Last Day in Chiang Mai

When we booked our flights from Chiang Mai to Phuket, we figured a later time would give us the whole day to cram one more activity in before changing locations. There are still a fair number of options, with zip lining and white water rafting near the top of the list, but after yesterday, we’re a little burned out, so decide to just hang around the hotel and relax.

The suits I am having tailored should finally be ready (we have stopped by every day for fittings so if they don’t have it right today, we’re really in trouble), and on the way to pick them up, we stop in at the Fish Spa. There, for $5, you stick your feet in an aquarium full of tiny fish that pick away at them. Sounds fun right? We first saw this at the tiger camp, and I could tell Nick was curious, so when we found a similar place so close to the tailor, we had to give it a try.

With everything packed up and having checked out of our room, we still have a few hours left to kill, so head out in search of dinner. After narrowing it down to a restaurant we ate at a few nights ago and gritty spot a few doors down (basically a street cart with a few plastic tables set up in a vacant lot), we let Nick choose. When he picks gritty, I feel a little tear in my eye.

Our flight time is 9:45pm, and like choosing a red-eye, it seems like the right idea when you are reserving it, but in practice ends up being painful. It is two hours to the Phuket airport, so by the time we land, it is close to midnight. However, our final destination is Khao Lak, which on the map doesn’t seem that far, but is another 90 minutes away by car.

The taxi stand at the airport is closed at midnight, so we’re left with few options than the unofficial “taxi” drivers that swarm us as soon as we walk out of the terminal. We negotiate a fairly good rate (all things considered) and our trip begins.

About five minutes out of town, the driver pulls over to pick up his “friend”. It’s pitch black outside, and now Angela is hearing banjo music, certain that we’re about to remake Deliverance. Nick manages to get a bit of sleep in the car, but Angela is on high alert, and while I do plenty of stupid things, I know better than to nap in such circumstances.

Despite the drama, it turns out we aren’t in Mexico City, and that our driver is just a guy trying to make a living, with a friend that is going to keep him company on the return trip home. Closing in on 2am, we finally arrive at the hotel and check in. We’re on the beach now, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.