Phuket low season that never was...

Wow! Where is time going to? Phuket has what some describe as 'low season' from May to October inclusive. I am usually a bit depressed at this time. I don't like being quiet and not having much to do. Bring on 2012 and this low season has been manic! When i returned from the UK in June, business at SUB AQUA Dive Center (where I am Manager) immediately ramped up through July with the European Summer holidays kicking in at the same time as the Australian winter and great low season deals on Phuket hotels/flights.

More than just 'business', I got involved with a new project. You can read more about it on SUB AQUA Dive Center's blog but what started out as a small united group of Dive Centre Managers trying to do their best for Phuket is coming to fruition with the first planned event, 'Dive Against Debris' on 30th September 2012. It is the first time in all my time in Phuket that I have seen business owners/managers (particularly those in the diving industry) come together to do good. The event on 30th September looks set to be huge and I have put a lot of effort into gathering support for the project and offering logistical support in the run up to and on the day.

Then in August, I had the holiday of a lifetime. Mik and I flew from Phuket to Bali, spent 2 lovely nights in Ubud before flying on to Bima to joining Worldwide Dive And Sail's diving liveaboard to Komodo National Park.
Here are some photos from our trip:-

Villa Mandi, Ubud - tranquil setting

The best carrot cake I have ever tasted - Kafe in Ubud

Our place for a couple of nights

I could eat at this restaurant in the paddy fields of Ubud every day

I'll take the salad...

It tasted as good as it looks!

Ubud is so tranquil and beautiful

I was made up to find that cocoa beans grow in Bali!

Tea and coffee tasting - I am in heaven!

Me attempting a wood carving - I was rubbish at it!

This guy was sharpening blades for the feet of birds cock-fighting. Brutal!

Cycling in the countryside in Bali - Mik and me

This little girl let us walk around her home. Bless her.

Big smiles as we stop at a Balinese temple for a rest

Back on the road... or kind of off-roading really

This was a daily occurrence once we were on board the boat

First morning - we are awake just about. Time for dive briefing!

Had to include this - it was our 9 year anniversary!

Then came the Komodo dragons!

Dragon loving - LOL

Relaxing with a gin and tonic on the sundeck after a day of great dives

Tourist photo - Komodo National Park - tick!

Me and the man on Komodo Island

There ain't no dragon gonna eat me!

Me and my home for 10 days - ain't she lovely!

Indo Siren on 10 day Komodo diving tour

Absolutely beautiful vessel and great crew!

Close-up with the boat in my sights!

Fellow divers and crew on board the Indo Siren trip to Komodo August 2012

Then it was back to work! But there is a balance between work and play so if I took holiday in August, I then got stuck into my triathlon training and sorting the dive centre for high season. (Yes, not long now... 25th November is the Laguna Phuket Triathlon!). In September, it has been time to play a little again...

On 19th September Mik turned 40 and it was time to make sure he enjoyed every moment of celebrating it. With a few surprises, like a night at Serenity Terraces Resort , he had a lovely time. As I write this, he is off still celebrating with one of his gifts (rental of a Ducati Monster motorbike) and razzing around the Island with a couple of friends that have termed themselves 'Pie N Mash MC'. Ha! I'm so happy for him. Here are some photos of the fun we have had over his birthday week:-

The 'big' gift!

Surprise birthday cake taken to his workplace in the afternoon of his actual birthday

Evening of his birthday and it was time for a sundowner at East 88 beach lounge

Our apartment for the evening

Me and the man - combined age of 70! Crikey!

The band we rocked out with at his Party

The next morning... collection of gifts... mainly alcohol based. LOL!

 That's it. You are all updated. This week is going to be mostly spent making final preparation for the Go Eco Phuket 'Dive Against Debris' event on 30th September. Day full of press conferences and presentations to participants this Tuesday and the Rawai-Naiharn Dragon Boat Quiz this Thursday evening... It's all go this low season! Happy times.

Turning 30...

30 and loving it!

Many people get depressed on birthdays. I don't. I think birthdays should be celebrated more than anything else. I mean, you are celebrating the fact that you have made it this far in this world. What is depressing about that? For me there is no point in complaining about getting old. You just have to get on with your life and enjoy every moment of it, so when I recently turned 30 I wanted it be a memorable time for everybody. I HAVE BEEN HERE 30 YEARS! YAY! LET'S CELEBRATE!

And that we did. It was amazing. Really. I could not have been made any more happy and my family/friends made me feel the most loved person in the world, to the point that I almost feel guilty. I will never be able to thank those involved enough. You think i am exaggerating? Check this out...

The day began quite sedately. I got up, had some breakfast with Mik and opened my lovely cards and some presents that had been sent by family around the world. I got some lovely gifts and I loved the present from my brother-in-law and family that was a report of all things happening at the time I was born, 1982. Then I had to go to work at SUB AQUA Dive Center, Karon Beach, Phuket. I was there on my own for a good couple of hours and then the owner of SUB AQUA came to join me bearing gifts. This was quite the surprise but it was nice to finally have some company after being far too excited to do any real work on my computer.

At about 17:00 Mik arrived looking mysterious. I asked, "where are we going?". "Why are you smiling like that?" Now at this point i should mention that I was fully aware that I was having a 30th birthday party in the evening of my birthday, 24th March. I was also fully aware that my birthday present was to be a Honda Phantom motorbike that I had been eyeing up for quite some time. But on the 23rd March, Mik told me that I had to prepare all of the things I may need to get me through my birthday... and the next day. This should include an 'overnight bag'. Hmmmm... Now I am really excited :-)

So here I was. It was time. SURPRISE... Well, not quite yet. First I wished my 'big boss' farewell and wished him a safe return to his family in Germany. Then I locked the office. Then i clambered on to the back of my soon-to-be-old Honda Wave 125 motorbike and let Mik take me wherever! To be honest, it looked like we were going home and the whole things was to be a disappointment or a wind-up but I should have known my lovely boyfriend better as he drove down to Nai Harn lake and then took a left up a slope to the most amazing villa. He joked, "I've bought you a house!". There outside was my new motorbike shiny and complete with red ribbons - photo......

Now that is a birthday present!

Then there was this...

You too can stay here - http://www.thevillas-phuket.com/gallery/index.php/Crystal-Villa

Wow! The reality hit me... or it slowly crept upon me as I stood speechless in this house that I had just been told was "mine" for the next 2 days!

Words do not cover it. This villa was perfect for my 30th birthday.

Mik had rented this place for not just the night, but two nights! He had arranged with the staff at SUB AQUA Dive Center that Kerry was having 2 days off and that they had to deal with it. I was being utterly spoilt rotten for a couple of days and loving it!!! Mik handed me a beer, gave me the tour and then istructed me to sit beside the pool. Happy does not cover it. I was elated... and I burst into tears of joy (not for the last time that birthday!).

Work over. Beer at the side of "my" pool! Happy!!!!

Mik had even thought to move all my cards across to the Villa so I could spend some time enjoying all the good wishes.

To be honest, I did not want to leave but I had a party to attend and I was told that I could make full use of the Villa later and the next day. So I had a perfect phone call with my 'old' friends from school, Lindsay and Alexis, telling them all about the villa and also congratulating Alexis since her wedding day in UK was the same day as my 30th Birthday. It was a shame we couldn't all be together on this day but we will be soon when Lindsay marries in June and I couldn't stay sad for long. I was on a right rollercoaster of emotions! So time to party and didn't we scrub up well?...

Mik and I ready to head to my 30th birthday party

The party was amazing too. So many great friends made it out and much to my surprise, I received some lovely gifts including spa treatments, cash to by my own, scarves, facials, jewellry, wine... Really. I am not just saying this. I just wanted people to come and celebrate with me. I never expected a pile of gifts as well but I hope that Mik and I threw a big enough party that everyone had a fun, memorable and happy time. We all certainly seemed to be enjoying ourselves and there was even a bit of KERRY-OKE!

Those photos say it all. At 01:00am Mik and I decided it was time to leave everybody partying and retire to the Villa. It must have been perfect timing because I had a remarkably clear head the next day and was able to party some more with dips in the pool, wine pretty much on freeflow and the company of good friends James, Ning and Baby Joshua! My head was not as clear the day after that one!

Mik trying to lose "the fear"

Not our baby! Mik with Baby Joshua

Here are Mum and Dad, Ning and James

The clock says 20:30 and we had been at that wine all day!

Me chatting to Wilkie and Laura (friends in UK)

Me getting some last minute relaxation in "my" pool

This was by far the best birthday celebration ever. It would have been nothing without Mik, my family and my wonderful friends that quite simply overwhelmed me with their kindness and loving birthday wishes. If this is what turning 30 is all about then I suggest you all embrace your birthdays. Create moments like these and you will never be depressed on a birthday again. I am one lucky girl.

Special thanks goes to Tracey Samantha Burr who does an excellent job of making anybody's stay in Phuket hassle-free and memorable with her Villas in Naiharn. Please visit her website here and please 'like' The Villas on Facebook. The Villas and Tracey made this birthday girl a VERY happy girl and if you are looking for a place to stay in Phuket for a real treat without breaking the bank, The Villas in Nai Harn is where you need to be. You won't regret it. (I had a housekeeper/cook for goodness sake!!!)