Not a glimmer of sun and constant drizzle. Hmmm…..After breakfast we decided to brave to scooter and see go for exploring…Fortunately we had packed raincoats for New Zealand. Annelise was most chuffed as hers matched her helmet perfectly.

First up was a trip to a waterfall we had seen signposted on the main street. We took a left and headed through the rubber tree plantations towards the jungle covered hills. The concrete road ran out and became a rough dirt track. I skillfully negotiated the potholes, and interpreted the silence from the pillion as complimenting my driving.

The waterfall was a real anticlimax - more a man made weir with a trickle running over it. More interesting was the real life jungle deforestation taking place on the other side of the road. We then spotted some rough looking locals brandishing chainsaws so thought it a good time to leave….

Next up on the sight seeing tour was an 80' police patrol boat which had been washed ashore and carried way inland, across the main road and deposited in a field. It had been moored 1km out to see at the time the Tsunami hit.

Back on the road, I detected Annelise copying some of the Thai lady pillion riding skills she had observed. She had the cheek rested on my shoulder down to a tee, but stopped short of advanced level stuff such as side-saddle and reading a book.

Swapping back into procurement manager role, A-lo secured a taxi transfer to take us to Phuket airport the following morning. We headed back towards the Orchid stopping nearby to pick up some lunch for me. I bought some barbequed skewered chicken and some sticky rice desert. The chicken was one of those super scrawny street birds and a wondered it I'd bought half a rat instead. What did I expect for 30p.The sticky rice was delicious.

At 4pm it was time to return the scooter. Naturally a light rain had set in, just in time for this errand. Annelise declined my heartfelt appeal to join me in what could be a damp experience.

The downpour started the minute I set off and by the time I reached the massage shop/travel agent I'd rented it from I was totally drenched. Walked round some souvenirs shops to do some comfort shopping to make me feel better. Bought a necklace - the kind of cool ethnic accessory real travelers wear, fang shaped and everything.

Back in the room, A-lo was far from impressed with my new image, and reminded me that these things were for kids, not 40 year old accountants. It was tipping down with rain, we packed, ordered room service and watched a DVD. Definitely time to move on…..