Thursday 17 December 2015 to Wednesday 24 December 2015
We move to another hotel and location on 17 December – Khao Lak in a very prestigious upmarket hotel – so much so that we have a small private plunge pool for our own use.
Most of our days here are spent on sun loungers which are essentially in the main pool. If there are other people in the hotel we may only see them at dinner. None of them seem to want to use the pool.
There are sunloungers on the front and it is easy enough to descend steps from them into the sea. The sunloungers are on top of a sea wall which was constructed after the tsunami as that caused immense damage in this area and everything along the front has been reconstructed since that event.
The “apartment” is split level with a sitting area downstairs and a bedroom upstairs with an adjacent bathroom with both a shower and a double sized bath. All with glass doors so that you can see into the toilet – I am not sure I like that!
During the week Jackie is less than well – she thinks her stomach disorder is probably food poisoning – may be the buffet dinner on the theatre show – and is sufficiently bad that we send for a doctor.
The doctor arrives with an assistant, about three bags and a drip stand – which cheers her up as she knows she is not that ill. She does effectively spend a couple of says in bed and this does reduce the amount of browning time available – but she is in a bad state.
The day before departure we ask if we can have a late book out but we are told this is not possible. I also report that I have broken the steps into the plunge pool (it came away in my hand and I could have fallen). Anyway they know they have to repair it so we get another upgrade – I should have broken it sooner.
We eat in every evening bar one when we walk into the market as I need a new bum bag. Once secured we eat at an Italian. None of the places look special – very much thrown up after the tsunami so nothing special. The food in our own hotel is actually good and possibly the best locally, so why eat elsewhere. We have eaten most of the menu by the end of the week. And we have some great lobster on one evening.
The upgrade apartment is larger with three levels – two at the front as before but a much larger bathroom on the intermediate level.
Eventually our week here comes to an end and a taxi whisks back far too quickly to the airport. Here we are guided through immigration to the waiting lounge and before too long we are on our way to Abu Dhabi.
A few hours in the lounge in Abu Dhabi in the middle of the night is less than fun – it is busy and noisy and our body clocks do not feel like eating. A DumTeeDum podcast arrives via wifi!
Our final leg is our first on a Dreamliner – definitely more room, the berth is longer than on the 777 – and we both get some more sleep. Finally we arrive at Heathrow on Christmas Day. An absolute bevy of waiting drivers to take the travellers home and from plane to our front door is an absolute record – one that will never be equalled. And Jackie is going to cook a turkey!
