Phuket, the last few days (for now)

Tuesday 4th November 2008

The evening was spent at the Rosie bar, where the owner was one of Best's friends, we played Connect 4 but that got boring because I kept winning. Then we started to play Jenga, there were six of us playing, three Brits, yes I was joined by a couple of guys from Oxford, Stuart and Daniel, Best and two Thai girls. After a couple of "practice" games, we started to get serious with the loser buying a round of drinks, I lost the first game, then Daniel was next, in fact after six games we managed to have six different losers. It was getting late and I had taken sufficient Bacardi by the time we went home.

Wednesday 5th November 2008

The opening day of the new 007 movie, Quantum of Solace, as usual by now, it was a reclining sofa seat at the rear of the auditorium, some cheesy popcorn, zero cola and a packet of M&M's. I considered it to be good film but preferred the Thai horror movie we watched the previous Saturday.

Thursday 6th November 2008

My last visit to the dentist at Phuket's, Bangkok Hospital took place at 1pm for my crowns to be fitted. It was expected to take around ninety minutes, so Best was going to fill that time getting a bite to eat. It may of occurred to those that know me that I appear to be eating less or missing out on meals, this is to an extent true but I think I'm eating better – less bread more fruit and vegetables, anyway I have taken off two inches from the waist, my face is thinner and I feel much healthier for it.

Now where were we? – oh yes, Best was going to get something to eat, however his mobile phone rang, so he pulled into a parking space in the road to continue his phone conversation. Now in many places here, on an even day parking is permitted on one side of the road and on odd days, the other. It was an even day, Best parked up on the odd side just as the police came along. The result of this minor transgression resulted in a 500 baht fine, though this was negotiated down to 300 baht for immediate payment. My treatment was completed around 2:20 pm, I called Best to tell him I was ready and got a sharp reply to wait ten minutes for him, at 2:45 pm the blue/grey Toyota pulled up, I got in and asked how the meal was. I was told everything that had happened, no meal had been consumed, only a visit to the police station to pay the parking fine as we headed to the Black Canyon Coffee Shop. It was planned to go somewhere that afternoon, I wanted to go to the see the waterfall, Best had previously been thinking we should go to the export jewellery factory to get myself something to remember Phuket by. It was now getting late, okay I said but I'm not buying anything, well maybe a silver ring as a keepsake.

Inside was enormous, our personal assistant there tried to offer various items of trinkets to which I politely declined, stating I was only interested in silver. The Men's silver counter was tucked away in a side room, it was sparsely filled and I could see nothing there of the least interest to me. It was then I was coerced into taking a look at the white gold rings. I need say no more, as I sit here tapping away on my Toshiba wearing a shiny and matt finish ring on my thumb.

We went bowling in the evening, now after 6pm the main lighting is dimmed, disco lights come on and the music gets loud, six games were played and I got thrashed 5-1.

Friday 7th November 2008

My last full day in Phuket. Best was around all day apart from some time to do an airport run in the afternoon. At precisely 6pm, my new ring was delivered (oh yes, I never said before but it was especially made for me). It arrived in its box which in turn was in an attracive fabric wallet, complete with a certificate and guarantee. Best took it out of its box and placed it on my thumb.

This evening, we were both smartly dressed, he was wearing white jeans and a white designer t-shirt, I had on pale grey casual trousers and a pink long sleeved poplin shirt. This evening we were going to dine at White Box, an exclusive restaurant on the beach. At 7:30 pm we sat down on the white leather chairs at the white corner table on the second level looking directly onto a rocky beach to the sea around the bay in Patong. I ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio, wine being a something of a luxury here in Thailand. It was a wonderful meal, which was served at a relaxing pace. The portions were generous, the presentation beautiful and the service impeccable. After our three courses we moved upstairs to the bar, where we sat on a sofa, overlooking the bay, drinking Sparkling Chardonnay out of champagne flutes containing maraschino cherries which we eventually followed with espresso coffee for me and hot tea for Best. After more than three hours, we returned to Mio, which had already closed, so we went up to my room and started playing and exchanging music on our laptops.

Saturday 8th November 2008

It was time to depart Au Patong in Phuket for the journey north to Chiang Mai. I didn't want to go and if I had let my heart rule would have stayed. My head though is a little bit stronger – though not by very much. As we drove to the airport, Best detoured into Phuket town to show me the newly built condominium he was buying and hoped to move into in about a week. I told him I want to see photographs of it as soon as he is settled in. We arrived at the airport just one hour before my flight was due to depart, checked in and made my farewells with Best before going through to departures and boarding the plane. I don't mind admitting how upset I was to leave and made a promise to return soon.

And so to Chiang Mai.