Summer nights of mayhem [Phuket, Thailand]

Aug 25-28 Singapore to Phuket, Thailand

Episode of the 500 baht
We were eating nearby our hotel after we arrived in the afternoon and Gerald used the restaurant phone to make a local call for a minute to reach his friend, then at end of meal the store woman demanded that he pay 500 bahts. We're like wtf, what for the waitress said we could use the phone. She said she had no way of ascertaining what number he called and if it were international or not, so we have to pay 500 bahts... then she called the cops when we all started arguing with her. Omg the Thai police, grrrrr. They all took her side even tho it was pretty obvious this was a stupid scam. One police officer asked to see Gerald's passport, and then he took it! he said he was going to have to confiscate it for 30 days until the issue is cleared up. omfg we were all so unbelievably mad, it had been like two hours. Once he got Gerald's passport, there wasn't anything much we could do but pay for it back and leave. Arpun is pretty sure the store woman split the money with the policemen because they were hanging out at a store next door waiting for us to leave. grrrrrr wtfking hell. pretty pissed off, so much for our arrival in Thailand.

P.S. did I mention, Sarah and I left the group to take naps? missed out on this whole commotion :P


Motorbiking
All night long and whenever we can
Ah lots of fun! ...minus the resulting
1) Arpun's foot injury
2) My exhaust pipe burn
3) Confusing search for late-night gas stops on very low tanks


4am Steamboat
In fact, we enjoyed joyriding so much the four of us - Gerald, Frederick, Ted, me - decided to take the ~15min drive down to the more late-night lively Patong Beach and find some food. We end up having a delicious steamboat meal... and ask Gerald about the lovely boys errr I mean ladies that he met and courted :-) I was super sleepy tho, falling asleep on the motorbike ride back, kind of dangerous...


Beach Bum
Saturday we got up super early to take a tour of Phi Phi Island, but the water swells on the boat were extremely extremely high and choppy. I was sitting in a bad spot and got soaked in sea water and alot of us got sea sick or almost did. The waves were too difficult to navigate for the island tours, so the trip was canceled by the captain. Oh the captain was quite cool, a Thai with Australian accent hehehe :) So instead we spent a chill afternoon at the beach, lots of fun, then shopping and massages, and visiting the beach at night with 7/11 bottles :P (That is, until Arpun had a little boo-boo. But tis kay, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger :D)





Phang Nga Bay
Sunday we went on boat tour to another area that had better weather, James Bond Island, from the Man with the Golden Gun movie I think. Relaxing around, twas really pretty, kayaking in the mountain caves/lagoons, swimming around the area. Just taking in the sights <3

Sunday night, well the guys decided they wanted to see a real Thai night for their last night so we hung out a few bars with dancer girls.. moved on to other bars with dancer ladyboys... and after a long series of misadventures, moved to Dclub, which contained both a dance club and a strip club. A couple of the guys stayed there all night, need more be said? :)


Thus ends the short version of my extremely sleep-deprived vacation in Phuket <3

nineteen is not the age of reason [Birthday weekend 5]

Five, make you fall in love with me

~~ To my birthday wish ~~

Only time will tell --

If ever I believe my work is done
Then I’ll start back at one

nineteen is not the age of reason [Birthday weekend 4]

Four, repeat steps one through three

Saturday night after Sentosa I went on a friend's chartered boat for a party that ended up being a joint birthday celebration for him and me, 10pm to 5am. As Gerald would say, "night of mayhem" indeed. The boat was very sleek, and an amusing old New Zealand captain. Met lots of cool people. We spent a good amount of the time stopped at a deserted island for some fun and barbecue, including two birthday cakes. I think that would sum up the whole party very nicely, in a very tame way :-) Indescribable, I guess what happens on the boat, stays on the boat :-)


The bonfire!
The two birthday cakes before they get set on fire...


Cutting my melted coffee cake on the beach and trying not to get sand in it...


Yet another blurry night picture... flying the point on the ship as we come into harbour

<3

nineteen is not the age of reason [Birthday weekend 3]

Three, girl it’s plain to see


Saturday I went back to Sentosa again, but this time spent most of the day at the beach just relaxing, enjoying the view from the southernmost tip of continental Asia, this pretty little island connected to Sentosa by an awesome suspension rope bridge --

And there was this really cool palm tree I sat on for a long time just staring out into the sea, letting the water wash away all of my thoughts...

There were also some interesting and fun, albeit sometimes ear screeching, animal shows in the late afternoon, and after dinner, I didn't do much but lay down by the beach at night -- the stars.. so so many, cold and clear against a great black backdrop that merged into the horizon waters into the shore --

As you can see, I'm slightly obsessed with the night sky and dark beaches...

Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendour
Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender
Turn your face away from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to the music of the night

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before ...

Nineteen is not the age of reason [Birthday weekend 2]

Two, just wanna be with you


Parkview Square
A pretty green fairy is hoisted up on steel wires to retrieve the bottle of wine that you bought -- for us, a nice bottle of 2004 Margaret River, Cabernet Sauvignon


After Parkview closed, we headed to New Asia bar at the top of the highest hotel in Singapore, Swissôtel Stamford. The view is gorgeous and DJ pretty cool, I would definitely recommend visitors to try it out at least once.

During the day we went to the Singapore Botanic Gardens and had dinner at Boat Quay, chili crab by the river. The Botanic Gardens includes an Orchid Garden inside which was absolutely beautiful. There is an interesting VIP section where they name hybrid orchids after famous heads of state that come visit -- I love orchids, they are such fragile beauties -- [Facebook album] --

Nineteen is not the age of reason [Birthday weekend 1]

One, you're like a dream come true

The world's largest fountain, the Fountain of Wealth at Suntec City, and its evening laser show is absolutely awe inspiring to stare at. The powerful, gigantic expansiveness overwhelms oneself, and the ever changing colors dancing upon ever changing water completely fill our vision. The fountain shooting so high it looks like it could touch the moon, droplets quavering in midair as the lasers pierce through -- nature's eternal ephemeralness. The water shimmers and rains down back to earth, I want to run into the middle of it all so so badly. I want to tilt my head back and open my mouth and welcome the earth, I want every inch of my clothing to be soaked in the fountain, to have the droplets splitter splatter against my skin, to dance and sing in the rain and feel alive. To feel alive.

To feel alive.