We had our first full day in Phuket. We started dry and ended so wet. Today began Songkran--The Thai New Year and Water Festival. Read that massive water fight in which everyone is fair game: walkers, scooters, people in the backs of TukTuks.... And we were squirted and hosed and had bowls of water thrown at us in the first and last scenarios. People line the streets armed with super soakers/hoses/buckets/bowls. They also ride along on the backs of scooters. There are trash bins with hoses filling them up to supply a constant supply for guns and bowls. But that's not how the day really started.
We slept in a bit then went to find breakfast and arrange a few days of activities. By then it was too late for a bigger excursion, so we went to the beach. It was recommended that we go two beaches further down the road so it would be less crowded. We were blocks away from Patong beach, but got a taxi to go past Karon Beach and stop at Kata Beach. There were very few shells, which was a surprise, but we did find a couple dozen little sand dollars!! They range from dime size to half dollar size. We still want to find a big one, but this scratched the itch a little.
The water was perfect. The sand felt a little slicker, like it had some clay, than Dubai. Matt launched the kids into the water, the kids had a "mud fight", the girls did gymnastics on the shore. Isaac tried to walk on his hands as far as them, but needs more practice, and we found little sand dollars.
When the sun started to go down, we hired a Tuk-Tuk (the ones in Phuket have 4 wheels) to take us up to a view point and then to a restaurant bit back down the hill. While on the the ride, we got our first squirts through the open side windows. Makenna models her wet splotch below. 
But who cares about a little water when you can gaze at views like these?!
We hopped back in for a quick ride to the restaurant. We didn't know the view would be so gorgeous from there as well.
Drinking coconut milk. A new flavor sensation which the kids love, I'm alright with, and Matt dislikes.
Makenna was supposed to take a picture of her mussels, but couldn't help including the sunset.
Matt's Pad Thai
My crab and vegetables.
On the way back to the hotel, the lights and music came on in the back of our Tuk-Tuk, till we requested the music be turned off since it was LOUD. We also had to figure out how to unroll the plastic window covers because we were getting drenched through the open windows with guns, bowls, buckets and an occasional hose. There was nothing we could do about the back though except try to hold a towel over the opening. Above you can see Isaac happy about being splashed and below, the covers are down!
Matt and my one hand holding up a towel. There wasn't anything we could do once we got out though. And since we missed our turn to our street, but insisted the driver keep going down a one way street because we thought it was further, we had to back track on foot and just stopped fighting the wet. We got soaked. Mostly the water was warm and actually felt good once we accepted it. But every now and then, you got ice water. OH! You just don't get used to it.
Total side note. We have seen a dozen little stands like this. Old liquor bottles (I think) filled with gas for scooters. I have not seen a real/normal gas station since being on the island. They must exist because there are cars, trucks and an occasional semi truck and you know they are filling up one liter at a time.
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