Phuket, and more

For anyone that hasn't been to Phuket, it's a lush tropical paradise. The beaches are clean, the water is warm and crystal clear, people are friendly and it's still pretty cheap. We stayed at Le Meridien with all the other wedding guests, and while I thought the resort was pretty well appointed, you may be a little disappointed if you are looking for a really traditional Thai experience. I guess it depends on what you want... I must add, however, they left a bit to be desired in the service department. The now happily wedded couple booked the hotel months back, and made sure to communicate closely with hotel staff about the guest bookings - as they had guests from afar as the US, UK and other parts of Asia. Many people arrived to find their reservation didn't exist, others had to wait hours for their rooms to be available, and the worst part - they put the bride and groom in separate beds! If you're a traditionalist, you're probably thinking that's the way it should be, and I respect that - but I think if you spend a tonne of money at a hotel for a wedding, and specifically ask for a double room, they should go all out to make sure you're both happy. Anyway, I'm not grumbling too much - we got a free upgrade!

This is the view that I had to deal with all day for the long weekend from the beach. Pretty hard to deal with, hey ;)

My time in Bangkok this trip was purely in transit, however, I thought I'd share a place I found the last time I was there. Agalico (meaning 'timeless' in Sanskrit) is a simply gorgeous cafe/tea house, inside a colonial style building next to an old royal palace amongst a lush garden. Agalico is the brainchild of Poomchai Chumbala a distant member of the Thai Royal family no less, as well as a noted Interior Designer and hobby gardener. This place is more than just a respite from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, it's a veritable oasis. The decor of the tearooms - as you can see from the photos below - is mostly white, apart from the lush green of the plants indoors and out, as well as the odd piece of blue & white china scattered around. It's really quite breathtaking, and such a refreshing contrast to the rest of the city.