Phuket, it's my birthday
When planning for my move to Thailand, I tried to time it so I would be with Mike by my birthday. We talked about going away somewhere fun and when Alex and Jacky decided to come visit, that sealed it. Blessedly, Rebecca and Mike took on the planning as a surprise and gift for me. Never thought I would get bored of Kayak.com, but it happened.
They booked the Mariott Vacation Club Mai Khao beach, which is beach adjacent, but still a bit of a labeling stretch. The resort had a massive pool, a swim up bar and lots of activities.
The Room
Our suite was enormous and had a private plunge pool! That was an incredible surprise I am so grateful for. It was strangely deep and cold in the shade but hell if I didn't feel like a 1 per center waking up to that luxury!
The Birthday Bits
We went for it Saturday night. In the van down to Patong, we played a 7-11 drinking game. Meaning we drank when we saw a 7-11. We were out of beer after 20 minutes. So naturally, we stopped for more, played pool and bought jasmine garlands.
Patong was bananas. We started in the safety of a roof bar then hit the street with more 7-11 beer. You get propositioned from all sides by lady-boys, ping-pong show hawkers and vendors. I'm sure this is the prevalent Thailand stereotype, this horrible road. At the end is a pretty grimy beach but a waterside nonetheless. And it was where I officially turned 33. In all future stories, we will say I turned 33 on a Thai beach, if you picture Koh Phi Phi, that's not my problem.
Rebecca had set up phone calls with friends back home so I pretty much cried my way back down to the van, shielding my mother from the chaos on Facetime as I went.
The next morning at global breakfast buffet, the staff started singing Happy Birthday. "Poor sap" I thought, "they have to be sung to in front of the whole restaurant...oh shit, it's me". Yep, I got TWO verses of happy birthday and a cake covered in candles. It was old school birthday, and after the flush wore off I loved it!
