I was anxiously awaiting Zoe and Sedona’s arrival midnight on Friday night. Zoe texted informing that the immigration line was long but it was now pushing an hour and I think Mali was getting a little pissed waiting for us. Ends up their luggage was lost. Zoe’s they didn’t even have a read on, as if it was never scanned in. The girls filed the claim and exited without smiles as you can imagine.
This is the waiting area outside the international airport.
They learned the hard way to pack more than just snacks in their carry ons:)
Given that they didn’t have any face wash, we decided to test out the thanaka treatment that Mimi gave me.
Zoe was good at getting the paste going.
We slept with our new wood based face masks and we were all refreshed and ready to kick it in the am.
The next morning while the kiddos slept in, I went to the store and bought them a tee shirt, shorts and undies! They were now good to go and head out for their first day in Phuket!
Zoe and Sedona are in flight and will be here tonight!!! I cannot wait to jam them into my minimalism condo and show them all I love about Phuket. Avoiding the dishes and bed making that still needed to get done, I followed Virlane to this adorable cafe for lunch today.
I don’t think I will ever get used to the natural views and hidden landscapes in Phuket. If Virlane didn’t know about this restaurant, there is ZERO way I would have found it. These hidden gems are why my adventures never end.
Beautiful landscape, perfect weather, and great food at decent prices.
Modern interior.
OMG the caramel macchiato was the best.
My adorable friend. I am sad when I think about her leaving. I really gain so much strength from her!
Dinner with Min and Mimi is always a treat. I love that Mimi will shut down the Art C and take off like a rebel to meet up! I honestly don’t think in the 3+ years that she has been working there that she ever did that before I came. (heart emogi)
I wanted to treat these amazing women to dinner before the holidays and before I took off for a few months. I picked the restaurant this time, hoping to offer an experience more high end as a special occasion for them. Found out Min has been here 3 times before, but for Mimi and I it was our first time!
We tried to catch the sunset by meeting up at 6:30 but discovered we were a little late.
The view is incredible. Can see such a large part of Phuket from here.
The weather here has been simply perfect. Was such a great cool night.
Min was in charge of ordering. I tried green curry for the first time! I literally stuffed myself here and they both were making fun of me because they have never seen me eat so much. The bill was only 35$. Amazing. Not sure if I got special pricing because I was with locals.
Love this shot of Mimi by the entryway.
We were being silly and I was so happy Mimi was enjoying the experience. She kept taking photos throughout the restaurant.
Mimi taught me about Burmese Thanaka. This is a powder that the Myanmar people put on their faces. You see a lot of people in Phuket wearing it. It seems strange to me. So I wanted to know more about it.
It’s a beauty secret made from a log of a tree. The older the tree the better. She was saying in Myanmar the trees are 35 years old before you use it, but in Thailand the trees are younger and so the effect is not as good.
I asked her if she could get some for me to try. She did. I am going to try it out with my daughters when they come tomorrow!! It’s such an authentic natural cultural skin care treatment. I feel so lucky to have friends that are teaching me new things. Mimi said she stopped wearing Thanaka powder when she was 15 years old because she started to think it looked silly, but admitted she still puts it on every evening and sleeps with it as a beauty treatment still.
Min was concerned about the road I took coming to Rang Hill where this restaurant was located so we followed each other out a different way where there were more street lights. It was hilarious because Min was driving her daughter’s scooter and Mimi was driving her cousin’s. So we all looked like kids driving away together. Tia is so small compared to the more modern scooters, and Mimi’s cousin’s bike looked like a boy’s hot rod. 🙂
I was in Patong for a hair appointment, (gotta cover up those greys) and my gut was pulling me to visit a restaurant afterwards that had been mentioned to me several times before. I had missed out on this restaurant’s artistic helmet fashion show held about a month ago due to rain. I knew it was close to Patong, so I decided to check it out now that I was beautified.
Home Kitchen was FABULOUS. I can’t believe there’s not a bigger sign out front. I would have easily missed it and would never have found this place had the name not been given to me to google map beforehand. Adding it to the bucket list to show to the girls when they come next week!
A few of the helmet designs that were on display on the upper level of the restaurant. Very clever.
A Frida Kahlo inspired helmet.
Punk shells look. This must have taken a lot of time with a hot glue gun!
Love the creativity of this with the mold of the face in the the dripping blood effect.
A very artistic eclectic space with lots of color!
I wish my home looked like this! This is instant joy to me.
I sat here at a mosaic table with a view of the street action, surfers and sunset.
Selfie shot.
This mojito was too good! On the top was molded ice with brown sugar and a lime. As you sipped it down, it eventually melted and fell into the drink which cleverly kept it chilled a bit longer.
I know you are probably tired of me saying that I just ‘happened’ to stumble across places, but I swear it happens to me all the time. Today I picked Tia up from the shop and took a wrong turn. Was getting impatient weaving in and out of cars and ended up having to turn when I really needed to go straight. I knew the general direction I needed to be going, so I decided to wing it.
This doesn’t always turn out well for me. Remember the jungle paths? and hills I can’t make it up? This time, I ended up spotting a view from the road that caused me to stop, discovering a very beautiful temple. I had to later look up its name based on the location.
This was the view I spotted from the road and since I still had time before my next student , I decided to turn in for a closer look.
Notice all the red soda pops!
This staircase was daring me to climb it.
Trying to snap a shot to show how big these statues actually are!
These statues looked like angels of death with skulls around their necks and on the staff one is holding.
I’m not sure the meaning of the small animals around the base. Interesting nonetheless.
View on the steep climb to the top.
A smaller collection of gold buddhas.
I walked around the top level which had this shrine surrounded by ornate railings
Demons holding up …..a baby monk?
I couldn’t resist this view looking down the staircase I conquered.
As I walked around barefoot, I saw the doors were opened so I stepped inside. It was beautifully moving. I felt completely peace filled when I was inside. Artwork surrounded you.
There was an encased buddha all lit up. I took a closer look to try to figure out what it was made of. It looked like mini pearls or stones of some sort. Very intricate. Must be of some value.
Trying to capture perspective.
Two walls were painted with detailed storytelling imagery.
Showing the giant golden buddha in the distance. All the shutters were ornately sculpted and painted.
Walking out there was artwork of what I believe may be the history of the kingdom.
The artwork alone was eye catching but mixed with the views, truly breathtaking.
Couldn’t resist snapping a photo of this blue guy. He was just standing there begging to be appreciated.
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
I have to say, it is an amazing convenience having a new cafe open in my condo!
I saw a poster in the elevator saying this was opening up December 1. I managed to check it out this afternoon.
Right by the pool. Offering ice cream, coffee, snacks and sandwiches! Going to give Food Panda a run for their money. Prices lower than the gas station coffee. Sweeet!
I started my Sunday off with the amusing expat crew weekly brunch. They always entertain me with all their stories and adventures. I feel extremely “midwest” around this worldly group. After brunch I usually take the opportunity to hit a nearby beach. James and Jeanette recommended Paul’s, in their British accents, sounded like Pool’s. I googled mapped my way to this part of Laguna and was not disappointed. So quiet.
Spent a lot of time admiring the clouds.
Water was beautifully calm and clouds heavy and low.
This is one of the longest beaches and is connected with Bang Tao and Layan Beach.
As I was swimming I noticed a storm quickly approaching, so I had to take off earlier than I wanted. But so happy I did as I was able to avoid all the rain and even took the scenic route home. (Virlane showed me the other day so I wanted to test my memory)
Stopped into Wat Choeng Thale Temple.
Every temple is always uniquely detailed.
Going through a local village this was a surprise to find.
I decided to check out the Mining Museum on the drive home. It was closed. Not sure I would have been that entertained by it anyways with my limited interest in mining.
A lot of equipment out front.
No clue what I am looking at. I was more interested in the locals that were digging through, or dumping in the dumpster on the property. I was wondering what bodies may be discovered there 🙂
Bridge at the museum’s entryway.
At Thanksgiving dinner, I was teased that I never saw the Big Cock in Kathu and have lived there now for months. I said maybe compared to the cocks I have seen, it just may not have caught my eye 🙂 But I was determined to find it…..so I decided to google it on my way home. Was quite a day and quite a large cock!
He sits outside a restaurant called the Big Chicken.
The banks at the malls are always open late so I headed there after lunch to get my rent paid on time. I google mapped my way there from the We Cafe and was taken down some new roads. I was happy as can be, a pig in mud. I wasn’t sure how to get to the parking lot from where I was now entering so in true expat style I simply followed another scooter hoping she knew what she was doing. I ended up in a massive scooter underground parking garage. I followed other scooter riders to the elevators and wha-la—–I ended up in a totally different section of Central Mall.
Christmas was showing up in small ways. This was a Louis Vuitton tree display.
I saw an escalator going down to what looked like a grocery store so I followed to discover an awesome food hall. They had a booth called “mango mania” and I thought about Traci.
They had a fake floating market which was clever.
Good crotch shot eh? This statue is huge!
This gorgeous woman was playing an instrument which I had never seen before but the sound was so authentic and sweet. It was amplified throughout the hall.
Above the musician at the entrance were these elaborate bells and gold leaves.
Sometimes just the little discoveries in a place you have been so many times, is all it takes to jump start your senses. I think because I travel “blindly- meaning I really don’t research areas fully and prefer to just wander sometimes and discover as I go, this happens a lot to me. I am not thorough. But I enjoy the treasures uncovered along the way and will continue to share for those that continue to read.
Saturday afternoon I headed out a bit early to stop by the bank before it closed to pay my rent. Unfortunately the branch I went to was not open on Saturday. I was planning to meet Virlane afterwards at our salad joint, but now I am 1/2 an hour early. What’s a girl and her scooter to do on a beautiful afternoon for this short bit of time?
I decided to google map my way to Rang Hill since I knew it was close by but wasn’t sure how to get there. The last time I was there was in April, and I honestly was not familiar with any areas in Phuket at that time and simply relied on Tiff to advise me when to turn based on her cell instructions. But now I knew enough to ignore the annoying voice on the directions when it kept saying- go southwest…..take a left and then a right…..do a u turn in 300 meters. My instincts said to just keep going. So Tia and I did just that.
We kept driving up the road past the We Cafe. As I was driving I passed another spirit temple graveyard. There were also beautiful houses up on the hill and as I continued climbing, I dreamed about what life would be like to afford that standard of living. I was enjoying the shade of the jungle and
was curious to see where this road would end.
Spirit temple graveyard along the road.
To my delight, it ended perfectly at Rang Hill.
Beautiful gazebo. No one in sight but a few locals sitting in the shade.
I am starting to appreciate the year round blooms here. No grey and gloom. Constant color.
Once I walked under the gazebo, this is what my view was. Could see for miles.
Walking back it was still vacant. I was wondering when the official high season was going to begin and start unloading the tour buses.
Some of the views.
There are so many viewpoints in Phuket. I have yet to see them all.
This tree caught my eye with the beans hanging down from it.
Viewpoint selfie. Trying to hold my hair out of my face.
I took a photo of this swing upon arriving because I loved the tree it was hung upon.
On my way out I caught this adoring couple getting their wedding photos taken. Young love is so innocent and full of fairytale excitement of a future together.
Not sure who this is, Mr. Rang maybe?
Continually being reminded to follow my instincts as I freely explore with Tia. *She goes into the shop Monday to have her brakes and starter looked over. I know her days are numbered and I feel guilty glancing toward other scooters in curiosity of costs. She has served me well, but there’s a point where I may be pushing her too far. (She’s not sounding great lately and has me a tad concerned)
When taking time today to consider all that I am thankful for, one thing that comes to mind is when my sister Tiffani stepped up and came to Thailand with me when my friend had to cancel. Her decision to accompany me during my first couple weeks in Phuket was life changing.
She remained calm on the back of the scooter in the middle of traffic when I barely had control. She encouraged me to continue exploring. And she never shared a doubt that I was in the right place for me.
She jump started this adventure of mine, and I will never forget how impactful that was. I am sure she has a fun memories from the trip too, but not the life changing input she so gracefully gave to me. Thank you Tiff.
Our memories from Promthep Cape, which was a huge mega bus tourist attraction but beautiful nonetheless. It’s the best place on the island to catch the sunset. People were lined up all along the edge of the peninsula to watch the simplistic natural wonder.
Poser Tiff 🙂
We arrived early and were able to sit and eat while the sun slowly settled.
This was at the end of a long day of scooter adventures and beach stops.
Have to appreciate the color combination of this one!
Tonya Takes Thailand 