Drugs & Timeshare Touts

I don’t mean to be a bar humbug and I realise that I am fortunate to travel far and wide for such a long time, but things are not going to plan.  It started out great, good flights, brilliant birthday night for Phil with Tom and Youngja but monsoon rains have damped our time in Thailand.  We had such a good time when we were last here in 2008 that this time it just doesn’t compare.  I love Thai and all things Asian but the rain stops you doing things.  Sunday was pretty much a duvet day because it rained all day non-stop.  We ventured out for lunch at midday but only got as far as the Irish bar.  Normally we wouldn’t frequent western establishments but we were so soaked by this point, we couldn’t face walking any further.  We had a couple of beers and burger and chips and then it was back to our hotel to watch DVD’s.  Not very exciting I’m afraid.  Phil couldn’t find the Grand Prix on our television so was back to the Irish bar in the evening to watch the race. 

The skies seemed a little brighter on Monday morning but by mid-morning the winds got up and brought the lashing rain.  The drama for Monday was that we realised that Phil hadn’t brought his cancer hormone drugs with him from home.  We tried a couple of chemists and were directed to a hospital nearby but the pharmacy didn’t stock the drugs.  They gave us a telephone number for a hospital in Phuket Town.  After giving up the drug hunt, we went to a Thai restaurant by the beach front for lunch which was cheap and cheerful.  As we were walking back to our hotel, Phil got stopped by a travel tout who produced scratch cards and he said we’d won prizes.  Somehow and god knows how, Phil agreed to go on the promotional tour which involved signing a consent form and being taken by taxi to a resort about half an hour out of Patong.  I had my suspicions straight away that it would be time share sales and I was right.  When will we ever learn???? This is not the first time we’ve been caught out with timeshare, on no, we are veterans; Ibiza, Las Vegas, Tenerife, Lanzarotte and now Thailand. No, I correct that last sentence, when will Phil ever learn?  I love Phil’s for his enthusiasm for everything in life but sometimes he tests my patience to bursting limit. 

The taxi arrived at the resort and we were taken for coffee at a nearby café by an English guy and subjected to an hour of sales patter.  The guy was okay but a little seedy, aren’t they all?  Finally we got taken to see a room in the resort.  It was very nice but there was no way we were going to part with £3k for a free week for 3 years.  I can’t even believe that Phil was seriously tempted to pay a deposit but thank god he came to senses.  The salesman was seriously cool when he knew that he didn’t have a sale and left us with the receptionist.  Our free prizes were a beach bag and a free week’s holiday at the resort.  A complimentary taxi took us back to our resort and how glad I was to return.  I suppose the only positive to loosing 2 hours of my life was the chance to see the sights outside of Patong.  Last night we turned left out of the hotel and went to the Thai restaurant next door for a light meal then it was back to our room to watch movies.

Sods law the sun is out in full today and it’s not raining, the only chance we would have had to try out our private sun terrace and this is the day we are checking out.  You think I’d be happy today but I’m not, received some rather disturbing news by email this morning which has rather upset me.  Normally I would share, but on this occasion I can’t because it’s too close to home.  Phil has tried to calm me down but I’m afraid it’s made me more resolved to cut short our trip and go home early.  Especially with the drug situation

Being hotel bound has given me a chance to catch up with blogs, emails and allowed me time to set up Skype on my laptop.  This is a useful tool and gave us chance to catch up with a few friends and also to have a long chat with Phil’s mum and dad.  We knew they would be worried and normally we would phone to confirm safe arrival but somehow this went out of the window.  Anyway, all is good with them; since we’ve been gone they have had a long chat and decided against moving to Milton Keynes and instead buy a bungalow closer to home.  This makes sense really and I think they have made the right decision.  They have put their house on the market and found a lovely bungalow in the next street that they want to buy.  It needs work and they have asked us to fit a new kitchen, bathroom and redecorate.  This is not a problem and is the least we can do.

Today, in fact very soon, we check out and have a taxi picking us up to take us to Phuket town where we will catch the 1.30pm ferry to Koh Phi Phi.  We have been there before so know what to expect and I just hope I’m not disappointed the second time round.  I have a problem about going back to places, however good they were the first time round, it’s never ever the same for me when I revisit.  Hey ho, I will try and remain open minded.  Right now I need to post this blog, finish the packing and get ready to vacate.  We’ve had a luxurious 3 night stay at Hotel Nap Patong, just a shame about the wet weather………….

 NB: photo’s to follow later, no time now.