This would normally be a small step to take but it turned out to be a giant leap in my quest to sample what Phuket has to offer me in my efforts to quench my thirst for new adventures in the Land of Smiles. What makes this new incursion unique to me is that I would be making this journey on my own since my comrade had already taken the plunge last year without me. The one thing I dreaded was that is was already high season during the month of November and the hotels would be charging double to low season rates at Patong Beach. I booked my hotel/air/city tour package a couple of days before my travel date. At the domestic terminal in Bangkok, I let a tour desk there talk me into buying a dinner show package at Fantasea for my first night in Phuket. When I arrived at Phuket International Airport I was greeted by a tour escort. I reached Deva Resort Hotel on Rat-U-Thit around 5:00 PM and had to hurry to get ready for the minibus that will pick me up at 5:30 PM to drop me off at the Fantasea show in Kamala. I had to take a cold shower since the hot water didn’t heat up at all. I quickly turned off the AC before icicles started forming on my body. I talked to the front desk about the hot water not working and asked for another room but was I was told that it was fully booked and to check back again later. The minibus finally arrived to pick me up on Thai time, which turned out to be 30 minutes late at 6:00 PM. I enjoyed the show at Fantasea even though it felt strange that I was the only one that went alone. Finally returned back to the hotel and got ready to head out to the Soi Bangla area around midnight and sample to delights that Patong Beach had to offer. I took a motorbike (a first for me) to Soi Eric for 20 baht. The beer bars were rockin’ and you couldn’t tell there was a global recession with the crowds there. I quickly checked out the Soi Eric scene since they say they are "simply the best". I stopped at the first bar as you walked in, which was called the Chi Chi Bar. Met a lovely lass and was almost ready to bring her back when she last minute alerted me that her regular customer just arrived at the bar. So I took a snapshot of this gorgeous lady and parted looking for my next stop since it was starting to get close to the 2:00 am closing time. I soon settled down in the English Bar in the rear corner of Soi Eric with a gal that caught me eye. I played the connect 4 game with her, but it seems she wasn’t so keen in that game or else she’s new to the bar scene. I usually lose this game so I was able to hold my head high since I was on a winning streak. Finally left with her and took a red Daihatsu (called a tuk tuk over here). Those tuk tuk drivers seem to be extortionists being that they wanted 100 baht for the short ride to the hotel. After arriving at the hotel with my guest, I was greeted with a 500 baht guest charge to add insult to the over 2000 baht per night for my room which had no hot water during my entire 2 day stay. I was also informed of the hotel policy that guest were expected to leave the hotel premises by 7:00 am. I had a nice night but little sleep since I had to get up early to eat my breakfast before my half day city tour starts at 9:00 am. The breakfast buffet was excellent and the tour guide showed up on time. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was the only one on the tour. This gave me more leeway in choosing what sights to see and also more personal attention in answering all my questions about Phuket. I visited the Butterfly garden and aquarium, a cashew factory where I bought an assortment of cashew delicacies, a temple, a pearl & jewelry outlet, the Phuket Shooting Range where I gave the 9mm a try (I was hoping that I could shoot an AK47 which they didn’t have), a king cobra show, and walked along the sands of Kata and Karen beaches. On the way back to my hotel, I saw Christine’s Massage and made a mental note to check it out. Later that afternoon I took a walk along Patong Beach’s main street. I felt like I was in Waikiki (I think it’s located somewhere in the USA) with all the white sand and the tourist traps along the street with all the hawkers and touts aggressively bugging you to buy their product. I bought some DVDs and t-shirts and headed back to my hotel before the sun started setting so I can get ready for my final night in Phuket. I realized that I completely forgot about Christine’s but I decided it was now time to concentrate on Soi Bangla again to inspect the action at the rest of the Sois. I caught the motorbike but this time he wanted 30 baht. I guess the price goes up when you’re a repeat customer (this is Thailand). I first got a bite to eat at KFC and then checked out the bars on the opposite side of the street since Soi Eric and the other Sois still looked closed around 7:00 PM. The drinks were a little bit cheaper because it was happy hour and killed a little time until the action starts on the other side of the street. It’s 8:30 PM and I notice that the beer bars are in full swing now. I head across the street and check out Soi Sea Dragon first. Seems a little slow here. Played a game that looks like you hit nails into a stump with a chisel edged hammer. Looks easy but it’s quite difficult to hit the nail especially if you’ve been drinking the alcoholic stuff. The girls are very good at that game and if you make a bet to buy drinks for them if you lose you’ll most likely be broke before the nights over. Next I decided to check out Rock Hard agogo since most of the other agogos were slow. Smokin’ Joes is on the second floor and looks like an extension of Rock Hard. Had a few babes there but the night was still young. I left and headed to Soi Easy to find that most of the beer bars in that complex were slow except for a couple busy ones which I investigated. I was playing the jackpot dice game with a beauty, but then soon her friend came in and I left to take a look at Andaman Queen beer bar area. This is where you will meet the Katoey of your dreams if that is what you’re looking for. I just cruised the watering holes there just to take a look and say that I’ve been there. Some of the Katoeys do look good, but I’m not into that type of relationships. Next it’s off to Soi Gonzo. I’m greeted with a heavy downpour. The chairs are stacked up on the tables in the central area of the Soi and everybody crowds under the shelter of the beer bars waiting for the rain to stop. I stayed here for 2 hours until it’s safe to walk again without getting soaked. I was a little disappointed with the Duck Tonight bar, as they didn’t have all those lovely girls that were pictured on their website. I had a high expectation for that bar but I guess the girls were all taken already. I finally made it to Soi Eric again but I quickly found out that the beauty from Chi Chi Bar was gone already. The same went for the gal from the English Bar. I decided to end my night at Rock Hard so I limped my way there to find that it was starting to thin out a bit as there was only about half the dancers left by this time of the night. I invited a fair skinned cutie to join me for a drink. After some chitchat it was time to depart with my TG as the last dance with all the dancers on stage came to a close. We decided to check out a ST hotel across Rat-U-Thit since I would have to pay 500 baht guest fee anyway back at my hotel. The good hotels were full so we had to settle for a shabby one at 450 baht. The good news-AC, the bad news-no hot water. I guess I was destined to get the cold water treatment in Phuket. After saying good byes, I caught a motorbike and now the asking fare is 40 baht to my hotel (the price keeps going up). I smiled at the security guard as I went to my room knowing that I won’t have to pay the 500 baht fee tonight. Woke up the next morning for my breakfast buffet. I checked out of the hotel and my driver picked me up at 9:30 am to take me to the airport. While looking out the window of the plane as Phuket slowly fades away, I reflect back on the memories of the island that had beckoned me to come and explore it’s inner beauty. And I will definitely return-"when it’s low season"!