10 June 2020

So, 2020 was not only an iconic year for the COVID-19 pandemic but also the year I turned 40. They say life begins at 40 and I couldn’t agree more. I am part of a tight knit group of friends and we all have our birthdays close together and we were all turning 40… We decided to go as a group of friends and to visit Thailand… oh what an adventure it was! We wanted to do all the activities that you can’t do with small children and that’s exactly what we did. Our adventure started on the 18th September 2019. We flew with Emirates and our transit in Dubai was no longer than 2 hours. We stayed at the lovely and ever so popular 4 Star Seaview Patong Hotel in a double Deluxe Room with our own terrace and mini bar inside the room. Aircons are a must! I am almost certain that winter does not exist in Thailand. It was the perfect location on the beach, but we wanted to stay there for the use of 2 big pools as well as the SPA and the central location as we didn’t want to drive anywhere. The spa was amazing, and we opted for the ever so popular Traditional Thai Massage. The wonderful thing about Patong is that you are really spoilt for choice between beach bars, cafés and restaurants. However, if you want to use the toilet at any of the local public beach bar’s café’s, please note that they will charge you 5Baht and they hand you your small piece of toilet paper. Moral of the story… pack lots of tissues and make sure that you always carry some small change in your pocket. When in Thailand they are well known for making quality suits. My recommendation is that you order your tailor-made suit on your first or 2nd day on arrival so that there is enough time for it to be ready before you leave... Yes, it’s hot but all the tailor shops have aircon. Some items are cheaper to buy in Thailand like tailor-made suits, gemstones, food in general except for fast foods like Burger King. Drinks are not cheaper. At the street stalls selling local fruits you choose whichever fresh fruits or combo’s they offer, and they will make your smoothie right then and there. It is delicious and wholesome. One of our dinner highlights in Patong was a visit to the Coconut Heaven Restaurant. It is not within walking distance from the Seaview Hotel. We had the best personal guide and driver that you could ask for. We enjoyed the best cocktails and local cuisine. We ordered a variety of food options for the table which we all shared. It was so good and tasty. We enjoyed dinner each night at a different restaurant every night. Of course, a visit to Thailand would not be the same without a visit to the ever-popular Bangla road. You need to experience it at least once but beware once you are in… it’s hard to get out. On another evening, we visited a local market that was located right across the road from the ever so vibey and popular Hard Rock Café. I would recommend that you try the street food as it is so fresh and delicious. Not all the stalls offer the same quality, so it is worth taking a proper look around before you make your purchase. We had our “vintage” T-shirts made prior to our trip. On a special day we went to visit the Elephants to feed them. Our guide, Mr. Nok’s knowledge of the local places to visit was astounding. We tried to steer away from the ‘crowd’s even though we were there in low season which was wonderful. We visited an Elephant sanctuary on the way to the Temple at the top of the mountain. It wasn’t too expensive, and the Elephants weren’t abused/beaten or weary. They ate a bunch of bananas in just one bite…including with the skin on them. It was very interesting, and there is also a photo opportunity, that you do have to pay for, but it’s all in support of these magnificent creatures. Our next stop on this gorgeous day was Ra Wai Beach. Here you will find the freshest seafood. It is not glamorous at all, but then again, no fresh food market is ever right? You’ll need transport to get there, as it’s located high up the mountain. I wouldn’t suggest walking there. On the one side of the road you can choose your produce, anything from Lobster, Snapper, Prawns in all sizes… and it is fresh. Then you pay for your seafood and walk across the road to the restaurant to Mook Manee where they cook it for you. You can choose, grilled or fried with your spices etc. It was amazing and I would recommend a visit to this market. The next day, our guide Mr. Nok organized our trip to James Bond Island. It was an early start to the day as the transfer from Patong to the Pier was about an1,5 hour’s drive. You then take one of those lovely boats and you can go and explore the island. On the way back from James Bond Island we stopped at a local village with restaurants serving traditional Thai food and we also visited the one school which was on the water. It was quite surreal watching them play soccer and every time they dive in the water to get their ball back. We stayed in Patong for 4 nights, but I would stay longer at Phi-Phi Island. We took a local ferry from Phuket the Rassada Pier to Phi-Phi Island. It took about 4 hours from leaving the hotel, to arriving at the pier with our luggage, to getting on the Ferry, and arriving at our hotel on Phi-Phi Island. All I can say is trust the system, it works. In Phi-Phi we stayed at the lovely 3 Star Paradise Beach Resort. It was just that, Paradise! We chose this hotel as we wanted hot water, air-con, being located on the beach that offered a beach restaurant or bar. Imagine this… soft white sand, a hammock in a huge tree providing lovely shade with a sea-view of the most turquoise water, peace and quiet…. that’s where we stayed. The breakfast was also included, and they served a hot buffet breakfast daily. They had a lovely spa which was a bonus and all the rooms had air con. I could have easily stayed there another 3 to 4 nights but sadly we had only booked for 3 nights. We did go to the local market to have dinner, but we just didn’t want to leave our gorgeous hotel. As you walk along the beach all these resorts are next to one another. They all looked inviting offering Spa’s with beautiful accommodation, where we stayed was perfect for what we wanted. I’m already dreaming about our next trip perhaps for our 50th birthdays and for this trip we might opt for a little more ‘upmarket’ who knows? If you too would like to venture to Thailand, please get in touch with me…

11 April 2018

I was privileged enough to go on the MSC Sinfonia Cruise for our annual conference in March '18. Wow, I was pleasantly surprised as to how much fun it was. We sailed from Durban Port to the Portuguese Island return. This is a 3-night cruise. There really was something for everyone, couples, families and singles alike. There are even a few weddings that take place onboard the cruise and is also great for incentive groups and conferences. I really enjoyed all the variety of the restaurants and the endless choices for meals. Whether it be a quick pizza, or the daily sit-down evening dinner. It was certainly delicious, and we were spoilt for choice. We had the best weather when we got off the boat to go to the Portuguese islands. As the cruise I did was part of our conference we all got to participate in the Survivor challenge on the Island which was all about teamwork and camaraderie. We later got to relax at the PillaBeach with a beach chair, umbrella and private bar. The warm water is so nice to swim in and crystal clear that you can see the sand beneath you and even the fish swimming past. Back on the boat, the cabin was surprisingly spacious and the beds super comfy. The ship also provides loads of entertainment from evening shows, to quiz nights to bands playing in the various bars and even onboard the deck. There is even a gym, a casino and a kid’s club. I can certainly recommend this cruise for anyone considering to cruise even if you are prone to sea sickness. I'm extremely prone but I took my tablets every 6-8 hours as instructed, and I never once felt any discomfort. I am now looking forward to my next cruise, maybe the next one will be a Mediterranean you never know... If you would like me to help you plan a cruise for your next holiday, then please give me a shout.