Packing Up

Friday 6 October

I can’t believe we have been here for five weeks and today is our last day here in Bophut. Staying here at Smile was definitely a good decision – it has been peaceful and relaxing, the bungalow very comfortable with good service and everything we have needed (can you believe it has taken me all this time to find out that if you don’t turn the shower quite full on, the water is really hot – not the tepid stream I have been experiencing each day!). The food in the village has always been of a very high standard and great value for money, with lots of choice and variety. Both of us are a little rueful about leaving – not entirely sure what we are going to face over the next few weeks – but the tour must go on.

The day started as usual with a lengthy swim and breakfast – somehow I ended up with two boiled eggs, when I hadn’t even spoken to the waiter to order anything – but being fussy about how my eggs are cooked, they were just right. I then decided to blog early, as I knew I would be blogging again this evening – won’t have time tomorrow morning. Its also a race to finish my book before I leave, so firstly I stretched out around the pool reading, and then sat in it, still reading, as the temperatures rose.

In mid afternoon, we decided to wander around the village to take some last minute photos. We had hardly stepped off the Smile premises when the rain just fell from the sky, with no warning (black clouds must have crept us behind us. We raced back towards the bungalow – collecting an umbrella from Reception on the way – and just made it back before becoming thoroughly drenched. The “shower” only lasted ten minutes, and when we set off again, the paving blocks outside the bungalow were already almost dry, while the main road – concrete covered - was flooded again. We managed our David Bailey acts without further problems and even remembered to drop off some books we had finished reading to the bookshop.

On our return we packed our cases – its amazing how much we have accumulated over the weeks (I also found loads of memorabilia collected in Russia and China that will weight heavy in my case), so can expect another overweight charge tomorrow. To restore our good spirits we decided on a last dip in the pool, and although the clouds overhead were dark and threatening rain, it held off.

We set off this evening to have cocktails at each of the three bars we have used whilst staying here – the Frog and Gecko (where Jen tried to persuade us to stay a little longer for her birthday party later this month), the Beatles (where we said a sad farewell to Colin the Kitty, who then immediately stunk out of the bar in search of attention elsewhere) and the Happy Elephant (where I think the cocktail maker – the best in Bophut - was sorry to see us leave – we had been such wonderful customers over the weeks). Each made delicious drinks tonight, as we chose our favourites at each bar.


We both wanted to eat fish tonight, so decided on the Happy Elephant, outside restaurant, where the guitarist was still strumming and yodeling Elvis and Beatles melodies = though not “Love Me Tender tonight. Colin thought his steamed red snapper with chilli and ginger was probably one of the best fish dishes he has had, while my squid and prawns, were almost up to Schnitzel’s standard, and very tasty. Whilst eating, everyone’s attention was drawn to a large fish swimming close to the beach – but clearly visible in the shallows. The waiters said it was a Lady Fish (not heard of that myself), but it was black, about 6 feet long, with a peardrop shaped head tapering to a long tail. It swam against the current along the beach, and provided some alternative entertainment than the singer.

And here I am blogging for the second time today – with an eye on the tennis on again. We have ordered our taxi for 09.30 in the morning, so we do not have a too early start. There still seems a mountain of items to find space for in the cases, but hopefully they will all fit in somehow. Asked if we will be coming back, we would have no hesitation in saying “yes, definitely”, but my philosophy that there are so many other new places in the world to visit still holds.