* It is getting further day by day, almost cant sense it anymore, am i losing it? *
The trip was initialized by jcengoh after surfing the airasia website last year. Since the ticket price was considered worth to buy at that moment, 13 of the highly enthusiastic joyful fellowships agreed to be part of the trip to Phuket.
Tasks were given to each individual to cover the accommodation, transportations, programs / activities, F&B and itinerary. Basically everyone have their own responsibility. Mine as usual is in the itinerary group portion - a JDFR task.
Few weeks before the trip, most of us were uncertainly whether to go or to forfeit our ticket as now is the pandemic of H1N1 Flu. We monitor the situation almost every day and i felt like we are a bunch of paranoid kiasi ppl. Even i was being advised to be careful coz there are ‘important’ tasks for me to attend to after I come back from my vacation. Nay....I don’t think the flu will infect us. I know the Lord will protect us.
2009 July 10
We flew to LCCT on Friday nite from PIA. Only 11 of us going as MF & hubby decided not to go due to flip flop decision. :P. Initially want to go, then don’t want, then want to go again, and then don’t want to go. Since the group assessed that PIA to LCCT is not high risk, so we didn’t wear mask. This is a relieved if you have experienced in wearing those ‘hog like’ thick mask. Since Air Asia introduced the seating number on the ticket, i don’t even bother to queue upfront. Feel like kiasu idiot still queuing up front. 3 of us just wait for the queue to subside and then we board the plane.
We arrived in LCCT quite punctual. 6 of us booked room in the Tune hotel which is 7minutes walk from LCCT terminal. They went straight to the hotel. While 5 of us decided to stay in McD till morning. I bought a book by Daniel Goleman to read so that i won’t feel bored.
2009 July 11
After 6hrs of semi-conscious type of sleep-seating in McD, we went to Old Town to refill our energy. Did some wash up & clean up in the WC. Checked in and took some pictures with the N95 mask on. Now guess who have the most beautiful smile???
When i was going to my seat, 2 of the passengers already took our seats. The passengers said some one took their seat. Beh tahan. -_-|| Ppl took your seat then you took other ppl’s seat??!! Please lar. Go clean up you mess and don’t cause collateral damage! Managed to ask them to go take back their seat and continue the happy mood.
Just few minutes into the flight, I already feel like getting asthma attack. So d-gas, i took off the mask. What a relieved! We were received by Mr. AEAK & Mr Lim in Phuket Airport with 2 vans. I am eager to see the signboard of ‘Best seafood in Phuket’ . Coz in Phuket, every place is providing the best seafood. Only nuts would have believed this!
We arrived in our Chada Guest House. Now i knew i was conned. This is not a gay hostel. Luckily....heehee. The place is quite nice and worth for money except that our rooms are all in the top floor, 4th flr. The workers there are also friendly.
Since we have planned to have light and easy for the first day, so we walked around and looking for tour bargain. We didn’t confirm our tour package booking as some of us uncertain whether to proceed with the trip before this. Marcus and the guys did most of the bargaining. We have a good laugh as some of the English pronunciations by the local are funny. ‘to lunch’ pronounced as ‘to lan’, ‘choose’ as ‘shoose’ etc.
We continue our walk along the street interwoven with power transmission wires on top of the electrical pole. I wonder how did the electrician / wireman able to deal with such a complex wiring connection. Sure give a hell of headache. The transmission lines releases a switching sound once a while which make me cautious.
While we were walking along the street, suddenly JY got ‘jackpot’. Thanks to the bird from the transmission wire. He had to bear with the white patches on his shoulder even after wiping it up with tissue paper.
We had our first lunch in DD’s Cafe around Patong. The serving size was surprisingly.....xs but the snooker pool game was free. The sky by then is already spewing rain. After the lunch, we proceed to Phuket Surprise Tour to bargain for islands trip and the fantasea show. While they doing the bargaining, I cross over the street and buy some hotdog & mineral water from Family Mart.
We manage to get good bargain on phi phi island trip and also for the fantasea show in Kamala for the second day in Phuket. We didn’t finalize the Panga Bay trip as she reluctant to give us cheaper bargain.
We took the tut tut to the Wat Chalong temple and i have to sit infront with the driver. When we arrived there, its still raining. So we ran from one building to another building to snap some pictures. Visited the main temple, the tower and the place where they immortalize the abbots. Felt spocky when entering the dimly light and air-conditioned wooden temple with the abbots and urns collection there.
During the journey back, i changed my seating to the behind as i don’t want to have duck and chicken conversation with the driver. Very tiring.
After relishing shower and short nap, it is time to venture around for dinner. We walk around Bangla Street and the beach side. The wave is strong, certainly unsuitable to do any activity near it. Some of them bought crepe from the mobile stall. There are various selections of flavour. The crepe sold here is quite different compare to the one I have in Shinjuku. Here they cut the crepe like roti pisang. But the taste is good.
Just when we walk along the bangle street, searching for place for dinner, we were swamped by the waiters asking us to eat at their stall. Felt like being swamped by piranha. Wah.... Go away you flies. We just walked away. While walking around the street, suddenly the waiters block our way and ask us to go to their stall. It is like play cat and mouse game. I managed to runaway when the waiter caught CF. Poor CF.
The rain started to pour heavily and we decide to take shelter in one of the abandoned pub. 3 of the us walk around to search for suitable place to eat. So we decided to take dinner at one of the stall near the 7/11. As expected, the serving is XS. Pity this hungry ghost. After the dinner, few of us decided to buy rain coat. We continue our journey to Jungceylon shopping centre and look for Carefour to buy some food, mineral water and beer. Of course the Surprise plan by Shim also being kicked off. I leave that portion for him to tell.
After all the shopping, we wade off the rain and go back to our hostel. Everyone refreshed and gathered at the 2nd floor to play cards, drink and eat some junkies. Then...Sir plised!!! Ice cream cakes laced with 12 red chocolate coated cherries, supported by cream, garnished with frozen strawberries and pineapples, glorified by the 2 candles make its way to the room. I ate some if not alot of the cake since I was still hungry. Gulp my first beer after few months. Felt relaxing when i surrender myself to rest.
2009 July 12
All of us woke up early and eager to go to Phi Phi Island. We were waiting for our transport in the lobby while having our tea/coffee and bread breakfast. It’s still raining at this time. Since the tour is from Phuket Surprise Tour, it’s not hard to predict they will give us a surprise. The trip is cancelled due to the bad weather.
We changed our plan and searched for the Banzaan. We passed thru Jungceylon before reaching the market. The fresh meat and seafood section is very clean. The cockles are still alive, shooting water like playing symphony. I saw one type of fruit like bambangan but not sure what it is. The stall owner said it is sour. We bought some local food for breakfast. Also not sure what are their names. Ate the food at the upper deck of the banzaan and have some rest. Some of them looking at the map to decide what is the backup plan for today. Some playing hp games, some read e-book etc. Around 10am, we made our way to the Surprise tour to negotiate for new tour. The petrol station for motorcycle here is quite different. It’s like selling drafted beer. Quite creative kind of business.
Marcus and the geng did the bargain again, and the phi phi island tour will be replaced with the panga bay for tomorrow. So we will proceed the day with visit to the Big Buddha statue. Each one of us forked out Baht200 for the transportation. Since CF left us for the beach while they did the bargaining, we mischievously told CF each one of us needs to pay Baht2200. And surprisingly he believed it and paid up without hesitation. Huhuhu....Sui yue.
Man was our van driver for the day tour to Big Buddha Statue. He is a nice fella. We went up to the statue but it is still raining with strong wind and foggy. The experience is quite memorable.
After that Man brought us to one of the stall for our lunch. When i walk in to the stall, a long hair lady like fella greeted me. Suddenly my ear received a wrong tune of voice and I made a U turn and walk back. Later we have our seat and Man explaining the menu as it is written in Siamese language. Cant figure out what is written. We asked Man to seat and eat with us but he kindly reject and have his meal at the other table.
The food is good and reasonable. The mildly hot tom yam is indeed...very spicy... Pak Hussein will have to throw the towel for this. After that, Man brought us to the cashew nut and jewellery factory to kill some time. The tour continues with the visit to the Gypsy village. Man said that they are poor and working as fisherman for the rich Chinese businessman. Not pretty body but have good heart. Happy go lucky type of people. They like to karaoke and socialised.
Next stop was at the monkey observatory place. There are stalls around selling banana for the monkey. But we didn’t buy any or feed them as there are monkeys all over Malaysia that we won’t be surprised of.
After that we stop by at the nite market, buying some food and some t-shirt. While we were walking around, suddenly, a pale of water pouring on my head. What a jackpot!! The gals in sync to buy the same shirt design but different colour. I bought one blue coloured shirt from the Chinese speaking Siamese.
Around 6pm, we prepared ourselves for the Phuket Fantasy at Kamala. The place looks grandeur with lots of photo taking worth of scenery. The buffet has various varieties but the taste is so so. This is the first time in Phuket that i am really feeling full. The show started with splendid entrance but the story line lack of continual syn. Some of us nearly doze off. I think they should learn from China.
2009 July 13
Luckily today there is no surprise news. Our plan executed as usual and we made a stop at the Ao Por port for our speed boat. The toilet fee there is Baht5. Tough life.
On the board, the host explain what to do and whatnot.
‘We will go to James Bond island. He is 007 and i am 008. In Thailand, when the gal greet you, they will say..sawa deka. The guy will say sawadekap. And the lady boys is say...sawadeekaaaa.....’
‘At the cave canoing later, for those gal with big coconut, pls cover them with ur hands. For those guys with big brother, hold your brother with your hand. For the lady boy, cover top and bottom. I don’t know how coz i am not’
We made our first stop in James Bond Island after roughly 45mins of journey. Not much to do except taking pictures and shopping. I have my slipper snapped during the photo taking as I was doing a stupid stunt. ‘padan muka’. After that we have our buffet lunch on top of the double decker speedboat while heading to the other Isles.
When the boat stop, our host inform us that for those want to jump into the water, we can do so. Some made their way to the canoe. Few of them jump into the water. I was hesitated to jump as I don’t know how to float. After being affirmed that they will save me if i were to sink, I jump off from the speedboat. It’s felt like forever before I touch the water and i managed to float for a while. Then I decided to go to the nearest canoe with frog style. Suddenly, I gulped the sea water and start to sink. Tried hard to kick up and push my body up but yet I am still sinking deeper. Panicked and my sight getting dimmer, I pulled / pushed whatever I could get hold with. I think I pushed Shim’ and Marcus’ heads before i manage to get hold of the canoe. That is the split second before I nearly feel unconscious. JY shouted for help but no other ppl coming.
What was I thinking before the jump? Fun and adventurous.
What was I thinking when i am sinking? Flash back to my childhood time when I also almost drown at the sea and at the pool. Same type of scenario. That’s why I am being forbidden to go near water.
What was I thinking after the jump? Thanks God. I am still alive. Sorry to Shim & Marcus.
Luckily I am not end up in the body bag. After that one of the Middle East tourists scolded me. ‘You don’t know how to swim. You want to die?’ After going up onboard the boat, my goggle strap snapped.
3rd stop is into the cave with canoe. We use torch light to see the stalactite. The paddler constantly navigates the canoe along the tight entrance and releases some of the canoe air to fit us into the cave. Luckily for me I place my elbow in front of my chin as my elbow hit the stalactite. Else there goes my chin and nose.
4th stop is for us to canoe around and swim. We were playing pirates with our canoe, attacking CF & Marcus. I didn’t jump down to swim and stayed with the canoe. Still shivering from the almost drown experience.
We went back to Chada and take quick clean up. Walk around Patong to find place for dinner. Manage to find one good restaurant to eat. After that we walk around to for shopping. Wanted to go for massage but decided to go for it the next morning.
2009 July 14
Woke Up early when CF knocked on my door to go to the beach side for morning walk. Still blur and tired, I follow him to the beach side around 8am and search for breakfast. (Oh..no... forgot to do my homework. What is it?? Err...) we decided to settle in burger king. After that, we walk along the patong beach, CF busy with photo taking with his Canon DSLR. Around 10am, we walk back to Chada and taking picture with Hard Rock Cafe signboard along the way.
Only 3 of us decided to go for massage in Let’s Relax Massage and spa. The ambient is good but the massage is without power. I think the massager didn’t take her breakfast. :P
After that we leave for Airport. It is time to don with the N95 mask again. While waiting for our delayed flight, we mingle around at the liquor duty free shop. The liquor is cheaper compare to in Malaysia. So we decided to buy and I get mine too.
Upon arrival in Penang airport after the transit in LCCT, we went to the liquor shop again. Since some of them didn’t buy, so i use their passport to buy additional bottles. ‘liquor ghost’? Nope. They are for next year CNY and special occasion.
スタンリ 笔字
We spent our time mostly in the iconnect area at the 3rd flr to connect to internet. What else we can do to waste 7hrs while waiting for the next connecting flight. I read news, msg friends and did my office work. I let BL use my laptop as his laptop's having 'blue screen' sickness. So i walked around and get some water from the water dispenser.
I saw this shop at Changi Airport at the 3rd floor near the i-connect that really have a catchy sign board. My mind having a wild though after reading the sign board. Maybe there are shops like YOUR HEAD psychology, or YOUR ASS slimming centre.. Who knows. World is full of unexpected things.
We reached Bangkok International Airport around 21:30. The airport seems like just having renovation. Certainly i feel, this airport is much better than KLIA.But one thing for sure. You wont want to drink the water from the water dispenser. You can try it if you eager to know the reason. I think you are smart enough to know the answer.
We continue our journey to Kansai for 6hrs. I was sitting alone comfortly on the 3 seats-right side of the plane. I manage to watch 2 movies and listen to few musics. 