squeak. speak. roar!

Finally with a bit of time on my hands, here’s my account of my trip to Phuket with Nat’s family and their friends. Warning: long post and picture intensive.

Day One
Left for Phuket in the afternoon. We flew AirAsia (incidentally, TuneMoney’s being advertised right here!). Nat’s dad said the best view is on the right side but the plane was really full when we got on so I sat on the left instead. Arrived at Phuket International Airport and had our lunch in little restaurant in town. The seafood was obscenely fresh and immensely spicy. It was easily one of the best meals I had on the trip because it tasted very new to me. We then checked-in into the hotel that would be hosting us for the whole trip, Baan Mak Song.

After a short rest we went to Central Festival, the nearest mall to the hotel for some light shopping. I didn’t buy anything cos I like surveying stuff first but I sure was amazed that they had Boots Pharmacy. I miss them! It was pretty small but all the toiletries I so vividly remember buying and using back in UK. lol. Anyway, we then met up with everyone for a steamboat feast at MK Restaurant. The spread included fish, prawns, squids and a healthy array of vegetables. I was very impressed with the electric pot and it’s heating mechanism. It was hell a lot better than the usual stove ones that we see over here.

Look at it, so cute!

After a grand stuffing we went back to the hotel for an early night.

Day Two
Woke up at 6.30am for breakfast and getting geared up for the diving trip Nat’s dad had planned for a few of them including me. After some journeying and some waiting, we got onto the boat and headed out to sea. Despite taking a seasick pill, the choppy waters caused me to puke my breakfast out. After a second pill, my guts calmed down and I managed to snorkel. By the third leg of the trip, I was hurling my lunch out. I slept through the rest of the journey as the boat rocked left to right furiously. The unkind seas resulted in my virgin diving attempt being foiled.

Choppy :(

I guess that’s okay. I was back on ground and tucked in to some yummy Thai food (and Nat’s fish and chips) to fill up my sore stomach and lighten my dampened mood. I was in good company so I was feeling fine in no time :) Went back to the hotel for some rest. I may have slept on the rocking boat but nothing beats a still bed :)

Day Three
Woke up and decided to join the non-divers for a day of fun in the sun. After breakfast we went elephant trekking at the Kinnaree safari. Nat and I took the one hour ride and it was pretty fun. Not much of a sight to see but it sure was awesome to sit on an elephant and feel it’s pace. All the kids got a woven leaf into a shape of a bird or a grasshopper but not me and Nat :( Boo.

Look Ma, I’m on an elephant!

One of the brilliant views from the highest point of the trekking route.

Hello elephant butt!

Look at the tiny trail!

We then went to Kata Beach and I attempted to tan. Sadly all the deck chairs were taken and the sun was insanely scorching the brains out of me! I started to get a headache after a while and decided to leave. It was pointless to sit in the sun and get baked under such violent heat.

We didn’t know where to have lunch so we told the driver to bring us anywhere. We ended up in a small noodle and satay restaurant where the owners spoke Mandarin. Suddenly ordering the noodles was a lot easier. It’s really interesting though. The meehoon soup noodles had prawns, porl, chicken pieces and wantan! Talk about variety!

Yummy!

We went back to the hotel and I decided to take a dip in the pool. It was pretty nice. I tanned for a very short while there before showering and catching a quick nap.

It was slowly drying up …

For dinner, we headed to a nearby restaurant where I had darn good tom yam goong. After the meal we went to Patong Beach for the essential Phuket nightlife experience. A few of us took the liberty to attend a go-go show which involves a middle aged, lardy woman using a straw attached to her privates and blowing candles out. Also, those poor fishes trying so hard to wriggle out of her crevice into a bowl of water. lol. It was quite a sight, we were slightly traumatised. I just couldn’t help laughing cos all that was just nasty.

The sea of tourists was crazy. The entire stretch of Soi Bangla (Bangla Lane) was just filled with semi-drunk Caucasian men leering at women. Not exactly the place for little kids. You can find anything from t-shirts to ciggies to seedy bars to underwear here. Hectic stuff.

Start of the night fiesta!

Errrr. Yeah.

Went back to the hotel for some sleep. We are having an exciting day ahead!

Day Four
Steve took Nat, Veer and I to Paradise Beach. Now this beach is nothing like tourist-filled Patong or Kata Beach - Paradise Beach was a private beach. It really is what the name indicates. After a long journey on a narrow, winding dirt road was clear waters and white sandy beach with a handful of tourists.

We rented our deck chairs and I proceeded to take my clothes off. It was a former nudist colony spot. lol. Since I still had some modesty, I was wearing my bikini on lah. Tanned and read for a while before walking around attempting to snap some pictures. I couldn’t stay in the water for too long because the beach is surrounded by big boulders on both ends so I risked wetting my digital camera due to the splashing of the sea on them (the boulders that is). I later took a quick dip before showing and having lunch in the little restaurant there.

On the right of the beach front was a jungle.

And on the left were rocks and water. Hence the privacy of the beach.

Mmmm, clear waters. Paradise Beach actually faces Patong Beach.

The restaurant was just large enough to accommodate the small crowd. Service was pretty slow, there were understaffed in the kitchen, we reckon.

View from the restaurant.

My seafood spaghetti. It was not bad after loads of Parmesan cheese.

Nat’s fish and chips.

Veer’s kuey teow.

Banana fritters. Mmm. They were so good.

Well, better head to Paradise Beach while you can. Last I heard was that YTL Group is surveying the area and the owner of the beach might sell it if a good offer comes along! Anyway, Steve picked us up and we headed to the hotel for some chilling. We ended up watching a movie and a seven-eight (i.e. we missed the ending) cos we had to dash for a dinner.

Dinner was at some far pier which served the most potent ton yam in the world. My tongue was on fire and my lips were numb. Madness. I had to stop eating after that (also, I was full). Nat and I left with the first van back to the hotel and slept.

Day Five
Last day in Phuket and I haven’t done any shopping!!! We all went to Central Festival and I squeezed all my shopping into 2 hours and I ended up with just necessary gifts. lol. I didn’t get a chance to get the extra stuff I wanted i.e. lewd t-shirts, snacks for office, clothes clothes clothes, a silk bag or two. Oh well. Stuff in super-touristy Phuket was exorbitant, I shudder the thought of being broke when I come back.

Had Japanese food at Fuji Restaurant. The menu was crazy and the quality of food was not bad at all. Selection bordered on the creative and I was quite happy with the spread. After the meal we left straight for the airport.

Fuji Restaurant.

Interior. See the pink lights on the right ceiling/wall? That changes colours :)

My macha (green tea) latte.

Garlic mussels.

Bel’s grilled cod.

Salmon.

Soft-shell crab sushi.

Nat’s dad’s seafood grill. Pardon the weird angle.

Beef steak. Mmm. Juicy.

Strawberry and vanilla ice-cream.

Orange dessert.

Macha ice cream and red beans. Generous red beans.

Traffic lights! Haha.

When we reached the airport, it was full - I could only see people all jammed at the entrance. Scanned all our bags and sorted all our baggage. We spent almost an hour just checking-in because we had so many bags. After that we waited at the departure hall for our flight. I managed to buy a last minute necessity ….. a Phuket magnet! Magnets are pretty much what I collect on all trips besides postcards and t-shirts. I failed to get my t-shirt :( Oh well, I don’t think it’ll be the last I see of Phuket anyway. Heh.

Turns out the plane was delayed from the original 5pm slot and we waited for about 45 minutes before boarding. I must say the delay was a good thing because if you sat on the right and the flight and on the way to KL, you will the most magnificent sunset ever. It was gorgeous. I was a bit gutted I couldn’t take a picture because I was seated on the aisle instead of the window. Gah. So yeah if you’re planning to fly back around 5.30pm - sit on the right side of the plane!! :)

We reached home pretty late - around 8pm. I was a relieved to be back but I also wished the holiday was longer. This will definitely be my last holiday until general elections. Ug. Many many thanks to Nat’s dad (and family/friends) for organising the trip. I enjoyed every minute of it (’cept the time on the boat. lol)

Since it was recent blog-versaries for Jeff and Nuraina, mine is today!! Sadly archives are tucked away, hidden from the rest of the world. My past, you see, is something I’m trying to forget. lol.

I’ve been blogging for six years now (since Jan 9 2002). I’m glad I haven’t given up yet :)