Phuket Island Escapade - Day 2

Ok... Kinda free at the moment... not in the mood to do my report... after all it's SUNDAY!!! I need a lil rest... :P So... here's my Day 2 Phuket Escapade!!!

Our flight was in the afternoon... So before we leave... still have a lil time for Malaysian breakfast... :P Went to Jalan Alor for Dim Sum...

Basket of Dim Sum

A lil more bout numberEight before we leave... I really love this plaz... so nice n cozy... make u feels like u're at home...

Back to the guesthouse after breakie...

Courtyard Room

Living room

Pantry

Self-service peepz...

Here u can make ur own breakfast... They provide bread, jams, fruit, coffee, tea, mineral water and even Coke... absolutely FREE~!

This is where U can have ur breakfast...

We got the same driver to pick us up... On the way to airport... he told us lotsa thing bout KL... brag alot... lotsa exaggeration... but he's one funny guy...

About two hour flight (i think... cant really remember), finally... we've arrived!!!

From the plane...

Thai Air..

Though... most people were fear of the riot in Thailand... some of our friends even discouraged us from goin... our flight was still full... :P Took quite some times to check out...

Free map

Grab a bag before you start ur adventure... Trust me... it's very useful... Unlike Sarawak, Thailand Airport owas provide free maps with multi languages...

Waiting for our luggage...

Taxi Meter Stand

We din arrange for any pick-up... Took a cab from the taxi stand... The cashier wanted us to take two cabs... (one for 450 baht) but i don think it's necessary as i think we (incl our huge luggage) can fit into one cab perfectly... I tried to tok to the taxi driver... he agreed... but charged us extra 100 baht for his tips. Still... the price is quite reasonable...

Two Heroines Monument

On the way to our hotel, we saw the most famous landmark of Phuket... Two Heroines Monument. The life-size statues of heroic sisters, Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Soontorn, stand side by side on the decorated marble plinth located at Tha Rua. The monument was built by local residents on May 23, 1967, an annual fair commemorates the bravery of these two girls who were instrumental in the defeat of the Burmese in 1785. By disguising hundreds of women in army uniforms and parading them through the town, they tricked the enemy into believing that they were troop reinforcements from Bangkok. This eventually forced the Burmese to withdraw.

Very nice of our driver to make a quick stop for us to capture this memorable picture...

That's our driver, Mr Mai... with sophisticated RayBan's shade... :P

Before dropping us off at our hotel.. we stopped by his office... where there tons of tour packages for us to choose from. To my surprise... prices are very reasonable. We took 3 packages from his company - Island tour for only 1,600 baht p/p (I've made a surveyed online... it usually cost at least 2,500 baht - as stated on their brochure too), private city tour for 1,200 baht per car (for 8-10 hours). We also booked FantaSea's tickets from them coz they provide cheaper transportation rate. Transfer to/from hotel to Fantasea cost 300 baht p/p, but they only charged us 150 baht p/p. Great bargain. It also helped us save lotsa time coz we actually planned to hunt for these packages only when we arrived in Patong. Hehe...

It took about 40 minutes to reach Patong from Phuket airport... It was raining that day... but the rain... come n go... it can be bright sunny day now... and raining cats and dogs in another few minutes... den stop again... -.-"' The weather there was crazy... never ever go during their raining season... though everything was 2-300 times cheaper (tour package, accommodations, transports) compare to peak season. I din know it was raining season when I made my booking... -.-"' According to Mr Mai, best time to go Phuket is the beginning of low season (raining season), which is in June. Rain start pouring from July onwards til October.

The lobby

Here we were at our hotel... The Royal Palm Resortel. It better than I expected. Patong beach is just right opposite us... Staff are friendly and helpful.

Checking in...

Boo-tea-fool room...

Love the rooms... I dunno what else to describe it but... GORGEOUS!

Me Doing the Karen Cheng

There were lotsa mirrors in the room... I cant help but to camwhore! kekeke...

Filthy Rich!

Lotsa money!!!! It's time to shop shop shop... Woohoo...

Found something?? :P

Patong beach from our Hotel

The Hotel Bar...

We were given 4 complimentary drinks... but din manage to redeem them as everytime we came back to the hotel, the bar were already closed... -.-"

Ristorante d Royal Palm Resortel

Royal Palm Resortel

One step outside the hotel... everything was there... burger king, cafe, restaurants, stalls, convenient stores, etc etc...

Restaurants & Cafes along Patong

Patong... we were there!

BBQ Corn

Eve eve... the jagung lover... all the way from Kuching... still wanna get some jagung... hehehe...

Smile...

Learn to dive... anyone?

Lotsa tuk-tuk along Patong

Sum1 wanna be Commander

Handmade Soap Carving

Banana Discotheque

Anyone wants some Borak's costume? :P

Along Bangla Street

Bangla street will close from 5.30pm local time for any form of transportation. By 6pm, the street become crowded with foreigners and tons of ladyboys.

Rock City

There's alot of bars and night clubs along Patong and Bangla Street... Almost all of the bars are outdoors so the music from each one is deafening. Bar Beers occupy most of the street's length, with several Agogos and a few pubs, restaurants, discos and shops rounding out the attractions both on Bangla and down its side streets.

Famous for its raunchy nightlife, Bangla street goes all out to entertain with girls, beers and music that increases in volume as the moon rises. Jammed most nights year round, it's actually totally unthreatening and lively place to walk around as bars compete for customers. The girls aim to please - dancing around poles, engaging in banter, or coaxing customers to play simple bar games like "Connect" or "Hammer the nail" to break the ice. The objective is to entice customers to buy drinks and hopefully, take them away for the evening.

Arrived at JungCeylon

JungCeylon, the biggest shopping and lifestyle mall in Phuket that will impress local to all international visitors. It's set in a tropical resort ambience. 5 minutes walk from Patong Beach, located on the intersection of Bangla Streeat and Rat-U-Thit (200-Years) Road.

Music Fountain at JungCeylon

Eve & I

Subway for Dinner

My dinner

Okay... call me sakai... this was my time dining in Subway. It was really good and value for money. I had a 6-inch long sandwich... with bacon and steak. Greedy me.. I cant finish after tat. Hahahah...

A luxury Tuk-tuk outside a Hotel

Back to Patong

After dinner... it's time so a lil entertainment...

While hunting for tiger show...

So we got rip-off on our first nite... we were hunting for a real tiger show... and it turned out to be some lousy and boring Agogo Show. They were lotsa tiger show agents along Bangla Street... approaching you... giving u some interesting flyers n keep saying "sexy show, tiger show, ping pong show...come, come...look look.. if not nice can go..free entry... but drink only".

Free entry, right! One bottle of Heneiken cost us 500 baht! And it's nt even a real tiger show. Only a few naked underage girls, doing some pole dancing and making out with each other. Not entertaining at all... that's not the tiger show I heard. Or should I call it the "Ping Pong Show"? Not only that... after each performance, one of the ladies will bring a basket from table to table.. asking for tips. And she won't leave til u put some money in it. We gave out total1-200 baht for tips tat nite...

I guess only Bangkok has Tiger Show. But not in Phuket. They only have Agogo Bar and Ping Pong Show.

Banana Discotheque (Nite View)

Anyway, it's kinda late after the stupid "tiger/ping pong show". So we went to look for a more decent massage center... pamper ourself for a lil while before heading back to the hotel for some rest. The massage was good... and it costs us only 200 baht for one hour Thai massage. Good price... good massage.

Live Fruit Carving

Tsunami Hazard Zone

b u s y

Sorry if you guys are still waiting for my Phuket updates... been very busy lately... try to finish my report before meeting the deadline... Will promise to update once I'm done with my report... which is after Raya. :P

How i wish i can freeze the time til i get my report done... :S Anyone out there canhelp me??? GOD... please help??? :P

Phuket Island Escapade - Day 1

Ok... So this is not exactly my 1st day in Phuket. If u have read my entry from Wednesday Sept. 3, 2008... U will all know I had a laz minute stop-over at KL.

Well... everything was kinda messed up at 1st... got early sms from Air Asia saying that our Flight to KL has been canceled... and changed to a latter flight which could not be connected to our Phuket flight. I was sick that day so I called Les... asked him to gotto Air Asia office immediately and rearranged everything... So the salesperson re-routed us... and put us on that nite's flight! OMG... everything was laz minute... I haven packed yet!!!

The worst thing is... accommodation... and transport which would definitely cost a bomb for late nite trip. So... Instead of resting and lazying on my comfortable bed... I got up early... switched on my PC and started looking for accommodation. Since it's just a stop-over... so we din plan for any luxury room... after all we need to got up early the nx morning and off to the airport. I tried a few budget hotels like Bintang Warisan, Cardogan Inn and Corona Inn... most of them were either fulled or price hiked (I wonder why... it's not even peak season now, right?) . One nite at Bintang Warisan for RM150++ is too much for me... normally it's only RM120-130 per nite for peak season. So... I decided to try guesthouse... the one which I wanted to try all these while... It's Number8 Guesthouse at Tengkat Tong Shin which is just a stone's throw away from the famous Jalan Alor.

Immediately I called the guesthouse... Don wanna waste time sending reservation though they sed they will reply in less than 24 hour. And how lucky were we... There were only TWO rooms left... The Loft and Superior Twin, each for RM90 per nite incl breakfast... Good deal eh... Without thinking much... I confirmed the rooms... So... task 1 done.. room secured.

Task two... thinking of a budget way to transfer to the Hotel... Coz I'm sure once we reached KL, it's already almost 11pm. Who doesn't know taxis in KL are double charge after 10pm... Thank god my mum gave me a contact... a taxi driver's contact whom she uses whenever she goes to KL or Genting with her gang... That Taxi driver only pick-up Kuchingnite... Coz he himself is also a Kuchingnite... Price is very reasonable... Transfer to KL hotel from LCCT only cost us RM70!! CHEAP! I called him up... arranged for pick-up... Voula... everything was settled!! Woohoo... Before I conclude this entry... check out our room in KL...

Number 8ight Guesthouse

Situated within the golden triangle between three of KL's most popular city destinations: China Town, Bukit Bintang and the Petronas Twin Towers where you'll discover an almost unlimited choice of cafe's, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing, vibrant nightlife and well, traffic congestion. For that, you don't have to worry coz we are very close to KL's monorail; a convenient way to move around the city.

Key to the room...

The Loft

Standard Twin

My first experience staying in a guesthouse...Though there's no 4/5 star hotels amenities and services, it's still worth a visit! Especially for those who's on budget like me... RM90 per room per nite ... GREAT deal I must say... Staff were very helpful. Though they don't speak much. I din expect a guesthouse would provide towel... The toilet and the bathroom... to my surprise... all is extremely clean!!!

Oh, before I 4get... the room includes breakfast too... though it's just a super duper simple breakfast where only bread, coffee, tea and some fruits were served...Thumbs up for Number 8ight! And guess wat?? Number 8ight is listed by Lonely Planet Website as one of KL's best 5 Hotels.

Les & Eve.. lazying on couch...

My favorite corner...

Lovely Buddha

Wi-fi corner

The other side of the guesthouse...

TV Room

Wall decor...

Set in three completely renovated traditional Chinese shop houses, Number 8ight has showers with pumped solar-heated water and allowed the grand ground floor spaces to remain intact as spacious lounge areas, open to the outside, but sheltered from the sun; a perfect place to sit back and share your experiences with fellow travellers. Contemporary furnishing and effective lighting contrast with the traditional colonial architecture.

Number 8ight offers two types of accommodation. Air-conditioned budget room with windows and fan. Twins and Doubles are available depending on traveller's preference; En-Suite with attached hot shower bathroom, TV and DVD player... Price are reasonable... at only RM130 per nite. Do check out their website for more details.

Verdict: A budget accommodation with comfort and style...

Back from PhuKet!

I'm back... from Phuket Safe and sound... Thanks to all friends n relatives... for all the sms and phone calls... asking n concerning bout the situation there...Hehehe... Well... everything was fine... people still do business like normal days... no riot or anything... Except... for the Blardy weather...

Chose the wrong time to go Phuket... Should have checked the calendar before i made ticket booking... It's raining every single day!!! No... not drizzling.... but heavy windy rain!!! Crazy weather... It can be bright sunny day now... den in a second... comes the wind n heavy rain.... den... stopped again.... Sunny day... den rain... Piff....

Anyway.... update will be up soon... still tired and lazy after few "incident". Kekeke.... So stay tune...

Exhausted!

Dang! Sick Before Vacation

Dang... I'm sick before vacation.... damn it... sore throat... slight fever... how cud this happen to me??? And yet... received a SMS from Air Asia saying that my flight to KCH - KL has cancelled... and they have moved us to a latter flight. The things is... it can't be connected to Phuket!!!

So... we gotto fly in to KL 2nite... damn damn... so sudden... no preparation yet... haven even change my Thai Baht... Where are we goin to stay 2nite? walk in to any hotel? by the time we reachde KL, it will be ard 10.30pm. Take express bus down to KL Sentral... den take cab to hotel... damn... it will be so so so late ady!!!

I better try to find some hotel now before laz minute... Else we'll have to sleep by the road... darn!

My bro is worried sick bout the condition in Phuket. I've told him several times that the protest was big in Bangkok not in Phuket. And I've chatted with our Phuket's hotel agent to make sure everything is in safe condition there... Hopefully this will calm him down even more!

If anything happened again laz minute.. KEEP FINGER CROSS... airport closed o watever, we still got our plan B... which is.. stay in KL, go Melacca... den eat all gd food... KekeEK...

Can't wait for this holiday!!!

'08 Merdeka Eve Celebration @ Silhouette, Spring

Well... not much a big celebration though... This year's Merdeka has been awfully quiet. I don see many ppl putting up our National flag on their vehicles. Wat has went wrong? Issit because of the fuel increase that ppl don wanna portray their cars on the road anymore? Kekeke...

Anyway, we celebrated our Merdeka Eve at Silhouette, Spring. It was full tat nite. We had to sit outside at the dining section... Boring... No XL beer was served that nite... only Large beer available. Doesnt matter to me coz I hav Guiness... :P

Silhouette, tHe Spring

Josh & I

Jin & Ving

Dearie & I

From the pics above, U can see that everyone look bored at 1st, but things gets a lil better when Josh gets tipsy... or should i say... drunk??? Hmm... Well... pics say it all!

Merdeka Beers...

Josh & Ving

Tipsy...

Now... see how drunk was Josh??

Ving, "sixteen" and Josh

Dearie & I

Josh & Dearie

Hmm... drunk.. so???

Happy Belated Merdeka!!!