Dec 10/11 Homeward Bound

 Well it’s been a full 25 days. Dec 10 we woke up in Phuket Thailand, drove half hour to the airport and got checked in for a marathon of flying. Phuket to home took over 30 hours. Everything was great til we got to Vancouver and didn’t have enough time for customs so missed our air Canada flight to Calgary which to note was booked by EVA airways. After walking desk to desk trying to get help, OH and did I mentioned Taylor Swift is in Vancouver, there are no flights with air Canada to Calgary until Wednesday! Thank god EVA airways was awesome and had us all rebooked on a West Jet flight and only had to wait   1 & 1/2 hours til boarding.  Home by 3:30am! 

What a dream vacation it was! Saw all I imagined and so much more. The people and the culture were amazing! Loved every second. 

My favorite spot! 
View from Topas Ecologe in Sapa 

 

Dec 9 Final full day

 Well here it is, the last full day of my dream vacation! None of it has disappointed! Today started early with breakfast and Mo meeting us for the most wonderful day to call our last. It started at 8am and a drive to Ao Phang Nga National Park where we boarded a long boat for a cruise around the bay and huge rock formations and caves.  We watched  2 little monkeys sunning on the rocks as we cruised past. This place is so amazingly cool. Deep into the rock formations and caves we then got aboard a canoe where they took us into caves and for a closer look at the huge rocks etc. the water was brilliant green blue with stalagmites hanging from the rocks. Later on, we stopped at a private beach for swimming and shell seeking. It was so beautiful. Then we entered a cave by boat and went ashore to walk through the cave to see such interesting rock formations. You could hear the bats overhead squealing.  Amazing views of the bay from inside the cave. Then back into the tour bus to a lookout restaurant way above the bay for a fantastic lunch and pics. Back to the hotel for afternoon massages at the spa. Free cocktails at the Alto restaurant and more free drinks at the firefly restaurant. Finished the day with appies and more drinks at Brenda and Garnets  pool.  Final packing done and I guess ready for a marathon of flights tomorrow. Omg it will be a day. Starting at 1040am!  Phuket to Bangkok, Bangkok to Taipei, Taipei to Vancouver, Vancouver to Calgary. Land in Calgary at 1030pm same day. Lay overs in each city with a total of 18 hours of fly time. Might be an ordeal and not an adventure. LOL!!!!!  Next note will be from home. Dec 11. Thanks for following another journey of mine. 

Pineapple crops

Our long boat 

Riding up front on the long boat 

Beautiful rock formations 

More rock formations 

Monkeys sunning 

Cool stalagmites 

Garnet chilling on the boat 

Jerald and Bev with Mo our guide 

Our canoe trip through caves 

Mo back on board 

Me in a cave 

Entrance to the cave 

Jerald me and Garnet in the cave exploring 

View from inside the cave of the bay 

Me at the restaurant way above the bay 

View of the bay from way above. 

Our group way above the bay.  

Largest bumble bee I’ve ever seen 

The spa walkway 

Another walkway to the spa at our hotel 

Brenda at the spa 

Gorgeous flowers in the gardens at the spa. 

Garnet in the jungle cutoff on the way to the Alto bar 

Our final sunset at Phuket Thailand 

The pool at the firefly restaurant 

 

Dec 8 Phuket old city and elephants

 Soooo this morning we actually got to sleep in, but I was still up by 7. Made coffee and sat by the pool looking at pics and reminiscing about my trip. Around 9am I ventured down the walkways and found the breakfast restaurant by another pool. The weather is gorgeous and really hot like I love it. Fantastic breakfast complete with mimosas. At noon, Mo picked us up and took us to an elephant sanctuary where we could feed the elephants sugar cane and watermelon. It was so cool. We got to pet them and scratch their ears. Youngest elephant was 6 and the oldest was 79. After the elephant visit we drove to a beautiful beach and walked in the white powder sand and dipped our toes in the crystal clear blue water. Wished we had more beach time. Back in the van  after about half hour and up to an amazing look out of 2 sides of the bay, where you could see cruise ships and Phuket old city.  A huge Buddha stood atop the hill. Some of the area was closed as there had been a land slide after recent heavy rains. Back down to the bottom and to a restaurant for another typical Thai lunch.  Not too bad, maybe we are getting accustomed to the flavors. Lol. The Chang beer is always fantastic. Following lunch we walked the streets of Phuket old town where markets filled the streets and the roads were closed to traffic. We are mostly all shopped out so decided to venture back to the hotel for some pina coladas and pool time before bed. Another great day with a little RnR built in. 

Coffee by my pool this morning 

Some RnR by the pool

Walkway to breakfast 

Breakfast restaurant by the main pool 

Time for a couple mimosas 

Brenda and Garnet at breakfast 

Phuket elephant sanctuary 

Garnet and Brenda feeding the elephants sugar cane 

Me feeding the elephant 

Us in our elephant shirts at the sanctuary 

Garnets elephant loved watermelon 

One of the beautiful beaches in Phuket 

Bev getting a little sand on her toes 

Loving the warm water, soft sand, and sunshine. 

View of the bay from the highest point in Phuket 

Largest Buddha in Phuket on top the highest point 

Street market packed with vendors 

Dec 7 - 1/2 day Bangkok and flight to Phuket

 Each day seems to get a little earlier. Today up at 5:30 breakfast at 6 and tour with Bobo at 6:30am. 1 1/2 hr drive south of Bangkok to the train market. WELL!!!! Let me say OMG.  We walked the train rails with a market of everything you could ever want and more for souvenirs and fresh meat, fruit, and veggies. We arrived to the market about 8:15, did a little shopping and found a place to watch the train go by.  At 8:25 each market stall began pulling their merchandise off the tracks, they had to lower all the canopies and leave the tracks completely. THEN at 8:30 sharp the full sized train entered the market. I’m videoing it and then stepped back behind the red line just before the train reached us. I can’t even describe how close it came to where we were standing. Literally inches from us. We had a solid steal door closed behind us so we couldn’t move.  No exaggeration, the train was about 6 inches from us. I tried to video but all I could get was the side of the train passing. At one point the train rubbed against my arm. It was so crazy. Then after the train passed all the market stalls lifted all the canopies and moved all their merchandise back onto the tracks.  The train passes 8 times a day. 4 times during the day. It’s a commuter train taking people into the city etc. Lots of tourists ride it just for the experience. After a little more shopping we got back into the van and stopped to visit a typical Thai home. It was quite fancy but surprisingly they don’t have much for furniture. They sleep on mats on the floor or hammocks and they cook outside. The home was full of family photos and other art exhibits.  Back to the van and drove to the Floating market where we boarded a long boat and cruised up and down canals where markets were lined. Again you could buy any thing possible.  It was really neat to see how the Thai people interact with each other and make a living. So around 11 we headed to the airport for a 1 1/2 hour flight to Phuket Thailand. The countryside is lush jungle with beautiful beaches toward the sea. 1/2 hour drive and we arrive at the most beautiful resort I’ve ever seen. It’s a huge resort that you need to be chauffeured around in a golf cart. My rooms open up into a sun deck with my own private swimming pool, loungers, and sun bed. Past the sun deck a sliding door which opens up into a huge sitting area with TV and bar. Go through another door into a private massage room with 2 massage beds and a steam sauna.  2 huge solid wood doors slide open from the living area to a bedroom and ensuite bathroom. The whole place is magnificent and unbelievable. Too bad we only have 3 nights, but excellent way to wind down our wonderful trip. So after I checked out my room we all ended up in Brenda and Garnets pool for some drinks and social time. Oh and I have to mention that I almost got lost going there, Garnet had to come find me. The resort has so many little walkways and stairs. Each room is very secluded., but I made it back. lol. Tomorrow we have nothing til noon. I will have time to relax by my pool with a coffee and maybe walk around the grounds to get pics. 

Train market as we arrived 

Vendors putting all the canopies in etc 

Here comes the train

Our place to stand to watch the train go by.
Note the distance between the wall and the yellow line. 

I’m videoing it coming 

Omg it was close. 

Note the distance between my arm and the side of the train!!!

The Floating market 

All aboard our long boat. 

View of the canal as we took off 

More boats and the canal 

One of the markets we stopped at so Bev could barter. 

Another stall of souvenirs 

A linen stall of silk table cloths and scarfs 

One of the canals we walked along after our boat ride 

Brenda holding a furry little critter. 

Little guy giving me kisses. 

View of the market behind me 

Enjoying some coconut ice cream 

Saying good bye to Bobo at the airport. Super nice guide. 

Lobby of the Phuket Pavilions Resort 

View of my pool and deck at night 

The living area 

Another view of the living area.  

The massage room in my room with the steam sauna 

My bedroom

Brenda and Garnets pool with beautiful view of city 

Cheers in the pool 


MORE PICS TOMORROW!!!!