Phuket (16-19 Aug 08)

Finally its time to go on our Phuket trip. Just realised that we booked the tickets online (Tiger) in Mar'08 (5 months before the trip) !

Bright and sunny weather awaits us in Phuket. It's even hotter than Singapore. At least over there one can see the blue skies and very few clouds. Sun, sand and sea ! It's simply great. I love the weather.

In fact, i was a little sick (mild cold) the night before i went on this trip and i was a little worried. But i prayed and gave thanks to Daddy God that He had taken this sickness when He hung on the cross and so this sickness cannot be on me ! I woke up completely well (with no symptoms) the next morning of the flight. Praise God !

16Aug08 - Upon touched down, we checked-in at our hotel (Patong Bay Garden Resort) and proceeded to walk around the place. It was then that i realised that the Patong beach is DIRECTLY in front of our hotel ! So near ! One of my friends, C, had been to Phuket and so she guided us around the place. We had lunch at food court and bought 4 dresses and 2 sarongs in total. Hee hee..

17Aug08 - We went one a day tour with one of the travel desk at 700baht per pax. We were brought to 2 view points where we were able to take very nice pics of the beaches (Rawai, Karon, Patong etc). We went to Wat Chalong. A place with many temples. It was here that where i first heard what what fire-crackers sounds like. Back home here, fire-crackers had long been banned and at most, one can try to squeeze at Chinatown during Chinese New Year eve to catch them being lited and going off. It was truly an ear-opener for me ! Haha

We also went to Safari reserve park, where we took the ox-cart and elephant ride. we even witnessed the ox shitting right in front of us ! Hee hee.. no problem, not as smelly as we thought it would be. The elephant ride was fun but kinda dangerous and we were so high up. Elephants are really HUGE and STRONG indeed. We also watched the elephant and monkey performances.

Lunch was at a shopping centre (Big C) . The place was not very well managed and there were still much space for renovations and expansions. However, the food court here is much cheaper compared to the one we had for lunch yesterday.

Lastly, we were brought to a crystal, precious stones jewellery shop where there are jewellery & souvenirs for sale. We were then transported back to our hotel after this.

For dinner tonight, we decided to have KFC and ate at one of the outlets balcony overseeing the most "happening" street that was cordoned off after 7 pm. It was fun watching the angmos, the ah kuas, and all the rest of the people from this high vantage view point. Hee hee... There were many pole dancings by skimpily, gayly or elaborately (like with feathers??) dressed ladies (or men) on the many pubs and discos here. The whole street is brightly lited and very happening. We also saw many very pretty ladies (or men) touting for business with the men along the streets... it was a new sight for me and i feel so "mountain-tortoise" at that very moment. They were so open with sex here.

18Aug08 - Spent the day walking around the place, the beach, and in the afternoon, we boarded a taxi uncle who took us to one of the view points to see the spectacular sunset. However, before that, this taxi uncle brought us to a local foodstuffs shop to buy some local foodstuffs too. My friends managed to buy some food back. At the view point, my friends and i also managed to buy some very nice T-shirts as gifts for our family and friends back home. I had initially thought it would be more expensive here as it is a touristy place afterall. But i am wrong, the stuffs sold here are generally cheaper than that of Patong beach.

Tonight's dinner was at a seafood restaurant at the foot of the view point where we just saw the sunset of the day. It was recommended by the taxi uncle. We had 2 blue crabs (400grams) cooked with black pepper, 1 steamed fish (700 grams) cantonese style, tom-yum soup, and a plate of veges. We also had fresh fruit juices. The restaurant was by the beach and it was great to hear the sound of waves hitting the shores, enjoying the sea breeze while having our dinner.

After reaching hotel tonight, we decided to walk to the most happening street again. This time, we did not see so many "sights" compared to the night before. But still the place was bustling with lots of activities, drinking etc.

We decided to sleep earlier tonight as our flight was 10.25am the next morning.
We had our breakfast at the hotel. They served good american breakfast. I like their omelettes a lot. Hee hee... We booked the same taxi uncle who took us the day before for the trip from hotel to the airport. Thank God he was punctual.

All in all, it was a good trip. The only pity was that we did not bring enough $$. We wanted to see Fantasea, but it was expensive. 1500baht for just the show, 1900baht for show+dinner, transport was 250baht (but most travel agency waive the transport charge). We also did not do island hopping or canoeing which i wanted to do very much. The next time i will want to do all this.

Oh before i forget, we had KING-sized bed in our hotel. It was superby comfortable. Hee hee..
Next time my own house, i will get a king size bed too. Yeah..