It is almost 4 AM here so naturally I am wide awake and hungry (have to love jetlag), so I thought it would be a great time to munch on cashews I bought at the cashew factory today and also do my first update.
Okay, I might also be sitting poolside, so life is pretty good. Phuket reminds me of Panama in a lot of ways, so there is a lingering sense of familiarity as I explored the area. My first full day of travels was amazing, so in honor of the great island of Phuket, I made a top eight list (since 5 was not enough and 10 was too many) that I like to call “Phuket is a pretty awesome place because it offers…”.
8. …Angry Birds memorabilia
Maybe I just don’t go shopping in the right places, but I don’t think I have ever seen actual merchandise with those cute angry birds we all adore playing with on our phones. I resisted the urge to buy a shirt with some witty phrase, but I did get a cute watch since I was looking to buy one anyway (and it also has a holographic cover). Angry Birds + holographic? Who could resist that? Clearly not I.
The woman told me that the style I picked was new to them as of that day, so I am at the height of Thai Angry Birds fashion. I have made it. :)
7. ...drinks out of a VW van in a chic and non-sketchy way.
When the sun goes down, mobile carts of food and beverages descend on the streets. My personal favorite is the Mobile Bar which uses an old VW van to house a bar on wheels (complete with disco ball and rope lights). This one was not quite as amazing as another one I saw that had a hot pink car with super stylish white-walled wheels, but still incredible nonetheless.
6. …car rides that provide the daily needed adrenaline rushes.
If you hop into a car in Phuket, you might as well not even pay attention to what is happening unless you want to have your heart skip a beat every 10ish seconds. The average driver drives on the wrong side of the road, creates their own lanes, comes within inches of other cars (whether parked or moving) and nearly runs over all the people on the motorbikes that rule the roads.
And yet I did not see any accidents or incidents on the road at all, so they seem to have a system that works for them.
5. …heaps of people from all around the world.
Is it weird that I like being in a place where there are about a dozen languages being spoken within 10 feet of me and I don't even know what half of them are? Because I do. It makes me realize how cool the world really is. It also makes me feel pretty dumb since I feel as though the rest of the world knows their native language, English and one or two other languages (if not more), but us Americans usually only know English. I don’t count my Spanglish as truly knowing another language, so I should work on that.
I love a good European. They are who they are and it is fabulous. If you see a couple who is really into each other, PDA is a norm regardless of where they are (such as sitting next to me in a cramped and very hot minibus on the way from the airport). I also adore the skimpy swimwear they show off at the beach. You will probably never see an American man rocking swim trunks with a 1 inch inseam or a Speedo…
I also love Australians because they like to use the word heaps. J
4. …a multitude of Buddhas in all corners of the city.
I had the privilege of seeing the large marble Buddha of Phuket (appropriately titled Big Buddha) which is still under construction after four years. There were bells in all of the trees on the grounds that tinkled with the wind. It was magical.
All around the city, though, were Buddha figurines that each had their own unique style and flair.
3. …all around beautiful people.
Yes, if you are haggling with a local, they will be brutal, but the minute you come to an agreement, they will treat you as if you are family. I had lunch at a food stand on the beach and went to pay after I got everything. The woman instead insisted I take my chicken pad thai and coconut, lay in the provided lounge chair, enjoy my meal for as long as I needed and then pay when I was ready to leave…alright, I guess I will if you insist.
Everyone at the place I am staying runs around in shirts that say “I Love U”. I am not sure what I did to capture their hearts so quickly, but I appreciate the welcoming attitude the Thais have for foreigners.
2. …sensory overload at the Night Market.
I have always wanted to go to a big market where you can buy almost anything you want, and this proved to be absolutely excellent. Nothing in the states compares to something like this at all. Every Saturday and Sunday in Phuket, the large night market set features accessories, movies, clothing, food, live animals, massage services and more. There was so much to look at, so many food smells wafting through the air and so many people in what seemed like the never-ending lines of merchant booths.
I didn’t buy a whole lot, but had a chance to try some of the food offered (I did get some squid for dinner as well as an egg roll and some chicken) and really enjoyed walking around seeing all the goods for sale.
