Phuket again

It's one of our  many 'home away from homes". As soon as we get to Capri Residence in Nanai Rd, Patong, we regret not having planned to stay much longer. Davide and Mui are happy to see us, the motorbike rental is opposite, the laundry service is two doors down and the best massage in the whole of Thailand is just down the road. Then it's off to lunch at Song Pee Nong, where we are greeted as long lost friends. We were surprised to see that our favourite sunset cocktail bar has been upgraded into the Barefoot Bar, with live acoustic music every evening now. Of course not all the crazy building and development going on in Phuket is good and there's a feeling that it's just getting too busy now! Blame it on the BRICS countries producing millions of new tourists every year who are looking for cheap and easy international destinations.The most exciting discovery for us this year was that the proposed development at Laem Sing Beach has been canned for the time being; so we were able to enjoy our favourite Thai beach for another year.Tums Bar is still hanging in there on Soi Seadragon but Mike and the band are somewhat drowned out by blaring music from the bars opposite, so he only starts playing at midnight now! We met baby Joshua; and hung out with proud grandparents Robyn and Robin.We loved having Hanli and Andrew join us for a week. It's great when "guests" are so enthusiastic and just enjoy themselves so much. We ate at beach shacks,drank through cocktail menus, rode on scooters,chatted to lady boys, stayed up till after 2am, listened to heavy music,shopped and had massages and facials.You don't have to do "nothing" to de-stress; you just have to do "different"!