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Simon and Linh's
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Our trip to Phuket, Thailand. A true story.
This account is of day one of our trip to Thailand. 

For the rest of the trip, click here.
Wednesday, April 21, 1999 One day, Simon and Linh bought a tour package to Phuket, Thailand. They were to stay at a resort called Club Andaman. The flight was to leave at 11:20 am, April 21.
9:30 am The package included pick up from their hotel in Hong Kong to the Chek Lap Airport (Hong Kong International Airport). But the bus didn't come right to their hotel. The bus waited down the street a few blocks away and when Simon and Linh weren't there, the driver figured "Ah, Phuket!" and he left. 
10:00 am After waiting for half an hour, Simon and Linh phoned the bus company and they basically said "too bad". So we said "Ah, Phuket" and decided to cab it.  So, Simon and Linh caught a cab. 
10:00 - 10:10 am  However, traffic was REALLY slow. They went maybe 2 or 3 blocks in about 10 minutes and it was already the equivalent of $5 Cdn. So they said "Ah, Phuket" and got out of the cab to take the subway (known as the MTR). Incidentally, Simon REALLY had to take a dump ever since they left the hotel.
10:10 - 10:40 am Simon and Linh took the subway to the airport, which took about 1/2 hour. They checked in at the airport and Simon finally got the chance to relieve himself, bigtime. Linh wanted Simon to hold it because they only had about 40 minutes until the plance was scheduled to leave, but he was holding it for so long he could not wait any longer. 
10:50 am A lady then cut in front of them at customs, and she took forever. The lady + the dump cost Simon and Linh about 10 minutes. They finally got through customs. To get to their gate, they had to take a subway train there. Yes, that's right. Hong Kong's airport is so big that to get to some boarding gates, a subway train is necessary
11:00 am After Simon and Linh got off the train, they realized that they left one of their bags back at customs. They figured "Ah, Phuket!" and went to the gate without the bag. Now they only had 20 minutes .Simon and Linh rushed to the gate and told the gate attendants that they left their bag back at customs. So one of the attendants went back with Simon to get it, while Linh stayed at the gate. 
11:00 - 11:10 am Simon and the attendant went to get the bag. They ran down to the subway. Missed the train. Waited for the next one. Boarded it. Ran back towards customs (there are two of them, one on the North wing and one on the South wing. Luckily, Simon remembered the right one). They got the bag with about 10 mins to go. 
11:10 - 11:20 am Simon and the attendant ran back down, caught the subway, ran back up. All the while, the attendant was comforting Simon, saying "it's OK, we have enough time".
11:01 am Right after Simon left, one of the attendants informs Linh that she must make a decision. The plane is ready to leave, so Linh is to either board now and leave Simon in Hong Kong, or to miss the flight entirely. Linh replies that they should have told her this information BEFORE Simon left, that way Simon and Linh just would left left the bag.
11:02-11:15 am Linh said "but we still have 20 minutes before the flight leaves". The attendant replies that they close the gate 10 minutes prior to taking off and that Simon won't make it back. 
11:15-11:20 am Minutes later, Linh is informed that because of technical difficulties, the plane is delayed another six minutes, therefore Simon might still make it. Linh is very relieved to see Simon running down the hall towards her, and she then runs inside the waiting airplane.
11:20 am RIGHT ON TIME!!  Simon and Linh manage to arrive on the plane in time, about 30 seconds before scheduled departure. It is then announced that due to technical difficulties, the flight would be delayed by TWO HOURS. AAUUGGH! Phuket! Phuket all!!

Incidentally, the proper way to pronounce Phuket is like "poo-ket".  It does NOT rhyme with "bucket",although personally I think it should.

 The rest of the trip