We returned to Keri's in the wee hours of the first day of 2013, had a nightcap and off to bed for the 3 of us. We had a Elephant Trekking and Big Buddha tour booked for 11.30am. Emily who was a paying visitor from Denmark staying on Fearless with Jan and Norma had asked us if we would like to do the tour with her.
With slight hangovers and lack of sleep (all except for Emily, the only sensible one amongst us), we departed on time, making stops on the way to pick up other tourists. The Elephant Trekking was the first stop. It was a half hour ride and towards the end I was allowed to clamber down on to the head of the elephant and ride her from. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, though to start with I thought I was going to fall off. Next it was onto the Big Bhudda which sits on top of a hill overlooking Phuket. It is being built by donations from the tourists and locals who go up there to visit and worship. It was a half day tour, so we were returned back to the jetty by 3.30pm, had an early dinner and retired to bed at a reasonable hour.