Ok, we have had enough … it’s time to hit the beach. Honestly, how long can you spend in Thailand before enjoying the outskirts of the city and dig your toes in the sand? Three weeks was long enough in the concrete jungle of Bangkok, so 7 of my classmates and I flew down to the island of Phuket to meet mom, dad and brother at the Marriott Resort. Mom pulled some strings and helped us get a great condo to enjoy, meaning COMFY Marriott beds, a little kitchen, living room and balcony, not to mention its set in one of the most beautiful resorts you can find. 

Phuket is Thailan’ds largest island, located in the south on the west-facing Andaman Sea coastline. Phuket has a lively friendly feel, with the locals always offering warm welcomes to tourist. Upon arrival we weren’t very eager to get off our lounge chairs and run around, trying to soak in the infinite pools over looking the beach and enjoying the beaming sun, wasting away until happy hour.

Soon enough my mom was ready to venture out, and decided to rent a car! Brave woman. Even though I trust her, I only got in the car as I knew the traffic was not as bad as Bangkok! First stop was at Nai Yang beach where Chase was hoping to kite surf. Unfortunately a major rain storm came through, and we all had to take cover, bars, stores, etc. Luckily we came back later in the week and were able to paddle board a good ways out into the ocean to try and catch some waves. Being it rainy season, of course a storm came through, and the site of Chase, my friend and I trying to paddle as fast as we could was quite comedic. It was a full on down pour, and at the moment of fear when thunder hit, the rain just passed. It didn’t slow down and dissipate, it just passed like a curtain and the sun was back out. So much for the rush! 

We continued on down to Phuket Town, where the island’s main population resides. Unfortunately this population means traffic, and it took us some time to make it to the next stop of the Phuket Cable Ski park where Chase was able to wakeboard on the cable! 

The next day we enjoyed a day trip out to Phang Nga Bay. The bay is between Phuket and Krabi, and it known for its limestone rock formations, most specifically James Bond Island. It is one of the most beautiful bays of Thailand, and the journey out through the islands is breathtaking, as you journey through gravity-defying limestone formations. It is fun to sit on the bow of the boat and try to make shapes out of the islands in the distance. 

Our first stop was to Khao Ping Gan, nicknamed James Bond Island as it was featured in the James Bond movie The Man With the Golden Gun as Scaramanga’s hideway. Beware upon approaching the beach as there are many vendors trying to sell you trinkets. Luckily I carry no cash in my bikini! There is a small little beach in which to take photos from, and then visitors can take a mini hike to get a view of the rock from different elevations. Once reloading onto the long boats leaving the beach we reboard our boat and head to another group of islands where we paired up and hopped in kayaks, manned by a local Thai. They paddled us into the formations and through a lagoon, before taking us under the rock formations out back into the choppy sea. It’s beautiful to be so close to the rock formations, as they are quite unique how they sky rocket out of the water. 

We moved on to yet another location, and unfortunately due to the season the tides were high and we were not able to canoe through the caves. Instead we were brought to the shore and were able to walk (or crouch) through a tunnel where we had to be led by flashlight. Splashing through the water and surprisingly on to dry land, bats heading out as we approach, we find ourselves on what seemed to have been a lagoon, but now dried up due to the tides. Not particularly dried up mind you, as we had a flash rain storm hit us while wandering around the area! As everyone ran for cover, my friends and I opted for a rain dance (or flash flood dance), and continued running around the mangroves that were sprouting out of the sand, taking videos and pictures to remember this mad moment. 

One thing that can not be missed is going out on the town in Patong. In traditional Thai style, we are picked up from the hotel in a van taxi, which comes fully set with blue lights and a loud speaker system. Patong is the largest beach resort area of the island, and more importantly a party capital of Asia, being famous for its nightlife. It is made up of restaurants, shops, and lined with bars with a hedonists heaven for nightlife. There are numerous “entertainment” complexes, and cheap drink deals to be found. Patong takes the “ping-pong” show a step up from Bangkok….and I’ll leave it at that. We did cross by an “Ass Smackin’” bar, which tells the exact story as the name suggests. In short, there is a lot of fun to be had in Patong, especially with a group of MBA students! 

We also attended the Siam Niramit show, which is one of the largest stage production shows in the world. It is a show about Thai art and culture, going back through the history of Thailand through traditional Thai dances.

To wind down our adventures in Phuket, we had the Marriott pools for total relaxation. Of course winding down is always easier when there are elephants in tow. There are three elephants that frequent the resort, two babies by the names of Lucky and Ya Ya, and a teenager named Jumbo. My family and I had met Jumbo five years ago during our last visit when he was a baby, and it was fun to be reunited with him and his trainer and see how much he’s grown! The elephants are happy and free, and enjoy coming to see the hotel guests, especially because we feed them loads of bananas! 

Our trip down to Phuket was another successful adventure on our journey to graduation as an MBA student. Next up, neon and glow paint…be prepared. 

Click on the photos to enlarge, as usual. 

:barbie.l.

Taking a class trip has gone to a whole new level. After two and a half weeks of keeping busy with class, our program held a nice reward by busing us all north west of Bangkok to a town called Kanchanaburi for an action packed overnight trip. 

After some cat naps on the bus, our first stop was to the Phra Pathom Chedi, which is both the tallest Buddhist monument in the world and the oldest Buddhist monument in Thailand. The stupa contains relics of Buddha and is one of the holiest pimgramige spots in Thailand today. It is original of differing Temples in Thailand as it looks much like some of the stupas in Sri Lanka and India. Its base is made up of a series of concentric rings stacked on top of one another, diminishing in size a they go higher.There were many local people and worshipers from afar who have come to enjoy the beauty and send their blessings.

Once regaining our strength from the heat with a quick lunch we were treated with a visit to the Saiyok Elephant Park, where we quickly boarded elephants in two for a ride through the area. I love being able to interact with these majestic animals. Elephants are such large and friendly animals (at least in Thailand), and their intelligence never ceases to impress me. During our ride our guide hopped off the front of the elephant and would allow us to sit one by one on their head and lead. It’s so fun riding on their necks with their big ears flapping against your legs while they munch on palm trees. After the ride I was even treated with an “elephant massage” where I laid on the ground and bravely let a teenage elephant tap on my back with his foot! Luckily he never felt like fully standing on me to crack my back! 

To end our elephant adventure we all piled into three bamboo rafts for what was to be a relaxing trip up the River Kwai. All the rafts were tied together and pulled by a motor boat up the river a ways until they decided to delink us and let us float back down the river. All is good and easy until the other rafts one man paddler start turning against the current for parking …except us. Things seem ok, until we notice the staff on the shore yelling, waving and screaming, and as we turn around notice our raft is about to run into a big barrel sticking out of the water … we have missed our parking spot, and going down river…fast. At this point we decide its a good idea to put our life-vest back on. 

We then start admiring all the elephants that gave us our rides descending into the water to take their bath … Followed by the realization our raft was running right at them. The elephants are submerged up to their eyes and all the staff are yelling at the boat driver, the staff on the elephants, the staff on shore. Ropes are being thrown and not caught. One elephant starts coming towards us and we run right into him right below his eyes, he starts breathing under the water and bubbles are coming up all around our raft. There is a brief moment of mixed thoughts … is this elephant going to save us or get mad we ran into us and break our raft with his trunk! Thankfully he was not angry, and unfortunately he could not save us as we had no rope, so we continue on down river with the current just wondering when there will be a waterfall! Seemed like one of those “stories abroad.” Next stop was to run into the cement pillar of the bridge, followed by a 5foot Thai women throwing us a rope for safety. Somehow, not only was it caught but she was able to hold us and pull our boat into safety against the current! Now that the seven of us were saved it was time for a drink! 

For dinner we were taken onto a boat dinner cruise for drinks and a meal going up and successful back down the River Kwai, followed by midnight chicken fights in the pool before getting kicked out for causing a raucous. 

The next day we enjoyed…or tried to figure out what we were eating for a seafood lunch along the river Kwai. It was very exciting when we found a baby leopard that you could feed a bottle to while holding! Such a beautiful and sweet animal he was! 

The River Kwa is famous for what is known as the Death Railway. In 1942 Kanchanaburi was under Japanese control. During this time Asian forced laborers and Allied POWs built the the Burma Railway, which includes the infamous bridge. Almost half of the prisoners who worked on the project died from disease, maltreatment and accidents. The bridge is a fascinating site to see to pay respect to all those who fought through WWII. There is still a tiny train that runs across it for tourists, but it is just as easy to walk and see the views. 

Here are some facts of Kanchanaburi: Popualtion 32,000+, located where the Khwae Noi and Kwae Yai rivers verge into the Mae Klong river, being at the edge of a mountain range tends to cool the area off. 

All and all a great class trip exploring the outer parts of Thailand! Remember you can click on the pictures to enlarge them. 

:barbie.l.