Phuket 16-21st Dec 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006 @ 12:28 pm
i'm BACK BACK BACK!!!
er, actually I was already back on Thurs night but have been going out and doin other nitty gritty stuff which caused me to dilly dally to blog about my trip!
First, i must say it's a great holiday!! I'm so tanned now (and peeling) and i totally enjoy the bright bright sun there! Heard SG has been pouring since I left, heng I wasn't here to witness the gloomy depressing weather! :P
after last minute packing and preparation last Fri nite, we set off on Saturday afternoon to the new budget terminal for our Tiger plane! Budget Terminal was really no-frills and it's single storey. Besides the usual duty-free shops, there really wasn't much to see inside the departure lounge. We concluded that the Tiger Airways air hostesses dresses really too casually, probably part of their low-cost budget image. :P
er, actually I was already back on Thurs night but have been going out and doin other nitty gritty stuff which caused me to dilly dally to blog about my trip!
First, i must say it's a great holiday!! I'm so tanned now (and peeling) and i totally enjoy the bright bright sun there! Heard SG has been pouring since I left, heng I wasn't here to witness the gloomy depressing weather! :P
after last minute packing and preparation last Fri nite, we set off on Saturday afternoon to the new budget terminal for our Tiger plane! Budget Terminal was really no-frills and it's single storey. Besides the usual duty-free shops, there really wasn't much to see inside the departure lounge. We concluded that the Tiger Airways air hostesses dresses really too casually, probably part of their low-cost budget image. :P
Our flight was delayed due to some technical probs with the radio transmitter and end up we only reached Phuket about 7+pm singapore time. It was pouring when we caught a cab to our guesthouse, which was the other end of the phuket airport!!
The next day, the dive shop sent a mini van to pick up the divers to board the speedboat to their MV, which is parked in the open waters. And we only found out that the jetty is actually v near to the airport! We could have saved some time and money if we had known earlier. :/
Finally, we scrambled onto the speedboat and it was a 1.5hr journey into the main vessel, with loads of 'showers of blessings' occassionally :P
The next day, the dive shop sent a mini van to pick up the divers to board the speedboat to their MV, which is parked in the open waters. And we only found out that the jetty is actually v near to the airport! We could have saved some time and money if we had known earlier. :/
Finally, we scrambled onto the speedboat and it was a 1.5hr journey into the main vessel, with loads of 'showers of blessings' occassionally :P
chk out the many bottles of Pepsi! it's all FREE on board for us! woohoo! :P
Diving was great, if not for my mild sea-sickness of which i skipped one of the dives on the 1st day. But that was nothing compared to us spotting 3 manta rays on our first dive!!!! It's not 1, but 3 different manta rays! OMG, I was trying hard to contain my excitement when i saw the gigantic creature swimming above us! It was spectacular, and after seeing it, the rest of the marine life we saw subsequently just paled in comparison! ;P
I brought my marine case but din use it to take photos underwater coz I figured I won't be taking any nice shots by the way. Rest of the pics are with MB, so I'll try to upload them once I get it from him :)
A small episode happened during the trip. I accidentally misplaced my passport on the van back from diving. I must've dropped it when I took out the map for the directions to our accomodation. Luckily we realised early when they needed our passports for check-in. We quickly went to the room to unpack our stuff and look for it but can't so the boss kindly helped us to contact the dive shop and God bless, they found it for me! Thank God I managed to retrieve it, else I wud prob have to go to BKK by bus to S'pore embassy! :S
A small episode happened during the trip. I accidentally misplaced my passport on the van back from diving. I must've dropped it when I took out the map for the directions to our accomodation. Luckily we realised early when they needed our passports for check-in. We quickly went to the room to unpack our stuff and look for it but can't so the boss kindly helped us to contact the dive shop and God bless, they found it for me! Thank God I managed to retrieve it, else I wud prob have to go to BKK by bus to S'pore embassy! :S
the rest of the days were spent practically walking around the busy streets of Patong Beach, under the blazing hot sun!! Was so hot and burnt from the sun that we retreated to Let's Relax by Blooming Spa for a unforgettable 2 hours Thai herbal massage for only 700baht per pax!!!! :P
This was recommended from my colleague who jus got back to Phuket before I left. It's really GOOD! The masseuse were middle-aged Thai women which meant they shud have pretty good experience in massage already. Plus the ambience was so soothing and relaxing that we actually fell asleep! :P
After 2 hours, we were quite hungry already, so we went to this small eatery shop opposite for some cheap and good Thai food! This shop's called Number 6 and it's located on their local map of Patong Beach, so means it's shud be quite good! :)
After 2 hours, we were quite hungry already, so we went to this small eatery shop opposite for some cheap and good Thai food! This shop's called Number 6 and it's located on their local map of Patong Beach, so means it's shud be quite good! :)
We only go such places to eat coz the nicer decorated ones have expensive meals which we felt only ang-mohs wouldn't mind since it's dirt cheap to them! We managed to keep our meals under 100baht for each person! haha :P
Later in the night, we decided to treat ourselves to a good meal after walking for the whole day so we went to eat seafood!
Later in the night, we decided to treat ourselves to a good meal after walking for the whole day so we went to eat seafood!
We ordered 200g of garlic prawns, 2 barbeque crayfish and 1 chilli (thai-curried actuall) big flower crab to eat! The bill came about to almost 1,000 baht! But it was a great meal and nearly gobbled down the shells as well! hahz :)
After which, we walked back to the OTOP Shopping Paradise near our place to shop!!! Bought so many tops, shorts and singlets for my dear ones! And we got to eat Thai version of roti prata! The prata man is this young chap driving around in his mobile stall, and he has this certain technique to flip the dough, crack the egg, pan fry it, drip it dry by the side, chopped into bite size and finally, sprinkled with sugar and condensed milk!! We tried banana and it was awesome!! It was more like a crispy tissue prata but it was awesome! Wondered why we dun see this kind in S'pore!
Next day, we woke up later and walked to the beach to sun tan and jet-ski! Lying on the beach chairs cost money too! But we can lie on it till they close for the day, so it wasn't so bad :P Den we played jet-ski for 2 person and I was almost screaming throughout the 30min ride! Altho I know MB is steering but i can't help to feel that I'll be flung out any minute!! Plus the sea water kept splashing into my eyes and mouth that I could barely open. It was quite fun nonetheless, consider it my maiden trip ;)
After which, we walked back to the OTOP Shopping Paradise near our place to shop!!! Bought so many tops, shorts and singlets for my dear ones! And we got to eat Thai version of roti prata! The prata man is this young chap driving around in his mobile stall, and he has this certain technique to flip the dough, crack the egg, pan fry it, drip it dry by the side, chopped into bite size and finally, sprinkled with sugar and condensed milk!! We tried banana and it was awesome!! It was more like a crispy tissue prata but it was awesome! Wondered why we dun see this kind in S'pore!
Next day, we woke up later and walked to the beach to sun tan and jet-ski! Lying on the beach chairs cost money too! But we can lie on it till they close for the day, so it wasn't so bad :P Den we played jet-ski for 2 person and I was almost screaming throughout the 30min ride! Altho I know MB is steering but i can't help to feel that I'll be flung out any minute!! Plus the sea water kept splashing into my eyes and mouth that I could barely open. It was quite fun nonetheless, consider it my maiden trip ;)
Finally, it's time to say goodbye to the wonderful but short trip I have here! So sad to leave the sunny Phuket to cloudy and windy SG! But then again, every holiday will be more cherished especially after a long period of work!
So glad the holiday was well spent, altho my pocket has burnt a big hole.. I don't mind going there again!! :P
Merry Christmas peeps! Hope you enjoy this wonderful holiday season just like me! :):)
So glad the holiday was well spent, altho my pocket has burnt a big hole.. I don't mind going there again!! :P
Merry Christmas peeps! Hope you enjoy this wonderful holiday season just like me! :):)