Phuket, Thailand

We kicked off the journey on August 27^th evening from Singapore. It was a great day, we had gone to Universal Studios and had enjoyed a lot there. The hangover was still clouding when we reached the airport. We were so hungry that, even if we had just half an hour for the flight, we ordered a pizza from pizza hut. But the pizza was delayed so much, that we had to leave without eating, and paying.

We reached Phuket by night, and to our disappointment, it was raining. Raining huge! So, after a span of 4 months or so, we saw huge thunderous rain! We took a mini bus from airport to Patong beach and they dropped us at the hotel. On the way, they stopped and took us to a tourist agency office to explain about the various packages. We reached the hotel irritated, and came to know internet was not working. I tried calling home and informing, but was of no good, as the telephone found it difficult to interpret ISD code. Hoping that the rain would cease next day, we slept nice.

Sunday morning arrived. We had arranged for a Phi Phi tour the next day morning, but the tour operator backed out, leaving us in a soup. The hotel also said that it was not possible for them to arrange a tour on such a short notice. We walked out of the hotel, tried to catch vehicles that will drop us to the jetty, and this process continued for half an hour. When we almost backed out and decided that we will go to the island next day, a minivan stopped and agreed to take us. We went to jetty, paid more than others and were excited about our first island trip through the sea.  

The first few minutes of the trip were stupendous! The green ocean, the swaying boat and the amazing scenery. Water everywhere and we were really excited.

Then the villain came, again in the form of rain!






It started raining heavily, and the boat swayed beyond our excitement and slowly I started feeling sea sick. The itinerary was changed and Kawa beach would now be at the end of the trip, rather than at the start. We were taken directly to the Phi Phi don and the monkey beach. It was raining heavily. We were unable to snorkel and then came the saddest of all the news when the tour operators informed that they have to take us back to Phuket directly, 1hr after lunch. It was raining so badly that the tour had to be cancelled for safety purposes. 


The next hour, luckily did not rain and we spent the time well in Phi Phi. Swam across in the beach, went some far into the ocean and was lovely. I know I am repeating, but the greenness of the sea was worth watching!





We boarded in another huge ship for the return journey. And that journey changed the entire course of the trip. We were in the bottom level of the ship, and I felt so damn sea sick that I could not open my eyes for the entire trip. I started hating the sea and water and I just wanted to get back to Phuket. After more than 2hrs, we finally reached the destination and I vowed never to travel in the sea again.

We went back to the hotel, decided to cancel the Phang Nga trip we were planning to go. We still regret the decision we made, but there are times when health takes precedence over excitement. We rented out a bike and decided to travel around the island for the next 2 days. I would have to say, we did not miss Phang Nga much as the island herself was a beauty. After the phi phi tour, we decided to enjoy the night life and Simon cabaret. Went and booked the ticket in VIP seat for Simon cabaret. And that turned out be a visual treat, a colorful and beautiful show.

Even if my wife tried her best to make me believe it was a transvestite show, I could never imagine them as males, until finally when we came out to take snaps with them, some of them sounded so. We drove back to the hotel, changed and decided to try a discotheque. We went to one near the famous Bangla road, had 2 Pepsis and sat there a while. She wanted to dance badly, but I was not in a mood, may be because of the Phi Phi hangover. After a while, we went back and called it a day.

Next day morning, it was all clear and the sun was out. We hoped, we had gone to Phi Phi then, so that we could have enjoyed it more and I would have been less sea sick. But, there is no point in crying over spilt milk. I suddenly remembered that I forgot the place from which I rented the bike. And I had submitted my passport in exchange! We were both so tensed, roamed around the place for 1 hr or so, before finally finding the place. 

Then we decided to go to Phuket shooting range and tried a sniper gun from there. I made a small fight over there as they dint allow us to take photographs. Finally winning the argument, we took some snaps and proceeded to the next destination.

On the way, we saw a small Buddhist temple. We got down there, and spent a few minutes there. It was all red with agarbati smell all around. She enjoyed the temple much more than I did.








 We moved on to Patong beach, and it was lovely and green again. I had a hearty time in there. Was swimming and enjoying for more than 2hrs or so. The hotel was very near the beach, and we went to the hotel to change.





Later, we went in pursuit of Indian food and found a good restaurant and had fried rice for the first time in 5 months or so.
We came back to the hotel, had rest and decided to go to the Fantasea next. By evening 6 or so, we left for Phuket Fantasea, a mega carnival and show. The drive was a nice one, with 2-3 beaches including Kamala beach by the side.



It was a nice place, and a great show with elephants and traditional Thai dance and drama. There were shops all around, and we went around taking as much snaps as we could. Near the entrance, we could pose with baby tiger; of course, we need to pay extra for all those. The Fantasea was good, don’t know if it was worth the huge price tag, but the show was nice.








We saw white tigers, baby elephants, street dances and beautiful carvings and other small man made wonders there.

Once the show was over, we went back to the hotel and again decided on trying out the night life one more time. This time our mind was fixed on a go-go bar in Bangla road, and we decided to get in one with the poster “Ass spanking fun”, and, indeed it was. We saw certain “natural wonders” in the bar and decided 15 minutes was too much to spend there. Went back to the hotel and called the day off.

Next day morning, we went to the beach again, swam and played for again 2hrs or so.Even in overcast conditions, the beach looked extremely beautiful, and luckily it dint rain.



We came back to the hotel, tried out the rooftop swimming pool now, and decided to get sun tanned. We swam and burnt our skin for another hour or so, and it was time to check out.


We checked out from the hotel and our destination for the day was Promthep cape.




On the way, we stopped at Karon beach first. It was by far the best beach in Phuket. We had the beach to ourselves, not at all crowded, and the sand was white and silky. The beach was so clean and nice. We sat there for around half an hour and resumed our journey.

Next stop was at Kata beach and it was another wonderful beach with an extended coastline. There was this place, which looked so much like Hawaii or Mauritius. We spent around 1hr there and continued driving with beaches on the side again.







Kirti in Kata beach.

A view on the way to Kata - Karon beach.





After a long drive, we reached the first view point – Kata-Karon viewpoint. It was an amazing view point with the 2 beaches in sight.

 It started slightly drizzling after 2 days, but luckily, it did not continue much. Even if she was afraid to continue the journey, I insisted and we drove across another beach and finally reached Promthep cape.

On the way to Promthep cape ->







The view from there was indeed worth the long journey. An amazing view, with 3 beaches in sight. The waves of the beaches appeared so slow. It was one of the most beautiful evenings I spent in my entire life.

We waited till 6 15 or so to view the sunset, but the sun was still dressing behind the clouds. We started our return journey from Promthep cape, and were just 5 minutes from the cape, when the sun, fully dressed up, emerged pushing the clouds apart.

 We could catch the view on the way back, and the sight of sun setting from a hill top surrounded by ocean will never be forgotten.

We went back to Patong beach area, gave the bike back, collected my passport and boarded the cab to airport. Within 2hrs, we were back to the "man-made" Singapore,re-invigorated though.