Thailand, Phuket

We have determined that everything in Thailand is done out of good luck. We ask, "What do the different Buddha hand symbols mean?" Oh well you see that means good luck. "ah" we say. "What does it mean when you put the powder on our face for Songkran?" Oh well that means sometimes, well maybe I think you could say, good luck. "ah" we say. "What does the light fixture in the air mean?" Oh yes it is very nice and it could mean well yes it could be because of good luck. "ah" we say. "Why do they set off fireworks every night?" Oh well yes it is because of you and wishing you maybe good luck. Well yes you get the point, everything is good luck and it is a nice notion to think that everything means good luck and that because you were there right then you have the best of luck. I think we'll just go with it...but we probably could have been millionaires if we got a hundred dollars or a million baht every time we heard it!

Phuket was great! Especially when I got to see my friend Stephanie and share an amazing villa all to ourselves for a week! As soon as I got to the villa I called Jason and said he had to come - so we booked him a last minute ticket and he headed out there just in time for the Songkran Festival, the Thai water festival that is in celebration of their New Year. Steph and I had some time before he got there to see the Giant Buddha and of course I was feeling homesick for Singapore so we had to go to a few malls, one where I actually wished I could have registered there for our wedding and another one that had a spa where fish ate your toes! Well they actually eat the dead skin off your feet but it is the weirdest sensation.

Amanpuri Villa

Steph and I in the Adaman Sea at Maya Beach

Fishies eating our toes!

Sunset at Surin Beach

The Big Buddha - the largest Buddha in Asia and has been under construction for the past 5 years and is being built on donation alone. There were 3 construction workers working barefoot when we were there - it might be a long haul to get it finished.

This video is of me trying to keep it all together at the Big Buddha:

The Phuket weekend night market - they never seem to make anything taller then 5'4.

Green noodles...

Any takers for grasshoppers??? yum!

Whats a trip to Phuket without seeing Patong Beach

I had to kiss my food and wish it good luck before I ate it.

Tuk tuk!

We had a lot of fun on John Grey's Sea Canoe trip which we spent exploring miles of limestone caves and the natural beauty of the Andaman Sea. We even saw some jellyfish as we were swimming in the sea - always a good sign of good luck :) of course! The trip continued into the night, which was definitely one of the highlights as we made offerings, Katongs, out of palm leaves and flowers and sent them into the sea with a wish and maybe even some good luck.

I think it was after we took this picture that Jason had an incident with someone on the boat and with all seriousness looked at me and said, "I mean really do I look like a deck hand." I couldn't help but just look at him and laugh.

In the sea canoe at night with our Katong

Songkran, another super wet highlight, is basically a huge water fight in the streets. There is not a dry sole that escapes the day, well I think if you are a monk or pregnant you are excused, however we are neither of the above :). We were greeted by our villa staff at the beginning of the day with some blessed powder on our faces and a splash of cold water down our shirts. We ventured out into the city mid day in our rental car and got a good taste of the madness on the way in, or rather Jason subjected us to the madness early, check out this video:

The pictures will probably tell the rest of the story.

We loved Thailand and can't wait until we go back next week - next stop Chiang Mai!