We woke up 7am and get ready for the day-trip. Breakfast, besides some bread which we bought from 7-11 last night, we planned to look around for some local breakfast.  We walked across the road where a small shop was. As usual,  the city people are less-English-literate, we pointed at the food and showed that we wanted 1.

Pork + rice (suppose we wanted noodle). Notice that, every restaurant that we go in Phuket, a glass of ice was given, even in the morning of 730am.  I always tried to request just an empty cup, but most of the time, we failed to communicate.  By the way, drinking water + ice provided for free.

Price list for the pork noodle shop. I believe it is 50THB and so on.

It’s a brand new day and exciting day! We were going for a full day Phang Nha Bay Islands Hoping.  Been island hoping in Malaysia as well as Krabi before, what is special about this Phang Nga Bay? Let’s have a look at where Phang Nga Bay is and how does it look liked.

Phang Nga Bay, where Phuket is on the bottom of Phang Nga. Phang Nga is a shallow bay with 42 islands, comprising shallow marine waters and intertidal forested wetlands, with at least 28 species of mangrove; seagrassbeds and coral reefs are also present. (from Wikipedia)

With so many islands in the bay, while the boat or ferry going along the bay, it forms a special view that it’s surrounded by mountains and small islands, rather than the normal scene that we always see while island hoping, whereby a horizontal sea was seen.   Such natural setting of the environment is really beautiful.

After breakfast, the transfer van arrived and we were transfered to Ao Por Pier, located North-East of Phuket.

Ao Por Pier

On the way to Ao Por Pier, I saw this mosque. As Buddhism is the main religion for Thais, it’s only a few of mosque in Phuket if compare to the wat (temple).

Getting in the ferry and the tourguide was explaining to us, the journey of the day.  He was explaining about the geographical location of Phang Nga Bay as well.

The captain was driving the boat.

After leaving Phuket Island, approaching Phang Nga Bay, beautiful mountain scene was getting closer.

It was this scene that I saw.

Nearer and nearer we are towards this place. Looks like heavan.

From far, there was this bahtera ship.

Sunny day.

Hup & tene. Photo courtesy of Hafiz. A friend that we know during the trip too. He was with another 2 of his colleague, working in Putra Line as engineer.

The best thing in this trip was to get to know Eli and friends from Israel. I was excited cause finally I met Israel friends. If you don’t know why I was excited for, check your passport.  Eli has been in Thailand many times and this was his second time in Phuket, with the purpose to bring his friends (the red shirt guy) a visit.

Incredible thing happened, my camera was out of battery on the way.  The photos after this was given by Eli and Hafiz.  Really appreciate the simple friendship with the meaningful photos.

We visitted Koh Tapu or well-known as James Bong Island.  This is where the 1974 James Bond movie starring Roger Moore, Man with the Golden Gun, was shot.  Thanks for Hafiz for this photo.

The famous sliding stone at  James Bond Island, Ao Phang Nga National Park.  Photo from Eli.

After that we were having lunch on board.  You got to know something, the lunch was fresh prepare on board too! It was delicious I would said. I was a great lunch.  There were calamari, fried noodle, fried rice, mixed vegie, fried chicken. Of cause, for those that are muslim, not a worry as the food are halal.  Some of the tourist from Iran was worried that the oil used to cook the meal wasn’t vegetable oil! There is also cater for vegitarian.  When we were on board, the tour guide actually asked us how many of us is vegetarian on board.  Food is totally not a worry.

After that, we went to Hong Islang for canoeing.  Hong, means ‘helang’ in Malay and ‘eagle’ in english.  I did saw an eagle, so coincidentally!

Finally, in the canoe. Photo from Eli.

Canoe stopped by a beach full of died and dried shell on the sands and stone.  Photo from Eli.

Hup was canoeing.  We passed through the cave and got to lay on the back to get through.  On the wall of the cave, there was mut where the canoe boy called it ‘milo’. Photo from Hafiz.

Tene would like to try too. The water was not deep actually.  If I were to stand in the water, probably it would reach my knees.  But the shell on the ground that prohibit tourist from doing that.  We can’t swim or play in the water here though. Photo from Hafiz.

After that we went to Koh Panak for another canoeing. Panak, means ‘monkey’.  There were monkey dwell in this island, that’s why the name.

That’s end the canoeing but another interesting thing just get started.  The tour guide put 5 botols on the table, and started an IQ games.  The prize for the winner, a sigha beer!  Everyone started to crack their head.  It was happening and fun along the way back.  The boatboys came out with some eye-trick too.  At about 4:30pm, we reached Ao Po pier and transfered back to hotel.

Happy day with a little bit of  unlucky.  I would remember to make sure my camera is always fully charge next time.

I got a cold shower and decided to relax before going out for dinner.  After back from dinner, the camera was charged. Hup was playing with the camera while tene was reading some guide book.

That’s end a happy day with new friends.

[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!)

The flight was 7:10am. We reached LCCT at about 6am. Well, airport was crowded with people.  After checked in and McD breakfast, we were sitting at the Gate 5 waiting for the gate to open.  Flight depart at around 7:20am and after 1 hour 15mins, we reached Phuket International Airport.

Phuket Airport

When we walked towards the exit, there are taxi driver and mini bus driver looking for business.  Mini bus is 100THB to Phuket City, deal.  But we waited for about an hour before depart from aiport to the hotel.  From the airport to the hotel that we booked in town, Mook Anda Place, about 45mins drive.  We met Ann, the lady that we booked the hotel via email, check in and have a little rest in the room.

Mook Anda Place, 800THB/night

After some rest, it was 11am, but due to time difference, it should be 12pm in KL.  Biological clock was working very well and we went out looking for the very first meal in Phuket.  No far from the hotel we saw a coffee shop openned.  We were ordering in English and opss, they can’t understand what we trying to say!  And I realized, it’s a big different with the tourist spot/location. The cook trying to get another local chinese as translator and finally, we get some food, and not a bad one.

I saw some fried banana and pointing to it mean “I want some of this”. When I had my first bite, well, it wasnt banana, it was fried fish!  Nice food though, fresh and hot from the wok.

Fried rice, with port, vegie and egg. Nice one.

After the fulfilling lunch, we walked around the area near the hotel, towards the Robinson complex along the Kra Rd.  On the way, there are numbers of goldsmith. However, most of the gold sold in Thailand are 18K gold instead of 24K gold that normally sold in Kuala Lumpur.  We met a songthaew driver and his mate. He said would bring me around for 20THB for several spots in the town.  Thus, we followed him to buy island package for the day after.  With him, we went to the Gems Gallary, birst nest shop, together about 2 to 3 hours.  Before we left, we asked him how much he wants.  He said “up to you”.  We paid him 50 in ringgit malaysia.  After that, I think that was way too much for the few spots in the town.  By the way, we have book the Phang Nga Bay trip for THB2400 and Phi Phi Island trip for 2000THB.

Birdnest from the APB Phuket Birdnes

Gems Gallery

After that, we walked around the area near the hotel for dinner.  It was 5:30pm. Foodstalls started to operate.  We came to this foodstall.  Well, we can’t understand the wording but could guess what they were selling.

Foodstalls

I remember that Thailand is famous with duck noodle.

After that, we had another chicken + pork rice, which commonly seen in KL.  But the new thing is, there is this plate of chillies + spring onion + garlic on every table.  I saw this almost every other stall around Phuket I went.  I never eat any of this actually.

Phuket City scene

Phuket city scene 2

This is the market nearby the river, which you see in the photo above. Most of the thing sold here are cooked food which is for dinner.

Outside the market, there is this uncle selling pineapple and guava.  Notice the little guava, it’s priced by weight.  We had twice of this small little pineapple for around 20THB one.

Phuket city approaching night.

We decided to go back hotel for a rest and shower.  Phuket is way much hotter than KL.  It can go up to 43 degree celcius. So, I need a cold shower.  When I went into the room, I saw the sunset has colored the cloud into orangish red.

Beautiful

Another one focus on the cloud.

It’s not the end of the day yet.  What is the Phuket city night look like?  After the shower and nice photo, we went out for a small walk. And here it is, the very first spicy tom yam kung (kung means prawn in Thai) that we had in Phuket. I would say the kung is fresh and compare to another tom yam kung, this is a better one, somewhere near to Mook Anda Place.

After the hot and spicy soup, we decided to go back and finally called it a day.

[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!)

While doing research for the Phuket trip, lot’s of website and brochures that we browsed and read since it should be a free & easy trip. I am thinking to compile some useful and valid one as good future reference.  It’s a waste if spent days and nights research and just used for the few days trip. Don’t you think it is good to share it here too?

The very first research that I started with was the Phuket accomodation, where to stay. I do not aim for 5-star but I am not positive enough to sleep at bus stop too. Thus, getting a suitable and convenient place to stay is a must-do for a trip.

To determine what hotel to stay, first should know which part of Phuket that you want to stay. Check out the Phuket map below.

Map of Phuket Island with Beach location

Phuket Airport is at the north part of the Phuket Island. My flight will arrive at 7:30am. I plan to stay in Phuket town, the eastern side of the island as most of the day trip are free pick up from the town and I am not worry for the transportation as the bus terminal is located mid of the town.  I believe the town is a ‘gathering’ of most of the culture and Thai food, which I could explore easily.

Phuket City map

There are a numbers of hotel and apartment rental in the Phuket town. Checking through the price, I find that the apartment has a cheaper price compare to the hotel.  By looking at the photo of the apartment, I think it should be good enough for me. I sent email to Phuket Center Apartment, SP Mansion, and Ekkamon Mansion. Phuket Center Apartment(800THB/night twin room) and Ekkamon Mansion (600THB/night twin room) responded. However, when ask for further query, PCA did not reply. Ekkamon Mansion require online full pre-payment to secure the booking. I suppose it is ok but I actually found Mook Anda Place when browsing Thaiways Magazine. I sent email to Mook Anda Place and Ann replied, room for 800THB is available. I asked further and she said that, payment will be made upon check-in. So, here it goes, we are going to stay at Mook Anda Place for 4D/3N. By the way, it has free WIFI!

It actually took us 2 weeks time to research on the accommodation for the 6D/5N trip. What activity that we plan to do will affect where we want to stay in a way. We plan to do a 2D/1N at Phi Phi Island (min 2000THB/pax). Having a 3D/2N (min 2900THB/pax) is a luxury that we can’t afford with 6 days that we have as we plan to spend some days for cultural/city tour besides the swimming and snorkeling.  By the way, hotel in Phi Phi Island is way too much over-priced compare to the hotel in Phuket Island.

Transportation in Phuket Island

Basically, distance is not far in the island. There are a few transport that would be important for tourist like you and me.

1. Airport bus – there is bus station of the left when exit the airport. Bus goes to several destinations: Phantep Condo, Suraku Stadium, Complex (Central, Big C, Lotus), Boat Lagoon, Heroines Monument, Pranang Sang Temple, Indigo Pearl Hotel, airport, city bus terminal.  From terminal to airport cost 85THB and vice versa.

2. Local bus to beaches – located at Ranong Rd. near to the fresh market.  It’s near by the Phuket Backpacker hostel too.  We took the bus here to Patong beach for 25THB/pax.  The bus fare is fixed and stated on the board near the driver seat.

3. Songteow – it’s everywhere and you can get it for any price, negotiable and reasonable.  However, they might start with some expensive price and expect you to negotiate for a lower price.  They would bring you anywhere in the town as no route fixed.

4. Tuk-tuk – famous in Thailand but pricy vehicle to travel on. Always negotiate before say ‘yes’.

5. Mini bus/van – There is mini bus that transfer people from airport to hotel in Phuket. From airport to city, it was 100THB. However, you need to wait until the whole mini bus is full before depart.

6. Taxi – it’s worth if travel in group for a taxi. Again, negotiate.  Well, most of the taxi is Toyata Camry model.

How I plan my trip?

By the schedule, we will be in Phuket for the first 3 days. 4th day and 5th day will be at Phi Phi Island and back to Phuket on 5th day evening. On 5th night, we might be at Patong beach. 6th day is the last day and we will be flying back to Kuala Lumpur, in the afternoon.

Using Google map

While planning the schedule, accommodation and activity to do, I would like to find out, how far it is from a location to the place-to-be. This would help me determine the time to travel and what is the transportation available. In this area, Google Map helps me a lot.  There is a function to calculate the distance between 2 spots on the map by defining the start and destination locations.  However, this would work in the satellite mode Google map. As what I am aware of, not all the location on the Google map has such information yet. The calculation might be an approximate value, but I think it is good enough for me to familiarize a little bit more about a place I have never been.

[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!)