3rd January - Ao Chalong - Patong Beach (Phuket)

Monday 3^rd February

Yesterday we hired a car to go to Ao Chalong, to fill in yet more forms with yet another harbour master, as directed.  The car was delightful; NOT a Mr Din Special!  I took a photo of it, nestled under some of the charming older buildings hidden in the back streets of Patong Beach. 

We made our way along the beautiful coast, trying to keep on the correct roads (Phuket is bewilderingly bereft of road signs), and finally made it to the tourist pier.  Pete got out and waited in a queue to speak to Mr Grumpy Official while I slowly melted in the car until I got some sense into my head and clambered out to wilt in the shade.  Pete finally came back, looking a bit bewildered.  No forms were needed; we had already checked in, in Krabi.  Well yes we knew this but our nice man (he of the almond cakes and water cooler) had specifically instructed us to go to Chalong Bay.   Never mind…

It was a lovely drive and we had lunch in a wonderful little restaurant called Pier 42.  There was a shop attached, full of charming objets.  None of them useful, most of them beautiful.  And none of them at all necessary on 2XS… We asked to be shown around the adjoining accommodation and it was just gorgeous – simple, leafy, clean, comfy.   If you are ever in Chalong Bay looking for a small, delicious meal, or a serene place to stay – Pier 42!  Go there!

In the afternoon we hung around a café opposite the dinghy jetty (oh how I love dinghy jetties!  So much easier than lugging one’s little boat up onto the sand and hoping that the tide won’t go out too far (a long haul) or come in too far (maybe a long swim…)  We were waiting for our tribe to emerge from 2XS so we could take them to the airport with lots of time to spare.   They thought we were panicking unduly – in fact we got there with 2 hours 20 minutes.  BUT if there had been a traffic hold-up (and there often is) they might have been LATE.   (Poor Pete; maybe I have infected him with my hyperpunctuality/anxiety habits.)  

So James and Bron have gone.

But we still have Jabba!  He was leaving but maybe he has turned into a Lotus Eater… No not really; his plane leaves tomorrow; soon he will be back in the office putting in the hours.

We had dinner at the same little café where we had been waiting (it looks out over the beach, has free WiFi and watermelon juice and – best of all – the toilet is clean and has paper AND soap!!! )  The alcohol ban was still on but our waitress brought us beer and wine in mugs so that we would look very law-abiding.

Jabba is mildly anxious that Bangkok Airport will be closed because of election furore.  He was here a few years ago during and election and within minutes of getting on the plane the airport was closed for two weeks.

Dinner at the café – 5!5!; go there! – was absolutely delicious.  They obviously have a very good chef as well as a very good bathroom cleaner and organizer.  We were NEALY replete… Jabba thought there might be street stalls a bit further along the street and yes indeed, he was correct.
  

Within minutes we were tucking into the most wonderful banana and chocolate pancakes.  I made a big mistake and agreed to share one with Pete – I should have had a whole one all to myself!!