It’s funny how different things can be from what you expect. After arriving in Thailand and going to one or two establishments while waiting for the dormitory check-in time to come cross, I was riddled with worries and expectations of what it might be. I was worried that I would enter this room and feel claustrophobic or that due to the heat I might not be able to sleep or due to knowing there was another 11 people in the room with me would my snoring which I still don’t believe is a thing but multiple people have informed me is a thing would bother the rest of the people but honestly I slept like a baby and to my knowledge no body complained.
MaTong Hosted & MT Gallery New Friends Phuket Old Town Hostel is brilliant for what you pay for and a nice way to start this journey. Experiencing this first was really something I needed because it gives me more courage to potentially continue after the fitness camp and travel to different regions knowing that all I really need is a bed that night to be comfortable.
However there is one issue that has followed me straight from Ireland and that is my cheapness. For example MaTong Hosted & MT Gallery New Friends Phuket Old Town Hostel because I booked it a week early was 1,673.03 Thai Baht aka 43 Euro for the five days if I was to book just tonight it would be 1,299 Thai Baht aka 36 Euro just for the one night. Now to be fair you’d expect that but due to that the spontaneity I was thinking of having later in my journey may change to a slightly more organised thing.
Additionally the currency is the other thing it’s hard to get used too. If you purchase anything it almost always goes into the 100’s of Thai Baht I walked from the centre of Phuket Town out to a spectacular view point called Khao Rang. The walk took me 1 hour 33 minutes. Thankfully I had plenty of water sunscreen and charging to allow me to listen to music and enjoy the serenity of the walk however, why did I walk it and not just get a taxi? Initially it was because I was stubborn and wanted the steps but on the way back down it was because the Taxi was 600 Thai Baht. Due to my Euro brain that seemed like too much money and for the sharp or impatient of you, you either went and converted it or looked immediately for this number hence the waffle preceding it because I work for my joke and will make you read it of 17 euro.
Anyways enough of my cheapness. The Khao Rang lookout was a spectacular viewing. Seeing some locates make there way up to the statues and pray while pressing there forehead against the supposed gold statue made me almost wish I had that level of spirituality it gave me a genuine smile I haven’t had in some time. Additionally they translated some of the prayers into English for the tourist and that was fascinating to me as well.
One worry I had and still continue to have in almost everything I do to be over here as well is that often for the likes of these area they wish for you to take your shoes off and as one person said connect with the earth. It is far more prevalent here than I expected and will attempt as best I can to ensure I follow the culture as much as I can
After this you can continue to walk further up until you get to the viewpoint itself and well I’ll let this say it for me
It funny because after this I took some time at the restaurant beside the viewpoint and wrote https://craicattackcentral.com/2025/01/21/🥊-craic-attacks-the-third-raw-of-the-netflix-era-21-1-25-🔥/ because why not plug my own stuff. Where a number of interesting things took place. I noticed inflation due to location where a can of Coke Zero was 100 Thai Baht instead of the 30 Thai Baht is was everywhere else. I noticed a snake go through the restaurant out onto the balcony where I was typing and scare almost everyone in the best restaurant but especially two tourists who almost jumped off the balcony and they cutest thing since I left Ireland Monkeys eating stuff that they robbed from the locals/tourists
From here I debated the idea of a taxi but decided screw that lets walk the 2 hours it will take to the next spot someone recommended to me. The Upside Down House Museum and Fun Attractions Phuket. This was where I decided screw my cheapest I’ll use the taxi services from now on. However I must admit the 2 hour journey took me 2 hour 30 minutes but they were relaxing and tranquil. It gave me time for pause and allowed to contact a few people from Ireland and that made me feel better still. I know I don’t have home sickness but it was a pleasure being able to talk to some people. I have been attempting to talk to the locals but that hasn’t been as much as I would like so the conversations were a joy.
The The Upside Down House Museum and Fun Attractions Phuket was another example of where the concept of the money difference hit me. I wasn’t aware of the price to view it before arriving and when the cashier stated to me that it was 650 Thai Baht I was willing to leave only realizing then that was 18 euro roughly. So I went in and enjoyed the novelty
They gave you the option to have someone take the photos in positions that would look like you happened to be holding up or falling out of the upside down set piece and I was tempted to get a few more of them but the individual who took the photo almost dropped my mobile and thusly I decided to leave it and just enjoy the scenes.
Afterwards a lovely staff member who had great English came and forced me into a cooled room saying “Stop being an arrogant tourist, get in the cold as much as possible” and I almost feel out of my shoes with laughter if I’m honest. She also recommended as I was on my own to use the motorcycle taxi service 1/3 the price and just as effective so I did. Being on the back of that motorcycle made me feel sorry for every single car drive in Thailand. Every single Motorbike driver was swaying back and forth in around the other drivers trying to make it ahead you’d need to have your head on a swivel. It made me thankful for the driving conditions in Ireland to an extend. There are still a lot of bad Irish drivers would love to see them do 24 hours here.
I enjoyed my first full day here in Phuket. I might need to move out the town soon to experience thing but tomorrow might just be a relax day where if I see something I do and if I don’t well enough too need to be careful not to burn the fuse too much. Either way there will be a new post tomorrow.
Until next time, my friends! Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!
