Phuket

For a small fee, I was taken to the Penang International Airport by the woman who owned the guesthouse where we were staying.  I had time at the airport for a coffee and a chat with several people flying to various destinations including a couple who were also heading to Phuket.   I always find it interesting to chat to travellers no matter what age or nationality (English speakers mostly).   I often offer to take photos of those trying to take selfies or group photos.  I think it’s nice to get all the group in a photo when possible.  I stopped to ask some Malay girls if they wanted me to take their photo. They didn’t speak very much English but I got the message through with hand gestures.  Once I had taken theirs, they also wanted one of me with them.  I always think this is rather strange, having a photo with a complete stranger unless of course they are in national costume, a celebrity, someone of stunning beauty, cute or weird … hmmmmm I don’t think I fitted into any of these categories!  Maybe they just wanted one of the person who’d taken their photo.

The plane was the cutest two prop I’ve seen for a long time.  My nephew Nat, who’s a plane fanatic, says it’s an ATR 72 built in France.  We all crammed on, Asian size leg room, the big Aussie bloke next to me nearly had to fold himself in two to fit.  It didn’t take us long to get airborne, we were soon flying over the island of Penang and then across Langkawi and other islands that dotted the coast heading north to Thailand.  I had an amazing view from the window under the left engine.

Landing was smooth which was fortunate as we were flying into a thunder storm as we touched down.  I had only hand luggage thanks to my friend Lucille, so I walked straight off, breezed through immigration and customs and out to wait for my dear friends, Anthony and Annette who I have known since my early days in Thailand.  I think I first met them at one of the conferences we had in 1992 and as they lived in Had Yai in the early days it was a great way to break my journey to and from Malaysia when I had to do a visa run.

We get along so well it’s such a blessing to have been able to stay with them again.  Since arriving we have done a variety of things every day.  On Monday we stopped to have a cappuccino before our grocery shopping, Tuesday Annette had an acupuncture appointment so Anthony we enjoyed a cappuccino while we waited, Wednesday we went into Phuket Central Plaza so I could change some money for my trip to India and stopped at a café and you guessed it for real cup of coffee of course.  It was something I really missed in Malaysia.  Aussies are real coffee snobs and I must admit I’ve become one. We are so spoilt in Oz with our quality of coffee and great baristas.

Here is a good article to prove why: Australian coffee is the best in the world.

While I visited, Annette who has a gift of hospitality, put on two amazing special dinners, one for a friend’s birthday and one for their Friday fellowship night.  She is an amazing cook dishing up not only wonderful meals but sourdough bread, cakes and slices which she serves up on a daily basis.  I have been piling on the weight especially as I haven’t been jogging or doing any cardio exercise since before my trip to Bangkok! I became chief bottle washer and also gave Annette a helping hand with some handy crafts as she prepares for a friend’s wedding.

The day before our trip to Had Yai where we stayed one night before crossing into Malaysia, Anthony was going through the things he needed at the border crossing.  He suddenly realised he needed his car papers translated from Thai to English for the Malaysian immigration.  Another challenge to face.  Fortunately there was a Department of Land and Transport (DLT) in Had Yai.  The DLT was the only official place where a translation could be done.

We headed out of Phuket into the torrential rains at 8:30am.  We had rain squalls all the way with periods of sunshine between.  On route we stopped for fuel and a coffee in a quaint café at 11am before Annette swapped with Anthony to drive.  We arrived in Had Yai at 3pm and went straight to the hotel were we booked in before heading out to change some money and buy a few things we needed.  We also hunted for the DLT.  Anthony had looked up the address where the papers might be translated but after circling the block and asking the locals we were unable to locate it.  Next stop, dinner.

I was taken to Ome Bake House which was opened by a Thai woman who studies in Melb.  She learnt how to make pastries, cakes and cheese cakes from her homestay mother.  Her boutique coffee shop had cakes, biscuits and Thai food on offer.

That night we all tried to get to bed early but both Annette and I tossed and turned all night even after I’d taken something to help me sleep!  The dawn didn’t come soon enough.  Up showered and ready for the day Anthony set off to a new closer location for the DLT which a co-worker had found for him. He was back with good news it would take them an hour to process so we packed the car and picked up the papers before heading south to the border.

Praise the Lord no further difficulties, only time to fill out the car insurance for Malaysia which seemed to take hours.  During this time we had some lunch and I was fortunate to be able to use my Thai SIM to call home and chatted to mum.  Unfortunately all these delays set us back some hours and we didn’t arrive in Butterworth till 4pm which was just ½ late for my bus.  The next one was at 6pm.  I also realised I had left some things in the back of the car so I rushed to the ferry but was unable to access the car waiting area so had no idea if they had arrived or not.  I returned to the bus station and waited in the air conditioned ticket booking area till the bus arrived.  When it did I was shocked at it age and battered appearance.  I was hoping it would get me safely to Ayer Tawer within the designated time of 2 ½ hours.  I was wrong again!  Although I was grateful we changed busses at Ipoh to a very comfortable modern bus it was already 8:30 which was the time I was supposed to be in Ayer Tawer.

An elderly Malay man befriended me to practice his English.  He told me he had 23 children and 17 grandchildren and I’m sure he wasn’t much older than mid 60’!  He was very chatty and later tried to persuade the bus driver to drop me at the end of Dr Wong’s drive way.  Unfortunately the driver had other ideas and would only drop me in the town at the designated stop.  I then walked about one and a half kilometres back towards the house when I met another Malay, Mahabet Abdulla, who also wanted to chat.  He asked if he could help me.  At first I said no but later accepted a lift on the back of his scooter to the house arriving just after 10pm.  I was exhausted but safe!

Tuesday I was up early to take a lift with Dr Chua to Sitiawan to me my friend Dai Lee who is out from the UK with her son visiting family. We talked nonstop for most of the day pausing only to eat. That evening her school friend came and later dropped me back at the house for an early night. Well I thought it was going to be an early night but it ended up I was in bed by my normal time of 9pm.

Wednesday was another early rise, packed my bags and a lift to the bus station by Dr Chua. Here I waited for the bus this time a very modern one which sped us along the back route then the highway into KL. A taxi from Central to Lucille’s home which is not far. Lucille who has returned to Cambodia has kindly offered me her home while I’m in KL. This makes it a great place to just relax and organise my things before I leave. First thing I did was get some lunch and some milk for a coffee and for my breakfast. I then ate, showered, washed some cloths, unpack my big bag and repack the new backpack which I will be taking to India. Praise the Lord it was big enough.

Tomorrow I need to go into Mid Valley Megamall to change some money before I go as I am running low on Ringgit and need some for the airport as well as for when I return. But till then it’s catch up with emails, and relax. God willing an early night although I have heard there is a cleaner that will come around 10pm as the woman staying at Lucille’s is a nurse on night duty.

 

Pictures:   1. Orchids at Hotel   2. Coffee stop   3. Annette driving in storm   4. Storm over Had Yai    5. Annette and Anthony at reception   6. Dai Lee and me

Prayer & Praise Points:
Praise the Lord for my lovely stay in Phuket and our safe journey to Malaysia and through the borders without a hitch.

Praise Him for the opportunity to catch up with my old friend Dai Lee.

Please pray for my journey to India for the connections and well as accommodation in Bangalore.

I continue to thank the Lord for all my friends, their hospitality, abundant generosity and love.

Please pray for the Lord’s guidance and safety as I travel through India. My flight is Friday 28th Aug and no problems at customs or immigration.

Pray with me for the Lord’s wisdom as I travel around India, my 3 nights in Bangalore and then Mumbai and Goa where I will stay with friends.

Please pray that I have wisdom as I minister to people along the way and the opportunity to share my faith.

Please pray for ongoing good health, protection and safety on my travels through India.

Thank you all for your continual prayers for my mother who is being well looked after in Perth by the Baptist Home Care.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers.