I blogged T.O.D.A.Y @ 00:00

Sawadee Krub! (1 Oct - 5 Oct)

Prelude

One month prior to the trip to Phuket, there was news of political and social unrest in Thailand (epicentre being in Bangkok), so we were still quite sceptical whether we can go ahead with the trip or not. But fortunately, it settled slightly and Phuket was not affected that much.


Day 1 (1/10/08 Wednesday)


Tiger airways

Woke up at 4.45am as our flight is in the morning at 8.15am; reached the Budget terminal at around 6.15am. In retrospect, it is too early; dun really need to follow the 2-hour rule. There was nothing much to do there anyway. Flight TR152. We reached Phuket airport at around 8.55 am Thailand time (Thailand is one hour earlier than us). We had booked the transport from the airport to our resort hotel in advance (cost 150 bahts each) and that took us 1 hour.

First impression of the resort – reminds me of my Bintan tour. Laid-back and tranquil. The receptionist welcomed us with this lemongrass drink which was rather refreshing and made us have the impulse to find out where the grass were from. Our rooms were right at the end of the resort so it was quite a walk. Hotel room no. 7328 (mine) to 7330.


amari coral


the lemongrass drink and the cold towels

We shopped along Patong beach and had our lunch at one of the restaurants when the rain started pouring (what a way to start a day). Luckily, it stopped. Lunch mainly comprised thai dishes such as the green curry, fish in coconut, sweet and sour pork, etc. Cost 2835B in total.


lunch

Touristy place, with lots of Ang Mohs. We continued our shopping spree in this stretch of pasar-malam style shops. The items they sell were very similar – clothes with thai-prints, fake labelled goods, billabong bottoms, etc. I bought some shirts and Bermudas, ranging from 150 – 200 bahts each. Must remember to bargain!

Spent the late afternoon swimming in the hotel pool while some of us decided to sleep it off. Dinner wise – we met a guy who recommended this seafood house near Phuket town and offered to drive us to-and-fro at 300 bahts (in retrospect, the transport was cheap, especially when it is air-conditioned, bi-directional and comfortable, as compared to the Tuk-tuks which cost pretty much to same. We had crabs, prawns, chicken etc. Pretty decent at 2835B. Just that we were accompanied by the mozzies.


place to choose the live seafood


Day 2 (2/10/08 Thursday)

Woke up at 8.50am and had the buffet breakfast in the hotel which we paid around 20 sing dollars. Entirely not worth it. Not much variety to begin with. Spent the rest of the morning in the beach where some of us had para-gliding and the rest of us just frolicking around. Went back to the resort hotel for a swim till around 3pm. There were 2 pools in the hotel; this one that we went to today was cleaner and deeper, and nearer to our room too.

We had late lunch at Lai Lay Tong restaurant, as recommended by Sarah’s friend, and it was well worth the money @ 1200B in total. Quantity was small but tasty. Continued walking and shopping along the streets; bought a couple of more clothings for myself and my family.


lunch - cheap and delicious!


ouch!

Next, we had massage at one of the parlours. I had a Thai full body massage for 1 hour, which is… well… painful and ticklish more than anything else. From the way the masseur cracked our necks, I wondered will that cause any disc prolapse or subluxation or not.

Dinner, or rather supper – we had it at Black Canyon Restaurant at a shopping mall called Jungceylon.


Day 3 (3/10/08 Friday)

Woke up at 7.45am and had the usual breakfast buffet after the morning gym session. Slacked the morning away at the pool, while some of us had the in-house massage. Had a steamboat-style lunch at a nearby shopping mall, followed by shopping for local products such as the porkfloss crackers, pineapple/durian crackers, coconut sweets, etc.

Dinner was at this restaurant called Panyaak, which is actually a sea-diameter across from our beach resort. Took a circumferential tuk-tuk ride there. Typical thai ala-carte food.


panyaak.

Experienced their night life at Patong. We were probably too early (10pm) so there weren’t much activities yet. Got some line-up ladyboys calling customers for the agogo show though. After walking around and eyeballing a couple of clubs like Tiger and Rockstar, we eventually settled for Margarita. Overall, I dun think it was too hype for a Friday night.


tuktuk waiting for customers


Day 4 (4/10/08 Saturday)

We had booked an island trip (James Bond canoe) earlier yesterday, which made up the entire event for today. We bargained and managed to cut the cost to 1600B from the usual price of 2200B. Unfortunately i was feeling quite queasy – colicky abdominal pain and bloatedness and nauseous since I woke up in the morning and I wasn’t alone. It could be the food that we had yesterday. Because of this, the entire trip wasn’t pleasant.

Essentially, it was a tour around some of the islands east of phuket. I am going to write according to the itinerary given to us:
1) departure to Phang Nga Bay by escort boat
2) discovery of the Lagoons and Caves by canoe at Koh Hong and Koh Panak
3) departure to James Bond island.
4) Departure to Lawa Island; during the transfer, a Thai buffet lunch was served on board
5) Arrival at Lawa Island for self-paddling, swimming and relaxing on the beach
6) Back to main Phuket island


jamesbond island


batcaves

Ok some interesting happenings during this island tour. There was this foreign girl who was apparently on some leadership course and happened to be on board with us. Throughout the journey, she kept asking people for survey and that really irritated me a bit especially when I wasn’t feeling too well.

And luckily I managed to control my bowel, cos there was only one small, gross and filthy toilet on board, which didn’t even have a proper flushing system.

We ended the day with dinner along another restaurant along Patong beach and another round of thai food massage.


Day 5 (5/10/08 Sunday)

The night sleep was terrible. I probably had fever with Tmax >38 with chills and rigors. Popped in panadol and trial of ciprofloxacin to empirically treat myself for travellers’ diarrhoea. Luckily I was feeling slightly better the next morning I woke up. Panadol is really an impressive creation.

Flight at 9am TR152. Home.


The Aftermath.

Most of my tours had me ended up sick in the midst. Sigh. Somemore I was on call the next day but fortunately I was recovering already.

Didn’t really do my account, but I probably spent like 800 to 900 sing dollars in total. Seems quite expensive for a neighbouring tour. But most importantly is I managed to have a get-away during this period.