Phuket Island City Tour

ABBEY: On our trip on Phuket we also signed up for the City tour which costs around 1,200 bhat per person. We had it one afternoon and the first two stops are at Karon View Point and Windmill; they are among the high peaks of Phuket. 

Then we went to Big Buddha site. The monks and caretakers of the place don't require entrance fees but donations instead. Be it monetary, or cement, gravel and sand, all donations are accepted. Climbing an almost hundred steps will lead you to the enormous marble statue of Buddha. Next stop is the Orchid Garden. It is unfortunate as no flowers were blooming during our visit. 

We also stopped by at Chalong Temple. Visitors pay respect and thanks by lighting firecrackers. As it is a holiday on the first day of the year, people packed the place and we have nothing to do but to indulge on their pork barbecue as we are already hungry.

Then we went to Honey Farm wherein I bravely carry a broodframe. I was nervous and scared by the thought that the bees will sting me. We also tasted wine made from honey. Next stop is the cashew nut factory. The process of picking the nut from the fruit is still done manually as to not damage it. You can choose from a wide variety of flavors for your cashew; wasabi, garlic, original roast snd barbecue. We also stopped by at the largest jewelry shop on Phuket. The pieces of jewelry have intricate designs thus the prices are lovely as well. 

We strolled by the Old Phuket Town and then we requested the tour guide to drop us is Jung Ceylon shopping mall for dinner and then rest and our hotel.

WILL: Okay guys, Phuket is an island that's so famous on their beaches and bars but isn’t fun to make some side trips at their lands?

We booked for half day city tour on the 1st day of 2014 and we're picked-up from Frutta Boutique after our lunch. Our first stop is the Karon View Point. Here we saw the the beautiful deep blue colored waters of their fine beaches. Next stop is at Phuket’s Windmill (Phromthep Alternative Energy Station), a great idea for another source of energy. Here at this spot, you can see sailboats parked. A windy place indeed.

Elephants! We just stop over to see them and take some personal business at washrooms. Haha! Phuket City Tour Package will not be complete if you will not drop by at Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha. This landmark have a dress code for girls, no shorts and no sleeveless is allowed. The construction started 2009 and we are so lucky to see the whole face and body of Phuket’s Big Buddha already sparkle with white marble. So serene that you can only hear are the bells and murmurs of the tourist.

Firecrackers? Well it is not just because it is new year, it is a way of giving thanks for granting the wishers’ wish! Welcome to Wat Chalong Temple. So many shoes swarming in front of the temples, obviously it will be very crowded inside, we never attempt to go so we just make our stomachs full with bbq pork.

Different flavors of cashews were in front of us when we reached Cashew Nut factory. We bought a wasabi flavored cashew and tasted all the varieties. Haha! Wangtalang Lapidary gem factory is also in the itineraries, we just look, never touch, never ask, never buy. Before heading back to our hotel our van just passed Century-old Sino-Portuguese building at Thalang road, we chose not to step out from our van, we are just tired and sleepy already.

I think that this trip is a must for every tourist, getting to know more of the island, people and its religion.

Phi Phi Island Tour by Sea Angel Cruise Co. Ltd.

ABBEY: Phi phi don island hopping is a whole day tour. For 2500, you enroll on the tour and this includes buffet lunch and light refereshments. Two-way transfer (hotel-pier-hotel) is also on the package. We got on the pier by 9am. Flippers can be rented at 100bhat a pair. We boarded a 3-motor speedboat with a capacity of 40-50 persons. Our energetic and lively tour guide, "Ms. Susan", briefed on what is in store for us. She reminded us to remember our boat number else she'll come back to us the next day if we missed to board the boat. 

We went to Maya beach where the movie "The Beach" was filmed. The sand is very fine and soft. The scenery of rock formations are breath-taking. Visitors are encouraged to walk barefoot to feel the softness of the sand. Next is the Viking Cave. It is a private property so we only got to look the entrance of the cave. Then we went to monkey beach. The high tide didn't permit us to dock on the beach but we had our time to feed the monkeys. We dipped at the sea for snorkelling before we had our buffet lunch at Phi Phi Don island. This is the island which was struck by tsunami on the year 2004. Now the inhabitants recovered and doing business as usual. 

Last stop is Khai island. For 100bhat you can rent a pair of beachbed with umbrella and fruits and refreshments were served as part of the tour. We had a good time at Khai island; on the sand, water and rocks. We headed to our hotel after a whole day trip feeling refreshed and relaxed.

WILL: I love beaches, I love to see a big bodies of water but I am also afraid of it. 2nd of January is the day to tour the other islands near Phuket Thailand. That was the day to go to the beautiful Phi Phi.

We got to the Sea Angel speedboat, traveled for an hour and viola! The "The Beach" beach is in front of us. Our tour guide asked us to step at the sand barefoot. The sand is milky white, the sun is not so hot and the marvellous formation of rocks that seems covering the shore for a possible intruder. The Creator really creates magnificently.

We took some shots from outside of a private cave. Someone buying a cave? So rich? Haha! Then we went to a cliff were the old James Bond jumped off.

"Fish be with you" is all I can say when I saw a lot of fish swim around us. I am afraid of them, huhuhu! And the naughty captain of our boat have the guts to throw a bread around me, of course more fish went beside me and all I can do is shout in horror. Vince and Abbey laughing and so delighted. I hate you guys!

A buffet was served at Koh Phi Phi Don, this were the Tsunami hit big time. Ms. Susan told us that the water swept the whole island for barely 5 minutes. We stayed there for an hour just to take our lunch.

We never stepped out from the boat when we visited the Monkey Island, some tourist just handed over peanuts for them to enjoy.

Last stop is at Khai island. We sit, we ate watermelon and pineapple non-stop, we take photo, and we swim.

This is a whole day tour, so if you plan to go for this, you must get your body to soak at sea water and be bathed at the rays of the sun.

Do not forget to put a sunblock, this is a must for this kind of trip. Water was served and snack inside our speed boat. All you need to bring is your camera and yourself! Haha! A very relaxing a nice experience.

Patong Beach on Phuket Island, Thailand

ABBEY:  There are many beaches on Thailand. Among them is Patong beach where we chose to stay during our vacation. The white sand is beautiful but not as soft as what is there on Maya beach. For a hundred bhat you can rent a pair of beach bed with table for drinks where you can enjoy taking snaps on people doing various beach and water activities; like snorkeling, swimming, and parasailing (1500 bhat per person). 

Eateries and restaurants flocked the on the opposite road on the beach. You can have a decent meal for about 100 bhat. Bangla road is also near it as well as the large mall Jungceylon. 

Pieces of advice: 
1. For tourists, don't go on the beach after a New Year's eve party as garbage are all over the place. 
2. For the local government, try to educate the tourist and the residents and let them have an awareness to maintain the place clean.

WILL: Have you ever heard of Patong Beach? No? Why? Where have you been?

Patong beach is the most famous in Phuket. If you're gonna say you are going to Thailand got sure they will ask you if you'll check out Patong Beach. 

We went here on our first day stay. We just took photos of the bluish clear water. The waves' sizes were just fine. But when I tried to dip in, the water is so cold and it made my skin itchy. I thought I am the only one to feel it but hey, even Abbey and two of our friends too. So we decided not to soak our body for today and we will be coming back on the 1st day of 2014. 

As planned, we went there around 7am and ready for a swim until afternoon. To our shocked, we found some beer bottles, paper lantern  and even the firework boxes were floating at the shores. To my disgust, we just rented seats for THB100 each and linger with the sea breeze, watch the cruise ship to leave Phuket Island and plan for our next tour on that day. 

I hope that the government will regulate all the establishments around the area. To maintain the natural beauty of this famous island. 

Phuket FantaSea - The Ultimate Nighttime Cultural Theme Park

ABBEY: Fantasea is a cultural-magical-modern-elephant show rolled into one. For 2500 bhat, you can have a buffet dinner before the show and you'll be experiencing a one-of-kind entertainment. 

The Fantasea show is located in a make-shift village where you can have arcades, dine in restaurants, buy souvenirs and watch street performers. 

At the buffet you will be eating in a huge dining hall replicating the one in their presidential palace. Be sure to remember your table number so you'll not be lost when you got back from the buffet. The menu includes corn soup, pork, chicken and fish fillet in different curry flavors, pasta, crispy pork belly and fried chicken. Fruits, kueh lapis, cream puff and brownies were the desserts. 

The gates opened as early as 8:30PM and viewers were asked to deposit their camera-loaded gadgets as photography and videography is prohibited. Guests can strike a pose with tiger cubs, mascots and art installations for photo souvenir (2000 bhat - includes 1 8R photo and 3 5R ones and a CD). 

The auditorium and the stage has a rainforest-like setup; trees, plants, and fog. A roar of applause will be heard when the show started as the elephants paraded towards the stage. The show is great. Magicians, cultural dancers, light trapeze and the fireworks really impress me and gave me enjoyment. The elephants were adorable upon doing their tricks. There is still a big room of improvement though with regards to the plot, action scenes and the pyro-techniques. A must-see show for the tourists.

WILL: As usual, every tour I planned I always ask my friend Denise for recommendations and this Phuket Fantasea is one of those. Well there are 2 shows she want me to choose but I ended up buying tickets for this.

For THB 2,500 we got the ticket for Fantasy of a Kingdom Show, buffet dinner Golden Kinnaree Restaurant, and roundtrip transfer from Frutta Boutique. I chose to go here on eve of New Year so we can have nice dinner and we can still watch the fireworks at the beach.

Their service van came on time to pick us up. After almost an hour we reached the theme park. We take paved our way and take photos while are eyes we awed to delight on Tiger Jungle Adventure, Similan Entertainment Centre, Carnival Village Shopping Street, and the great architecture of Palace of the Elephants Theatre.

The dinner do not have so many choices but I like the taste of each viands, oh even their desserts. We really sit there for more than 2 hours, filling our tummies up. Indeed we have a very sumptuous dinner for last night of 2013.

After pigging out, we walk inside the palace, deposited our cameras and handphone. Yes this is compulsory. I am totally excited to see the elephants to perform in front of me. But when the show goes on, it bores me also. Sorry to say because I slept inside the theater.  The performers are quite lousy on their acts, no enthusiasm on their part. Maybe because it is holiday and they are on the stage, still working.

I may not say that I should hear the advice of Denise. Haha!  Hard-headed girl I am! This will not be our last trip at Thailand. Next time we will see the other show.