Project Artisan

Today was an excellent day for Tia and I. She is actually out of gas. Have to fix that tomorrow. We adventured to a new part of Phuket further North to meet up at Project Artisan for a lunch date with my new friend Barbara. (yes I hope to have finally met one!)

Barbara is amazing and so positive. She answered all my questions as I fired them at her to gain from her experience of living here 3 years already. She’s a breast cancer survivor, true warrior, who has zero fear and no time for anything not fun. Her eyes are Paul Newman blue!
We are going to try to have a lunch date once a week. She’s going to start a Wonder Woman group in Phuket. I can’t wait!

This restaurant was so good and artsy as you can see. A definite hub for expats. A destination of sorts. They are currently building on a spa and resort also. Believe me when I say this place is in the middle of nowhere.

They featured beautiful murals on their walls. Great ammunition for my tonyatakesthailand instagram where I am trying to show off Phuket’s street art.

This wasn’t a painting but still a very cool wall photo.

Looks like they may even transport groups to their restaurant. They also had a food truck.

So cute and clever. I will definitely go back there again. I was telling Barbara that I needed a mattress pad and a few household items and she recommended I go to “baan and beyond”. Hilarious right? Layout and everything is very similar to BBB. I purchased a few rugs there to replace the awful hunter green bath mats my place came with. But wasn’t that impressed with any other household items.

Once I returned to my condo I was sweating, because that’s what I do best here. So I changed into my suit and did a few laps. Still trying to get those goggles adjusted right so they don’t leak. Maybe I am too optimistic since they were cheap but I’m still hopeful.

Yesterday I literally had no food and ate only peanut butter on bread. Today since I was on a roll with Tia, I headed to the grocery store and purchased this electric cooker. (and a bottle of white wine :))
Hoping I can start scrambling some eggs and actually eating more of a meal in the future. ****SHOUT OUT to Kassie. I could NOT have carried on my scooter the rugs/or this range with a jug of water and groceries if it wasn’t for that thoughtful fold-able back pack she got me for my birthday! Coming in quite handy these days. Not so much for hiking or paddle boarding but getting used for sure!

Mom Tri’s Wok

Started my day off optimistically heading to Phuket Immigration, again, with what I thought were proper documents in hand. I was turned away because I was wearing a sleeveless shirt. So I jumped on my scooter and found a local screen printing shop and purchased what I felt was an appropriate Japanese fighter tee.

I came back feeling overly confident. Back in line sporting my new tee. I was told I did not have the documents needed and was given another new form with a list of five NEW very difficult things to obtain, including a copy of the owner’s ID and their registration for the place I am staying AND asking that the owner of the property come with me to immigration or offer a letter of power of attorney. I keep reading on the expat blogs that the Thai govt changes their rules constantly and are making it tougher for O visa holders. (Lucky me)

Needless to say I broke down in tears, not in front of the immigration asshole who when I told him I did not understand he said “I JUST TOLD YOU” and then said its about THAI LOVE. I was so insulted and shaken by my frustration.

After dabbing up my tears by some 7/11 air conditioning, a rational conversation with Justin, and a soda water- I headed to meet Min and check on my Tia. (scooter repair)

I got my Tia back and my deposit on the rental so I decided I was not going to let this ruin my day and Tia and I headed back home, only to detour at an amazing restaurant overlooking Chalong Bay. I had read about it, and when I saw it, I just turned in and as a sweaty mess, ate an amazing dinner- the best I have had in Phuket.

This is same artist whose summer home was turned into a resort
at Kata Noi

No worries, I counterbalanced it with coffee ice cream and espresso. Treat yourself!

The restaurant has a lot of her sculptures. I love the arts here.

They were featuring this artist in the gallery.

His work with her sculpture. I was told today by Min that she thinks Phuket is too small for me. That I will be bored in 6 months. I wonder if there is an end to the beauty I see. Sometimes we are blind to where we are from. I am seeing places she has never seen in her 28 years here. I feel fortunate to have tourist eyes.

Beach Time Baby!

The main reason I wanted to stay at a different hostel location was for the beach! I have no regrets, today was an amazing beach day. Overcast, not crowded, shade found under a tree- perfect! I was out for about 3 hours. Then I realized I hadn’t eaten anything so I started googling restaurants nearby. (it was now 2:30 pm) I found one called On the Rock Restaurant, and when I google mapped it, there wasn’t a road leading to it, so that intrigued me.

I hopped on Tia (my new temporary name to encourage her to move) and we set out to find it. After parking, it was a hike through a private resort’s jungle paths only to end up at the edge of the rocks overlooking Karon beach. I had to stay for bit eh?

Just a note, because its so me: When I was leaving my scooter wasn’t starting, and I was like…..well…..alright….what to do. Then a security guard came out for what I thought was to reprimand me but instead he showed me how I was starting her wrong. He kept starting her and stopping her until I understood Was awesome!!! (now if he could just be there when I go up hills :))