WARNING: Extremely long post below. Reader discretion is advice.
Yes I am back! Missed me already? I was away for the past 5 days in Phuket and Phi Phi Island, Thailand. Came back 2 shades darker and an aching body but all I can say is....IT'S FREAKING AWESOME! Well, I went with 2 other friends Olivia and Lyn as we kinda planned this trip back in January and it was a spontaneous thing. We just wanted a holiday and the very next day, we booked the tickets. So throughout this whole trip, everything was pretty much spontaneous as well as we did not have a fixed itinerary. We did however have accomodation bookings made prior to the trip.
Day 1: Phuket - Karon + Patong Beach
Arrived Phuket around 2-ish in the afternoon and we took a cab who took us to arrange our transport with a travel agent. We will be moving a lot in between islands so ferry and transfer from pier to hotel and vice versa was very very important as ferries have scheduled timings.
Oli + Lyn: "Are we there yet??"
After the arrangements, we checked in to
Living Room Hotel, somewhere in Karon and about 15 mins away to
Patong Beach. I must say, the hotel was really good for a triple shared bed room going for about 2000 Baht (approx RM200) per night. Later we went in search of food as we were all super hungry (it was already around 3 something PM then). We came across this awesome noodle store that had both pork and beef noodles. All I got to say, it was the best damn beef noodles I have ever tasted. I will keep it short for now as I will be blogging about all the food we had in my next post. After the delicious meal, we went back to freshen up, and we're off again to Patong Beach for some sight seeing and shopping (Note: there are 2 ladies on this trip, therefore, you will hear the words 'shopping' very frequent throughout).
Sunset at Patong Beach
We all later decided to get pampered and went for foot and body massages. Well, there are many shops to choose from so it's just a matter of preference and price.
us being pampered...
1 and half hours later, we went for more shopping and food and then called it a night as we had to wake up at 545AM to catch the 8AM morning ferry to Phi Phi Island (3 people, 1 bathroom, 45 min journey from hotel to ferry pier...do the math).
Day 2: Phi Phi Island - Long Beach, Phi Phi Lay, Loh Samah Bay, Maya Bay
YAY! We're here!!!!
While on the way to the pier, our van picked up other people as well. Guess who was on board our van?....Rashid Sidek! But no...didn't get autograph and photos. We arrived Phi Phi Don at around 10AM and took a long-tail to Long beach and checked in to our hotel. Our hotel is situated right on top of a hill so getting up there is a challange on it's own. Now I must say that this place is a stark contrast to where we stayed in the first night. There were no air conditions and having an extra bed means just a materess on the floor. I killed a cockroach later that night too. But no complaints since it's only 950 Baht (RM 95) for 3 persons. However the view from the hotel's lobby/cafe was simply breathtaking.
Our room/hut
the view from hotel lobby/cafe
First thing we did after we checked in??....THAI MASSAGE (again!) We did it overlooking the beach and it was simply awesome and relaxing. After the massage and not wanting to waste more time, right after lunch we hired a boatman to take us island hopping and snorkeling. Now, in the whole of Thailand, it is very important that you know how to strike a bargain otherwise, there are a lot con artists who like to give you cut throat rates since we're tourists. 3 of us went for 3 hr boat ride, to 3 destinations + rental of snorkeling equipment all for just 1000 Baht (RM100). Not bad right? We snorkel at Loh Samah Bay and Maya Bay, and were also taken around Phi Phi Lay, and also to see the Viking Cave. Oh, in case you didn't know, Maya Bay is where they shot the movie "The Beach" staring Leonardo DiCaprio.
...island hopping
Loh Samah Bay
me snorkeling
Oli and I at Maya Bay
After being all fried and dried from the sun, we headed back, showered, and got ready for dinner. We were entertained by a fire show performance during dinner by the beach. We were all dead tired after dinner and called it a night.
Day 3: Phi Phi Island - Phi Phi Town, Loh Dalum Bay
All 3 of us were awoken by the loud sounds of freakin cicadas at 730AM but still lazed in bed till about 830AM. Skipped breakfast and went straight to the beach for a swim.
Our view from under the tree by the beach
After the swim, we had brunch at the cafe at our hotel. Checked out, and took the long-tail back to Phi Phi town. There were some confusion as to where we were suppose to go, because the address on our next hotel states that it is in Aonang, Krabi which is another hr ferry from Phi Phi Island. Remember the first day we already arranged our ferry tickets to Krabi? Well, lucky thing we called the hotel. They are situated in Phi Phi town. NOT Aonang Krabi! We remembered we booked it online and it's on Phi Phi Island. Hence, when we got there and took a look at the address, it states there Krabi only did we realise that we had to spend a night at Krabi. It turns out, Phi Phi Island IS within the Krabi district. So we booked THE WRONG ferry and transfers. Anyway, they have a no money back policy so we ended up paying for the trip to Krabi (it's about RM100 per person ok? PAIN!). We're going to make an official complaint to the Thai Tourism board as it is very misleading, and the fact that we couldn't get a refund really pissed us off. Anyway, that aside, we stayed in Kinaree House AT Phi Phi Town (note the address in the link), which was a really good place to stay going for 1800 Baht (RM180) per night for 3 beds.
The alleys in Phi Phi town
Here, it's litterally shopping heaven. You can go shop to shop bargaining for stuff. As Oli said "This place looks like some theme park!". Needless to say, the 2 ladies went on a shopping rampage.
"This one how much? Got discount??"
Ok, I did buy some stuff also, but I only bought 2 pair of "branded" board shorts which were really cheap. The food around this area are also nice...I mean, it has to be...there are so many tourist here we actually don't feel like we're in Thailand. After don't know how many hours of shopping, we went back to the hotel to shower and to get ready for dinner.
This is our damage in just a matter of hours!
We were out strolling and we stopped for beer. During the whole trip, we have a lot of beer and coffee stops as beers here are simply cheaper than what you pay back home (about RM 5 per bottle of Chang beer).
Having beer just before dinner...ahhhh!
After dinner, we went to this bar/club. We went there because there was a fire show by the beach, so we though it would be nice to just chill by the beach and drink MORE BEER!
...just like I said...MORE BEER! :p
Soon after the fire show started. See this performer below?
Oli thinks he is cute and stalked him! Haha..well, she did managed to take a picture with him later on as he was actually one of the security staff working at the place.
"I found him!...now faster take picture for me!!"
We were about to call it a night but the music became better. They were playing house music to me and Oli's liking. Lyn however has no choice but to follow us (Lyn, we will be converting you soon...muahaha!). We went to the dance floor and danced for awhile. I must say, it's rather different seeing people partying and dancing in shorts and slippers (me included). But who cares!
Scenes from the dance floor
Day 4: Phi Phi Island & Phuket Town
We were hunting for a good breakfast when we smelt freshly brewed coffee in one of the bakery and decided to have breakfast there. They served the yummiest coconut bread I have ever tasted!
After breakfast, we went on to Loh Dalum Bay, where they have water sports activities. We didn't do any seeing that we didn't have the time, we just stroll by the beach and took pictures.
Later we took a hike up Viewpoint, which is the highest hill on Phi Phi Island. Climbing up there is nothing big but there were just a lot of stairs and panting.
"Haiya...so many steps...this better be worth it!"
...and worth it it was..
We took the 230PM ferry back to Phuket, where we will spend a night in a backpacker's hostel. The name of the place? Phuket Backpacker Hostel (duh!). Being new, it's one of the best backpacker's hostel that you can find anywhere. Even seasoned backpackers who were there told us so. You get 2 double-decked beds in a room for only 1000 Baht (RM 100) so each person was around RM 25 per night. It's not air conditioned and the bathrooms are shared with others, but the one cool thing about the place? There is a 42" LCD TV down at the lounge and a library of DVDs for you to watch. They even have 4 internet terminals as well. Not bad right?
Our double-decked beds
...check out the LCD TV...and those aren't books..those are DVDs!!
It was already evening when we checked in. So we took a shower and headed out in search of dinner and continued with.....MORE SHOPPING! Walked around Phuket town and also went to
Phuket Central Festival for shopping. We called it a night after all that walking...phew!
Day 5: Phuket Town
Our last day in Phuket...time always fly so fast when you are having fun. Sigh!...we woke up reluctantly, but we were hungry. Went to look for breakfast. Stopped by this place which serves porridge with pig parts ("
Chee Chap Chok"). All I can say is.....OH MY GOD!!! It's heaven.
Best pork porridge I ever tasted...
After breakfast, we went walking around for more last minute souvenirs and shopping (again!). We then headed for the food market where they sell some interesting food items.
Rotten fish in bottles....ewwww!
More preserved food items
After much walking around, we went back to the hostel to chill as we had a cab to take us to the airport in the noon.
Overall, the trip has been quite an experience. It was tiring moving between different places every night, but it was worth it. We are already planning our next trip on the way back...and really, we can't wait.
*Click here to view more pictures from the trip.
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