Trip to Phuket, Thailand

Alas! I managed to update my trip to Phuket last week. I hope this post could help travelers in some way about visiting Phuket ;)

THURSDAY, 27^th JANUARY 2011

Samkong pronounced as ‘Sam-konggg’

Hello (in Thai traditional way)

Sa-wat-dee-kap (female)              

Sa-wat-dee-krap (male)

Thank you

Kap-kun-kap (female)

Kap-kun-krap (male)

The road sign is weird. When there is a road where you could turn left at a junction, it reads “Turn left when safe”. And there is no “One-way” sign on one-way road, there is only “X” (cross signs) on either way. If you rent a motorbike, you could get away from traffic jam especially during peak hours (4pm – 6pm) and spent merely around RM3/ day (30 baht) to travel to Phuket attractions.

FRIDAY, 28^th JANUARY 2011

HomePro Village, Phuket Orchid Farm, Phuket Zoo, Prompthep Cape (Leam Prompthep)

SATURDAY, 29^th JANUARY 2011

Weekend Market. Pathong Beach

Temple = Wat (i.e. Wat Chalong etc.)

Went to eat lunch at a Muslim restaurant at Phuket town, not far from Samkong Place. Food price is a lot more expensive than those restaurant around Rawai. But it worth every penny we spent because the stall sells variety of Thai food and it’s the most original Thai taste we ever experienced! I can tell you the taste is better than Sri Ayuthya’s. We take many type of ‘lauk’ and veges but we charged only 180 baht (RM18). Ultimately, hot and delicious!

The owner wears tudung just like most women Muslim in M’sia and greet us Salam. She even say Kap-Kun-Kap (thank you) and Please come again to both of us. Feels like we are in Kelantan in other way round.

Then, we look around for weekend market on our motorbike but couldn’t find any. We mingled around the town for about 2 hours until the sky is dark and the rain poured down. We stop to shelter at HomePro Village once again.

Next we went to Pathong area. The biggest shopping complex is Jungceylon Shopping Center. Just want to give you some note there are many banks at the ground floor offering money exchange service at the complex. The best rates to change RM to BAHT is at CIMB Thai where you could buy at RM9.80 for every RM10. Please avoid exchanging your money at LCCT airport because we have wasted about RM80 on the departure day. You could only buy at RM9.01 for every RM10.

Back to Pathong, the items price at Bang La Street are not very much different from Malaysia rates. However, it surely not for Europeans, Australians, Americans and Japanese because of their currency is very much higher than us (old-sappy-msians). Those ‘Mat Salleh’ usually pays Thai women at some prices to accompany them for certain period of time. They drink and get drunk til morning and there are so many bars and clubs in Pathong.

Not to forget, there are Dubai and Iranian restaurants too! Some of these fellas went there for honeymoon and even they too pay for Thai women (*-*). We met a couple from Pattani, Thailand in a souvenir outlet around Pathong while shopping. They were on their trip for business. I like the fact that they know how to speak well in my mother tongue, Kelantan dialect. Me myself admit to them that one of my grandpa is migrated from the same place as well. They said it’s their first time to meet in person with Malaysian couple who travel around with rented motorbike like us ;) (that’s a compliment!). By the way, it’s a dangerous ride because the road to Pathong is steep and winding just like the road to Genting and we prayed a lot we didn’t die in this foreign country (T_T)

There are many transsexuals and plastic surgery, dental implant, botox, tattoo and Thais massage Promotion adverts spread all over Phuket. The price offered is very cheap compared to other cities I’ve researched on these. Thank God I never have the urge to try any of it. I loathe the reality that women-guy here are a lot more prettier than the original women and their size is bigger too! (isn’t that is what men look for?) (Yuck!)

SUNDAY, 30^th JANUARY 2011

Phi-Phi Island trip, to Phuket International Airport

The best trip is to Phi-Phi Island. Since we were staying at Samkong Place, there is a promo from OMT Travel Sdn Bhd. The travel agent office is located at the same block with Samkong Place. They offer 20% off the price specially for Samkong In-house guests only. We take cruise trip at 1,500 baht per pax but then we bargain some more and get the best price at 1,100 baht/ pax = 1,100 x 2 pax = 2,200 baht (RM220) for a trip on a cruise to Phi-Phi Island, Maya Bay, 1 hour snorkeling experience, and lunch at Phi-Phi Island International Hotel. To a great frustration, we didn’t involve in snorkeling activity because both of us not even the excellent swimmer and we only had a lil bit taste of the lunch. There is an old couple from Beijing bossing us around at the dining table. They can get very fussy although they are the one who eat a lot.

The Islands in Phuket are beautifully speechless. I have no words to describe the white sands, clear water, blue and green waterside. I can agree on this huge thing that Phuket is cleaner than Bali. So, you can sunbathe all day long and swimming without worrying on the pollution.

Later, they drive us back to our hotel. From thereon, we call a cab from Samkong Place to airport at 500 baht (RM50). The driver tried to cheat us after arriving safely at the airport. So, please be carefully and be confident. He said, “600 baht”. “No, Samkong staffs said it’s confirmed at 500 baht” and the driver said “owh, okay”... see? How bad people at lying? He thought we are two fools from Malaysia. Sorry pal, we are not nerdy ;)




p/s: By the way, check out the photos....