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Fri 15th Dec – Krabi (COVID)

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COVID edition.

I am feeling off so I don’t do the much hyped Phi Phi island day tour. Instead I shuffle up and down the coastline, which at least has a decent footpath. Walking through town, I am disappointed that I appear like a girl that would succumb to spruikers. I am, however, impressed by the variety of tactics these spruikers use to entice me to buy their wares. One looks me in the eye, points at me for many seconds, and decrys “you”. Another congratulates me on physical activity, “good job walking”. No Thai massage ladies approach me as they are busy making eye contact with men twice my age and weight. Lunch parlour workers just yell “food” over the little vans that blast advertisements for Mauy Thai matches, and I appreciate their urgent brevity.

It is a sad realisation that as much as I dislike everything here, us tourists have received the heartless, Western consumerism we deserve. We are greeted with an English “hello” and after parting with our Baht are dismissed with an English “thank you”. There is no presumption of tolerance of discomfort, and in return we are offered a soulless beach holiday littered with cheap and easily accessible vices.

I return to the hotel before lunch, blaming my cold for my lethargy, but mostly I am just hot and grumpy at this shitty town. It’s during this time I receive a message from one of the previous tour group members saying he’s tested positive for COVID. Of course, I also test positive.

Getting COVID means virtually nothing changes with the tour company and I am just asked to wear a mask. The British lady on this new tour who had been coughing for a week stuffily asks “do you test for COVID in Australia? In the UK it’s downgraded to a cold and you don’t have to test or tell anyone”. Can the British all holiday together and drown in their respective self absorption?

Washing and drying a large load of my sweaty, disgusting clothes is priced at an insulting $3.50aud. I pick it up from the family house at 8pm and I almost cry. I can’t wait to leave this place.

The large number of photos today is overcompensating for my boring day.

Starting with what will prove to be the day’s highlight: banana roti
Long boats lining up ready to take pasty white tourists to the scattered islands and then bring them back lobster red in a few hours.
One of the many shops offering traditional southern Thai cuisine.
One of the many shops offering traditional southern Thai recreation.
The ugliness of the main drag 20min away from the beach overshadowed by the beauty of the limestone mountains.
A cycle of futility.
A tuk tuk driver naps in his vehicle.
I choose my lunch venue again due to the presence of Mother’s Corner.
And after sitting down I realise that Mother and her uncertain smile are photoshopped into the banner.
Waiting at the office for your parents to finish work is one of the few universal experiences of childhood.
Every few metres on the foreshore, you will see a grouping like this. Foreground will be three ‘lads’ who are forcibly forgetting their children named Bronx, Aiesha and Harmony. A woman dressed in an open back top uselessly hiding in shade after being burnt to a shade of red similar to her inappropriate shirt. And hiding in the background, a gathering of 5-10 longboat drivers and their jerry cans of petrol.
I now only respond to Very Great Woman.

Categories:Holiday​Summer 2023

Cait

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4 Responses

  1. BOOO About Covid

    Makes me feel sad that you are unwell.

    Has it done anything to your taste and smell.

    Quality of blog has not diminished with sickness.

    Best photo today was the temporary hammock that the tuk tuk guy was sleeping in. A very clever solution for taking a nap and not having your vehicle stolen.

    I’m confused by the text. Was it from your tour guide?

  2. Dear Very Great Woman. Feeling sad for you 😞. Is the big twist that you didn’t catch Covid from the coughing woman?
    Shame about the Phi Phi Islands- they look beautiful in photos. In my own reference to British culture I am about to put the air-conditioner on to cook a steamed pudding for 5 hours just so I can eat the accompanying cream sauce at Derani’s tomorrow 😉. Wish you were here to eat it wish us and let us look after you. Much love Mxx

  3. Nothing to taste and smell.
    That’s nice of you to say about the blog, because it’s hard to find much interesting to say when you are sick.
    The text was from the tour guide, after I’d informed him I had COVID.

  4. I don’t think I caught it from the current coughing Brit, rather the coughing Brit family from the tour prior! It is a shame about all the missed activities because it leaves me stranded in this pretty rotten part of Thailand.
    Would love some pudding right now!
    Hope dad survives the tennis party.