Welcome in Thailand

We had an early morning arrival at Phuket International Airport, feeling groggy and jetlagged from our long journey. Our first mission was to pick up the rental car from Thai Rent A Car. However, to our surprise, there was no visible office or rental car in sight, leaving us a bit bewildered. After zombing around for 20 minutes, we decided to ask somebody for help. Much to our relief, we were informed that the rental car office was located in the domestic terminal. Making our way to the domestic terminal, we eventually found the office and couldn’t help but feel a sense of joy. Finally, the car arrived, and although it had numerous scratches, we were pleased because one more scratch would go unnoticed. Despite still being jetlagged, we ventured onto the roads, with the added challenge of driving on the left side. Luckily, Dirk’s prior experience of living in England gave us confidence. After navigating through the initial hurdles, we safely reached our hotel, where we eagerly looked forward to unwinding by taking a well-deserved dive in the pool.

First night out

After enjoying a relaxing afternoon at the hotel, it was time to go out for dinner and explore the vibrant night scene of Phuket. It had been around 10 years since our last visit, and we soon realized that the landscape had undergone significant changes. Many bars that we remembered from before had unfortunately closed down. One notable transformation was the Paradise complex, which used to be a bustling street filled with a diverse array of gay bars. From regular bars to pickup joints and rather explicit erotic shows, where the performers could be accompanied home if desired. However, many bars have now closed their doors, leaving the mostly drag show bars as a remnant of the past. Even the Sexy bar had undergone a transformation and was now a fun Karaoke bar. Anyway, it was a great night out as we immersed ourselves in the lively atmosphere and embraced the changes in Phuket’s nightlife.

Phuket Island, cultural visit

Exploring the island of Phuket, we set out to visit some iconic sites on the island. Our first destination was the impressive Big Buddha, a magnificent and peaceful statue that overlooks the island. It left us in awe of its beauty and spiritual ambiance. We then made our way to Cape Prom Thep, a stunning viewpoint offering breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. In Phuket Town, we discovered a charming blend of old and new, with colorful buildings showcasing unique architecture. We also decided to explore Kao Phra Thaeo National Park, hoping to see the majestic waterfall. However, entrance fee of 800 bath was rather high for a park that offered only a small river to admire. To satisfy our cravings, we stumbled upon Laem Khat, a cozy coffee house. There, we enjoyed a delicious cup of coffee and treated ourselves to a slice of heavenly chocolate cake.