Returning to Bangkok - nightbus from Surat Thani

The monsoon really has hit Phuket.

After two days or sporadic but fierce ultra violet rays (dont I know that) the heavens have opened and the tropical island is lashed with rain. There is nothing more wearing then a tropical resort during the rain (as I was to find out in Buzios in Brazil) and My excursion to Phang Nga Bay would have probably meant five minutes on a wet beach and the rest of the time sitting in cover on a small boat. They are getting frustrated here in Kata hoping the monsoon is at its last gasp. It should have moved over to the Gulf of Thailand by now.

An incredible sight was occuring in the opposite lane. A raging torrent of yellow water 2ft deep tore downhill hitting cars and trucks alike. It

After breakfast at a dive cafe I packed up, paid and checked out of Lucky Guesthouse. I watched for the minibus through rain streaked windows. Once arrived, I clambered aboard and we drove to Karon and Patong to pick up the rest of the passengers. After this we crossed the bridge from Phuket to the mainland and I got a glimpse of a mangrove swamp. Then up past Phang Nga village and east to Surat Thani. Those karst mountains were still aweinspiring, looming out of the rain. We got caught behind a truck on a mountain road for twenty minutes but our annoyance turned to delight when we realised the truck contained an elephant.

The truck stopped at the same petrol station as we and we all trooped out to have a look. Elephants are very expensive in Thailand and this one was very friendly despite being fastened to the truck by ropes and open to the rain. About 6pm it got dark and we found ourselves in traffic outside Surat Thani. The driver wondered what had happened. Then we saw! Surat Thani had flooded!

An incredible sight was occuring in the opposite lane. A raging torrent of yellow water 2ft deep tore downhill hitting cars and trucks alike. It was so high it was reaching into the tuk-tuks whose drivers kept their legs out in a strange set of contortionate positions. We crawled at a snails pace into Surat Thani and eventually alighted at Songserm Travel which was on dry ground. A huge doubledecker coach was wating for us. We climbed aboard and settled down with blankets provided by smiling attendants.

But the gods were against me, one more tribulation of the day - the overhead movie was 'Braveheart'. That well known unbiased and historically accurate fantasy of Mel Gibson.

I held the pillow over my eyes. Aaarggghhh...no more...please..