simply can't wait to immerse myself in a new culture and language. In my humble opinion (and in my very limited experience), travelling is addictive. The more you travel, the more you want to travel. I am starting to have moments where I really miss home, but I also can't wait to get out and explore more.

While we have this free time to ourselves, we figured we'd go lose ourselves for a few days so Keryn and I are heading to the Phi Phi islands to fall off the map for a bit. However, I am quite enjoying the routine we've fallen into down here. We get up around midday, get fruit from the fruit cart outside, go swimming, eat icecream, shop, swim some more and then dinner. And if we're really in the mood for it, we might swim after dinner too.

Other than that, there's not a lot more to report. Just using this time to refresh and prepare myself for the big trip to Europe.

I have now posted all my photos on Facebook, as this blog site will only allow me to upload 5 per blog. If you're not on facebook either, let me know and I can email them through.

Will write again soon.