Phuket was my first Thailand destination after leaving Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and it turned out to be a crash course to all the craziness Thailand has to offer. Ladyboys, bar girls, gross old farangs (westerners) hunting the saucy Thai girls…madness. The beaches were a huge disappointment lined with tourists lounging, not on the nice sand, but in beach chairs that occupy every inch of the beach… and you couldn’t walk more than 2 steps without someone harassing you into buying a souvenir priced about 3 times what it should have cost.
I had been warned that Phuket wasn’t the place for Thai culture but it was still amusing going out at night and watching all the revolting lewdness. I can’t remember a time when I laughed harder as I watched the sweaty old men try to pick up the beautiful bar girls and was speechless at how stunning most of the Ladyboys (transvestites) were. All I kept thinking was how bad I felt for the men on holiday- looking for a little fun- because some of these boys had had the full operation and are very, very convincing as women. You would all be shocked!
Two days was more than enough of Phuket and I hopped on the ferry out to Ko Phi Phi, the island where the movie “The Beach” was filmed, in search of the paradise portrayed in the movie. Phi Phi did not disappoint. Crystal clear water, white sand beaches and practically no one else around. I got to go diving at two world-class sites and saw tons of gorgeous coral, schools of tropical fish, moray eels, barracuda and even a sea turtle.
The nightlife was really fun here too with brilliant fire shows every night and crazy, reckless dancing on the beach- a result of lots of Chang beer… very good times. Needless to say I didn’t want to leave and what was suppose to be 3 quick days turned suddenly into an 8 day jaunt before I had to drag myself onto the ferry back to the main land.
Railay beach was my next stop where I spent the next couple of days doing some extreme rock climbing and kayaking around the gorgeous limestone rock formations that line the coast.
Then off to Bangkok to take in some of the sites including a giant, golden reclining Buddha, getting hopelessly lost in one of their swanky malls (where I couldn’t afford anything) and taking a little adventure to a traditional floating market.
It was here in Bangkok where I got my first glimpse of Buddhist monks and couldn’t help but stare at the peaceful men in bright orange robes as they went about their daily lives. Every morning at like 6AM they walk the streets and people bring them gifts, offerings that they tuck into a pouch under their robes, and then hurry back to their temples. Seeing these men, so content, so at ease, walking barefoot through all the madness that is Bangkok was such a beautiful thing. They seem so other worldly- like they are on a higher plane of existence- like they know the secret to happiness. Simplicity? Maybe…