Our last three days in Thailand are in Phuket. It’s pronounced POO-ket, but I choose to pronounce it differently. I’ll let you guess.
Normally, we stay a minimum of four days in each place, but Phuket is basically just an airport stop for us. So we have two full days here with nothing really planned, and our hotel is right next to the airport, which also means very far from town. Not exactly ideal, but we knew that going in.
One very good thing about this hotel’s location, though, is that it’s super close to a famous beach. Personally, I’m a little over beaches at this point, but this one is special. It sits right next to the airport’s landing strip. Like… right next to it. Emma was particularly excited about this beach, since before we even left Ottawa when I showed her some photos. So we spent a few hours there watching planes land insanely close overhead, which was pretty awesome.
And just like that, it’s time to say goodbye to Thailand, for now. We’ll be back in about a month to visit two more islands with Mylène’s parents and brother. The kids are super excited to see their cousins again.
Before we wrap up this chapter, we planned a little Q&A with the kids to get their thoughts on Thailand. Here it is. And if you have more questions for them, drop them in the comments.
Kids’ Thailand Trip Q&A
What’s the very first thing you think of when you think about Thailand?
Emma: The beaches. They were so nice, and the water was warm.
Edward: The elephants. They were huge, and we don’t see them often, so they really make me think of Thailand.
What was the yummiest thing you ate?
Emma: Chicken Pad Thai and Khao Soi.
Edward: Khao Soi… and the lava cake from 7-Eleven.
Mylène: Yes, we may have gone slightly overboard with that cake. Zero regrets.
What food did you think you wouldn’t like, but actually did?
Emma: The worms, the little fish, and Khao Soi. I thought it would be too spicy, and I’m normally not a fan of curry.
Edward: The worms and the fish too. And I didn’t think I’d like spicy food, but some of it was actually really good.
If you had to describe Thailand in three words?
Emma: Elephant. Hot. Beach.
Edward: Sun. Scooter. Elephants.
What was the funniest thing that happened on the trip?
Emma: Umm… oh yeah — the five Indian guys.
Edward: In Phuket, our toilet wasn’t working. Someone came to fix it, and when he tested the bidet, he splashed water all over his own face. 😂
Joey: In Bangkok, I bought a garlic crusher at a market. I've been looking for a garlic crusher than can crush 2-3 cloves at a time, rather than the half clove our crappy IKEA one does. So anyway, I kept it in my suitcase for about 3 weeks until I decided I should try it to make sure it works so I don't travel halfway around the world with it for nothing. In Ao Nang, I bought a few garlic cloves. I put them in, and pressed the handles and SNAP. It completely broke. Hopefully I can find a better quality one in Japan!
When did you feel the bravest?
Emma: When I was snorkeling and got stung by jellyfish in a few places. I kept snorkeling even though it hurt, and I didn’t cry.
Edward: When I snorkeled for a really long time and dove deep underwater.
What animal do you most connect with this trip?
Emma: Hornbills! We saw a giant one in Khao Sok and lots of them in Koh Yao Noi.
Edward: Elephants.
Mylène: What about the water monitor lizards?
If you could go back to one place tomorrow, where would it be?
Emma: Khao Sok National Park — the lake and the bungalows! But also Koh Yao Noi, because of the hornbills, riding scooters together, and all the good food. And we went back to Chaba, remember?
Edward: Koh Yao Noi too. It was so relaxing, and I loved everything about it.
What was the most surprising thing you saw?
Emma: Not in a good way — Dad and I saw two scooters crash right in front of us. It was scary.
Edward: The hornbills. Their beaks are so funny, and there were so many. I wasn’t expecting that.
If you had to explain Thailand to a friend at school, what would you say first?
Emma: It’s hot, but really nice. There are lots of animals. It’s relaxing, and the beaches were great, but there were too many jellyfish.
Edward: It’s very hot, but I loved the beaches. Getting around on a scooter is so fun.
What was your favorite way to get around?
Emma & Edward: Scooters!!! Especially the one with the sidecar.
Mylène: Not the boats? 😂
What was riding in the sidecar like? (For Lindsay)
Emma: It was bumpy and a lot of fun!
Edward: It was bumpy, exciting and windy!
What moment made you think, “Wow, this is amazing”?
Emma: When we saw the planes flying right over us in Phuket.
Edward: Same — the planes.
Mylène: Seriously? Not the views? The animals? The snorkeling?
Kids: Nope. The planes!!
What is the weirdest thing you have seen recently? (For Dwayne)
Emma: The tiny jellyfish on the beach.
Edward: People eating tarantulas.
What did you learn from this trip?
Emma: Thai people don’t really eat Pad Thai.
Edward: Water monitor lizards are the second-biggest lizards in the world, after Komodo dragons.
How do we say "hi" and "thank you" in Thai? (for Antonin)
Thailand through kids’ eyes: hot, wild, funny, occasionally painful (thanks, jellyfish), and completely unforgettable. 💛
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