November 2nd -16th, 2008. After leaving Cambodia, Sara and I traveled to Phuket. We stayed at the Marriot Resort (HUGE shoutout to Kim and Ian for such a great wedding present!) for two weeks, and I finally had a chance to relax. I was able to buckle down and catch up on some work, as well as get rid of a persistent cough that was becoming a nuisance.

Rather than keeping a daily (or almost daily) log for our two weeks in Phuket (which were mostly filled with work), I’m just going to give you the highlights.

jason-mai-khao-beach

When we first arrived in Phuket, weary from a full day of travel (we flew from Cambodia to Bangkok, then Bangkok to Phuket, with a healthy layover in between), we had an odd experience. When our taxi pulled up to the Marriot resort, a security guard checked the trunk before letting us thru the gate. At the time, I wondered if they were checking for someone in the trunk. It wasn’t until another taxi driver made a joke – he said “BOOM!” when the security guard checked his car – that I realized what was happening. They were checking for bombs – yikes. I started a lot of checkpoints for bombs in the area, and I even found a news story about a bombing in the very south of Thailand while we were visiting. Not a good feeling.

We stayed at a tremendous resort in a two bedroom apartment. We had a kitchen, a laundry room (YEA!), our own private balcony, and plenty of room to spread out. We stocked up on food at the grocery store, and for the first time in nearly a month, I had some scrambled eggs that weren’t grossly under-cooked. In China (and in Bangkok), the style for scrambled eggs is runnnny. Making my own breakfast (bacon, eggs, cheese, and toast) the way I like it was one of the most comforting experiences in Phuket. Sara really appreciated the free Yoga classes, the beach, the cheap massages, and the three different swimming pools. The Marriott Phuket Resort is definitely top-notch.

For the first (and likely last) time in my life, I enjoyed a “house call.” The doctor came to my room, sat down on the floor, got out his stethoscope, and listened to me cough. Meanwhile, the two nurses that accompanied him feverishly took notes, filled out prescription forms, administered drugs, and completed other various paperwork. For $150 (US), the doctor made me feel like a “somebody.” Even more, I really respected these people for being medical professionals that didn’t make you feel like a schmuck. Unlike a visit to a US Doctor – who makes you wait, doesn’t always give you time to ask questions, and generally makes you feel rushed – this Thai doctor was a “regular guy.” I can understand now why many US citizens retire in Thailand – the doctors here are much nicer (not to mention less expensive).

More highlights are on the way…