Phuket

Got a text off Dad earlier. Think we've sorted the communication blip now! I don't know who he was texting but it wasn't me !

They are now back in Phuket. A bit of a recap over the last couple of days. They cycled 100 kms to get to Nakhon Phanom which is just north of Bangkok. From there they eventually got a train at 4.30 pm (the first train not having room for bikes, the second being full of passengers) and arrived Surat Thani 2.00 am (local time) but unfortunately their bikes didn't!  The bikes should have been in the Guards Van. Dave remembers seeing them on the platform before they left but they both thought they'd been put on the train. I can imagine the panic of them being separated from their bikes. They had to hang around at the station and their bikes arrived on the next train at 5.00 am !  So quite a bit of the last couple of days has been spent hanging around railway stations - I wonder if they had a thermos and a notebook with them!

They got themselves a bus from Surat Thani back onto Phuket.  Will get more of an update once they get back on Skype.

An update on his lost mobile. Since it was lost at the start of the trip it's been getting switched on just on a Tuesday. Why Tuesday !!   I know this as I've been texting it regularly and I send delivery reports to the mobile and I get an alert when they are delivered. I've rang it each time it gets switched on! Once they hung up on me the other times it's already been turned off again.  Well this week as well as Tuesday it's been turned on today and I rang it and they answered!  Slight language issue and they eventually hung up on me!  Not sure if it's kids who have it.  I've text and asked it to be returned to the Paradise Mansion Hotel as this is where Dad and Dave will finish their trip as their bike boxes are stored there. I doubt it will get returned but I have fun texting things like "I'm watching you", "I know what you did last summer!" :)

Communication hiccup ...

Got a text off Dad yesterday to say he was out for his second Thai meal. He must have been in the restaurant when he was texting as he said "food has arrived".  I wonder what was on the menu.

During the day he'd been out on the bike and cycled north from Patong along what I assume was the coastal road as he had taken in three beaches. He'd then gone off to meet up with Dave at the airport before popping out for something to eat.

Well between eating out last night and this morning he's "lost" his mobile as I got a text off Dave to let me know. Not sure how yet ... whether he left it in the restaurant, dropped it on the way back or had it stolen. Will find out more later when Dave gets online. A bit of a hiccup but at least this trip we have other ways of communication!  Parents are a nightmare at times !

More later ...

Airport Run

Had a text off Dad this morning to say he was at Phuket airport waiting for Dave to arrive. I'd been tracking Dave's flight and shortly after it landed I got another text off Dad to say they were in the taxi back to the hotel.

We've now stepped up a gear communication-wise and Thailand has been calling Keele and we've been exchanging Skype conversations. Apparently Dad is slightly bemused by this new form of communication. Wait until we have a video call !  Thailand is +7 hours ahead of GMT so video calling may be difficult but I'm sure we will find a way!

Better watch what I write on here ... no doubt Dad and Dave will be checking on the blog!

Edited to say - just got this photo of Dad in the hotel room. Don't you just love technology.

Out on the bike

Got a text off Dad earlier to say he's had a day out on the bike. Had a breakfast stop and managed to get bacon, three eggs, toast, juice and coffee for £3.00.  He'll be doing a guide to the "best bacon butties in Thailand" next !

After breakfast he cycled into old Phuket Town. Only saw two other cyclists but he saw thousands of scooters some with three passengers on.

Room in hotel good. He's still at the Paradise Mansion. It's en-suite with TV, fridge and aircon ... which Dad said was most useful so it must be a tad on the warm side. Mind you after the last few weeks anywhere would be warmer than the UK.  Dave is en-route out to Dad and they should meet up early tomorrow evening.

Massages !

Well he's been in Phuket less than 24 hours and already he's been out and about. Got a text earlier to say he'd been out for a beer. Area is a bit seedy and he'd had many offers of a massage !  Perhaps he'd gone out in his cycling gear and they were offering him a sports massage!  He'll be glad of one of those massages when he's been on the bike a few weeks!

However he did say that hotel will store the bike boxes for his return so that's an added bonus.

I text him the cycling and football news.  He'll be happy with Hoy's gold and with the Stoke result.

He's made it !

Got a text off Dad at 5.30 am !  Only picked it up when I got up. He's made it safely to Phuket along with his bike!  He managed to break his reading glasses (probably in the coat of many pockets!) at Heathrow airport but picked up a pair in Boots for £17.50!  I can hear him now "how much!" as the ones he'd broke probably came from the Pound Shop!

He's staying at Paradise Mansion, Patong Beach. The blurb says ...  "Located at the quiet end of a bustling area off Rat-U-Thit Road".  Somehow with a Road name like that it no longer sounds like Paradise !  Patong is the main tourist area of Phuket which doesn't really sound like Dad's cup of tea! However he is only using this as a base while he waits for Dave to arrive. Hopefully they will also store Dad's bike box for the return journey.

I'd text him the cycling results from last night and he text back to ask how Stoke had gone on! They play today.

He's off again .... and this time it's Thailand

Well he's been talking about it for awhile but he's now booked his flights and Dad and his bike are off to Thailand in February and this trip he'll have some company as his pal Dave King is also going.

Dad is heading out a few days earlier than Dave and his first stop will be the island of Phuket - now be careful how you say that because in this instance the "Ph" is NOT pronounced as "F" !  No real plans yet other than bike, coast and pedal, so if anyone has "must see" tips on places to visit then let us know. Also any useful advice on things to take, places to stay, or any contact information for friends out that way would also be most welcome.

He's heading off on the 18th February, so watch this space for updates on his trip.