Phuket Getaway - Day 3

Last Day at Phuket!
And it's CHRISTMAS EVE!!


The morning scenario went like this:
Still lazing at the hotel at 9am despite repeated phone alarms that went off since 8am.

"Merry Christmas eve! *Muacks* What are we going to do today?"

Alvin replied enthusiastically, "Thai Massage of course!"

"Do you know where's it?"
Though there are many massage parlours along the streets, God knows which are seedy ones.

"No?"
We spoke to the hotel i/c when we first arrived but he just gave us directions to one massage parlour on a 7th storey as he couldn't recall the name.

"Then?!" (mumbles to myself, Thai massage, of course..)

Squabbled abit as to who was to check out fer a decent massage parlour before I gave in and took the initiative to scour through the pamphlets that we'd taken earlier from the airport. HUR. Utter nongsense. (It's already 9.30am and I'm not going to waste my morning here at the hotel!)

Discovered one that's a stone throwaway from our hotel!

HideAway Day Spa is just down the street!
Greaaaaat.




We're the first customers of the day at 10am! (They opened business at 10am)
[I bought the Panda in Tai Ji Quan moves for Alvin when I was in Beijing. Cute or not. He wore it for the first time and quickly realised it's a bit too small fer him. Whoops.]


We opted for Traditional Thai Massage Combo 2 (Upper Body with Feet) package, medium strength, with extra concentration on the back for 1500 Baht (low S$60+).

A tray of essential massage oils were also given to us to choose from.
I chose Prai (part of the ginger family - the smell's so unique~ like it all spicy and nice! haha) which I guessed is their signature herb as the prai root itself is on the table (see photo).
Should have bought it there and then! Couldn't find it at the duty free!
Who's going to Thailand anytime soon? Please help me get one bottle!

Alvin chose lemongrass (tsk tsk tsk, fancy covering himself in tom yam juice).


We're handed a sarong each and fumbled to put it on as we've not worn one before..


We're then brought into a private massage room and fer the next hour and a half was a session of unwinding ourselves in a well-deserved bit of self-pamper.
*We got to know our exam results when we're at Phuket on Day 1 and they're fantastic! My highest yet in NUS =D I get to publish my dissertation on Hongdae! Hahaha.. Didn't expect to be able to leave my legacy in the school's library.


During our massage, I totally r-e-l-a-c till I drifted in and out of sleep.
Would have slept throughout if it weren't for the masseuse who woke me up a couple of times to change position here and there.
O, and I choked once cause she pressed down on my back a tad too hard on the first attempt.
Medium miss, medium! Kob kun kaaaaaaaaa~ (Thank you in Thai)

Other than that, the massage was two thumbs up.
*MOANs* hahaha




After we're done with the massage, it's photo taking time!
My masseuse helped me with my sarong. Nice or not?!
She wanted to help me do a halter neck but I was too skinny till there's excess cloth.
(EAT MORE la, I am la!)




Our private massage room with soothing ambient music.

Someone asked (on FB) why my hand was inbetween us in these photos.
I ain't wearing anything beneath the sarong.
If Alvin were to accidentally tug my sarong and tadah! My cheek colour would be that of a baboon's backside already.
But you can tell I'm glowing in bliss here! Heh heh.




Glad that I am fair.
If not, I'd have blended in with the sarong and the reclining wooden chair! Hurhurhur
(No offense to the tanned ones)


Thought our photo taking and tipping the masseuses would sum up our visit to the spa.
Little did we know that we're to be served with watermelon smoothie when we head back to the entrance!
Haiyoooooooooo..... One word - Heaven!

We enjoyed our spa experience so much so that Alvin's considering we take up spa packages back in Singapore.
(Hello darling, who pays fer me huh? We aren't even working yet!)


Following next in our so called 'itinerary' of the day was to head to Patong beach.
(I dragged Alvin there. Our hotel's at Patong beach area, how can we miss the beach? Alas, I kinda regret my decision as I was complaining about the searing heat throughout our 15mins walk there. Hurhurhur)



Wanted to walk barefoot, but the sand's simply scorching!

And then there were touts who kept harassing us to rent their deck chairs.
No Kob kun kaaaaa.. Miss don't like tanning. Miss like white white, fair fairrrrrrrr, understand?! Moreover, Miss didn't slap on my SPF 150 sunblock lotion that day. It's far too dangerous to be under the menacing sun fer too long!




We walked on the beach fer a good 15 mins before we gave up and sought shelter at some air-conditioned sports shop nearby.




Had a lot of moola to spend (Alvin said I'm dumb if I were to spend on a bag that costs $50+ in Phuket. "Don't spend for the sake of spending! =( ), so we decided to splurge on food instead.
Whateverrr..

Settled down for Restaurant Savoey which sits opposite the police box (yes, they call it a box?) at Patong Beach.

I ordered this dish, shown here, which is much like Bibimbap style where you simply mix all the ingredients together and chow down.
Anyone has any idea what's it called? We love this dish!




Did some more last minute shopping at Jung Ceylon and a supermarket to get last minute souveniers before it's time to bid goodbye to Phuket.




At the airport, Alvin's still packing. -.-
We had Norwegian salmon soup, bagel and haagen daz ice-cream fer dinner before our flight back to Singapore!


In all, we spent about S$400 each (excluding airfare), a little pricy fer a 3 day trip.
Our Tiger Airways ticket costs $120 each. (it began from a modest 99cents airfare which went on to a plus plus plus of taxes!!)
But it's worth it. A 3 day trip is more than enough unless you aren't sick of going to beaches and yet more beaches and caves. (Phi Phi and Krabi's more or less the same)
OR you prefer theme parks like Fantasea and watch Muay Thai which we gave those a miss. =)


Happy Holidays and a great year ahead everyone!


P.S.: Meethi came to pick us up to the airport. He was an hour early! I insisted on taking my time to bathe while Alvin kept hurrying me. Kancheong spider. 4pm means 4pm. (it's only a 30-40mins drive to the airport) Our flight's at 8pm fer pete's sake.
Alvin commented that Meethi has extra hairy hands, like those of a ____. SO BAD!

Phuket Getaway - Day 2

Love this day the best!!~

Had our Phang Nga Bay day tour booked at Phuket airport.
Prior to this, we had absolutely nothing planned for the trip because we've been bogged down with work.
It's almost unimaginable fer us to do so as we loved to plan for holidays to make the most of our trips!

Still, being the usual meticulous planner Alvin is, he die die live live also have to purchase a Phuket guide book before we're good to go. (browsed thru it on plane)
That's when we came across this wonderful, awesome leisurely trip!




Dragged ourselves outta bed at 6am and we're off to embark on this paradise seeking journey which was almost a 2hr drive from Patong Beach area!

Was still bleary eyed when we boarded the boat.
The chief guide welcomed us with breakfast (my eyes widened at the free flow of pineapple tarts[!], other snacks and drinks) and briefly mentioned the places that we're going to visit with the aid of a large map held by 2 other men.

We'd be visiting 4 places, and would have to depend on the tides to enter the caves.
It's a half moon that day, so it meant that the tide was just right!


The first island we visited was James Bond Island or Ko Tapu as the locals called it.
James Bond because the movie was filmed here in 1974.
(Apparently James Bond hid atop the now famous rock formation and an helicopter crashed at the beach in the movie)




The boat anchored near the island and we were each assigned a canoe guide.
Guess wot, the chief guide was our guide for the day! =D
The other tourists onboard the same boat were served by his other minions. Hahaha.
(tipped him generously for his exceptional service afterwards)




Well, upon arriving at the beach, thousands and millions of (mostly broken) shells welcomed us
Thought it was my 'lucky' day to have spotted a pretty looking shell, intact.

I meant to have brought it home when moments later I let out a squeal.
Something had brushed against my fingers.

Crap - In it was a hermit crab!
Had half a mind to yank it out from its home cause I certainly do not wish to bring the crab back. Heh.




An up close picture of the hermit.
Was gutted that I couldn't take it home. I promptly dumped it at the edge of a cave after taking photos with/of it.
Good riddance. Hur hur hur, Hurrrr.




We'd to climb through some carved out steps on the side of a rocky terrain to get over to the other opening.
Midway, our guide stopped to take a shot of the signature rocky formation of James Bond island.




Now there, the photo turned out impressive!
A splitting image of the one pictured on my fridge magnet which I bought for keepsake!
Our guide must have took hundreds of these shots for tourist that he now knows exactly where to take the best angle of the rock.




Here's the other side - A once idyllic beach thronging with tourists and rows of souvenier stalls.




Our guide!
(What does that hand sign means? Call me? LOL)




Hadn't much time to explore around this island.
Another of its attraction here is the leaning rocks.
The enclosed space which was flooded with natural lighting reminded me of the interior of Moshe Safdie's Holocaust History Museum in Israel! (Click here to see)




For our next stop, we're given an hour to either canoe by ourselves, frolic in the sea or just relac at a secluded beach at one particular island.

Our canoes were upturned near the shore for us tourists to jump from one canoe to another to showoff our stability prowess.
Alvin and I didn't join in the fun as we didn't bring a change of clothes!
And in all that commotion of cheering for the rest,  I forgot to take photos!




Lunch time was a sumptous Thai buffet spread!!
Heh heh. Was famished like anything and it was a challenge to continue eating after the boat started cruising off again.
(think flying noodles splattered on your cheeks)

What's more, I had to eat with a wet butt thanks to Alvin's incredible paddling.
Should have sat at the back mon.


Post lunch - Our first cave expedition!

Came across peculiar looking rock formations along the way.
They resembled:



A ferocious looking Pirannah..
(orange eye with jaggered spiky teeth)




and a Monkey (face) going 'ooo'.

There's one more - Scooby Doo!
Seriously, "Where Are You now!"
Can neither make head nor tail of the photo now. =(
Let me stare at it fer a while more perhaps.




Had to lie down to go through this tunnel.




This photo here showed where we emerged from.
The only way to get into the tidal lagoons or hongs (rooms in Thai) was though a tunnel that had eroded from the limestone walls!

These hongs are sea caves whose tops had long collapsed resulting in a sanctuary of their own with sky high ceiling, lush foliage wall and an emerald green flooring.




As we continued our day's adventure, the guides started calling out for the kings of the sky - the sea eagles, with high pitched whistles and throwing of food out into the open sea.


The last cave of the day:



Our guide promised us this last stop would be exiting!
It's getting a lil bit crowded in this small cave here.




We're greeted by a stalactite chandelier when we entered the cave and figurine in a form of a person

That makes it a grand living room!




Except for the fact that it houses bats too.
I'm not afraid of them. Rather, it's their droppings!
(paddle faster mr canoe guide!)




As we proceeded further in, we're shrouded in total darkness.
Hadn't a clue of what to expect for besides waiting fer what it seemed like eternity in here.
Fortunately, the guides gave us a torch each, which I presumed, to self entertain by shining light everywhere.

The guides also started deflating the canoes.
The air went "psst! psst psst psssssst!", a pregnant pause, then "psst psst!", "psst psst!"
I thought they're trying to be funny in the midst of boredom.
Then, ours got deflated too. Not funny anymore, folks! I don't want to sink in hereeee.


At this point of time, the initial excitement died down and the whispers amongst us turned almost inaudible (think we're all restless due to the holdup)..
Was relishing in all that silence (surprisingly not eery, but peaceful) when some claustrophobic kid started breaking into sobs.
She backed out.

Thereafter, another couple had to back out.
The male partner suffered from serious leg muscle cramp.




All this while, our guide had mysteriously disappeared!
He must have had disappeared fer quite some time cause I remembered hearing a splash a long while ago but it didn't occur to me that it's OUR guide who quietly swam away!

The worst thing was, we didn't even realise he disappeared till one of his minions asked cheekily, "Where's your guide?"
Turned around, omg, "I don't know?"
Turned to Alvin, "Aye, did you know our guide's missing?"
(of course he didn't, he was napping)

Gawd, we're literally in our own world in this cave of darknesssssssss.
But I must add that we're having fun!
Alvin's just lying and enjoying all this darkness shiat whilst I had to make sure we're still with the rest of the canoes.




Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..........
If only I could take a photo when we're going though the seemingly impermeable tunnel!!

Now I knew why the other guides were deflating the canoes back in the caves and where our guide had disappeared too!
Our canoes were too big to squeeze through the tiny mouth and we'd to lie real flat in the canoe when the guides pushed and pulled us out of the tunnel. Had the tide been a few inches higher, I'd be defaced from the rocky ceiling.

I cannot fathom how the XXL (and larger) angmohs made it through.
Hurhurhur.
2 (a father and young son) swam though the tunnel. Yes they're of XL size but they did it because the son was afraid to squeeze through the tunnel.
Thank God I needn't (aiyah, talk cock. thin like bamboo of course don't need la.. hahaha) as I wouldn't have dared to swim in total darkness..




This photo showed a typical deflated canoe which emerged victorious out of the narrow tunnel.


As for our guide, he had swam all the way to the mouth of the tunnel (from where we were at the cave) to assist in pulling canoes after canoes out!

I momentarily fergot he was the chief guide and thus this was part of his job. Our HERO! =)
He grazed his knees against some rocks and they started to bleed when he's back on the canoe.
Despite that, he gallantly brushed it off saying it's part and parcel of his job and he likes it!
Ahhh.. it's rare to find someone who's so in love with his job!


Hm. In the first photo, the thin black line (can't figure out which hole it was) was where we emerged from.
What an eye opener and astonishing view when we emerged from all that darkness!
It's better than the previous hong! (of course they saved the best fer the last)

It's like a lost world out there, so peaceful and serene.
Amidst all the heat outside, the hong here is surprisingly cool as it is surrounded by towering limestone walls that opens out to the sky.

Definitely some kinda paradise out there..
Wished we could have stayed longer and even have a picnic on the canoe..
Sadly, we haven't got any.




This ass was still lying down all this while.
Sheesh.




Dusk time - back to our hotel!

Walked to Jung Ceylon again to try out the Japanese Restaurant with a snaking queue which we saw the previous night.
Long queue doesn't mean it's good. What were the customers thinking.
Classic case of the blind following the blind. Sorely disappointed. - bad service & food.


Albeit, our sleep was sweet that night. =)

Phuket Getaway - Day 1

To Phuket to Phuket to catch a fat pig.




Our maiden Tiger Airways flight from the Budget Terminal on the 22nd of Dec 2009!

It's our first time stepping into the Budget Terminal and methinks it looked so cha-chat and cui (godawful), I thought I entered a warehouse.
Worse, this was after a S$16m makeover!


Fortunately, we didn't have to linger around at the dreadful terminal for too long.
All it took was a few rounds looking through all the shops available  (it's that small), a 20m walk on the tarmac to the plane and we were off to Phukety Phuket after a 1hr 45mins flight!

Here's Alvin discussing with our driver, Meethi, to plan our destinations after lunch (booked him fer the day) while I sat back, relac and enjoyed my chilled Fanta......




Our first stop was to go fer elephant trekking!
We opted for the longer 45mins ride, around S$40+ per pax.

This is baby male elephant, Plai Pee Mai, (which means "New Year" as he was born on Jan 2009) and us atop of a 26 years old female elephant whose name I fergot.




Our mahout's command of English was surprisingly quite good that we're able to converse with him throughout the journey!
Along the way, Alvin and I got startled when our elephant made a long and loud trumpeting announcement for dung time.




Presenting a grasshopper (for Alvin), a bird and ring (for me) that our mahout fashioned out of coconut leaves.




May the coconut leaf ring be transformed to a silver ring with a colossal diamond rock on it some day. Amen.
Hahaha




Our mahout also showed us the white latex sap that oozed out from the rubber tree trunk.

According to my primary school science text, the rubber sap is classified under poisonous.
While we're skeptical, nevertheless we gave it a try when the mahout offered to place some sap on our hands.

Oooh, the sap coagulated and turned rubbery as soon as we began to rub it!




Our souvenier of the day for 10bucks in their "Kinaree Elephant Trekking" photo frame.
(I took a photo of it here. Alvin hasn't scanned it fer me!!)


Next was to Phuket's Big Buddha statue which Meethi recommended.



I had batik cloths draped over me as my attire was deemed inappropriate to enter the sacred grounds.




Alas, The Big Buddha was having a face-lift. Some kinda recommendation.
Haha, shan't complain about it anyway as it's free entry! (we'd to save up for the last day - shopping!~)
"Put the eyes in december." -.-




There's another smaller buddha cladded in gold next to it.
Spotted our Singapore flag there!


We asked Meethi to take us to the cashew nut factory next.
Our hotel i/c told us Phuket's famous fer its cashew nuts and its nut cracking ladies.



It turned out to be just 2 lao char bors (middle aged ladies) cracking some nuts for show.
I suspected Meethi brought us to the wrong factory as the hotel i/c mentioned there were hundreds of them at the factory!

Regardless, we bought a few packets of garlic flavoured cashew nuts (delicious!) fer our families after sampling from a large range of different cashew nut products.




Our last stop with Meethi was the Kathu Waterfalls.
(We had no idea where else to go before dinner so we let him off 3 hrs early!
Alvin wanted to explore the rest of Patong area on foot at night)




Kathu Waterfalls was testing our limits.
The climb up felt neverending and we just want to relac fer this trip!
Thus we gave up after a 30mins hike. Besides, the sun was going to be down any time soon. Hurhur.


After a refreshing wash up back at the hotel, we headed out to explore night life around Patong Beach.



We came across a shop selling thousands upon thousands of sea shells along the way! =D
Bought a unique shell souvenier which I don't know where's it now. Haha

The variety of food at the night market stalls seemed appetizing, but we're not taking the risk to eat from the roadside stalls.



Instead, we went to the newly opened Jung Ceylon for dinner!




Had a supperbbbb dinner at Le Siam restaurant.
Highly recommended!

Christmas Blessings

Seasons' Greetings!

This was taken on Christmas afternoon at the park connecter.

Was on the way to do some shopping, have Christmas dinner with Alvin's family and catch Avatar when I spotted these 2 toadstools along the sidewalk!
Kinda special to me since I haven't seen anything like these since I moved here -- Christmas Toadstools!


Christmas Eve morning was spent at Hideaway Spa - Thai Massage in Phuket with darling!
Had a great time doing lunch at Patong Beach after that. Yum yum yum. Tom yam. Hurhur.
Shall blog on our Phuket trip soon!

Meanwhile, I bought myself the legendary fragrance, Chanel No.5 Eau de Parfum, for Christmas at Duty Free!
*Egad* it's pricy, but it has a soft floral musk scent which I desire! Heh.


Alright, till then!

Merry Merry Christmas to one and all!
God Bless for the year ahead!

XOXO,
Emily

Christmas Gathering 09 - 18th Dec

Cute?!
Hahaha..

We had our annual Christmas Gathering 2009 rather early, it was brought forward to 18th Dec 2009~

Had it at Nolboo Galbi (Korean BBQ), Orchard Central.



P.S. After having dinner here, I think Red Pig's better than this.
Gift Exchange: I had chocs, mini fountain pen and scent cake from Regina, London bearskin hat pen and jelly like substance (for potted plants) from Amanda and a cartoon cap from Candice.
Gave them a DIY Clean Up box fer their office desks!