Another island hoping trip! As we planned to check out, we packed the luggage and brought together with us along the trip.  Well, each of us got a small backpack and I got another backpack for my camera.  It is always advisable to travel in ease rather than too much luggage.

Today, we are going to Koh Khai Nui + Maya Bay + Loh Samah Bay + Pileh Cove + Viking Cave + Phi Phi Don Ton Sai Bay + Monkey Beach. If you are curios how the route looks like, see the map below. By the way, the trip cost 2400THB/pax.

For this trip, some of the island and bay are just sight seeing, means you don’t get to go near or not to go walk on the sand there.  For example, Viking Cave, we just passed by the cave, where observing some long bamboo sticks structure was built. According to the guide, it was used to collect the cave bird nest.  I was thinking, the bird nest that I drink everyday back at home, where does it comes from.

Here is the photos.

On the way to the pier in the morning, passing by the sea gypsy village at Siray Island.  Sea gypsy is the real locals of Phuket. Current day, there are rare such local village in the island, and this is one that is on the Phuket map.

Here this is the pier, Asia Marina.

Before we depart, fins for rent.

Viking Cave, where the bird nest is collected.

On the speedboat, Pileh Cove.

Snorkeling at Loh Samah Bay

Maya Bay, a famous place after the ‘The beach‘ was filmed here in 1999, acted by Leonardo DiCaprio.  The film has become the inspiration for a lot of traveler to make a trip to Phuket.  Will ‘Mama Mia‘ does the same for Greece?

Beautiful Maya Bay

Monkey Beach, where a numbers of monkey on the tree and beach.

Phi Phi Don, where we had our lunch.

Phi Phi Don, Ton Sai Bay.

Khai Nui, for swimming and relaxing.

Beach for fun! Go nearer to find out why!

See the colorful fish just near the beach!

Beautiful water and sky.

Another one

The beach from the spec

oh…

Personally, I would think the trip is too rush and pack with too many spots to visit.  I thought that if it covers more spots, it worth the price. But the rush really doesn’t worth anything.  Advise to myself, let’s don’t be greedy. I would opt for more relax trip in the future.

We reached back at the pier around 5pm. We actually asked the van to transfer us to On On Hotel as we have checked out Mook Anda Place and will check in On On Hotel. The driver wasn’t fussy as On On was in the town too and he was Okay to send us there.  Once reached On On, we rushed to the tour agent which about 5 shops away from On On to buy the voucher to FantaSea Phuket! Really spontaneous huh!  Well, 2000THB/pax! Which include van transfer, buffet dinner and the show.

Ops, did I tell you, On On cost 40THB for a night? It was aircond, twin share room. Not as clean and cozy as Backpacker hostel though.  But well, it was okay.

It was 5:45pm and the van transfer would pick us up at 6:30pm to FantaSea! We caught a shower really quick at On On and it was just on time for the van transfer.  It took about 45mins to reach Kata Beach where the  FantaSea is.  Basically, it’s an area with things to see, nice buffet and local cultural show.  The setup was great and nice to see. See photo for prove.  The buffet, it’s a really big hall  with various type of food.  As usual, I would go around the food for few rounds before chosen what to eat.  I got myself some Indian food and sat down. Hup got some sushi and fresh fruits.  I got some fried noodle too. I really like Thai fried noodle, it’s different from the one we have in Malaysia.  We had it for lunch during the trip to Phang Nga Bay on second day too.

Fanta Sea Phuket

It was decorated like this…

like this…

Most of the nicely decorated shops are souvenir shops.

GOlden Kinrare, the buffer hall.

I found my seat and 2 guys was sitting on my right.  As usual, I can’t be sitting down with people around and I keep quite. Further more, I think they are from Greece. I told Hup that, they are from Greece.  he said no. Let’s bet (that’s where the caurage came!).

“Where are you from?” I started the conversation.

“We are from Greece.”

Greece friend. Ops, I forgot what his name on my right. On the left is Thodoris.

Yeah!! I told him that he really looks like Greece.  I have a special feeling towards Greece after Mama Mia.  We started conversation and took photos together.  Now he is in my Facebook too! See Thodoris in FB. He told me that his religion is Ortodox.

Er . . . @.@

After the dinner, we walked around the area.  There is elephant ride and Thodoris and friend was afraid of it’s stinking smell.  Then, the show start at 9pm. Camera was not allowed.  We got to secure our camera at the locker prepared and we were given a color card with a number.

Palace of Elephant, the show hall.

I was helping some other visitors taking photo with their P&S camera and notice that, P&S can’t get such a nice photo like this.

Do you know this? Cat fish. It can grow as big as big as you!

Elephant, the holy statue of Thailand.

The show was fantastic.  12 elephants was moving in the hall and stage! Birds were in! Chicken were in! Even buffalo was on stage! Some Thai cultural was performed.  As I watched the theater in UK before for Les Miserable play, I think the stage here was well built and structured too.   The show last 1 hour.

We came out from the hall and walked toward the locker to collect our camera.   I notice that, there were few queues where each color represent a queue and we didn’t even wait a minute to collect back our camera.  It was well planned and I must give credit on this as few hundred of people were collecting their cameras! It was raining.  We walked along the shops and finally get to the exit. Got into the van and going back to hotel for rest.

Before we go to bed, we saw some newspaper available to read for free at On On reception.  So we did some reading and having a can of Heineken.

Finally, I see myself in traveling. I love new things (things I never know before) and interesting things.  Every fresh things excites me and keep my enthusiasm fired.

Travel, is like knowledge.  The more I travel, the more I like to travel.   When I travel, I feel like I am doing a ‘research’ or ’study’.

Something really hit me, when Eli (the Israel friend) said,  ‘my country is really small, and the problem is bigger than the country.’

The more I see/know, it simply means that, different perspectives. Nothing really right and wrong.  Nothing really big deal.

Take it easy, to live.

[Chapters]

Home

Day 1 – Phuket City tour

Day 2 – Phang Nga Bay (marvellous view of Phang Nga Bay!!! James Bond Island at Ao Phang Nga National Park)

Day 3 – Phuket City tour 2 + Patong Beach (by local bus!)

Day 4 – Island hoping 2 (Koh Khai Nui + Maya Bay + Loh Samah Bay + Pileh Cove + Viking Cave + Phi Phi Don Ton Sai Bay + Monkey Beach) + Phuket FantaSea Show

Day 5 –  City tour (Sea Gypsy Village + Abalone Farm + Wat Chalong + Phromthep Cape beautiful sunset!)

Day 6 – Heroine Monument & back to KL

Bonus – location & transport  (Tips on travelling to Phuket!)

We woke up not-that-early in the morning.  It’s another free & easy day. We planned to walk around the town and go to Patong Beach in the afternoon.  So, the purpose of today is to get to know the city more, like the building, the local market, the really really local food and to know how the famous Patong beach looks like.

The breakfast, as usual.

Phuket dimsum

This is what he ordered from the lady boss. Looks common but it is too salty. I noticed that food in Phuket is much more salty, sweeter, hotter or what-so-ever than Malaysian style.

It was Sunday morning. City was still quiet. A bit cloudy and good for me to walk.

Here I found Teow Chew Association of Phuket. I am Teow Chew by ethnic.

The traditional chinese culture to put meaningful quotes at the door frame.

Common advertising in Phuket

Here, On On Hotel, the oldest hotel in Phuket. We spent the last 2 nights here.

The price for On On Hotel is cheap.

I found this beautiful water lily by the road.

Artistic door carving

Thalang Rd. Sino-Portugese style double stores houses.  Notice that, most of the house here, the ground floor operate as shops.

A shop which is filled with ancient style.

A wat (temple) near by Thalang Rd.  Do you see the hair-wire cable?

being naughty

Phuket town in the noon.

I notice there is a shop selling ‘Hokkien mee’ but it is soupy. For me, Hokkien mee is the black soup thick mee type. But Hup said, Penang style Hokkien mee, is soupy, like below. . .(PS: got a comment from Praew that, Hokkien mee is called Mee Hokkien in Thailand. Thanks Praew.)

It is tasty though . . . especially the coconut drink, I really need a cooling drink in such a hot weather.  We have the noodle twice, and we tried the dry style too. The last day before we left the city, we thought to have it again, but the shop was closed.

Normally, we would share a meal from each shop or stalls. In that way, we can try more choice of food.  Hup was still carving for the ma-muang khao niew Khao niew ma moung (PS: thanks for Praew for correction) (which is mango sticky rice).  My experience was, I had it in a local market.  So, I told him to go forward the local market that we see in the map.  Here it is. . .

Ma-muang khao niew

Fresh mango with soft sticky rice . . .60THB

We finished the tasty mango + sticky rice at the corner of the stall itself before carry on the journey. And then, we moved forward to the really local market at Ranong Rd.  Some taxi driver trying to convience us that, the market is only open in the evening (so that we can go with them for other city view).  But the market open in the afternoon too.

Here, it starts the very local food . . .

The local market

Dried insects . . . should I asked how much for one?

Another one, according to my grandma, this is Siamese food.

A well-maintained cultural building near the market.

If you are aware, there is a Backpacker Hostel in the Phuket City too, located at Ranong Rd.  Yes, it is near by to local bus to beaches and the local market too.  You can view the room before deciding whether to stay or not. We had a visit to the room.  It is cozy and clean. A comfortable and suitable place to interact with other backpackers as there are hall and seats available open to the guest here. So, you know what to do if you are on a budget travel.

Here, we reached the local bus station to the beaches.  Yes, we  have been walking around the city since the morning.  This is the transport we took to Patong Beach.  The charge is 25THB/pax to Patong Beach.

So, you know what to do if you are on a budget travel.

Songthaew to beaches. Some buses has window and some are open like this one.

Someone is showing superhero power.

Da~rang Patong Beach

Here you are, famous Patong Beach. For me, Patong Beach is a commercialized beach which full of people.  If you like place with lots of conveniences, this is a place for you.  But if you prefer peaceful and quiet atmosphere, you may want to opt for some other beaches like Kata Beach and Rawai Beach.

Sunny day

Colorful umbrella

Parachute

Landing . . .

Here we saw a stall crowded with people.  Pad Thai is fried keow teow in Thai.  It looks tasty and we wanna have a try too.

Da~rang. Looks really good right. It taste sweet though as they put a big bunch of sugar into the pad thai.  Besides the ‘extra sweet’, as what the chinese always said ‘it is enough fired’.

And if you know me well, jagung, sweet corn, is my all-time-favourite

Remember the tragedy back in 2004? There is a booth with the tsunami photos. One of the biggest incident in the history of Phuket – Indian Ocean Tsunami.

There is a board with tsunami guidelines too.  I think I have to be extra alert on the ‘all clear’ signal as I would go to beach often.

After the sight-seeing, pad thai and photo taking, we on board the bus back to city.  If not mistaken, it was the last bus from Patong to city at 5:30pm.

Bus runs every 30mins interval, with 25THB/pax/way.  We were early, so there was not many people in the bus yet.  When the bus about to go, all the aunties working at the beach had filled the bus.

The journey from Patong Beach to city bus stop was bumpy. It took around 45mins to reach as it would go around to drop off passengers. I did notice that, for the local, they would charge less, like 20THB.

Now, we were back in town again.  The market has different kind of items at the stalls now.

See this big shell.

And this, prawn?

Fried potato ball. Nice, we had this for 15THB.

Food for the local’s dinner.

yes, it’s getting dark. We walked back to the Mook Anda Place Hotel too. It was tiring but, I am contented.

[Chapters]

Home

Day 1 – Phuket City tour

Day 2 – Phang Nga Bay (marvellous view of Phang Nga Bay!!! James Bond Island at Ao Phang Nga National Park)

Day 3 – Phuket City tour 2 + Patong Beach (by local bus!)

Day 4 – Island hoping 2 (Koh Khai Nui + Maya Bay + Loh Samah Bay + Pileh Cove + Viking Cave + Phi Phi Don Ton Sai Bay + Monkey Beach) + Phuket FantaSea Show

Day 5 –  City tour (Sea Gypsy Village + Abalone Farm + Wat Chalong + Phromthep Cape beautiful sunset!)

Day 6 – Heroine Monument & back to KL

Bonus – location & transport  (Tips on travelling to Phuket!)