Phuket, I'm going to Thailand

I left my laptop in Auckland (for safe keeping).  This post and all future posts will be done via my phone.  So please excuse any formatting errors.  That also means no vlogs until I get my compy out of daycare.

After 11 amazing months in New Zealand, I have temporarily left the land of the long white cloud to visit Thailand for 3 weeks.  Pretty sure I'm out of my mind for traveling here alone, but I also don't think I could be anymore prepared or aware.  It took about 26 hours of traveling to get to Phuket.  NZ is not an easy place to leave, there are always a couple stops before you reach your destination annnnnd my last flight was delayed by 2 hours.  Regardless, I made it to Phuket!!!

Maybe the American Horror Story font isn't appropriate for dessert packaging... just sayin'.

Traveling alone hasn't been worrisome up until now.  Here in Thailand my American accent and red hair stand out a lot.  Sooooo I bought a paranoia purse!  It was a great purchase because I'm so much more relaxed as I walk down the street.

Best hostel I've been in yet!  This little cube is all mine.  It has a safe, shelves, an outlet, a lamp and a curtain! 

Welcome to Patong Beach Phuket!!  It's loud, smelly, and humid as hell but interesting none the less.

Fish pedicure!  Couldn't help but think of Kim K.

Chicken and veggies in sweet chili oil... and the sunset

The next day I took a speed boat cruise to Phi Phi island and a couple other islands.  These places were locations for films like The Beach, The Man with the Golden Gun, and a little franchise called Pirates of the Caribbean. 

It was a fun but exhausting day.   The beaches were covered with hundreds of people, there were boats everywhere, and the humidity is inescapable.  I made friends with a wonderful group of Indian Americans.  They were my buddies throughout the adventure.  We swam and snorkled and soaked up some sun!

The water in Thailand isn't drinkable so you have to drink from sealed containers like this Capri Sun-esque water cup!

Monkey feeding!  I didn't actually feed them (because I don't like animals, especially wild ones) but it was nice to see some wildlife!

Lunch was included!   Yummmmmm!

It's important to mention that it was not rainy or foggy.  This is all air pollution.  It's so sad to know how beautiful this place could be if it weren't for the human race. 

P.Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney

Any foodies out there?  According to my extensive Top Chef and Chopped knowledge, Durian smells and tastes like garbage.  So why are the Thai people selling it on the street and with Ice Cream?

One of the rare massage places that is actually for massaging



So, it turns out Thailand has the same plug configuration as the states!  This would have been super convenient if any of my plugs were American, but I'm a true Kiwi now.  I had to buy an American converter... the irony is not lost on me.

Let's take a minute to discuss the Baht.  Confusing as hell to know what you're actually paying.  I've been using my converter app for everything.  But if I don't have my phone I use this little trick...

Move the decimal one space to the left and then divide by 2.

1000 baht > 100/2 = 50ish

This only works for the NZD, which is what I'm paying with (see I'm a true Kiwi).  Sidenote: look how bad the conversion from NZD to USD is!  It was wayyyy better 6 months ago.  Guess I need to spend all my NZD before I go home!

Patong has a CRAZY night life!  I'm not gonna go out to the clubs or bars alone but it's fun to be a spectator!