Demonstrating my diving skills at the pool

Thursday February 20th

We didn’t make any plans for our last day in Phuket other than taking it easy until we had to go to the airport.  We got ourselves sorted and packed after breakfast and checked our bags in at the front counter. 

Lovely planter box
Retirement Project no. 26, John Abell?

Just to add a bit of activity to the day, I managed to make a very non-elegant entry into the pool, resulting in a huge, purple and very painful bruise on my bum.  I was attempting to go down the ladder into the pool and my foot slipped out from under me.  I landed very heavily on the top step and then continued on into the pool.  Luckily I didn’t pass out, as John managed to miss the whole event and wouldn’t have noticed me missing for some time.

Still smiling despite undignified pool entry

Half an hour before the minibus was due to arrive we went and got tidied up and changed, then waited, waited, waited until the bus eventually arrived.  The driver was a bit of a lead-foot but nobody compares to the crazy guy who drove us from the Thai border to Koh Chang.

Massage girls enthusiastically awaiting customers

They fine wheels over here

The time at the airport was the usual ho-hum waiting for the boarding call, except we were provided with a bit of entertainment by a group of Russians whose plane had been delayed.  They seemed to think that if they all surrounded the check-in desk, that would make a difference.  One of them was complaining in a very loud voice and his fellow travellers had to calm him down.  If he’d carried on, he would probably still be in Phuket now.  Some security guys were called and then a pilot came and had a big talk with them.  I don’t know if he said “free vodkas at the bar”, but they suddenly all dispersed and the show was over.

Raging Russians.  The t-shirt is a very common souvenir
in Cambodia and Thailand

The other entertainment was watching the Silk Air check-in staff attempting to locate the final three passengers who had not yet boarded their flight.  They made several ‘final call’ announcements and then one of the staff took a laminated ‘final call’ sign and walked all around the vicinity.  The passengers were then called by their names and still didn’t show.  The big screen above the desk was flashing ‘final call’ in red and then eventually three passengers, who had been sitting there all along, suddenly realised that their flight was about to leave.  The ever-polite staff, while carefully refraining from whacking them over the heads, quickly checked their boarding passes and rushed them through the gates. 

Our flight was also a little delayed and was very bumpy at the beginning, but as it was only a 75 minute flight, that was not really a big deal.  However, we didn’t get to our hotel till 1.00am so we were well and truly ready for bed.  We’re staying at the Tune Hotel again as it is only a short walk from the terminal, but tomorrow we’re moving to the Grand Seasons Hotel which should be a bit classier.