The importance of communication

It only took me 3 days to evolve from foolishly running across the street from the beach, to along the sidewalk/park pathways next to the beach, to realizing that the sand is firm enough to run on with my running shoes. There is a slight slope, but it is so much prettier! The best part is the gorgeous view of boats at the end)

boats on end on Patong Beach

covid self test

Today I stayed in until 5 before I ventured out on my errands: buying a city shirt for my uncle at the Hard Rock Café (he collects them), getting BBQ ribs from Food Street, and trying my massage place at night to get someone different. Along the way I popped into a pharmacy and they didn’t have what I was looking for, but they had something better: at home Covid tests. In stock. I have 4, but an extra never hurts so I picked one up. It was roughly the same price as home ($10.75) and made by Abbott, the same folks who make the 4 Binaxnow I have with me.

BBQ ribs, grilled corn, fresh squeezed mango juice

Hard Rock shirt

Perfecting my massage

When I arrived at my massage place, I was embarrassed that Kum was there and popped up expecting to massage me, but I asked for a different person. Kai gave me a good massage though she also hit my spine a couple times and again did not do the hands the same way. I think something on the back was missing also. Though it was much better since they were now aware I wasn’t perfectly satisfied the first time. I decided with a couple of adjustments, Kum would work well so the next day I asked for her. This time the manager asked if I wanted the same massage so I was able to ask for her to go easier on the back, and do more on my hands. It was perfect!

Heartland Massage

Stalking the perfect breakfast

The next day at breakfast a lady chose a table near mine, setting down a plate piled high with passionfruit and delicious looking fried things (I later learned they are Thai doughnuts). Someone else who knows the amazingness of passionfruit? Clearly this woman knows her way around this buffet. I looked about for the fried items, but was unsuccessful. Next she brought over a bowl of congee with tons of interesting condiments on top. I congratulated myself on knowing to get the congee and noted that I should explore the unfamiliar condiments. Along with the congee she had what could have been an omelet, or maybe that jaffle thing on the bread table, or one of the other made to order options? I kicked myself for not watching where she had gotten it from.

Then she got up again. I hesitated for a moment, but then followed her. Aren’t I always telling my math jam students that one way of learning is to watch experts? Unfortunately, she just went to the coffee counter so I did a little loop around her table to get a better look at the fried things and the other thing, which I think was just a strangely folded omelet.

Breakfast

When she got back, I got up the courage to ask her what the fried things were and she offered me one. I said I just wanted to know where she got it and she laughed and said she got it from outside and brought them in with her! I so have to try those!

Anyways, my breakfast was still excellent, even without the doughnuts. Here’s a picture of my breakfast (before I got the congee). For future reference, I have discovered that while a dish labeled “Thai” may or may not be spicy hot, any dish labeled “Indian” is always hot! I am curious if it will be the other way around when I am in India. Above is a picture of doughnuts (not the same ones, but off the web)

The trouble with being too independent

January 22 at 12:30 was my scheduled follow up PCR test to make sure I hadn’t brought Covid into Thailand (5 days after arrival). I looked at receipt (only paperwork they sent) and it just said Swab Center Central Phuket, no address. That’s okay, I’m persistent, especially when armed with Google search. I went back to the website, and located the Patong center, which I thought I had requested, but they only had 40 slots, all full, which means they passed me on to the main center in Central Phuket, 28 minutes away. I finally found some information that mentioned “Operated by Vachira Hospital” and took a taxi there. We asked at the hospital where the coivd testing was and were sent across street down half block, where a clinic had been set up. I was looking about confused when a kind soul took pity on me and directed me to take a number for the Registration area. As everyone else there was Thai and there were zero tourists there, it seemed like the wrong place for me to be. I tried asking at another station but they just said to take a number. 20 minutes later my number was called and they said I was in the wrong place. I went back to the hospital. This time the driver came with me and finally sorted out where I should go. All the way there I was seething with frustration over the lack of directions. Then we arrived and I realized that “Central Phuket” is not an area but a building, like the “TransAmerica Building” in SF where any local would know where it was. If I had just shown the name to the hotel or my driver, they would have known exactly where I needed to go! Once there, it was quick and easy and 5 minutes later we were on the way home. I guess I need to ask for help more.

Clinic they sent me to from hospital

Safety booth to take Covid swabs

Local man making dragon toys

led lights in trees

Entrance to Bangla St aka Party Street