Lost in Thailand? Not if you are a girl!

I don't like to blog about other blogs or other websites for that matter. However there is one particular website/social network out there that really deserves a plug. Please forgive me, this once.

My personal blog was set up to keep my friends and family up to date with my antics but more and more I see people worldwide taking a look. Then recently I was approached by Chicky Net, the social network for (expat) women living in Thailand and asked if I would do an interview for them to publish on their site. I had no problem with this. Further, I was happy to help the growth of what I see as a very useful tool for women thinking of moving to Thailand or already living in Thailand.

I'll be honest. When I first moved to Phuket, I was not a huge fan. I worried, have i done the right thing? That was easily answered with, well, if you've screwed up just get on the next plane home! But worse, you are without family (although my boyfriend did move across to Phuket with me and my family at the time had enough issues so a break was most welcome). You are without friends (but you meet people very easily in Thailand with everybody seemingly so friendly). And finally, it all seems so terribly untidy after the relatively civilised and ordered life of the UK. I know some of you will think me mad for referring to life in the UK, or indeed most places in the Western World as civilised and ordered but seriously, come to Phuket... exposed electrical wires lining the streets, shops and restaurants with only 3 walls and no doors... I could go on! Strangely, men appear to seamlessly adapt to this untidy lifestyle but we girls I believe experience something different. We are less comfortable with not speaking the language of the country we are in, and we are further distrubed by having abandoned the familiarities we once took for granted. 

This is where Chicky Net steps in.

Simply put Chicky Net is a social network that only accepts women into its arena - no fakes or phonies allowed (much to the frustrations of many men living in Thailand!). There is a useful classified section where I personally have sold items from our house within minutes of posting. This is much to Mik's complete amazement - he says it is witchcraft! Ha! There are also groups that you can join by your own nationality or interests, for example Sporty Chickies for those wanting to meet up with a few girls to play tennis or badminton or whatever else might be suggested. There is a forum where you can post questions about life in Thailand and you can get decent replies from other women in Thailand that have experienced/are experiencing similar issues. We even share recipe ideas! You name it - help with your Thai visa questions, need a house to rent, have a house to rent, found yourself with too many unwanted pets, want to meet new people, want to find and try new restaurants, want some advice on health or insurance or where to get a good leg wax(!)... It is all on Chicky Net!

I'll admit that I rarely have the time to attend the Chicky Net social events that I see posted to the network regularly but for women who feel lost in Thailand, this network can only be a great thing! For me, Chicky Net is a most welcome and useful tool for women in Thailand. Everything is that bit more accessible, that bit easier and I can only imagine, that bit more fun for those who have the time to be more heavily involved.

That is it. I have said my piece. There was no Chicky Net when I first arrived to Phuket almost nine years ago but I am happy that it is there for Thailand's (expat) women now.

Stay posted because I am off to Udonthani on Tuesday to celebrate James and Ning's 2nd wedding anniversary. You can see how much fun we had last time when we attended the wedding by reading my previous blog post "Wedding Thai Style - am I married? " . This post also goes further to explain why I am currently pondering, is this MY 2nd year wedding anniversary too?!

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!!!)

Late blogging...

I'm back... just. The high season is in full swing in Phuket. I'm actually pretty tired and in need of a break now but I wanted to give you some photos. This will go some way to giving you an update since my last post. So here is a summary of what has been going on with me and my life in Phuket...

December - January saw Mik and I celebrate Christmas and New Year. We even went as far as buying a new Christmas tree this year but most of it was work work work. I cannot complain, this is the best time of year for the diving industry and Sub Aqua Dive Centre in Karon (where I am Manager) had a great couple of months! Back home at our place, Mik and I managed some treats kindly sent to us from family and friends in UK. As presents to ourselves I bought Mik a new Trek 3900 mountain bike and he got mine a complete make-over after my Dad kindly boxed it up and sent it to me here in Phuket.

Presents from family under the tree with my sparkly Xmas shoes

Awesome present from my MUM - Huddersfield Town garden gnome!

Our new Christmas tree complete with presents from family in Spain and UK

Here is my bike - could not get new front forks to match but happy to have it back in my life and working

And here is Mik's shiny new bike complete with fancy disc brakes

Also through January and into February we got involved with the Rawai-Naiharn Dragon Boat Club. It means we have new friends that are not just divers (as much as i love my scuba diving friends) and it helps in our endless crusade to keep ourselves fit (or get fit!). The club have monthly quiz nights that are always a laugh and good social events such as the BBQ we had on the beach last Sunday but here we are doing what we were all brought together to do!

And from February through to March there has been much dragon boating and working. Work hard and play hard and all that! I actually managed to go out diving myself which is not something I do too often since i am generally Managing the Dive Center rather than actually out diving. Of course I had to get some memorable photos to prove it and to show you...

Hanging out on Racha Noi's plateau - spectacular soft corals and current!!!!

Me and my buddy head into the current above these beautiful pinks and purples

No manta this time... but the great HUMANta

A captain never abandons the ship - unless of course he is Italian!

Just hanging - a great relaxing day out of the office!

That brings you up to date since that dive only took place last week! I must mention that the diving photos were all taken by a visiting Instructor Philippe Lecomte and I am happy that he was willing to share them with me and you.

I guess the next post will have to be after my 30th birthday party which takes place exactly 2 weeks today. Crikey! Time really does fly. Ciao for now!

High season, back to it....

Well folks, not an awful lot to report. Things got slightly more sensible after the run of birthdays and October start-of-high-season parties, and I have now managed 8 weeks solid back at the gym so I am almost back to a fitness level that I like.

Mik got a promotion at work. That was great news - he is now working at Worldwide Dive And Sail, if anyone was wondering. Worldwide Dive And Sail website

I am still at Sub Aqua Dive Center Sub Aqua Dive Center and while we had a busy October, the flooding in Bangkok had a knock-on effect so that the end of November was deathly quiet. This always makes me miserable because I would rather be busy but hey, it is December now and the outlook looks good again.

Joshua's birthday cake

Khao Soi Pai Restaurant on Kok Tanod Road, Kata

Back in October, on 31st, we helped friends James and Ning celebrate the opening of their new restaurant in Kata. It's called Khao Soi Pai and specialises in the Northern (Chiang Mai) dish of Khao Soi Noodles. Finally we have a local restaurant that delivers a good Khao Soi! Also this was their son, Joshua's 1st birthday so it was a double celebration!

Our Kratong in celebration of Loy Kratong Festival

Then in November, there was the Thai festival of Loy Kratong. Mik and I opted to buy a more environmentally friendly Kratong this year made of biodegradable materials, since every year it doesn't seem fair to dump pins, plastic, and goodness knows what else in to our local seas and lakes! We put a piece of hair, a candle, a finger nail and some coins in as is the tradition and then watched our Kratong float away under the light of the moon... That should be us lucky in health, love and money for another year!

Also in November, to help me prove that i can get fit again after the marathon in June, I opted for an easy 6km run as part of the 'fun stuff' at the Phuket Laguna Triathlon Day. I ran in 29:03 so was pretty happy with that considering I am not at my optimum fitness level. I really want to do the full Triathlon in 2012. My biggest concern is not the training but rather all the gear I will need like a triathlon suit and decent bike. If I have the confidence (and the cash) to support my needs, I am definitely up for it... or I will opt to join a 'team' triathlon where I would just do the run section. But I would rather have the challenge of completing the whole thing. We will see.

Me participating in the 91.5fm 6km fun run

Next stop is Christmas. We haven't put our decorations up at home yet but I did make a bunch of lovely Christmas cakes that have been seeping in brandy ever since and we now have a terrific collection of wrapped presents in the corner of the living room from our family in UK and Spain. It feels quite Christmassy already! Also, I made Mik a chocolate advent calendar!!!! Not as easy as it sounds but he has always said that he misses them from home so what better thing to do than make him one - 24 windows to open, each with its own Christmas-themed image and piece of Lindt dark chocolate behind.

Hope to have more photos for you after Christmas and New Year... here in Phuket, Thailand!

Birthdays, festivals and a lot of rain!

Quiet days - decided to rent this bad boy for some adventure!

In Phuket, September is traditionally a wet month. This September was not much different and this first week in October seems to have been VERY wet with the dive boats cancelling on one day due to the lack of visibility at sea - the captain could barely see the front of the boat!

Birthday boy Mik (right) with friend, Joel

This has meant quiet times for me at work (Sub Aqua Dive Center, Karon Beach) giving me time to try new things like this Kawasaki motorbike - I now want one! And also giving time for party celebrations with all the September birthdays in Phuket... and there seems to be a lot of them.

Me with good friends, Dave & Thien

 

For me, the party of the year is for Mik. His birthday is 19th September but we had a joint birthday party with James Bagley at Ole Bar in Nai Harn on 24th September this year. It was a lot of fun and all our friends came out to play too!

For the 9 days from 27th September, it was Phuket's Vegetarian Festival so I spent my days with no meat, no dairy, no chocolate (that was a hard one!) and no alcohol. This gave me the excuse to get back into my gym routine too! On 5th October, we went to Phuket Town at midnight for the closing of the Vegetarian festival and I can happily say I have never seen anything so mental in the whole of my life! It was like a war zone with people throwing fire crackers at people in the street... This is actively encouraged to see the 'spirits' off in good fashion. Unbelievable! We left at about 2am and the streets still looked like a scene from the front-line in Afghanistan! This picture was taken from a more quiet moment...

Mik at annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket Town

Now I am back eating meat - can't deny myself a good bacon sarnie! There will be one more birthday party this month for my good friend Mona who is turning 50 on the 17th October. If you look back at older posts (from 2007?) you will find Mona was my boss when I worked at Oceanic Divecenter and she was also the one that made me a PADI Instructor back in 2004. I am sure photos will follow. Happy days :-)

July was a Eurotrip!

Never got round to posting in July. Sorry about that. Thing is, Mik and I embarked on our bi-annual whirlwind Eurotrip to see our folks, family and friends.

It all began with drinks in Brussels with Lindsay & Patrick

Rent a city-cycle!

Try a different Belgian beer!

A flight from Phuket to Bangkok, then Bangkok to Cairo (which is a crap-hole by the way), then onward to Brussels. Once there we met up with the lovely Lindsay and her soon-to-be husband, Patrick. It was good to catch up again and meet Patrick for the first time... and Lindsay did a great job of making sure we saw what we needed to in an intensive Brussels city tour! 


 

Grand Place

Then it was onward to my home-county of Yorkshire. We traveled by Eurostar which was so quick and convenient; it was superb and I would highly recommend it. 

Dinner at Dad's with great trifle!

Sweetie shops in Yorkshire rock!

At Leeds Train station we were met by my Dad, his girlfriend Sue and my sister, Sheena (now living in Scotland). This was brilliant - first time Dad had both me and Sheena in the same room for about 10 years! We had a great laugh!

After a terrific couple of evenings at Dad's house it was try to catch-up with my Mum's side of the family and this HAD to begin with my Nanna. I hadn't seen my Nanna in almost 10 years and Mik had never met her. Doing great at 74 years of age, we spent 3 days and 2 nights of much-required quality time together at her home in Holmfirth.

Dove Stone - lovely walk

Just like being a kid again!

On the Friday evening, Nanna, Mik & I got in the car and headed to my Aunty Dawn's house in Halifax. This was a fun night. My Mum, my brother, my Aunty Dawn, my Nanna, Mik and my two cousins, Lauren and Megan all in the same house having a laugh. 

Cousin, Mum & Aunt... big catch-up

Highlights of the evening include all the embarrassing family photos being brought out, laughing until we could hardly breathe, and Mum's Christmas cake being served as a 'Merry Christmas' gesture for all the family Christmases that Mik and I miss out on for living in Phuket! Happy days.

The family meet and greets didn't end there! We did all-you-can-eat Chinese food with my brother Daniel, meal/drinks with my half-brother Wayne and his family, and I took part in what can only be described as a 'take-your-daughter-to-work' day with my Dad when I accompanied him to work in Hull for a day... just me and Dad.

Some fetching glasses found in harrogate tourist information

 We couldn't leave Yorkshire without seeing a good friend, Rich which meant a 'best of Harrogate' visit with some of the funniest moments and a dawning realisation that we are too old to jump around half-empty dance floors in clubs that claim 'Indie nights'. Ha! Better to stick to the tea-rooms!

Classic! Betty's tea rooms

With the fastest two weeks of our lives over with, it was time to focus on Mik's family so we did a brief week-end visit to Newquay (where I had never actually been before) then it was onward to Wales to catch up with Mik's brother and family. By the way, I can highly recommend the cornish pasties of Cornwall and it was a beautiful part of the world! No time to be reporting on that here though... so... Wales... sheep... fish n'chips and more valued family time. 

When in Wales...

Oh my word, thank you Harry Ramsden for completing my life

 By 13th July we were packing our bags again to fly to Alicante airport to meet Mik's Mum and Dad (living in Spain). While I know I couldn't live there, there is still something sad about leaving family behind in the UK. Leaving the UK is easy. Leaving family behind sucks... but our holiday was not over yet. Viva Espana! Now there is a place I could live...

The national flag of Spain

Me at Alicante castle

I don't know to be honest!

When in Spain - Paella!!! Yummy!

What a rather large candle!

 We were so lucky while we were there. We stayed away from the crazily packed beaches (such as can be seen in this picture!) and instead visited waterfalls, castles, restaurants and markets. All of my favourite things!

Stay away from the packed beaches!!

Indulge in Fiesta time!

 Our last few evenings in Guardamar were extra special as we got to see the amazing costumes, music and atmosphere at the annual Festival of the Moors and Christians. Seriously, you have to see it to believe it. Whole families take to the streets for the parades and it really is a wonderful thing to see. For me, this was the perfect way to close our one-month long Eurotrip.


None of it could have been possible without the kind generosity and hospitality of our friends and family. We understand it is difficult and by no means ideal to be living 6000 miles from loved ones. I love my life here in Phuket, I love my family/friends there in Europe. In an ideal world, I would combine the two.


Until next time.