October 21, 2006
7:15am Pick up truck takes us from hotel to ferry.
8:00am Ferry to Ko Phi Phi. Transfer to ferry to Phuket island.
9:30am Ferry transfer in middle of ocean. Our bags are passed over the rails, we are hurried onto the waiting second ferry. Odd, but very efficent.
11:00am Arrive in Phuket, take a pre paid van into town where we were planning on killing some time before our 4pm flight to Malaysia. The van couldn't find where we wanted to go and so they dropped us off on the street (Val cursing and protesting), we walk aimlessly with our heavy packs in 90 degree heat in search on somewhere to have lunch.
11:05am Tuk Tuk driver stalks us, asking where we'd like to go. We blow him off.
11:09am Same tuk tuk driver, still stalking us, says he'll take us where we want to go and the airport afterwards for an agreeable price. We get in.
11:15am Uncle Stalky stops as at some random restaurant. Then tells us we should just take a cab to the airport because 1) he can't wait for us to eat lunch 2) a cab is better 3) the cab has a/c 4) the cab will cost more.
11:16am We feel the last week's bliss bleeding out of our pores.
11:18am We decide to just eat and find a way to the airport.
12:07pm Find out that there is an airport shuttle (for a fraction of the cab price) that leaves in 23 minutes at the Bus Terminal and that we will miss it.
12:15 Find out that all cabs are in cahoots and do not like to bargain.
12:30 Worn down, we take a cab to the airport. Wait for 3.5 hours.
4:15pm Fly to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia
6:40pm (one hour time change) Arrive in KL, bags take forever to arrive. Meet Val's Dad and Jessie at airport. Happy to see familiar faces.
8:00pm Have great dinner at a hawker stand/rest stop at the side of the highway.
9:00pm Start the 2.5 hour drive to Ipoh where dad lives. Heavy heavy downpour most of the way.
11:30pm Arrive in Ipoh.
And just like that our fragile week of island yum was shattered by a gruelling 15 hour travel day.
