Hotel Crashing Days

The Ross's moved to quite a posh resort near us for the final two nights of their holiday.  Lyndsey won it in a stair race last year.  We took full advantage of knowing them and spent the final days of our holiday crashing their holiday.  The kids loved the waterslide, the boat ride around the lakes, and, most of all, just being together.  The adults again enjoyed the ease of just being, without constantly having to entertain the children.  It was great that both families ended up in Phuket.  We both lived here before, but we had different 'Phuket lives'; we showed them a bit of our life when we were there (Elephant place, Smigo's Khao Yao Noi), and they introduced us to cheap posh hotel day passes!  It has been a great week with the most amazing weather.  Phuket is crazy cheap in October, as it usually rains all day, every day.  It was a risk coming here, but it paid off, and we saw very little rain and a lot of blue skies.  We also got to catch up with some great friends; in between the last two days at the resort, we managed to have a lovely catch-up with Nina and Pete as well.

A last morning at our place.  We spent so little time in this great pool. In fact, I am not sure I even went in.

Mai Khao Beach Day

Wednesday, we woke up to another beautiful day and a great idea.  We got a day pass at a hotel North of Phuket.  It was such a great deal: 10 pounds to enter, fully refundable, with food, drinks, and use of everything.  The kids loved the kids' club, the pool, the beach, and sports equipment.  The adults loved that the children were fully entertained.  We then rushed home to spend the evening with our great friend Luke while Sebastian enjoyed a sleepover at the Ross's holiday home.

Beautiful Sunrise and Day

We should have stayed two nights, really, but we're trying to save some money.  And we did take advantage of two full days, taking the first boat to the island the day before and the last one to leave today.  It was also great to see a sunrise; we always stay in places that face west, and this time it was East.  I was surprised to see the sun coming up and then realised that was why.  Also, we had loads of hornbills singing and flying around, which was just amazing.  We had a delicious breakfast, a long swim, games and kayaking before concluding our mini adventure.  

Nature, nature, nature! That was the theme!  It was just great to spend sometime outside amongst animals, trees, sea and switch off for even a short while.

Paradise Koh Yao Noi

October is the worst but best month to travel in October, depending on your luck.  It is likely to rain all, if not most, of your holiday.  But sometimes you just get lucky.  And if you get lucky, it can be double luck, as hotel prices are heavily discounted.  We decided to test our luck and booked a hotel on a neighbouring island I have always wanted to visit.  We never have, as prices usually range from 300 to 600 pounds per night.  But because it is October and this rainy season has been awful, we got it for 70.  I was not bothered if it rained the whole time or not, but I was extra happy it did not.   The Ross's joined us, and despite a rocky start in the morning with the manager (I think we fit the bill of the people who could only afford the discounted rate when we arrived), we had an amazing day.

Sometimes these pictures post back to front; I am not sure why, but there we go.  Mabye I will work it out in the 15th year of having this blog!

Jellyfish and Elephant Day

Saturday night, there was a big storm that apparently brought millions of jellyfish to the beach.  We were very lucky, as we were in the water for ages, and then we heard this little boy screaming. He was badly stung, and then people started dropping like flies from the sea in fear of being stung.  As the sea was no longer an option we ended our day at the beach and headed to the elephants.  We love this ethical elephant place and had a fun afternoon playing, eating and watching.  The day was finished off by a sunset cocktail and fire show.