5. Safety first & following the rules in Thailand!

Not only did my airport transfer arrive on time, it was slightly early (but that was ok as I was already there waiting, sitting on the curb with my bag, fending off every other taxi offer from anyone who went by touting for business, including a man on a small moped. I considered accepting his offer simply because I was interested to see how he’d load me, my big rucksack and giant case onto the scooter with him!). My airport ‘taxi’ was in fact a luxury van - I know that because it said it all over its interior, which had a startling mixture of garish gold, glitter and leather seating! The nice driver man pulled up to collect me, showed me a screenshot on his phone of my name and booking and proof that I’d paid in advance, to which I said ‘yes, that’s me’ and off we went. I’m not sure it’s an entirely failsafe system but fortunately no one else was around or attempting to score a free taxi to the airport!

The nice driver man had the thing that I’ve not seen loads of in Thailand (much more in Egypt I noticed) where he wears the nail on his little finger really long. It’s quite gross I think but reasonably common in parts of Asia. It’s a way, I believe, of showing that they are not ‘working class’ riffraff who undertake manual labour but instead are of the upper echelons of society who work in a civilised profession, which protects one’s finger nails from breaking. I think once you’ve made it to driving the luxury bus, you really have made it. I put my seatbelt on, as instructed by the sign although felt unsure who it was that would be that would appear to be issuing my fine for not doing so. I also noted the other safety features of the VIP ride for use in case of emergency. All quite reassuring given the driver spent most of the 45 drive texting and on his phone. I wonder if laws on driving while using one’s mobile should be as strictly enforced and signposted as the seat belts. Slightly more proactive, you could argue!

As we left the beach, I noted the ubiquitous signage warning of tsunami danger and evacuation routes. The pictures show an arrow towards a hill and a little stick figure who is running. No proceeding calmly and sensibly here; it’s a full on run up the mountain that they advise. All over the beach, there are signs warning of the potential risk of tsunami and instructions to get to higher ground in the event of an earthquake. Almost 19 years ago now but many reminders still of the devastation the Boxing Day tsunami brought here. 8000 were killed or lost in Thailand, 259 of those in Phuket in the disaster with a further 500+ injured in Phuket. There is now a memorial on the beach and sculpture to remember. While the signage is, out of context, amusing, it serves as a reminder of recent history and events we mustn’t forget because we are lucky enough to live somewhere that hasn’t experienced such recent devastation… yet!

Interestingly, some of the first effects ro be felt of the tsunami hitting Thailand were from divers who were underwater at the time diving in the similar island - they reported strong currents and ‘turbulence’ underwater but nothing else. There was some minor flooding of the Similan islands themselves,es but they are islands that mostly rise quickly and steeply out of the ocean to mountain and hillside forest. Khao Lak, the main land from where my boat set off was way worse hit than Phuket with around 4500 deaths (likely because most of the buildings there were bungalows rather than the stronger / concrete hotels and blocks with upper floors that are more common in Phuket)

At the airport, I was a little over 2 hours early for my flight (the traffic I’d accounted for was remarkably absent today!) and the Vietjet checkin desks were yet to open. The queuing maze was set up but all closed. Within minutes of my arrival, more and more people begun to arrive and formed a terribly disorganised rabble grouped around the entry to the closed queueing maze. As a British national, this lack of organisation and disarray made me feel most uncomfortable. I know how Asians queue; they don’t! There would just be a surge forward at the opening of checkin desks and survival of the fittest type contest to get to the desks first. The teacher in me, fuelled by my British skill and expertise with queuing couldn’t stand by and watch this unfold. Instead, I took it upon myself to move the barrier to the queuing maze, open it up and organise us all into a nice, orderly line. It was a triumph; everyone conformed and followed and a beautiful queue was formed, with me leading the way. Britain would be proud!

Checked in (having paid for my baggage excess of 8.3kg, which was rounded down to 5kg - almost unheard of for airlines!) and through security, I browsed the lovely souvenir shops and read my book while waiting for my flight. The little robot cleaners were again in attendance. There were two of them and they’ve been all christmassed. Or they’ve christmassed themselves. It’s all part of the grand master plan for robot world domination…. I’ve seen the films. It would start a friendly robot unexpectedly wearing a hat one day then suddenly …! I’m going to keep my eye out for either Dwayne The Rock Johnson or Gerrard Butler; that’s when you know the level of disaster has got serious.

In the airport, the path down to the tube that puts the people on the plane was lined with orchids. Real ones! (I know because I almost yanked off one of the flowers when I gave it a fondle to see if it was fake then noticed the lady behind me do the same thing!). We pay a fortune for that kind of flora in the UK; here’s, it’s as common as …. well, plastic ones in the UK! From my window seat, I watched as we took off, over the island and sea off the coast of Phuket and headed inland to the capital….

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I have arrived safely in Bangkok; I am now verging on being such an accomplished traveller than I managed to find and haggle with the taxi drivers then decide against a metre cab and instead used my Grab app to summon a Grab car (like Uber in Asia!), which was two thirds the price. A ‘real traveller’ would of course get a local bus or the train into the city then hike to their hostel. But then a real traveller wouldn’t be heaving about 23.4kg case around with them and booking hotels that have a pool and come with a fridge and kettle in the room! The lady who brought me to my room was ever so pleased, genuinely it seemed, to open the curtains and show me the ‘city view’. I really thought it was a joke initially but fortunately reacted appropriately and thanked her. I complimented the skyscraper view. The predominant one being a large building site as more skyscrapers are being built!

Once settled, I ventured out into the 34° heat and found the closest 7-eleven to stock up on milk and water and also treated myself to a burrito and Diet Coke in a terribly un-Thai restaurant on my walk back! For this evening, I shall relax and enjoy my city view and then will be off out tomorrow in an attempt navigate the metro and get about the town. I am living close to the main park too, which I will probably have a walk around!