My Life has Just Begun: The Land of Beaches: Phuket holiday (19-23 Aug 10)
Phuket Holiday
19-23 August 2010
Sawatdee Ka!
(Hello - *Ka for female/ Karp for male)
It was my first trip to Phuket.
The sun, the sand and the sea, we were all excited to make our first voyage to Phuket, an island on the South of Thailand. An island hit by the devastating Tsunami wave in December 2004, I was curious to find out what the place has become and how the people are coping. Also, I need a break away from work!!
Beach would do me good, I thought. And it sure did.
Arriving at Phuket International Airport, we were met with touting taxis at the entrance.
We asians are probably not the target of these boisterous lot, you will not fail to notice Caucasians making up the majority of tourists landing on this island. We disregarded the taxis, which would cost almost 700Bt. We boarded a shared 12-seater mini van instead, which will take you to any beaches you're staying at - for a mere 180Bt/pax.
It was a 45 mins drive to our guesthouse, Jinta Andaman. Be informed that the driver shall make a stopover at one of the travel agencies where they would try to sell you hotel/day tour packages. There is no obligation and you could simply say no and the driver would be on the road again. No fuss.
Jinta Andaman
A beautiful boutique hotel built on a redevelopment site between Kata and Karon Beach, we love this place.There were still new projects under construction - new public pool, new condominium, new residences, I would think the Tsunami played a part in these new ventures, and new road sign like the below.
The room had a zen touch to its furnishing - black and white, and clean.
Every room has a different picture displayed on the wall, and I like ours.
And there were interesting quotes in the toilet too...
Although it is situated further away from the bustling night streets of Patong Beach, we prefer a separate place for quiet rest and Jinta fits the bill.
Know what, and the room here is soooo sooooo soooo cheap!
For just 600Bt/room, it cost less than S$30/night! It feels almost like a standard hotel, of cos, without the pool. But who needs the pool when you can have the big blue sea a distance away?
Friendly owner, helpful assistant, Recommended.
Phuket is an easy place to manoeuvre.
Ignore all the touting drivers persuading you to take their ride, if you can ride a motorbike. It is sooo cheap! - 150Bt/day rental. That's not even S$10!
Take time to visit the Big Buddha, a sight you can see from afar. It was a steep ride up the mountains. The Buddha structure was built tile by tile. Amazing work.
They were still constructing though, the lotus flower which Buddha sits on was covered with scaffolding and the place was calling for donations to the tile pieces in order to complete the statue.
We visited Ton Sai Waterfall in the North of Phuket. Nothing like the Negara Falls (duh!), but this natural waterfall was a charming sight we Singaporeans hardly get to see, apart from the largest man-made waterfall at Jurong Birdpark. We took a quiet stroll in the park and Wen snapped some really great pictures of the waterfall.
The main attraction in Phuket - The Beaches!!
Main beaches from the south: Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Patong Beach
Take a ride on a motorbike along the beaches, the feeling was amazing! We googled for 'chances of thunderstorm' which dampened our mood, but were pleased that luck was on our side and the sky was clear and breezy!
One of the not so good days saw the red flag with the no-swimming sign up at Kata beach, which signalled strong waves. But, you'll still see people swimming in the danger waters, caucasians mostly.
The best view of the sea however, is not during daytime, but at sunset.
AT SUNSET
View from Karon beach
View from Karon View Point
Head down South to Prompthep Cape (southernmost point) to catch one of the best sunset view!
Sky lanterns, also known as Kongming Lantern are airborne paper lanterns traditionally used in warfares in ancient china. It is now popular for celebrating festivals in Asian cultures, especially so in Thailand. Known as khom loi (floating lantern) or khom fai (fire lantern), the Loy Kratong festival in which couples gather on the riverbanks to float flowers and candles, launch fireworks and release sky lanterns together. It is considered good luck to release a sky lantern, and many Thais believe they are symbolic of problems and worries floating away. We were lucky to be able to spot this at Patong Beach, by the tourists nonetheless.
@Patong Beach
It's a love and hate affair at Patong Beach.
It is the most popular tourist beach and the place is filled with shopping bazaars, malls and people. If you plan to stay here, be prepared for the noisy and bustling night life. Famous for the A-go-go shows at Bangla St, Patong, the night pubs and clubs came to live with lots and lots of people.
The parking lot for motorbike becomes a nightmare at night. Bikes were parked so close together that you'll need lots of luck in searching for yours. People actually moved your bike just to squeeze theirs in!
Day Tour to Phi Phi Island!
We haven't gotten enough of beaches and decided to take up a one-day tour to Phi Phi Island!
A 90 min ferry ride from Phuket, take time to admire the stunning rock formations.
Jellyfishes!!
Phi Phi Island Shore
Phi Phi island became popular when it was chosen as the island backdrop for 'The Beach' starring Leonardo di Caprio. The water was clear blue and beautiful!
I was thrilled when the guide took us out on another smaller boat to tour around Phi Phi island (Maya Bay, Monkey Beach). This cave housed many bird's nest which collectors have built wooden ladders to harvest them.
We were then told to get ready for snorkelling!!
It was my first trip down underwater!
I was totally lost for words when I looked down into the water with my huge goggles.
Fishes were swimming by my side, clown-fishes, schools of fishes, sea urchins, corals!
This was the most memorable moment of my trip!
Finding food was never a problem in Phuket, you can choose from the high end restaurants (which you'll find mostly caucasians - and alas, the local companions) to the low end hawker stalls which can feed us with 2 bowls of noodles, 1 bowl of chicken rice, and 2 Fantas for less than S$10 bucks! The many sauces and garnishes on the table to complement your dish, every food we tried was tasty!
Time Out Gelato Bar @ Patong
Refreshing low fat ice cream, just the thing you need in such a hot sunny weather.
Must-try - pineapple! really really nice!! The mango wasn't as good.
Roadside BBQ stall at Kata
This was our supper on one of those late nights when wen rode past a simple road side stall BBQ-ing pork and chicken drumstick. The smell of the BBQ was hard to resist and the glaze on the meat was too tempting! We bought back to our hotel and savoured the dish with Chang beer. The meat was really tender and good! Looked just as good as the pictures!
@Night Market
The visit to the night market at Phuket was also an interesting one. You'll hear about night markets from touting drivers who couldn't wait to bring you to one or chanced upon one as there were many around.
Never seen such big peas! I probably tried it in one of my meals in chopped slices.
These BBQ sausages look like beads!!
6 Restaurant @Patong
An inexpensive and tasty restaurant, much better than any other food places and there's normally a queue in the evening (from the couple of nights we were there.)
Highly recommended by Wen, try their Cha Yan (Iced Milk Tea) - concocted with their local brand carnation milk, this orange milk tea has a unique taste and fragrance.
Nicer than Koi, very much cheaper too!
Black Canyon Coffee Place
Similar to TCC in Singapore, the presentation of the coffee and furnishing here were unique. Of course, at a much cheaper price too. I ordered their popular Black Canyon Ice Coffee and it was rich and aromatic. I thought the picture of the coffee in boots was interesting too, but it's black coffee, not my cup.
Two Chef Restaurant
We saw advertisement for this restaurant everywhere in phuket. On tourist pamphlets, Tuk Tuks (mini bus) and at 3 different locations in Phuket, we decided to try when a caucasian saw us flipping through the menu at the entrance claimed that we should, "food is really good" he said.
I ordered the non-alcoholic Phuket sunrise (in orange) and Wen ordered the alcoholic Phuket sunset (in blue). So pretty! And the little dish was a complimentary appetiser - duck meat. Tasted really good with their special sauce.
Our main dish came...
Wen ordered this beef cubes dish, served with a unique side dish which from one look, we thought it was rice! Even from a closer look, we wouldn't have guessed that it was actually potatoes!
Wen liked this potato gratin which was served piping hot and you could still see the sizzle on the melted cheese! Nice!
Mine was a BBQ chicken fillet which was tender and sweet.
We liked the ambiance and service was impeccable. Even the toilet at the restaurant was of high class standard, complete with face towels.
All these food and service caused us both only 980Bt!!! Approx. S$42!
We spent our last day at a massage parlour just beside our hotel.
There were so many parlours to choose from, I chose one that looked clean and less dodgy (no heavily make up/scantily dressed ladies).
For just 200Bt, you can have a full body Thai massage for an hour!!
Cheapppp!! And good too!
Robinsons, Big C, Central Festival mall, these are some of the big malls you'll find in Phuket.
We caught a Thai movie at CFM - a romantic comedy, it was hilarious!!
Oh yes, another thing about watching movie in Thailand. Do not get all comfortable on your seat yet while watching the sneak previews/adverts, you will need to stand at attention as they play a video to pay tribute to the King before the movie starts!!
Here's the trailer for the movie - Kuan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger) - A+++ recommended!!
Sawatdee Ka!
(Hello - *Ka for female/ Karp for male)
It was my first trip to Phuket.
The sun, the sand and the sea, we were all excited to make our first voyage to Phuket, an island on the South of Thailand. An island hit by the devastating Tsunami wave in December 2004, I was curious to find out what the place has become and how the people are coping. Also, I need a break away from work!!
Beach would do me good, I thought. And it sure did.
Arriving at Phuket International Airport, we were met with touting taxis at the entrance.
We asians are probably not the target of these boisterous lot, you will not fail to notice Caucasians making up the majority of tourists landing on this island. We disregarded the taxis, which would cost almost 700Bt. We boarded a shared 12-seater mini van instead, which will take you to any beaches you're staying at - for a mere 180Bt/pax.
It was a 45 mins drive to our guesthouse, Jinta Andaman. Be informed that the driver shall make a stopover at one of the travel agencies where they would try to sell you hotel/day tour packages. There is no obligation and you could simply say no and the driver would be on the road again. No fuss.
Jinta Andaman
A beautiful boutique hotel built on a redevelopment site between Kata and Karon Beach, we love this place.There were still new projects under construction - new public pool, new condominium, new residences, I would think the Tsunami played a part in these new ventures, and new road sign like the below.
The room had a zen touch to its furnishing - black and white, and clean.
Every room has a different picture displayed on the wall, and I like ours.
And there were interesting quotes in the toilet too...
Although it is situated further away from the bustling night streets of Patong Beach, we prefer a separate place for quiet rest and Jinta fits the bill.
Know what, and the room here is soooo sooooo soooo cheap!
For just 600Bt/room, it cost less than S$30/night! It feels almost like a standard hotel, of cos, without the pool. But who needs the pool when you can have the big blue sea a distance away?
Friendly owner, helpful assistant, Recommended.
Phuket is an easy place to manoeuvre.
Ignore all the touting drivers persuading you to take their ride, if you can ride a motorbike. It is sooo cheap! - 150Bt/day rental. That's not even S$10!
Take time to visit the Big Buddha, a sight you can see from afar. It was a steep ride up the mountains. The Buddha structure was built tile by tile. Amazing work.
They were still constructing though, the lotus flower which Buddha sits on was covered with scaffolding and the place was calling for donations to the tile pieces in order to complete the statue.
We visited Ton Sai Waterfall in the North of Phuket. Nothing like the Negara Falls (duh!), but this natural waterfall was a charming sight we Singaporeans hardly get to see, apart from the largest man-made waterfall at Jurong Birdpark. We took a quiet stroll in the park and Wen snapped some really great pictures of the waterfall.
The main attraction in Phuket - The Beaches!!
Main beaches from the south: Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Patong Beach
Take a ride on a motorbike along the beaches, the feeling was amazing! We googled for 'chances of thunderstorm' which dampened our mood, but were pleased that luck was on our side and the sky was clear and breezy!
One of the not so good days saw the red flag with the no-swimming sign up at Kata beach, which signalled strong waves. But, you'll still see people swimming in the danger waters, caucasians mostly.
The best view of the sea however, is not during daytime, but at sunset.
AT SUNSET
View from Karon beach
View from Karon View Point
Head down South to Prompthep Cape (southernmost point) to catch one of the best sunset view!
Sky lanterns, also known as Kongming Lantern are airborne paper lanterns traditionally used in warfares in ancient china. It is now popular for celebrating festivals in Asian cultures, especially so in Thailand. Known as khom loi (floating lantern) or khom fai (fire lantern), the Loy Kratong festival in which couples gather on the riverbanks to float flowers and candles, launch fireworks and release sky lanterns together. It is considered good luck to release a sky lantern, and many Thais believe they are symbolic of problems and worries floating away. We were lucky to be able to spot this at Patong Beach, by the tourists nonetheless.
@Patong Beach
It's a love and hate affair at Patong Beach.
It is the most popular tourist beach and the place is filled with shopping bazaars, malls and people. If you plan to stay here, be prepared for the noisy and bustling night life. Famous for the A-go-go shows at Bangla St, Patong, the night pubs and clubs came to live with lots and lots of people.
The parking lot for motorbike becomes a nightmare at night. Bikes were parked so close together that you'll need lots of luck in searching for yours. People actually moved your bike just to squeeze theirs in!
Day Tour to Phi Phi Island!
We haven't gotten enough of beaches and decided to take up a one-day tour to Phi Phi Island!
A 90 min ferry ride from Phuket, take time to admire the stunning rock formations.
Jellyfishes!!
Phi Phi Island Shore
Phi Phi island became popular when it was chosen as the island backdrop for 'The Beach' starring Leonardo di Caprio. The water was clear blue and beautiful!
I was thrilled when the guide took us out on another smaller boat to tour around Phi Phi island (Maya Bay, Monkey Beach). This cave housed many bird's nest which collectors have built wooden ladders to harvest them.
We were then told to get ready for snorkelling!!
It was my first trip down underwater!
I was totally lost for words when I looked down into the water with my huge goggles.
Fishes were swimming by my side, clown-fishes, schools of fishes, sea urchins, corals!
This was the most memorable moment of my trip!
Finding food was never a problem in Phuket, you can choose from the high end restaurants (which you'll find mostly caucasians - and alas, the local companions) to the low end hawker stalls which can feed us with 2 bowls of noodles, 1 bowl of chicken rice, and 2 Fantas for less than S$10 bucks! The many sauces and garnishes on the table to complement your dish, every food we tried was tasty!
Time Out Gelato Bar @ Patong
Refreshing low fat ice cream, just the thing you need in such a hot sunny weather.
Must-try - pineapple! really really nice!! The mango wasn't as good.
Roadside BBQ stall at Kata
This was our supper on one of those late nights when wen rode past a simple road side stall BBQ-ing pork and chicken drumstick. The smell of the BBQ was hard to resist and the glaze on the meat was too tempting! We bought back to our hotel and savoured the dish with Chang beer. The meat was really tender and good! Looked just as good as the pictures!
@Night Market
The visit to the night market at Phuket was also an interesting one. You'll hear about night markets from touting drivers who couldn't wait to bring you to one or chanced upon one as there were many around.
Never seen such big peas! I probably tried it in one of my meals in chopped slices.
These BBQ sausages look like beads!!
6 Restaurant @Patong
An inexpensive and tasty restaurant, much better than any other food places and there's normally a queue in the evening (from the couple of nights we were there.)
Highly recommended by Wen, try their Cha Yan (Iced Milk Tea) - concocted with their local brand carnation milk, this orange milk tea has a unique taste and fragrance.
Nicer than Koi, very much cheaper too!
Black Canyon Coffee Place
Similar to TCC in Singapore, the presentation of the coffee and furnishing here were unique. Of course, at a much cheaper price too. I ordered their popular Black Canyon Ice Coffee and it was rich and aromatic. I thought the picture of the coffee in boots was interesting too, but it's black coffee, not my cup.
Two Chef Restaurant
We saw advertisement for this restaurant everywhere in phuket. On tourist pamphlets, Tuk Tuks (mini bus) and at 3 different locations in Phuket, we decided to try when a caucasian saw us flipping through the menu at the entrance claimed that we should, "food is really good" he said.
I ordered the non-alcoholic Phuket sunrise (in orange) and Wen ordered the alcoholic Phuket sunset (in blue). So pretty! And the little dish was a complimentary appetiser - duck meat. Tasted really good with their special sauce.
Our main dish came...
Wen ordered this beef cubes dish, served with a unique side dish which from one look, we thought it was rice! Even from a closer look, we wouldn't have guessed that it was actually potatoes!
Wen liked this potato gratin which was served piping hot and you could still see the sizzle on the melted cheese! Nice!
Mine was a BBQ chicken fillet which was tender and sweet.
We liked the ambiance and service was impeccable. Even the toilet at the restaurant was of high class standard, complete with face towels.
All these food and service caused us both only 980Bt!!! Approx. S$42!
We spent our last day at a massage parlour just beside our hotel.
There were so many parlours to choose from, I chose one that looked clean and less dodgy (no heavily make up/scantily dressed ladies).
For just 200Bt, you can have a full body Thai massage for an hour!!
Cheapppp!! And good too!
Robinsons, Big C, Central Festival mall, these are some of the big malls you'll find in Phuket.
We caught a Thai movie at CFM - a romantic comedy, it was hilarious!!
Oh yes, another thing about watching movie in Thailand. Do not get all comfortable on your seat yet while watching the sneak previews/adverts, you will need to stand at attention as they play a video to pay tribute to the King before the movie starts!!
Here's the trailer for the movie - Kuan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger) - A+++ recommended!!
(Extracted from hallofus-c.blogspot.com)
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posted by ZeeVinCeZ at 4:10 PM
1 Comments:
Woohooo~ I love Phuket. Find some short video clips on the Vegetarian Festival street procession that I posted 2 years back. Amazing!!
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