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What a day that was.
5:00am start is normal for us, but the day just got wilder and wilder. Al fresco BBQ's always take some planning and managing, but with an incoming storm system and two nests of Red Ants to contend with, it took even more managing.
Great start to the set up was when we put the leg of one table directly on top of an Ants nest... this pleased them not one jot. Got sillier stirring a pot of curry as we gave up the "run in and quick stir and run out again" ploy in favour of walking round and round the pot. Eventually they got the better of us and we moved it. Never win against ants.
Lovely well managed event (not by me I add) on a lagoon with beautiful views of the Andaman Sea and a not so beautiful view of a massive black cloud homing in on us. The flames on the BBQ's were not troubling the food on top as they spent most of the time blown either horizontal or blown right out.
Job got done and apart from a few blown fuses, couple of near electrocutions and me walking into a spot light (that was switched on! can't believe I managed that even when that tired) it passed of peacefully. Then came the rains.
The storms had been the of the usual short, exceptionally intense tropical variety that we know and love so well. This was now medium/hard rain set in for the night and I had a 45km motorbike ride to the bus stop just off Phuket Island in Khok Kloy. An hour would have been plenty of time but for having no petrol in the bike and having sent my wallet off in the car along with my phone and other belongings to keep them dry.
Luckily I caught them at the second set of lights, grabbed some money, filled the bike up and the chase was on. By now, I knew I would be lucky to make it for 8:00pm. This was driven home to me near the check point when the bus I was meant to catch actually overtook me. I overtook him on the inside again as he was stuck in a bit of traffic going through the Check Point, but he caught me again going over the bridge.
Despite the pouring rain and only wearing my chefs jacket, I gunned the bike and got in the slip stream. He beat me by about 30 seconds and was surprised when I swung my mighty steed (Honda wave 125) in his path to stop him leaving.
Somehow we had all overtaken the car but the bus driver and Station Staff knew it was me and told me I could get on. However, my luggage, passport, work permit, money and phone were in the car and I couldn't even ring them to ask where they were. Five minutes later, they showed up, I got on the bus and changed in the minuscule toilet and was happily, but soggily once again, Bangkok bound.
Got a few strange looks from the western tourists and backpackers as I boarded the bus, as Khok Kloy Station really is a remote and desolate place for a westerner to be.... at night.... after chasing it down ... but hey, I get that all the time!
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