Pattani

If you look closely at the map you will see how close Phuket is to the insurgency in the Thai south. You can see where the Thailand/Malaysian border is. In the Pattani (southern Thailand) region, five more people have been killed in the past week. The area was an autonomous Malay Muslim sultanate until 1902, when it was annexed by mainly Buddhist Thailand. This sparked decades of tension that spiralled into a full insurgency five years ago.

The newspapers here in Singapore have followed this all year... pretty scary stuff.

Girls on Tour

After 10 days with us in Singapore having a whirlwind time, Kay and Charlotte headed off to Phuket, Thailand, for 5 nights. I joined them for 3 nights with Nadine, Celia and Adam. The following entries are various aspects of our Thailand experience.

Steve, Jess and Rhian slogged it out at school!

Deanie and Charlotte catch up

Phuket, Thailand

The hotel in Phuket

We thoroughly recommend the 'Access Resort and Spa' to anyone travelling to Phuket. The staff were great, the breakfasts were amazing, there was a live band in the restaurant each night, and the service was awesome.

Adam's Thai friends

Adam's Thai friends, and sleeping in the big bed with Celia.

Elephant Trek

The elephant trek was a full hour or more on these monsters. They are awesome. Kay and Charlotte are on one elephant, while all four of us (Me, Deanie, Celia and Adam) are on the other. After about 35 minutes, the guide hopped off and put Deanie on the front of ours, and Kay on the front of theirs. It got quite tricky in parts, uphill and down into swamps... so Deanie had to work hard to stay on!

Apart from the sweltering heat and Adam being a bit overwhelmed, it was just fabulous fun.