Hello Phuket

Fantasea
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DAY 1

Arrive in Thailand to a very unfriendly welcome at Thai customs. Outside the airport we are hounded by taxi drivers (a bit like Auckland Airport really). Being newbies to Thailand we take the first cab we see and pay the rack rate. This was to be our first lesson in Thailand: always negotiate as you can always walk away and find someone else.

The taxi driver must have been on a mission as it was an extremely fast journey with some bloody close calls.

We arrive at our hotel (the Serene Resort) but are informed that we have been "upgraded" to another hotel. After a quick taxi ride around the corner we check into the Tropical Garden Resort - which actually seems a lot better. We hit the sack early as we are both exhausted.

Fantasea
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~ Andrew

P.S. yes, very early!! Like 3pm... and didn't get up until 7am the next morning!! (JC)

DAY 2

On the beach today we meet "Yang" the taxi-driver. He promises us to show us all over Phuket for only 200 baht (around NZ$10). We are sceptical but what the hell, lets give it a go anyway. We visit a market, the elephant park (big rip-off) and have a 2 hour massage (good value).

Fantasea
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He also dumps us off at a dodgy travel agency somewhere in Phuket Town. We are quickly ushered in and the saleswoman do their best to sell us day trips to "James Bond Island" and "Phe Phe Island" (from the movie The Beach). We politely decline.

Later it becomes clear that Yang takes a cut from any attractions/activities we visit which is why he only charged us 200 baht initially. Seems fair enough.

~ Andrew

P.S. we end up giving him 500 baht plus whatever commision he gets. (JC)

Downtown Patong Beach
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DAY 3

Went to "Fantasea" tonight which is a quasi-Disneyland style theme park featuring buffet dinner and a cultural show. The show itself was very good and there were "ooohhs" and "aaahhs" throughout. Jessica was very pleased with herself tonight as she scored a soft toy with her amazing ball throwing skills at one of the theme park games.

~ Andrew

P.S. I'm sure we all know who's idea was it to go there :D (JC)

Kata Beach
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DAY 4

Today we went to Patong Beach. Wow that was an experience. Its one of the tourist hotspots of Phuket and its not hard to see why... gift shops, suit salesmen, tuk tuks, eateries, aussies, bars, sex shows and lady boys galore. Not to mention a disturbing number of old white men with 18 year old Thai girls hanging off their arms. Now I know why there was an unusual number of single men on the flight into Phuket... Apparently this kind of sex tourism is very common in Thailand.

DAY 5

Fantasea
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I went off diving today and Jessica enjoyed a day to herself! Diving conditions varied - 5-20m vis and at times there were more divers in the water than fish! When I got back to the hotel and knocked on the door I thought I'd gone to the wrong room! The photos speak for themselves!