Phuket Trip (17-20 Dec 2014)

Hola!

So recently my dad, Yana and I went to Phuket for 4 days! My youngest sister couldn't join us as she had her school attachment..

 Yana in le plane.

DAY 1:

The interior of our hotel room.

We reached Phuket at about 9 plus (Phuket time) and our hired private driver was already waiting for us. Yes, We rented a car along with a private driver. Apart from the obvious reason that we wanted to travel like some rich commoners, we also weren't looking forward to waiting in long queues and haggling with taxi drivers on taxi fares in the middle of the night night. So we got ourselves a driver from Phuket Shuttle Service (from airport to hotel is 750 baht; no extra hidden charges). I simply love their service - so polite and always smiling. Although we rented a standard car, on the fourth day, we were provided with a bigger car. Woot! Woot!

The rooftop pool of our hotel.. The view's gorgee-ous!

Check-in into the Citrus Heights Hotel was also smooth. We only booked it the day before and didn't manage to make any pre-payment so we paid the amount in full during check- - I know that there are people out there who have a problem with making full payment before their hotel stay, but, we didn't, so yeah. Anyway, the hotel room was clean,and it even has a friggin' washing machine! That in itself is already worth putting this hotel in my good books.

As smooth as our first day (night) went, there was a hiccup. The ATM machines at the airport. Bloody hell.. My sister could only withdraw from the machine once. Subsequent attempts at withdrawing more money was met with an "Invalid Amount". Which is ridiculous because there was still enough money in her account.Well, at least that was the only messed up thing that happened that day.

DAY 2:

 Us outside Jungceylon Mall; Eating at a halal roti canai stall just outside the mall.

We went to 2 places: Jungceylon Shopping Centre and Phuket Indy Market. Again we were driven there by our hired driver (4 hours worth of trip for 1500 baht; additional 250 baht for every extra hour after that). Out of the 2 places, I personally prefer Phuket Indy Market because it's different and meant more for the locals. Jungceylon is really like any malls one can find in Singapore.. Nothing special, really. For halal food, there is only one stall that we found right outside the mall. The famed food court that we heard people talking about doesn't exist any more in Jungceylon. 

Phuket Indy Market is a small local market selling clothes and food (there's halal food) - it appeals more to the youngsters there. There were no tourists there (aside from us) when we visited the place - all the more reason for me to love the place. We went thereat about 4-5pm, so the place there was not at its peak yet.. If anyone wants to go there, head there at about 6pm. Also, it is quite tricky to find the place, even our driver had trouble finding it. It's near Dibuk Rd, so keep a sharp lookout for the area. 

DAY 3:
Ah! This day was the best by far! We went to 2 awesome places: Phi Phi Island and Phuket Fantasea. Our day began as early as 7am and ended at about 11plus pm. Yup, it was hectic.

My sis and I up and about in the dark streets of Phuket at 5+ am, searching for paracetamol.

So by 6.30am, my family and I were already having breakfast in the hotel. By 7am we were readily waiting for a van to pick us up from the hotel to Rasada Pier where we would board our cruise ship. In all honesty, I didn't like the van driver, nor did I enjoy the cruise (Phuket Tours Direct). The journey from Phuket to Phi Phi took almost 3 hours! The next time I go there, I am so planning to take either a speedboat or  longtail boat.. Or if I can't afford it, I'd gladly opt for a VIP sort of cruise ship. Seriously. Plus, we didn't get out breakfast on board the ship as they claimed they would.. But at least, they did provide (halal) lunch.

       

Some of our pictures on the cruise and at Phi Phi Island. The last set of pictures above is of my dad intently looking at the camera whilst blocking my sister who was trying to take a selfie! HAHA!

Anyhoo, when we reached Phi Phi, the place kind of reminds me of Chatuchak market in Bangkok. Only difference is Phi Phi Island is a more charming sort of maze of stalls. Oh, and it is pretty expensive there.. Especially the souvenirs. We didn't get a chance to see the viewpoint though as we were rushing to explore and a the same time, ensure that we didn't overstay (we were told to board the ship at 2.45pm sharp). Nevertheless, I would love to go to that quaint little island again.

 The ticket booth at Phuket Fantasea

 Inside the Golden Kinaree

   The Theatre 

Phuket Fantasea, a contrary to Phi Phi Island on so many levels, is an extravagant place. The ticket booth itself looks like the interior of some grand palace's hall. Upon entering the Carnival ground, my sister and I wished that we could have had the whole day to explore.. Anyway, since  we arrived pretty late, we didn't really explore first, so we headed straight to the Golden Kinaree restaurant. My God. The interior puts other buffet restaurants I have ever been to, to shame. It was vast and the decor.. Faux clouds hanging from the ceiling, beautifully painted walls, huge statues on the massive pillars that could move... yes, it is like being in a fantasy world that has only been hinted at in fictional books. The theatre, itself was like a stone palace. A massively beautiful and ancient yet grand palace. My sister and I got the Gold Seats, which was actually the row right in front of the stage! To be honest, the show wasn't really good. We didn't get the story line. But the props they used... Whoa.. My sister said it's better than any plays that she's seen. And, the elephants! The talented and naturally funny bunch! AH, we managed to take pictures with the two baby elephants! They are so adorable and really not afraid of people. I would go there again for them, seriously!

..sorry, too many exclamation marks..

DAY 4:
Au revoir Phuket!

Bangkok/ First Ever Asia Foam Run

   Alrighty, so we all got back from Bangkok on the 19th of May, but I haven't had the mood to update it here. Anyhoo, BANGKOK WAS AWESOME!!!

   We didn't go anywhere on our first day in Bangkok. My dad was in pain (he has gout), so my sisters and I decided to explore the neighbourhood in which our hotel (It's a budget hotel called the Bangkok 68. Cheap, but satisfying.) was located at. Like the locals there who are so used to the neighbourhood, we went to the nearest family mart there and bought our groceries - on foot. We really looked like we've been living there our entire lives.

   On the second day, however, we went all out. We went to the two greatest market in Bangkok: Chatuchak Market and Talad Rot Fai. As everyone knows Chatuchak is HUGE and COMPLEX. Just 2 hours there was more than enough for us. What we loved most about the market is the fact that it has two halal restaurants. Both are situated near the clock tower. My favourite is the one called Kahjak. Not only is the food good and a little cheaper than the other restaurant but - wait for it - they can speak Malay!!! *YAY* Still between Chatuchak and Talad Rot Fai, I prefer the latter. Not many tourists know about that place. That market sells all the clothes and vintage stuff at really low prices - it's a steal, really. And, of course, we manage to sniff out one nice fancy halal diner (located near the entrance of the market) and one tiny halal food stall (in the midst of the market itself). After shopping, you can just order from the lady there and eat your food under the night sky at one of the tables located near her teeny stall (it's an open stall, btw.).Talad Rot Fai only opens at night, so it was perfect - we went to Chatuchak in the morning till afternoon (it opens from 10am - 6pm), and then to Talad Rot Fai (which only opens from 5pm - 12am).

   Third day was of course Platinum Mall. Which on hindsight I think was quite a waste of time... I mean, yes, the clothes there are cheap, but.. there's nothing special about it. Unless, you're a blogshop owner who sources out clothes from there, then yes, you'd beg to differ. Anyway, in Platinum Mall there are two halal food stalls on the sixth floor - one of it is an Indian food stall - the Chicken Briyani is a must-try. So, yeah, that was it for the third and last day. After that, off to the airport.

   Upon arrival, my family found out that there was a military coup in Bangkok a couple of hours after we landed in Singapore.

   That was a bloody close-call...

   Enough about Thailand.

   Today, Yana and I just took part in the first ever 5k Foam Run ever to be held in Asia!!! Whoot whoot! I love the obstacles - all the water, sand, and foam. But the heat was unbearable. Unremarkably, my face is badly sunburnt. But... I'm still pretty.

 My race bib! 

Went there with Yana and her two close friends.

Oh hullo May!

   Well, well.. The merry month of May is here which means that Yana's birthday is approaching (it's tomorrow actually), the school hols are here, and the weather is going to be hell. 

   It's really hot here that walking around indoors can actually make one perspire. So what my family does is to simply lie down in one spot of the house, preferably in front of a fan, and stay still for as long as possible. Yup.

   Anyways, tomorrow le family is going off to Bangkok for a short holiday.. which also serves as a part of my sister's birthday celebration. We have already given her her birthday presents just now - a jar of an electronically animated firefly (very pretty), a Ferragamo perfume, a pair of comfy slippers, nail stuff, and a silver necklace with her name and birthdate engraved on the locket. 

   Well, that's about it for now... We have yet to finish packing for tomorrow's trip! :)