Arrived in Phuket & Contrasts

A guard statue at Bangkok Airport

Thailand! It's 9:30 a.m. in Nai Yang town, and I'm sitting outside our little room at the Airport Bed & Breakfast, breathing in the moist air in the 80-ishF heat. I think it's about the same temperature as last night when we flew in from Bangkok at 9 pm last night. When we left the air conditioned sanctum of the airport, my glasses fogged up immediately in the humidity.

It's not unpleasant, breathing in this moist, rich air. At our little B&B right now, we're a ways out from the main area, and the area is filled with trees and lush greenery. It's a bit like breathing in the air in a cool-ish greenhouse, and the scents of the plants are lovely. Japan doesn't have enough greenery for me.

Last night after landing at Phuket International Airport, we strapped on our bags and started walking the 2 km (it was about a 20 minute walk) to the B&B. It is always a shock when you transition between countries, especially two countries as different as Japan and Thailand.

A giant statue at Bangkok Airport

Japan is an impeccable country - rarely do you find any uneven sidewalks, dog turds, unlit areas, or lack of pedestrian crossing areas. By contrast, the minute we left the Phuket airport, we were traversing around large holes in the sidewalk (or even crevasses), smoggy traffic, and lounging taxi drivers. Our walk to the B&B took us down increasingly dark roads, until we were wishing we knew where our headlamps were buried in our bags.

It's different. Not bad, just different.

It was also a pleasant difference from Japan to be surrounded by foreigners. The minute we entered Bangkok airport, we were no longer a minority. Foreigners of every type and description filled the teeming airport. There were even some very interesting groups of women and men from a middle eastern country - I have no idea which one. The men were all dressed in a traditional trouser and tunic garb, and the women were head-to-toe in black burkhas. Very mysterious.

The door to our little bungalow room at Airport B&B

I think the number of identifiable foreigners (including ourselves) that we saw while in Japan would be under 15. We had a great time in Japan, but after a while, I get tired of standing out. It is also very strange to be here in Thailand and to use English to get around as well - my Japanese improved immensely during the past two weeks.

Today we will catch the bus up to Khao Lak, a beach town further north, and the jumping off point for many liveaboard diving trips to the Similan Islands. I am so excited to have our first Thai meal today! Spicy food, here we come.

Airport B&B

The entry area at Airport B&B

Veranda of Airport B&B