From Phuket to Singapore to New Zealand

Phuket

Our last stop in Thailand – Phuket.
Facials, manicures, pedicures, massages all readily available in Phuket – it was so hard to decide, so we just had one of everything. The thing is you don’t want to come away having had a pedicure and wishing you’d had a manicure or having a massage and wished you’d had a facial – best to get the whole works done – no regrets – cheap cheap cheap (that’s not a bird – that’s the woman telling us how much it all was) and it was cheap cheap cheap to quote a bird 😄
Our last day we did a “tour” of the Phi Phi Islands. Never believe what it says in the brochure – where you exactly go is all made up on the day and don’t expect to get back to the hotel at the time stated – add a minimum of two hours – for boats stuck in the sand, rough seas and traffic jams.
Did I say rough sea? What I meant was – the roughest seas EVER – when I was little I cried on the ferry from Fleetwood to Knott End, threw myself on the floor and screamed that we would all drown during the 8 minute journey. Had I have known what was to lie before me on this particular day, I think I would’ve pirouetted around the sides of the Fleetwood Ferry.
The speed boat back to Phuket from Bamboo Island (one whole hour – 60 minutes of hell) had us holding onto the sides of the boat for dear life – being flung up and down like rag dolls, smashing my delicate bone structure – there were people laughing – I did not understand this – I did not want to be flung into that sea – I really didn’t – 🚣 – I wanted to throw myself on the floor and scream that we were all going to die – this was an impossibility as my fists and fingers were clenched so tightly round the rails at the front of the boat and it was so loud, no one would’ve heard me anyway – I didn’t like the thought of people thinking “what’s that silly woman doing” so I closed my eyes and prayed for inner peace and a tranquil sea 😳

Singapore

The next day we flew to Singapore. We had a fantastic hotel – a Christmas present for me (last Christmas) – so now I’m thinking maybe I’ll put it on my list again 😄
The hotel has the longest infinity pool in the World – 200m. Imagine how many people fit in that – an awful lot!!!

I had my birthday there – a wonderful day – birthdays are great because most people want to make you happy and poor Dani was the only one around for this – at 6:15am I thought it would be nice to see the sunrise on the roof – “daniiiiii, it’s my birthday, I’d like to see the sunrise” “of course mother” she said (at least it sounded like that”.
Then a marvellous breakfast, spot of shopping and a red bus tour which took us to the botanical gardens – ginger beer in the ginger garden and then a walk down Orchard Road – a wonderful day!!

Singapore has a little India and Chinatown and as we drove through these places and walked through Chinatown – it was like doing a little revision of our journey so far. We watched some Chinese line dancing in an open square – it was hilarious – they were giving it everything……everything!!!

Singapore was a great introduction back into civilization – clean, good roads, great shops and great food. A perfect three days before our 10 hour early morning flight to New Zealand and yet another time change of plus 4 hours.

New Zealand, Auckland

We have been in New Zealand less than 24 hours and already I ❤️ it.

Met up with Bernie who I got to know in Vietnam. She took us on a great tour of Auckland – on the ferry to Devonport, kiwi style fish and chips on the beach and some hikes to some amazing viewpoints – finishing with English tea, scones with jam and cream. Perfect day, great company – thank you.

Tomorrow we start our three week road trip – watch this space 👀
– could be a bumpy ride!!!