PHUKET: Three boys at a Bangkok orphanage for children living with disabilities wanted to ''go on an airplane,'' and look where they finished up. On two beautiful islands for most of a day, enjoying some Phuket magic.

With the boys from the Camillian Home on their Make-A-Wish Foundation trip to Phuket came two other boys from Pranakorn Sri Ayudhaya Hospital, plus family and carers and Indy, the little sister of one of the boys.

It was a splash in the sea and the sunshine that soon had the children, aged seven to 16, enjoying the fun.

For those who could see, even with difficulty, the beauty of the day was obvious, with the crew on the speedboat Ooddee showing how much helping out meant to them, too.

For Rat, 13, who is blind, the beauty of the surroundings required an explanation, along with the inevitable bumps he could feel as the boat headed out to the islands.

Once in the water with carer Nok Chatlak, the feeling of fish taking bread from his hand provided a real sense of what his friends were enjoying.

Just about everyone remembers their first day at the beach. The touch of the sand, the splashes, the fun. For these kids, the memory will linger just as strongly.

Combined with a FantaSea show and a night at the Hard Rock Cafe where Rats was due to show how well he plays the guitar, the brief holiday to Phuket made for fun for all.

The Ooddee crew and the others who helped won't forget the outing in a hurry, either. The boys' happy, smiling faces made sure of that.

And they had another airplane ride still to come, going home.

Asia World Enterprise helps out with disadvantaged children at least once every year. Asian Dolphins provided the Ooddee, with accommodation by Courtyard by Marriott Patong.

If you wish to help, contact William Kuipers, President, Make-A-Wish Foundation Thailand on 0819048900 or e: wk@bconcept.asia