ABBEY: We were at Bangla road checking bars that we can crash on and we stopped by at Monsoon. It was a bit different because the bar has live band and no pole dancers.
Unlike the other hangouts where they offer sports channels or other "live" shows, Monsoon is for the music-lovers. You can request for a song, dance on the floor and be greeted by the performers it is your birthday.
If you're looking for a slight wholesome place, this is it. A tip for the customers: food can be ordered until 11pm. Beyond that, drinks only up to closing.
WILL: Maybe you will choose a night flight from Singapore to Phuket and to not waste time waiting for the next day, maybe you may want to explore The Bangla Road.
Bangla Road is very famous red light district in the world. So what would you expect here? Drunk men, girls dancing at the pole, and people offering private shows.
We walked and walked and walked to find place to sit in. Finally! We heard a loud live band. We entered at Monsoon. We take our seats and ordered my usual...Margarita.
The band is so lively and sang music that hit the crowd big time. After finishing my 2 drinks, around 3am of Singapore time, we headed back to our hotel to get ready for the next day adventure.
If you want to sit back and relax just go here in Monsoon. Very recommendable.
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.
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.
