Tampilkan postingan dengan label Phuket. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Phuket. Tampilkan semua postingan

06 Februari 2008

SingMaThai DAY 5: Phuket – KL

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This morning we took porridge for breakfast. We wanted to take noodle, wanted to try noodle in Thai, but the restaurant is still closed, the owner showed us to another restaurant that open, a few house away. They sale porridge with cakue. Not as delicious as China town KL.

Mr. Mai again who pick us up. At 9 AM, we’re all ready. All packed for flying to KL. Our flight is 4 PM, so, still time for us for sightseeing on the way to airport, which located at the north of Phuket island. We stop bye at Patong beach.
Kamala beach.
Nai Thon beach.
And Nai Yang beach.

We had our lunch there. Said my dad, it’s the most delicious so far, at turned out to be the most delicious of all for this journey, include Bangkok and Pattaya, he said. We had fish (100% fresh), squid, pork sate and tom yam. So delicious, my dad wanted to take picture with the cook, who happen to be the owner of the restaurant, named Sumalee. We’re just lucky, or all restaurant were delicious there. Never know.

Arrived airport at 2 PM, fly back to Malaysia at 4 PM and arrived at 6 PM Malaysia time. Back to China Town Inn (2) hotel, just to change what we want to bring to Singapore. Since we’re taking bus at 12 midnight, we might as well took shower here :_) And the owner didn’t mind at all.

All set, we headed to Puduraya bus station to go to Singapore. Stop bye near Ancasa hotel to buy 1 ringgit nasi lemak for eat at the road. 6 hours from KL to Singapore via Johor. We will arrive at Singapore at 6 the next morning. We slept at the bus. Next morning, we’ll be at Singapore, so have a nice sleep… at bus… :_)

COMMENT & REVIEW

TRANSNASIONAL BUS
OK. Clean. Comfort. Convenience for sleep, suitable for overnight trip. Aircon was too cold though, just prepare enough clothes to cover your body. They allow you to eat and drink at bus, since the bus stop only at Johor after 3 hours. 33 seats a bus, but usually to Singapore full, but quite empty from Sing to KL. No wonder much more expensive from Sing. RM 30 from KL and RM 50 from Sing, bought at Puduraya, KL. We heard that if bought from Sing, even more expensive.

SingMaThai DAY 4: PHI PHI Island

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The waited day has come. This is the most exiting to us for the whole journey. We’ve been to KL and Genting and Bangkok and Pattaya last time. But we’re never been to Phuket and Phi Phi Island. These three days is the heart of our journey :_)

The whole tour will be include pick-up and deliver at Hotel, engine boat to the island, lunch, snack, soft drinks and fruits, snorkeling equipment and tour guide included. That morning we had bread (bought last night from Family Mart) and coffee (bought from Giant at Sunway, KL) for breakfast at the 5 th floor of Lamai Apt. It was an open air restaurant. Air was fresh up there but no special view. That morning, restaurant not open yet, so we bring our own food to eat up there. Our pick up supposed to be at 8.45, but arrived at 9.15.

We were the first to be picked-up. In the same van with us, a couple of young European, and 2 big guys full with tattoo and they bring 2 local girls who were very aggressive. They kiss, lick and suck the boy all the way, up until while at the boat. Don’t imagine sensual local girls, these two are just like ‘mbok mbok nyuci’, even worst.

Arrive at Chalong Bay, we were welcome by this local girl, she called her self Beyonce. She’s our tour guide. She gave us pink sticker so she can identify ourselves and ask where we came from. “You look like Singaporean”, she said. “No, we’re Indonesian Chinese” “oh, Ni hao ma?”

Pink sticker is for 4 engine boat capacity 65 persons. Green one is for 3 engine boat capacity 35 persons. Supposed, this green sticker paid higher, since last night, the guy from the tour offer us THB 2000 per person for 3 engine. And when we nego to THB 1,400, they gave us 4 engine. Luckily, it seems that pink and green sticker more or less the same number of person, about 30 or 35 person only.

While waiting at Chalong Bay, it’s a Nivea time :_) Most people use Nivea. Not only us, but those European also bring their own Nivea with them. This Beyonce come to us and told us that there are about 10 other fellow Indonesian with us today. They were a couples with a cute little about 5 years old daughter from Semarang, and a gang of back-packer alike, 4 girls from Jakarta. So total, 13 Indonesian on the same boat, same tour. On the boat, I just happen to chat with those girls. They paid the tour for THB 2,000 per person and still they get a 4 engine boat. Feel very lucky. All our time to search for Phuket/Phi Phi island worth us saving of THB 600 (= IDR 180,000 each, total saving IDR 900,000). This saving can be compensated to good dinner tonight he he he :_)

No wonder they prepare anti-sick pill for the tour participant, the boat was speed and shaky. Lucky, we’re took our own ‘Antimo’ already. However, mom and dad not taking antimo also don’t feel any dizzy. So, what we read (from internet) is not fully true :_)

Along the way, we saw a lot of small green hills. Phi Phi islands is the more or less the same only they were bigger islands. First stop, Maya Bay (National Park Fee THB 200 included). For those of you who seen The Beach movie, don’t expect to be exactly the same. The hill, the sand and the sea, ok, the same. But please do prepare for the crowded, the tourist and the boat parking along the beach. Nearly no place to took photo without ‘taking’ someone else together. Anyway, no dissatisfying on this situation. All the hills, sands and seawater was great view all together. All of us go for swimming. The water was shallow and clear but very salty, don’t open your eyes if you don’t wear swimming glasses. Really a fantastic experience, be able to swim at this tremendous background of Maya Bay.

Maya Bay is part of the island called Phi Phi Ley. This one is smaller than Phi Phi Don. Also part of Phi Phi Ley which usually as part of the tour are Loh Sama Bay (place where some guy got bitten by shark in the movie The Beach), Pileh Cave and Viking Cave. All only stop by, not go down. Pretty good view must say.

From there, we headed to Phi Phi Don, only to Monkey beach. At the beach, stop by and go down for a while, to see if there’s any monkey. I don’t know unfortunately or fortunately, that day, no monkey appeared. Beyonce said, probably because no Australian among us, because usually the monkey like to bite Australian, but probably just a joke. Also from here, the view was awesome. After, they took us far enough from the beach to do snorkeling. Snorkeling equipment has been made available, mask and life jacket. Only fin (flipper) can rent at THB 100 per pair. But we don’t.

This was my first snorkeling. A bit afraid, actually, when I first jumped my self down to the sea of water level 3 maybe 5 meters deep. But after a while, I begun to gain my believe on the life jacket to hold me up, although I can not swim. And… Waaaaa, new and tremendous experience to me… Beautiful coral, although for me, Manado is more beautiful, this was first time the coral right in front of me and I can actually touch the beauty. WOW. Only me, Natz and Natz’ mom do snorkeling, while dad already jumped in the water but he change his mind, the water is too deep and dad a bit afraid.

After a bunch of activities, begin to feel hungry :_) Right time to eat. They took us to Kai Nok Island, a very small island at top of Phi Phi Don. Thai food buffet, all you can eat, rice, chicken, shrimp, onion ring, and vegetable. The food was very so delicious, but probably just us felling too hungry :_)

Kai Nok Island. Very small, smaller than Bidadari island near Jakarta. Everywhere white sands and people lying there for sunbath. Some girls even topless. Good views ;_) Right there also very convenience to do snorkeling. Me and Natz does, while others just rest at the beach. The water is very shallow and clean, don’t have to go very deep, can see coral from the depth of adult’s waist! And not only coral, fishes everywhere, with all kinds of shape and color, white yellow, yellow with black strips, green, blue, purple, all colors. And they’re all very tame, they don’t afraid of you at all. Really, this is an awesome experiences. We can nearly touch the fishes. Very unforgettable.

Kai Nok is our last destination of the tour. After having so much fun at the island, Beyonce finally call us to get back to the boat and back to Chalong bay, the place where we started the tour. Before we get off the boat, there was a tips box circulate by Beyonce to all of the tour participants. We felt happy and so much pleasure, so we gave them THB 100 :_) At the shore, they sold souvenir, a plate written ‘Phuket Island” with our photo in the middle, THB 150 one. All tired that afternoon. They drove us back to Apt. Still noon, so we took some rest and shower first, before going out for dinner.

At night, we find seafood for dinner. Number 1 seafood and Chinese food at Patong, near Bangla road. Fish ‘kakap merah’ with spicy sauce, grilled shrimp, mix vegetable with pork, and fried noodle which actually a fried kwetiaw. At the same restaurant, we met (again) our fellow Indonesian, 2 couples of om and tante from Bandung, which take a local tour package. After eat, we ask the waitress and she shows us which way to Bangla road.

Bangla road is famous for night live here in Patong. Where there was bar, restaurants, shops, and Thai lady boys. Very crowded with all kinds of human, European, American, Eastern Europe, African, Middle East, Arab, Chinese, Korean, Japan and local people. Natz bought a bag here at Findig shoe and bag store. Natz mom also bought 2 bags and a sandal. Tired. But what a day ! Unforgettable Phi Phi island experience, and snorkeling was really fun !

Tonight must pack for tomorrow afternoon going back to KL and headed to Singapore.

COMMENT & REVIEW

PHUKET SIAM SEACANOE
This is the tour we took to Phi Phi Island. I guess this is the only tour. Other is by cruise but can not go down to Maya bay or any place, price cheaper, but probably the same company, I don’t quite understand. Be careful. Book from internet, they might charge tou THB 3,300, by brochure THB 2,800, by any sub-tour might gave you discount THB 2,000. We telling you, can be cheaper than that. We got the price of THB 1,400. The same service with other who bought at THB 2,000. However, we don’t know which sub-tour we bought from, since we were taken to the place by Mr. Mai. Anyhow, we believed we get the cheapest reasonable price :_)

31 Januari 2008

SingMaThai DAY 3 (21 January): KL – Phuket

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Our flight is 1.40 PM at noon, but we have to come early to airport to avoid any unpredictable things that could happen. We spare 2 hours before, we must arrived at airport. Like yesterday, we start our day by breakfast at Petaling Street, but this time we have porridge. Hot and delicious. After, we took 1 taxi RM 15 to KL Sentral to continue with Skybus to LCCT. Our luggage is only 2 bag and 2 handcarry, very little, so 1 taxi is enough. Other luggage we left at our hotel. This time we took Skybus instead of Aerobus. Because Skybus will definitely run on schedule, while Aerobus runs when passenger full. Arrived at airport about 11.00, check-in etc, 11.30 we prepare to have breakfast at Asia Kitchen just in the front side of the Terminal, next to McDonald. Here, the Nasi Lemak Spesial and the Chicken Rice was not so bad, but price little bit high.

Flight was 1 hours to Phuket, but since Phuket time is one hour less than Malaysia, we arrived at 1.40 Thailand time. There, already wait for us Mr. Mai, an independent driver with his own car who specialized himself to serve the tourist. We booked him by internet, with his wife Nuch.

That evening, he took us sightseeing around Phuket. The plan was South Phuket today, and North of Phuket the day after tomorrow, while headed to airport, back to KL. First, he took us to Phuket city, the highland (small hill) where you can see almost the whole Phuket from here. Next, is Cashew Nut factory to buy some snack. You can try before you buy. We bought dried small crab which the shell can be eaten. One pack THB 90, we bought 4. Dad bought sweet cashew nut 2 pack @ THB 180.

Next, Mr. Mai took us to see Wat Chalong Temple. It’s a complex of 4 or 5 temples big and small. What interesting about the Thai temple is that the yellow color really shining like gold. Here, we took some coconuts to ease our thirst.

From there we headed to Phromthep Cape, the very south of the Phuket Island, located between Nai Harn beach and Rawai beach. The view is great from up here, and the Sun Set should be perfect. But we cannot stay until sun set, there’s one other place to go (View Point), and above all, we have to arrived at Patong before 7 to book a ticket for Phi Phi island tour for tomorrow.

View Point also great. You can see Karon beach, Kata beach and Kata Noi Beach at once. After, we went to Patong beach were our place to stay located not far from. Sunset also great at Patong beach, but unfortunately, we can only view it from the van because need to catch Phi Phi island booking at 7.

Booking for Phi Phi island tour you must know the trick. This is a valuable lesson we learn from others. Lucky us who live in the era of internet. Booking from internet will cost you THB 3300. From agent, written in the brochure is THB 2,800. They will give you ‘special’ discount, you pay only THB 2,000. Waaa sounds cheaper right. No. Can be cheaper. From what we read from internet, the price is THB 1,200 but that was sometimes last year. We asked for THB 1,200 per person, just a try. Surprisingly, they offered THB 1,500. We dealt at THB 7,000 for 5 persons, i.e. THB 1,400 per person. Everybody happy.

Arrive at Lamai Apartment at nearly 7 o’clock. Yes, we’re staying at an apartment instead of hotel, due to high season (January is high season in Phuket, best weather, and in contrary, in Europe and US, now is the winter, which many of European/US come to Asia). We pay Mr. Mai THB 1,800 for the service (from 2 PM to almost 8 PM). All hungry, so we rushing for dinner. About 20 minutes walk direction to Patong beach. We ate at place call Sopita, in front is restaurant, back is a hotel. Who knows what date is this??? Nobody but mom said, “your wedding day, last year”… YEEEE Mom got doorprize, a kiss from daughter-in-law… Yup, today is our 1 st anniversary, and we celebrate it in a exotic night at Phuket island. Who would think of. Too bad is not just the two of us alone ;_)

REVIEWS and COMMENTS

HOTEL CHINA TOWN INN (2)
Thanks to them to allowed us to left our luggage on their place. Total 3 luggage, which 2 of them were quite big. “Can we left some of our luggage while we away, we’ll be back at 26?” The answer was convincing, “Off course, sure.” We choosing the right place to stay and to keep our luggage :_) Last year, while staying here also left some of our luggage to them. Safe and Trusted.

AIRASIA
No additional comment. Everything smooth and OK. Where else can you find air ticket only RM RM 252.76 per person, or equals to IDR 730,000 only flying you from KL to Phuket !!!

Mr. MAI (and Mrs. NUCH)
Big guy with black glasses. But very friendly and informative. You can book him through his wife (Mrs. Nuch) e-mail at hknuch@hotmail.com or kunthipc@thaimail.com. Usually, she will reply you on 3 – 5 days, but she definitely will reply. The rate was THB 1,500 – THB 1,800 depends on the destination. She offer us, if sightseeing only, THB 1,500 (half day) and pick up at airport right away to hotel THB 1,000. So, we took pick up at airport but not right away to hotel, after sightseeing then to hotel. We ask how much we need to pay, Mr. Mai said, he don’t know about charging client, it’s depend on us and his wife (through e-mail), so we paid him THB 1,800 (almost six hours from 2 PM to almost 8 PM). He has two vans, which one of them he drove himself. Also can be reach at phone number +66841134809.

LAMAI APARTMENT
Rooms are still new, reception said it just renovated on Oct 2007. Clean and Tidy. Air-con, phone, TV, DVD player and hot water evthing's running well. All staff speaks English well and very helpful. 5 of us book only 2 rooms they gave us extra bed, towel and pillow WITHOUT extra charge, in-fact, they worried about us felling un-comfort 3 persons staying in a room for 2. The only thing is that you have to bring your own drinks as they don't have any drinks on compliment. Though, you can ask for hot water for coffee etc, they would not charge you. The staircase is pretty hard to climb but still OK. One more thing, this place is about 20 minutes more to Patong beach by walk. Quite far from the heart of city, but in contrary, you get the nice and quiet sleep at night. Will definitely stay here if back to Phuket.

Booking service was very helpful and trusted. If not get booking in one place, they will suggest you to another place. The instruction was easy to follow and the payment confirmation was all clear. You can book through www.sawadee.com. More info in www.phuket dir.com/lamaiapartment, or e-mail at lamaiapartment@hotmail.com. Rate for standard room is THB 1000.