Mae's Restaurant

I mentioned that I am compiling a list of things to do in my 40th year.  One of the things I am going to do is write a travel article reviewing all the best Green curries on the island.  As a veggie, it is pretty much the ONLY thing I eat at every Thai restaurant.  So I thought maybe I could become quite an expert on the subject.  It really is the only thing that I can have that I can request without fish sauce (papaya salad, Pad thai and many more it is insisted that it will ruin the taste without it).  Therefore, I must have had fifty since I have arrived.  Even my favourite veggie restaurant that definitely does not use fish sauce and has loads of options, I still always have their green curry.  I am now starting my list for my article that I will write sometime later this year and realised how little I have blogged about my surroundings and discoveries in Phuket.  So last night when we went to our favourite Thai restaurant, that thankfully also happens to be 3 minutes away, I thought I should write about Mae's.

Mae's is a must if staying in the Bang Tao, Lugana area on holiday. It is simple, cheap and every dish (so I have been told as obviously I stick to my curry) is fantastic.  She is not hard to find if you know where it is, but there is no sign in front which actually probably helps keep it a little less crowded.

 A cute little set up, water on all the tables, some napkins and a few friendly local dogs.

 My green curry

 Today it was a bit spicy for me, but still managed to eat every last bit. Really is the best one on the island so far.

The staff know us and Lola quite well now as we are there at least a couple times a week.  But at 3-4 pounds for a dinner for two of amazing food you cannot really go wrong.  When you visit we shall take you here!

Winners and Casa Luchanda

Who knew how much work an Airband could be?!  Seems we are always busy cleaning and getting prepared for new guests.  And who knew the emotional costs!  I am definitely finding it hard not to take even the smallest comment to heart. But it is a great learning experience and we have come along way from our first guests back in November.  We are now the worlds best cleaners with checklists to be done before anyone comes in and we are learning more and more about the island and people.  It is crazy how different people view what is okay and what is well just not!

In between our guests we try to see some friends too.  Last night we had a rare guest free Friday night, we went to dinner with Kim and Sean and then me and Kim beat the boys at curentha...again.

 This is what defeat looks like

 and this is what a win looks like!

Our French guests arriving today will have the cleanest Villa ever on the sunniest day ever! I am just posting some pictures of today to inspire some friends and family to come and visit!!

School Planning

For the last week the news has been so terribly depressing.  I mean it is usually not very upbeat but now it is like reading a sick joke.  Like going back in time, or seeing the beginning of the end of the world as we know it.  I actually feel like tuning the whole thing out and not reading any, but I know that this is not the answer.  

But instead I am planning my new school as I think more than ever countries need to look at their education system.  We follow the British system here and it is not great so much research says there should be changes made but no one does it.  I have gone to at least 20 conferences that say the way most (not all) Western schools model schools in not effective for everyone.  My father recently sent me an article about Chinese schools, no setting, mixed ability, specialist primary teachers, and motivated pupils.  I always hear that this is cultural, Asians just work harder, oh and that they are pushed too hard and their childhood is horrible.  But actually I think this is not true, of course some are pushed hard but I have taught many who just believe in education and want to excel, and not just at Maths and Science but Music, Art, Drama.  I think some Western teachers just want to believe that some of the Asian systems are horrible to kids so that they do not have to look at their system or way of teaching and change.  

Anyways, this brings me to my newest long term project.  Opening a primary specialist school.  No setting, all mixed ability, a lot of play and specialist teachers teaching all subjects.  It just makes so much sense, take children learning languages, the young ones just run with it.  In no time they are fluent.  So this is now my long term dream/plan.  Opening Barbados 2019, so if you want to get your child pre-enrolled (imagine intake will be massive ;)) let me know!

  This is where most of my planning takes place.

The difference in our beach now from August is just amazing.  It is calm blue and lovely now.  So I intend to spend every weekend here planning my newest venture. Oh and taking applications for teachers now!

My 40th Year

I am in the midst of writing a list of forty things to complete in my fortieth year. Nothing new, it has been done before but I still think a really nice idea.  I am at 31 things, struggling with the last few but will get there.  I will probably not put it up on here but maybe announce when I complete some big ones.

Well today I am that much closer as my ukulele was delivered!! And I plan to write my own song as one of my things to do.  I tell my students all the time that we may not be gifted at everything but can become great at anything with effort, practise and determination.  I have always thought myself horribly unmusical but am determined to succeed!

 They even sent me a cool sticker for my bag.  I am like a real musician now.

Cannot wait to learn how to play!

Chalon Rum Distillery

Wonderful Ruth organised a great day at the Chalong Rum Distillery, a tour and cocktail making class.  It was fantastic, much more than I expected and the place was just beautiful.  It is hard to get a group together here for days out like this so it really was a job well done.

 A beautiful spot, if not so far away I would have liked it for my birthday party.

 It was really professionally done

 First a mojito

 Next ginger and pepper caipirinha :)

 The group

 Shaking our Pina Colada's

I was only proud of my last drink. All the other Luis did way better than me.  It was a lovely spot and definitely a place I would recommend to visitors.

Rain Blame

I think we have cracked it, we are totally responsible for any out of season rain in Phuket or extra harsh in season rain for that matter.  And when I say we, I do not mean the world or population of Phuket, I mean Luis, Lola and myself.  Here is my evidence:

Jodi and Dylan visit for a week in September, it pours everyday all day.  Unusual weather.

Craig visits for five days, apparently guaranteed sunshine, nope. He arrives and the heavens open until he leaves.

Chris and Pia visit, not meant to be a drop of rain. It rains everyday they are here, when they leave it is sunny again.

And now last night, we meet a friend of some friends in Basel for dinner.  Moments before she emerged from her taxi it starting pissing it down.  Today sunny.

It seems every time we have guests the weather is horrible.  Coincidence.. Not so sure.

 Claudia, a friend of Lily's, Karen and Pia in Basel. Great night.

Luckily no rain can spoil our fun.  We still have a blast no matter what.  So please do not be discouraged, it will probably rain the whole time you visit us but we will still have the best time ever!

Lola 11 Years and Still has It!

When we are on the beach we come across loads of dogs, many half Lola's age, just lying down looking exhausted.  They are hiding away from the sun, saving their energy or just worn out by the playtime they have already had. Not Lola, Lola never stops, ever.  At 11 Lola is out running, out playing and definitely out crabbing every dog on the beach.  It has become her new ridiculous obsession, actually beyond obsession now.  She use to chase crabs a bit, run for sticks and then chill out with us on the beach.  No more, now she runs up and down all day hunting crabs and she insists that I join her.  If I attempt to sit down she just barks at me and now she even wants me to help dig.  It is making our beach days pretty hard work!

Look at this anger as I attempt to just look at the lovely view.  She is not happy that I am not helping.  It is driving me crazy!!!

Mmmmmm Mamacita

I totally forgot last week to write the story of poor Pia and I's search for food.  Last Saturday night was ridiculously raining, crazy out of season horrible rain.  The four of us went to one of the only pubs around for some drinks.  Chris and Luis played some pool, Pia and I got hungrier and hungrier.  Finally, we left the men in hunt of food but due to the rain all places we wanted to go had closed or were closing.  We were so gutted when we saw from a distance the Mamacita light go out as we were desperate for Mexican.  We walked by and they said yes they were closed.  We continued walking getting increasingly hungry and depressed by our limited food choice.  And then the most wonderful thing happened the lady from Mamacita called us back and said we looked so lost and hungry that she would open the kitchen for us to get take away.  So lovely!  And it was so delicious and saved the night for everyone really (we were at hungry angry stage).

So it was great last night to catch up with friends we had not seen since the New Year back at my new favourite spot.  Sadly though Luis could not join as he has been sick since yesterday morning.  Not great really as we all know man flu is the worst!

 Then we headed over to my favourite new wine bar.  Love it.

A nice evening, it would have better with Luis, who is not back to himself today either.

Ukulele Fun

Adam and Ruth had us over for a delicious veggie meal last night and a wonderful ukulele jam session.  Who knew that ukuleles, some egg shakers and some sort of drum box thing could be such fun!  I have even decided that I am making it one of my things to accomplish in my 40th year, learn how to play the ukulele.  I may even try singing, who knows.  

I love these evenings, and after a hard week with car issues it was much appreciated (so at first they told us a year to fix it!! now we have got them down to a month or two).

 Learning my first two chords

Fabulous night with fabulous folks!

Converted Insurer

I use to never ever get insurance on rented cars, but this experience has ended that.  On Monday, I had to take the day off work to spend the entire day at the Kata Police Station to sort out the car.  It was actually like a comedy sketch only slightly amusing to me as I was not in trouble (not that I was amused because people were but more about the whole day).  My Dad recently read this book about how the human brain works illogically and that we need to train it to think in a logical manner.  Well this was a day full of evidence of this, every decision made and way of thought had definitely not been thought through.  The poor Russian couple who hit us had no insurance and every party was waiting for them at the police station to cash in. My insurance company would not fix my car unless they did pay up as I do not have comprehensive insurance (not allowed due to the age of the car).  They did not get insurance for the bike they were driving so the owner was there too.  The police were holding their passports till they paid it.  But they were not happy as they wanted a huge amount without a mechanic even seeing my car.  But I tried to stay uninvolved as at the end of the day we really cannot afford our car not being fixed.  We left before it all got sorted and I must admit I was pretty worried about what the outcome would be.  Luis went by the supermarket parking lot yesterday where it eventually broke down and it is gone.  So here is hoping my insurance company towed it to be fixed and not the supermarket that towed it to the dump.

The long and short of it, is I felt very badly for the Russians.  Yes, it was their fault and a huge pain in the ass for me but it must have been pretty scary when the police withheld their passports enforcing a huge payment.  I am not even sure they would have made their flight as they could not take out 2000 pounds cash in one day from the bank machine.  And the one thing I learned is a) always turn into the right lane b) never drive a bike again and c) always opt for the insurance.

Rainy Dry Seaon

The last two days the rain has been horrible, proper Monsoon weather.  There is terrible flooding all over the South of Thailand and Malaysia, so I really cannot complain as at least we are safe.  We also had the benefit of having Pia and Chris back for the weekend so even if raining outside inside it was big sunshine!

 A night out Friday ending in the best burrito ever

 Movie Sunday

Local shop bar and off for some food.  It was so lovely to have them here again.  It was a shame the sun did not shine for them but there is always next time.