Phuket isn't a swear word after all

The same scheme continues, the places I have been most suspicous of I have liked the most. No, I'm not at Patong, I ended up in Phuket town as my flight to Borneo leaves from here and I was getting a bored at Yao Noi especially in the evenings. Even my first impression of the town was positive, lively but not too crowded streets, old chinese style houses, lots of small unique cafes and bars and just a few tourist who are here for a day trip. This place has nothing to do with the picture I had of Phuket. This place is awesome!

I got a room on the roof of an old chinese building (photo) paying peanuts for a huge room with A/C & warm water & free wifi. Just next to my hotel is a bar which turned into my new local/stammkneipe/kantabaari. I love sitting in there listening oldies & watching life go by. They even had a table made out of an old singer sewing machine. I might just reserve until I have to leave to the airport.

On Wednesday I made a trip to a waterfall (if you can call it a waterfall...) about 20 km from Phuket town. There is also a Gibbon rescue center, where monkeys who used to be kept as pets and tourist attractions are trained to be independent again and with luck they can be released back to the nature. Really people, if you see a gibbon being held captive and tourist can f.ex take pictures with it, please let these people know!

From the waterfall was a path through the last remained jungle area in Phuket to another waterfall. A guy in the gibbon center told me it's a 3 hour hike and I should be aware of snakes and an aggressive male gibbon, who has already bitten 5 people. According to him it would be better to do it starting in the other waterfall where I can take a guide with me. No way I was thinking and just started walking. After a while I met a really nice french couple who I joined for the rest of the hike. Luckily, as Jeremy scared away 2 snakes. At the end it was only 1,5 hours hike. I didn't run but I've always thought walking slowly is for old people.

There was nothing wrong with the path!!!

Afterwards I had some beers with Jeremy & Pam (I was being social!!!) and then headed back to home for a few more in the local.

On Thursday I wanted to see some more monkeys! I heard that there should be some on a hill nearby and I started walking there. Reading a map is overrated so I ended up in a local prison. I was a bit wondering what's the deal with all the barb wire and why everybody is looking at me weirdly. Then two officers came to me and kindly told me that there are no monkeys, this is a prison. Okay... Fast turn and through the gate back to freedom. I found the right way to the hill and after a few minutes a car pulled to the side and a nice man offered me a ride. He was wondering if I was a bit mad coz I was walking. There are a few tv-stations in the top of the hill and he was working for one of them. So sure, there's AC in the car!

I finally found the monkeys when I was walking down. I also found a swedish man who was driving around with a moped. He used to be a photojournalist and was now living retired in Vietnam. Funny how interesting people you can meet when you least expect it. In the evening Hanna came to town with a few friends from Tampere and we had a few beers. I think I had one too many and considering I had only ate one springroll the whole day I'm now feeling a bit weak. Or maybe that's the punishment for being ridiculously social on one day.

Despite the hang over I did walk to another hill this morning and almost died on the way up. This is my last day in Thailand and I'll spend it by eating, not drinking. Though it's not so easy when a pink weirdo is staring looking at you. No more beers for me thank you very much. Tomorrow the journey continues to Borneo! Excited!!!