Phuket.... WE'LL DO IT LIVE

After we left Phi Phi we headed back to Phuket on the 9 am ferry. There were later ones but I knew we had an actual full service hotel on the other end of that ride, so I woke up early (which you know I hate) packed up, and booked it to make that boat. Once we got back to Phuket and arrived at our incredible hotel, we grabbed our suits and hung out by the pool. All. Day. Long. I didn't hear the words 'jack daniels bucket,' or a woo girl scream once. It was pure bliss.

Once we sat down and started to unpack, I realized, very quickly, that my hand felt a little weird. And as soon as I looked down, I recalled the beautiful ring, that we bartered for in the Dubai gold souk for over an hour, was safely resting on the bed side table IN PHI PHI. I called the hotel (I'm being generous with that word) where there were zero English speaking receptionists, and tried to explain the situation. (I also realized I'm one of those people that just gets louder the more you don't understand me, until I'm just screaming the words "gold ring" at a deafening volume for 5 minutes straight) After the third time, they hung up on me, so I typed our issue into google translate and then held the cell phone up to the room phone in our hotel (We're very crafty). They informed me they found the ring. They then told me that I would need to take the ferry back to the island to get it back. I really like this ring, but there was no way in hell I was going back there. I had JUST gotten the liquor smell out of my clothes! Therefore, I proceeded to email every tour company in town until I found a guide who agreed to go to the hotel and grab the ring for me.... in exchange for a small $50 fee. So see, you can get memories back, but they'll cost you.

Once the incident known in the Casey household as ring-mageddon had ended, we spent the next few days wandering the city and sitting by the water. But - don't you worry, we weren't totally lame. Two of our friends, who were married in June, were actually honeymooning just up the road from us. (Shout out to the new Mr. And Mrs. Yeates). Obviously Rob and I have been having a blast together, but up to this point, it was just us, together, having fun, all the time. (#alldayerryday) So the fact that we had other people to talk to, especially good friends, who had not spent every waking moment with us, was like Christmas morning. We went to an amazing dinner with them and then we all ventured to Bangla Road.

From what we were told, we expected something similar to Bourbon street. But oh man, this was much, MUCH more serious. Imagine if the big ass beer people from Nola were wearing sparkly undergarments and constantly attempting to sell you the most random things (i.e. Light up Minnie Mouse ears or bracelets that literally said " I Love Rape." What is that? Like in all seriousness, who is responsible for that great tagline? I was waiting for the one that said, "I love pushing down old ladies walking to church.") Also, understand that some of these salespeople were not so much girls in general (or at all). And not only do they assault you with menus of various performances that you do not understand nor have any desire to witness, competing Go-Go Girls will take you by the hand and drag you into their particular establishment which I can only describe as one of the most frightening "clubs" I've ever seen.  You will then be challenged by a bar girl (maybe..) to compete in connect four, loser buys drinks. 

Now, THAT my friends, is Bangla Road. 

We finally found an Aussie bar, literally called Aussie Bar, and sat together for the night whilst watching the chaos ensue around us. We also fit in a few games of connect four, among ourselves, because when in Phuket?! (Seriously though why is this a thing? Why not a more fun game? Like maybe chutes and ladders, or a scrabble situation?) But in all seriousness, this town deserves a gold medal for people watching. There were a few things I certainly wish I could unsee, but it's kind of like a train wreck. You just can't look away.

We were supposed to leave Phuket the next day, but we had a few issues with our Vietnam visas, i.e. we didn't get them, mainly because we didn't apply for them. (That was kind of our bad) And so a repeat of the night before it was. Phuket was an absolute blast, largely in part because we got to do it with some of our best friends, and largely in part because it is one of the most ridiculous places I've ever been. So here's to group honeymoons, (not attending) ping pong shows, connect four, and the puckering sound that will forever haunt my dreams.
 
Much Love,
(A collaborative effort by) The Caseys