Today, it’s over to Guest Relations Supervisor Jo Hicks, who here regales us with tales of trips to foreign parts with her BFG…
A few months back I was lucky enough to spend three glorious weeks in my favourite place ever (after Bluestone, of course): Thailand. As I am half Thai, I have visited Thailand on plenty of occasions and have many wonderful memories. However, this trip in particular was unique as I was travelling out with my (then) long-term boyfriend, James, and the fact I hadn’t seen my Nanny Chiao & Co. in four years.
I was feeling particularly anxious as our holiday approached thanks to the wonderful snow and ice that made an appearance! Heathrow airport flights only resumed a few days before me and James flew out. So nothing to worry about, right? Right…
Finally, January 26th arrived! Luggage – check. Tickets – check. Passport – check. Perfect! Rock up at Heathrow in plenty of time, head to the boarding desk with my passport and then my well known bad luck kicks in…
Apparently, you need at least six months valid on your passport to fly. So in a nutshell, I had to go back to Pembrokeshire to get more forms of ID for the passport office, then back to Newport to get a fast track passport, and then back to Heathrow. So over 600 miles clocked up before even leaving the country and £130 poorer, I was back at Heathrow trying to get a flight.
Twelve hours on I arrived in Bangkok, after a horrid flight! My MASSIVE phobia of flying and the sweaty weirdo sat next to me didn’t help! But who cares, I was finally here.
Seeing all my Mum’s side of the family after such a long period was nothing short of amazing. Even though there is a huge language barrier (neither speaks either language), I could still feel the strong family connection. They welcomed James with open arms even though he is a ‘farang’ (Thai meaning for European person!)
The culture differences are so apparent, a real eye-opener! Everyone, including my fabulous family, is less fortunate (compared to us!), as are most in Thailand. All medical care, housing, child care, education (the list can go on) is paid for off your own back. They live in small cramped ‘houses’, save for months to send the kids to school and wish they don’t ever need medical attention. However, they are all so genuinely happy. It made me realise how fortunate I actually am. I moan if it decides to rain, I moan if I’m working a weekend, I moan if I can’t quite afford that stunning dress – I need to start living in the real world! Rant over.
My family live in a rather large town but 95% of the residents are Thai. Luckily, I blended in (fairly) well as I do have the Thai look about me but James stuck out like a sore thumb – he looked like the BFG as he is far taller than the Thai’s and he was super pale! Cringe…
Pattaya was the next stop for James and me. Pattaya is known as party central in Thailand but unfortunately the sex industry is rife – the amount of ‘working women, men, man/woman’ was quite disturbing. However, in some areas, it was my heaven. Walking Street is about a mile-long stretch of road which is literally BAR, BAR, BAR 
The cocktails were divine; it would have been rude to not treat myself to a cocktail or ten (each night) 
My kinda ride!
During my time in Pattaya, I mainly spent the time chilling (with a hangover!). Shopping was fabulous. A brand spanking new shopping centre had opened and it had five floors of retail paradise! Unfortunately, I couldn’t spend all my hard-earned cash on clothes, shoes and handbags, as my suitcase already weighed just over 22kg – boohoo! A girl can never travel light! Handmade gifts were exceptional though. Attention to detail is perhaps an understatement.
The Alcazar show is a world-famous ‘ladyboy’ cabaret show. The stage set-up was brilliant; the lighting and constant changing beautiful back-drops were fabulous. The ‘ladies’ were absolutely stunning; from their costumes to the dancing to their general beauty. If I could look only half as amazing as these ladies, I would be more than happy! 
Alcazar Ladyboy Cabaret Show
Next was the Tiger Zoo in Pattaya, much to my colleague Shannon’s dismay. There were so many beautiful tigers and elephants and the less pretty crocodiles and monkeys. I even held (almost tiger-napped) the two most stunning tiger cubs. Was a great day.
Tiger cub et moi!
Koh Chang Island was next. Koh Chang is the second largest island in Thailand. However, it’s only now beginning to get commercialised and built-up. I opted for Whitesands beach as our location. The drive round the island was crazy. The road inclines, declines and amazingly sharp bends were everywhere, felt slightly dizzy. As we approached Whitesands beach town, the view was magnificent, breath-taking. The sea was a clear blue, sparkling from the sunshine, the sand a bright white. Cheesy – most definitely, but stunning none the less.
The beaches throughout Koh Chang Island were wonderful. Soaking up the rays, sand between my toes, my thoughts were a million miles away from home. Although, I still love the fabulous beaches here at home, had some amazing times at Pembrokeshire beaches!
- Koh Chang Island
The hotel was lush! Really modern, spacious and very very clean. The housekeeper always made our towels up into pretty animal and flower shapes.
Small touch but lovely. It’s always the small things that make a holiday. Even better though, a good few bars were opposite the hotel – less walking, more drinking!
James is a qualified Scuba Diver and Koh Chang is a fabulous spot for some diving. Somehow, he managed to persuade me to take a trip on this “amazing” boat, so I could chill out in the sun when he was diving. I dislike boats very much and after this trip, I dislike them even more. I was seasick from the moment the boat left. The boat was not amazing. It was a rust bucket. So I spent the good part of my day, lying on the side of a boat, getting sunburnt and spewing over the side. Lovely job.
Elephant trekking
I went elephant-trekking one morning and it was such a wonderful experience. It was only James, me, a huge elephant sensibly named Rambo, and the elephant driver (if that’s the job title?). After trekking through the beautiful countryside, we headed to this remote rock pool so we could go swimming with Rambo. Me being as clever as I am, remained on dry land sitting on the rocks. James on the other hand stripped down to his undies and jumped straight in. However, he shot straight back out once he realised Rambo took a nice big ‘number two’ right next to him in the water. Ha! Priceless
So after a few more days relaxing, it was time to head back to the airport and come back to sunny Britain. Luckily, I had no issue with my passport; although I would have appreciated some passport troubles for the sake of extra time in Bangkok!
Soon after we adjusted back to the weather and printed out the ace pictures we took, me and James called it a day and went our separate ways. So, quite an odd ending to an amazing trip. Although, I think I’ll stick to a short break in the UK next time. That way I won’t have any passport troubles, need to hang out with the BFG, and spend a day vomiting over the side of a rusty boat.
