This was purely a relaxation and family retreat holiday. No adventure needed or wanted. Thailand can be sort of sketchy place so we chose the most family oriented places on the island. We chose well, yes very well. JW Marriott Resort and Spa was the ultimate….and cheaper then a hotel in Winnemucca, Nevada. For reals!!! The pools, the ponds, the patios…ahh what pleasure. Since it rained, no typhooned, we spent much of the time lounging on Thai style lounges in the open hotel lobby as the rain pelted the reflecting pools. We kept comfortably busy watching movies on the computer or Skype family as smiling ladies brought us tropical drinks with lemon grass straws. Of course we swam in those luxurious pools whilst the rain kept on. Wet is wet. We also enjoyed The Laguna Beach Resort which had a lovely and safe beach and an awesome pool!

Sometimes there would be a break in the storm and we would head for a grocery store to stock up on treats and snacks, mainly see weed, chips and chocolate. All Thai food is delicious! Resort food expensive, busy town food cheap, beach shack food the best, and cost right in the middle.
But when the buffett breakfast is included in the package then you can go crazy and eat twice as much because you have to take care of the lunchtime hungries. The Morris family loves buffets.

Okay, when was the last time you walked out of your hotel room and ran into a baby elephant? Totally normal occurrence right? Yeah, totally. Everyday “Mina” and several other brothers sisters go on little walks to meet the excited guests at the pool, the breakfast patio, or in the hallways. She is a friendly little beast with her trunk excitedly checking out all your belongings and searching for food. She grabbed the top of my water bottle and I ended up having to bottle feed her which was the coolest animal interaction I have ever had. She gave all my kids real suction cup kisses after she wrapped her heavy trunk tightly around their fragile little necks. It seemed like she thought she was just one of the kids. She’d be a heavy playmate. Later, we were able to actually ride mama and papa elephant while they strolled along a forest pasture. Do you realize how powerful elephants are? They grabbed bunches of bamboo growing from the ground with their massively strong trunks like it was grass blades. Their power sort of freaked me out!

Phuket is all about spa. Its a giant spa resort. Messages, smells, lotions, and water. Sun salutations to Phuket!!!