Phuket Town Gurdwara

How, amazing was this, here I was in a strange place all by self, and feeling quite lonely, then during the Kin Jay festival I met a Singh from Delhi who comes to Phuket for business, he told me that there is a gurdwara and have I been, I told him no and no. He told me where it was and later that day I went there to see for myself.

And as promised there it was, a beautiful structure decorated in marble and gold (paint) in the middle of Phuket town, I met the Raagis there who were pleased to see me, but not as pleased as I was too see them!

I got talking to them, they told me that their name (the fathers) is Gurbakhshish Singh and he's from India, here for a month to do kirtan at the gurdwara before they go back to India. As it happened that day they had started an Akhand Paath for Gurprub and bhog was on the Sunday, they asked me to come and I did everyday until the bhog.

They were saying that there is sangat here in Phuket Town but not that much and they only see sangat on the sunday, during the week days they see maximum two people for the evening diwan.

I was so over the moon, and when I got to my hotel which was only 10 minutes from then gurdwara I could actualy see the gurdwara from my window, what a blessing!

The gurdwara, if you are ever in Phuket town is located at corner of Suthat Road and Damong Road and on some maps is listed as 'Indian temple'.

Kin Jay Festival (vegetarian festival)

Chinese dragon dancing

well, i got here expecting all things to be in full swing and they were, but not when and where expected. when i got to phuket town the epicentre of the festival i got myself a timetable of what is happening where at what time, i made myself familiar with the Chinese temples etc. but i found quite quickly that things never went to plan.



so on the final day of the festival (19th of oct 2007), i gave up as there was nothing planned so decided to have a lie in. i was then awoken early in the morning to the sound of fire crackers, if you have never heard these they sound like a machine gun with the same amount of smoke and trails of red paper everywhere.



i looked out of my window and found the streets lined with people wearing white, realising something big was going to happen i had a quick shower put on my clothes and ran outside to follow the procession. i managed to catch the procession where i saw Chinese lion dancers, one thing i noticed that people would place offerings/money in the mouths of the lions.

a shrine at a Chinese Temple

i walked further up where i caught the main procession where i found what i came to see, the people who pierce themselves all over to show their dedication, it was quite scary seeing men cutting themselves willingly with axes, blood was all over the place, it was nuts!

above, men cutting their lips or tongues with axes.

and below men who have skewered themselves through the cheeks with metal barbs

The story so far (well, my side of the story)

(by The Wife)

Right – I can’t do any sleeping, so I might as well do some blogging!

The Husband is in Thailand……but the wife…..well, the wife is in London!!!

How, why and WHY do you ask?

Well, the story goes that The Wife, that’ll be me, has to stay behind due to matters concerning employment (note previous post).

I know I don’t have long to go before I leave – but this is plain torture! I have to go to work in the freezing cold, it’s almost like the weather has turned just to taunt me! Im sure it’s not usually this cold at this time of the year! The days feel longer!

This is hard for me, in every which way (I hope you read this Gurcharan!).

I had to blog about this – so when I do read this in the future, I’ll remember how I felt.

the story so far!

(By the Hubs)

Well , where do I start?!

How about with a portly maharaja wearing a striped turban, sharp moustache and pointy shoes - yes, im talking about Air India....

My flight out was delayed 3 hours!

After confiming that I will still get my connection to Bangkok I waited, borded the plane, and in true indian stylee it was another 30 minutes late!

Would I get my connection?! I didnt know, the air hostesses were as helpful as a wooden toaster.

So what happend next?

Luckily, I got my connecting flight...only because the connecting flight was late!! But my baggage didnt!

This meant all I had was the clothes on my back and what money I brought, the Thai airport staff were so helpful in locating my bag, but the same be said for the Air India staff who weren't even answering their phone calls.

I arrived in phuket yesterday and went out and bought some clothes phone charger etc. I called Bngkok airport who told me they found my bag and it has been flown to phuket, I got it this morning! wooo hoooo!

Mark my words, Air India will pay!

Im going to make paper airoplane effergies and burn then in true Indian style.

How was bangkok?
I didn't see much, got there late, went for a walk in China Town, really built up and crazy, didn't like it much. Went to the gurdwara there, darbar was locked at 7pm, they do samapthi at 6.30pm.

How is Phuket?
I'm in Phuket town and its acutally really nice, cool sino Portugese architecture surrounded by green mountains, really nice and chilled. People are nicer too. I went out and had some 'Kin Jay' food, which is the festival where people go vegi amongst other things. really nice and cheap, but really very too hot and firesome! took almost 1.5 litres of water to put the flames out!

Pics too come guys so stay locked!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GURCHARAN!!!!

And Happy Last Day at Work!

Now that you're off work, fancy going for a trip round South East Asia for 6 months for your birthday present?! ;o)

Just Can't Wait!

(By The Wife)

So, The Husband booked the first place we'll be staying when I land in Krabi. OOooohhhh I just can't wait! ;o)

Take a look at these, so you know exactly why I CAN'T WAIT!

6 months of my life in a bag!

(by The Wife)

For 6 months I will have to live out of a bag!

A daunting thought - but not so bad I guess. Unlike many of my mates, I can live without mascara and heels and curlers and eyeshadows of every hue! ;o)

It has been quite a mission to find the perfect bag.
I needed one that met all my requirements:

1. Designed specifically for women (make that small women!)
   
2. Tough enough to survive 6 months, but not too heavy duty (c’mon who am I kiddin? Im not reeeally technically backpacking!)
   
3. Easy access and a GOOD SOLID locking system!
   
4. Wheeeeeeels! (This is crucial for someone not quite built like Hulk!)
   
5. Not sure if I will be able to wheel the thing around everywhere – so may need a comfortable way to carry the bag now and again. So, by the time I come back, I will look like Thunder Thighs! :o)
   
6. Pockets – oh I’m such a freak for organisation!
   
7. CHEAP! Ah I am such a cheapy cheapy cheap cheap!
   
8. An inbuilt cappuccino machine won’t go amiss! ;o)

Gurcharan managed to find his perfect partner (er..no…not me!) thanks to my brother Himmat’s ingenious-time-wasting-on-the-internet-while-at-work. It has aaaalll the above spec, except it’s not designed for women. You see Gurcharan is a man, not a woman. He is very much a man. So its perfect for him. But I am a woman, I guess I could pass as a man and buy the same bag. But something tells me I will regret it later.

So, I applied the same ingenious principle that my brother has by now perfected and found this:

The Berghaus Womens Jalan 65 + 15 Rucksack (you can call her 'lil miss Baggins!)

Yup! It's a backpack and trolly bag all in one! The coolest thing is it has a cute little baby bag zipped onto the front - so you can take it off and use it as a day bag! But, like all good lookin gals, she comes with a price! A whopping £125 - but I managed to apply the Himmat Principle again and found it for £100. This is still waaaay over my budget - £30 more than what Gurcharan paid for his. Oh well, lets hope she is worth the extra £30.

My husband says I will be the belle of the ball with that lil baby! My husband says all the other travellers will look at me in awe! They will say "ooohh aahhhh she is a pukka backpacker she is!" awwwww im in a happy place now! :O)