Pre-Covid, 2019, my wife and I were so excited to do our first international trip together. Wow, from nervous anxiety, to over the moon excitement, all emotions were captured in that trip. We went to Patong and did a few day trips to islands etc.

So we obviously had to do the tourist thing... Ha! Ha!

However that was an experience that we are so grateful for. Learning the greetings (Sa-wa-dee-ka(p)), customs and engaging with the locals, were such an integral part of the authentic experience of Thailand.

On the first night and for the three successive days, we needed to adjust to the humidity and the smells. The King Fruit (Durian) smell permiates everything and fruits is used in everything from salads, food to ice cream as well. The struggle was real, so we were quite delighted to find the below treats while were were acclimatising to our new environment - it just made the transition smoother.

Our day trip and hike in Old Town Phuket, was another highlight. This is now an area where the youth are returning to start their own businesses, with lots of niche type setups. Below are a few pictures taken, to give you an idea.

After the a scortcher of a day, we dipped into the Cub Honda establishement. They are actually a Honda motorcycle club and service centre. The place is beautifully laid out and other than the amazing coffee experience, they also have aircon set at an appreciated chilled temperature.

One of our excursions saw us going out to a few islands via speedboat. There are many "specials" and very impressive prices, however we decided to spend a bit more to go with what we understood to be a more reputable company. We had several island stops and visited the now restricted island (Phi Phi Don) where the film The Beach (Leonardo Di Caprio) was filmed, then on to a small little piece of real estate called Khai Island, on our way to Phi Phi Island.

These caves in Krabi, are privately owned and trying to enter it, could get you killed (probably would). The Viking Caves (Tham Phraya Nak) are home to a bird species (swifts), whose nests are an essential ingredient in the Chinese dish: Birds Nest Soup. Apprently our guide advised that the bat guano is also an expensive commodity and sold for lots per 100 grams.

When we got to Phi Phi Ley, it was a welcomed break, however this place was so congested, the experience wasn't the best.

Summary

We definitely had a great stay. While there, we were already planning our next trip, but maybe to the Island of Khoi Sumui, which is a bit more expensive than staying in Patong, however will be less congested and also lends itself to a mmore peaceful and somewhat kid-friendly environment.

I hope you found this to be a good read and if you did, that you'd like and follow.