A Relaxing Weekend in Phuket, Thailand

I landed in Phuket and headed to the hotel to meet Judy for the weekend. We decided to treat ourselves and stay at a nice hotel instead of a hostel. At this point in my trip, I needed some space to myself! We stayed at the Chanalai Flora Resort in the Kata Beach area, which was nice and at a great price! Kata Beach is the more family-friendly area in Phuket, while Patong Beach is the wild party part. On arrival, I was given a welcome snack and drink, which was super fancy. I then watched as a tiny Thai man struggled to carry my big backpack to my room, haha! While waiting for Judy, I enjoyed having the space and the best shower ever. We settled and went out for dinner at KIRI Burger & Bowl when she arrived. I had a delicious Panang Curry. After dinner, we wandered around some night markets, and Judy made me try the smelly fruit Durian - I thought it tasted like a mango that had gone bad. We found a bar with live music, enjoyed some cocktails for a bit, then hung out on the beach and chatted before bed. 

In the morning, we woke up and went for a beautiful walk along Kata Beach; it was nice but so touristy and busy. We went to the most incredible place called A Blanket and A Pillow, which had gorgeous ocean views and was situated in the trees on various levelled platforms. There were different types of seating and good music; it had immaculate, chill vibes. We had a smoothie and relaxed for a while before going for a walk and heading for brunch at The Coffee Club. I had the tastiest Eggs Benedict with bacon and chilli oil hollandaise. I also had a fantastic coconut espresso coffee, and Judy had a lovely orange one. 

After wandering the markets and shops, we stopped at PALM Spa & Massage for a Thai massage. What a wild experience! They really do use their whole bodies and climb all over you. It is not relaxing, it tickled and hurt sometimes, but my body felt good afterward! We had a drink and snack at KIRI Burger & Bowl and then returned to the hotel for a quick dip in the pool before getting ready for the evening and heading to Old Town. We had dinner at Tu Kab Khao Restaurant, which is Michelin star rated. I tied the Tom Yum soup, which was really good, but my expectations were higher for that restaurant. After dinner, we looked in some shops and went to the Simon Cabaret to see a ladyboy show. It was quite entertaining! I couldn’t believe the ‘ladies’ on stage were not women! Watching them sing and dance blew my mind! We took a Tuk Tuk back to a street closer to our hotel and had a few cocktails. All of the bartenders I saw were ladyboys; it was wild!

We went for a lovely breakfast in the morning at a hotel restaurant called The Boathouse. It had the most stunning view of the sea and tasty food; it was a vibe! We headed back to the hotel, and Judy packed up to leave. I hung out in the room and briefly chatted with Mom and Dad. Afterward, I hung out by the pool, swimming and reading until it started to pour rain! I grabbed a smoothie and some spring rolls at the hotel restaurant as I was technically checked out of the room and needed somewhere dry to hang out. After lunch, the rain stopped, so I hung out by the pool a bit more and then went to the bus station. I was early and grabbed a late lunch/early dinner from Maimorn Forest. I had a delicious green curry and then went and found my bus. I took a 3.5-hour van ride from Phuket to Krabi; it was an excellent way to travel and only cost £5. 

Overall, I enjoyed my time in Phuket. It is never a dull moment with Judy! I don’t think I would choose to go to Phuket again or recommend it, though, as I found it very touristy and overpriced. We didn’t stay in Patong Beach, but that area is quite trashy, known as the Miami of Thailand. It has quite a young crowd and is very partyish. 

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