Phuket trip - October 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
It has been one year and eight months since I last stepped out of my sunny island Singapore. After a loooonnnnnnggggg wait, I'm finally embarking on my journey to another sunny island called Phuket.
I'm really glad that I had continued with my plans to Phuket despite the terrible turmoil in Bangkok then (and even now I think). Due to the upheaval situation in Bangkok, I did something I've never done before for my previous trips.... I actually paid S$56 for two pax for travel insurance... hohoho... better to be safe than sorry wat...
But my worries were actually redundant la.
There were no political banners or posters hanging on the walls, by the streets. People were all minding their own businesses and practically cared less about politics.
So for those who are planning to go Phuket Thailand, you can actually travel with ease la. The people there are really nice and friendly and always full of smiles. No wonder they are called the land of smiles...
Back to my trip.
I spent 5 days in Phuket altogether. Spent a whooping
SGD 2,600 for two persons for the air tickets, accomodation and everything. That's considered high (to some) BUT it was totally worth it.
The hotel we stayed in was fabulous. The room was great with excellent pools and sea views. The service was great with every nitty gritty details handled with special care. The pools were great and even their toilets (public and room) were great.
GREAT GREAT GREAT la...
I merely told them in my reservation slip, under the comments column, that Ah Long and I would be celebrating our honeymoon there so we would appreciate a room at a higher level.
To our utmost surprise, they laid rose pedals on the bed, forming the shape of a heart and gave us complimentary chocolate cake as "honeymoon gifts" wor... so sweet right??? See pics to believe it.
Beautifully decorated beds...
The complimentary "honeymoon" cake. We didn't manage to finish it up cos it was a little too sweet
To top it all off, they gave us the best room we could ever request for.
It's at the highest of the building (3rd level only la) and the first room. That is the room where you can have beautiful views of the sun, sand, sea as well as the pools. It's a A-star star star hotel for me man.
Oops... talk so much but I have yet to tell you the name of the hotel right???? wahahaha.... It's called Amari Coral Beach Resort. Check it out yourself.... damn nice.
View taken from the balcony of my hotel room. That's the jetty BTW
The bigger pool in Amari. People were already up and ready for some serious suntanning lo... I just woke up...
One of the restaurants in Amari. Super got the ambience for couples especially at night
Oh ya... before I forget, there's something not-so-good about the hotel as well. Can't have all the nice things one right??? :Þ
The only not-so-good point about this hotel is that it is situated right at the end of Patong beach. You can consider this a good point if you want to be away from the hustle and bustle of Patong. BUT I can guarantee you that you will consider it a killer point when you are already so weak on your feet and still have to walk up the slope and back to your hotel room (the hotel itself is not small hor). This part can kill a bit.
Of course you can always hail a cab which is always available 24/7 on the streets of Patong BUT it's not cheap lo hor... a 5 minutes ride costs THB200 lo (That's around SGD8). No bargaining of prices hor cos the tut tut and cabs there machiam all "pa ka" liao.
Day One
We spent our first day there doing practically nothing but sunbathing.... wahahaha... Relaxing mah...
In the afternoon, we headed to one of the tour agency along the streets of Patong to book our next day tour - White water rafting and elephant trekking (more description of this on Day Two). Loitered along the streets with nothing to buy, we headed back to our hotel.
Ah Long looking at za bos in bikini and smoking at the same time... super enjoying life
See the white building in front with two "holes"??? That's our hotel room. Now you know why our room is the best room one can ever request for liao right? I mean... if you are staying in the room besides us, you will not be able to see the pool. If you are staying in the room below us, you will not be able to see the pool either cos the tree will be blocking your view.... wahahahahaha...
That's Patong Beach behind me. Not the best beaches I've seen in Phuket.
Read further and you'll see more beautiful beaches...
Another restuarant in Amari. This is where the live band performs every night. This restaurant is right below the lobby nia
The hotel's lobby
Not wanting to waste our night, we book our first tour of the night,
The Phuket Fantasea Show, at the hotel reception counter. The locals were saying that all tourists should catch this show. You know... it's like you got to go to the Great Wall of China if you go Beijing like that la... Okie lo... so we went...
We spent THB 2,100 each for round trip to the show and back to the hotel after the show as well as for their gala buffet dinner.
The dinner, I tell you, damn "Sa Yang" la. We thought there were only Ang mo style food (eggs, ham, bacon, sausages) and some Chinese fried rice la. We ate quite a lot liao... and then we saw Japanese food and beef noodles at the side. Wah sey... never mind, heng there were still some space left in the stomach. We managed to savour the delicious beef noodles soup (very niceeeee, the soup I mean. I din eat the beef though.) and some fresh Japanese sushi.
Just as we were about to leave, we saw more stalls!!! There were fishball noodles stall, Indian prata and curry stall, Chinese roasted duck stall, etc etc etc.... wa biang... nearly knocked our heads against the walls man. We couldn't possibly gobble down anymore food by then.... Wasted wasted super wasted lo.
So if you are planning to go for this Phuket Fantasea tour, remember my words. Look for the stalls right at the entrance. Dun stupid stupid follow the waitresses' instructions about the buffet at the side only... abo lugi lo.
Basically, the Fantasea show is very much like Disneyland. There are souvenir shops, game stalls, elephant rides, etc there. It's definitely not as grand as Disneyland but the service is top-notched lo. Smiles smiles smiles on their faces everywhere you go.
Here are some pics taken at the Fantasea show.
At the entrance
I, being the extra... the mascot and Ah Long were doing the SaWaDee but I was doing the peace sign... super no telepathy
Me at the entrance of the restaurant, ready to attack the food... hohoho
Inside the restaurant. Beautifully decorated.
Outside one of the souvenir shops.
Anywayz, I could only provide pictures of the place itself but not the show cos phototaking and video filming were strictly prohibited. My camera was taken under custody by the friendly staff before entering the theatre so there was no way for me to take pics secretly lo... hohoho...
Before we entered the theatre for the show, I saw this shop taking pictures for tourists wearing traditional Thai costumes. I was fasinated by it and dragged Ah Long into the shop for some photo-taking.
Ah Long was quite hesitant initially but ended up having more fun than I did (the pictures say a thousand words) We spent THB 1,300 for 5 4R pictures. Expensive wor but fun...
Cock-eyed Long
I super looked like a Thai right??? Got a tourist came up to me requesting to take photo with me leh... damn malu... wahaha
Second wedding photo... hohoho
Ah Long wearing Thai costume but acting like a Japanese soldier
Or Pi Sai-ing
Day Two
Yes. As previously mentioned. I booked this white water rafting and elephant trekking tour through a tour agency we found along Patong street. The staff there were very helpful and most importantly, gave us great discount for the day tours.... wahahaha... I shall recommend this shop to you guys at the end of my entry. Very honest people there.
We went to the monkey caves first. Spent only 15 minutes there. There were loads of monkeys waiting to be fed. A bunch of bananas cost THB 20 (that's less than SGD 1) so we bought a bunch and fed them. Actually I shouldn't say to feed them la. It's more of them coming up to us and snatching the bananas from us lo... scary!!
Ah Ting feeding the monkeys...
Us and a runaway monkey...
Thereafter, we headed straight to the water rafting station. We had an amazing time doing the water rafting man. We regretted not taking the full 9km rafting so much. We only took the 5km and it was like finished in approximately 30 minutes lo.
I was soaking wet after the 5km rafting. It wasn't because our boat capsized wor. Nor was it because the water was gashing in with great speed wor. I was completely wet because those locals (captains you called them) and playful tourists used their 0ar to 'scoop' water and splashed it right at me la... extremely fun if you asked me.
This was the one and only pic we took during the rafting. Couldn't possibly bring my camera with me right??? wahahaha... We bought this pic at THB200 from the captains. See the expressions from our faces and you'll know it's fun la.
Yeah... water rafting... the best part of my whole Phuket trip. I had loads of fun with Ah Long, the captains and the couple from Australia. If you are planning to go Phuket, this is not to be missed!!! I guarantee you la... not scary at all... pure fun!!!
After rafting, it was the elephant trekking. Dunno if we were heng or suay la. We got onto an elephant which just didn't like to move. Maybe she's too old or tired ba.
Couldn't help but to feel a bit sad for those elephants. They were supposed to be roaming freely in the wild de... not carrying 'suaku' tourists like us, walking the same old route, doing the same old thing over and over again... So I can understand why the elephant was throwing her tantrums around.
She was giving the guide so much trouble that the guide had to hop off from its back and start caning her at her backside before she decided to move slightly faster. But all were temporary.
After a while, the elephant lost its cool and started 'screaming' and walking backwards...wa biang... scare the shit out of me lo. Nonetheless, we reached the ending point without a scratch. It was an experience la, I must say.
It was lunch time then. BTW, lunch was included in the tour package. We were served with some local delights like tong yum kung and it was very delicious. Sorry... din manage to take any pictures cos we were too hungry by then... :Þ
Us at the start of our elephant trekking...
Us on the elephant.. couldn't see the elephant la cos this was self taken wat...
After lunch, we headed to the waterfall. Awesome!!! Words cannot describe la... see pics ba.
"Fern" hats done by our tour guide "Bird". Very creative right the Thais...
Ah Long making it to the 'heart' of the waterfall without any help. That's very li hai okie cos you were like swimming against the current...
Ah Long doing a Tarzan. He attempted to jump off the 'cliff'. Once he started, he couldn't stop. He kept jumping and jumping and jumping lo...
Me still waiting for my turn to go into the waterfall...
There I was... struggling...
"Faster help me up leh... I bo liat liao"
I'm in I'm in.... but I couldn't stand up cos it was very slippery
Clinging on to my life on the wall...
Yeah!!! I finally made it!!!
All these actions were taken by my friendly, humourous and helpful tour guide Bird.
We were dead tired after the trip. We went back to the same tour agency to book our next tour - Island hopping and snorkelling (Phi Phi Island, Maya Island and Khai Island) by speedboat for the following day before having dinner.
Beautiful purplish sunset... taken just from my hotel room...
Mac figuring doing a SaWaDee... Ah Long imitating
On our way to the restaurant, we saw some Ah Guas along Bangla Street. I was holding on to my camera, wanting to take some pics of them when this Ah Gua came up to me and pull me over for photo taking... wah... so good wor... "She" even placed my hands on her hard breasts wor. And then it was Ah Long's turn.
Just as we were about to leave, the Ah Gua asked for tips. Alamak... nothing comes for free ya. Okie lo. Gave THB 50 lo... hohoho... to our surprise, the Ah Gua said "No No No Sir, THB 100 minimum. And hab to gib 2 people so it's 200 baht".
Wahahahaha... daylight robbery sia. Two pics for THB 200. Bo bian... we gave quite willingly la. While walking to the restaurant, we regretted not squeezing her boobs harder lo.... wahahaha..
That's me with the beautiful Ah Guas... look where my hand was
That's Ah Long with the Ah Guas... look where the hand of the ladyboy in red was
Secretly 'jim' by my husband in front of me without me realising wor... li hai li hai...
We chanced upon a Japanese restaurant at the Jungceylon Shopping Complex. Look at the spread on our table and guess how much we spent??? Very cheap lo... Less than SGD 30.
Day Three
We paid THB 1,400 each for our Island hopping and snorkelling tour. I tell you hor... it's cheap la. I actually checked with another tour mate who happened to sit beside me in the speedboat... wahahaha... she paid THB 1,800 each for the same trip... hohoho!!!
If you asked me, I would prefer my first tour than the second cos I'm not really a beach person. I felt sick when the boat came to a halt. I actually vomitted somemore lo... so embarassing.
Anyway, the beaches were really really beautiful. The sand was so fine and the water crystal clear. See See See...
Tour guide says this is Maya Beach... but the notice board says Krabi... I'm getting a little confused.
Beautiful... I mean the scenary... not the bikini babes hor...
Self taken again
This is the cave where the locals climb up the bamboo sticks, without any safety measures, to collect the birds nests... yum yum yum
We reached a point where there were a lot of monkeys. Other tourists were feeding them with bananas while we were feeding them with none other than my favourite COKE... hohoho... our boat din have any bananas leh... bo bian
Close-Up pic of monkeys drinking Coke
Me on a tree swing. I was suffering from mild seasick then. Couldn't eat much so came out from the restaurant to catch a breather.
It was my first time snorkelling. Didn't really know how to use the equipments initially. Water kept gushing into my mouth the moment I submerged... wa cau... the water was super salty lo... Luckily, smart me figured out how to breathe through my mouth using the equipment in no time... wahahaha...
Enough said, here's some pics for your viewing again.
Finished snorkelling liao
Ah Long enjoying a dip with the fishes... hehehehe
Ah Long purposely pulled out his bench for a tan. I was trying my best to stop getting tanned. My bench would always be under the umbrella... ella eh eh eh... wahahaha
This is Khai Island for you guys
It's time to go back now...
Our speedboat
If you have noticed, I had my shirt and shorts on the day before when I did the rafting. Then, I took off my top with only my shorts at the start of the island hopping trip and lastly, I wore only bikini during snorkelling... wahahaha... bo bian leh... everyone was down to their bikini. I would be the only odd one out if I were to keep my shirt and shorts on lo.
Anyway, okie la cos my figure wasn't the worst of all. Those China women's figures were far worse than mine... wahahaha... They never shaved and had humongous fats around their waist but were happily jumping around wor. Totally oblivious that their fats were jumping with them as well. Disgusting sight. OMG!!! Luckily I had puked that day.
Day Four
We were too tired to wake up at 6.30am Thailand time (7.30am Singapore time) for 3 consecutive days that we decided to take a break from all the touring. We slept till 9am before waking up to take the free shuttle ride to Kata Beach (provided by Amari Hotel).
The free shuttle bus provided by Amari. They had this service once per day. 10am from the hotel to Kata Beach and 3.30pm from Kata Beach back to hotel.
I thought there were nothing much to spend there. Boy I was wrong lo.
The beach benches cost THB 200 per set. We went skiing for 20 minutes which cost us THB 1,000 and Ah Long went para-surfing at THB 1,500. Plus our lunch there, we easily spent a total of THB 3,000 that afternoon. That's Sing Dollar equivalent of approximately 130 lo. Wohoho... expensive sia but again it was worth it la. Another experience.
Kata Beach is beautiful but VERY VERY HOT!!! It was where me and Ah Long got our tan. We practically become local Thais after spending an afternoon there.
Kata Beach. That's Katathani Hotel in front. I was considering staying over at that hotel previously de cos its amenities and service were as good as Amari (Based on the reviews of other travellers in
TripAdvisor).
So much cleaner and less populated than Patong beach
Ah Long enjoying his Char Kway Teow
Ah Ting enjoying her chicken burger
Woahhh... us skiing
Swee... but expensive... hohohoho
Ah Long preparing for his para-surfing
This cheeky fellow told us that he was 8 months pregnant. We thought he was joking about his belly but actually he meant his wife... wahahaha...
So many people helping out wor...
Ready...
Off Ah Long goes... *Notice: The instructor has no safety lines or life jackets on him. If he falls, Ah Long is on his own
Go one round... come back liao.
Now it's untangling time
Photo taking session with some of the crew
Dinner time
We had our first buffet dinner at Seafood Terrace restaurant along Patong Beach. Spent about THB 1,200. The food was so-so. I din have much appetite to eat as well but the live band compensated it all. It was good... especially the female lead singer. But I was the only one enjoying the music cos Ah Long was busy eating lo... wahahaha...
It drizzled quite a bit during this time of the season in Phuket so we were caught in the rain for a couple of nights while strolling along the beach. Luckily there was always a McDonald or Subway nearby for us to take shelter.
A photo first before diggin in. My plate of dishes didn't seem too appetizing
The live band at SeaSide Terrace restaurant. The female singer was good...
So dark la this picture turned out to be...
I bought 2 pairs of devils horn and a battery operated lightstick (Ah Ma those kind) at SGD 8.
Ah Long's shacked face. He simply dun understand why I can take pictures anytime, anyday, anywhere...
Day Five (Our last day in Phuket)
We had yet to explore the jetty at the Hotel. So before we checked out, we hurried to the jetty to take some pictures.
We actually had our bath before going to the Jetty de but we ended up all sweaty again after the photo taking session so we took a quick bath to cool ourselves again before checking out.
Us at the jetty... exclusively for Amari Hotel guests only hor
Very Hot Hot Hot... lying on these benches is a challenge lo
Machiam just come back from snorkelling...
Me and my transition specs. Never before had it turn so dark lo... so you imagine how blazing hot was the sun in Phuket lo...
And then I realised that we had not taken photos at the hotel rooms wor... so we hastily took some pictures in our hotel rooms and off we went.
At the balcony of our room
We did some last minute shopping and walking around before heading back to our hotel for our cabbie to arrive.
Low tide low tide
The leaves were almost as tall as me... Ah Long said I suaku but I really never see such big leaves in Singapore before wor...
It wasn't hard to imagine us being all sweaty and stuff after a afternoon of walking in Patong streets. We actually asked the reception if there was a shower room for us to take a quick shower.
There was no such room lo but this hotel was really thoughtful la. They led us to a standard room for us to take our shower there. We believe that the room was purposely vacant for the sake of allowing tourists like us (taking night flights but checking out early) to take a shower lo. What more could we ask for man???
It felt super shiok after a cool bath and we left Phuket with smiles on our faces.
A rainbow to bid me farewell... in Mr Sunny's cab, on our way to Phuket airport.
Yesh... before I end my entry... Here's the photo of the tour agency
This is the agency I'm talking about - Andaman Orchid Travel.
Look for this hardworking guy called Cha if you ever go to Andaman Orchid Travel. He's good!!!
The map
We shall be back, Phuket!!!