This was a last minute beach vacation. Booked my flight via jetstar for $200 and exchanged singapore dollar for 23 baht of $400. As usual, my budget hostel search landed me onto Patong Backpacker hostel which costed me $20 per night for a 6 bedder. Waited for 40 minutes for SBS 36 and nearly missed the flight, did not know which terminal Jet star flys from, thank Jesus, I managed to ask an elderly man who knows the airport at his finger tips. Reached my counter and was told to enter within the next 10 minutes. Realised that I cannot bring water bottle into the carry on luggages even thought they are sealed, need to seal them with a airport sealed bag. Had to drink and throw away at the security counter. (Did not know as I have not been travelling for the past 2 years).
Had a good flight via Jetstar
I had a good experience with the Phuket bus transport staff at the airport's minibus counter, at the hostel, and I met lots of European country people e.g. Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Ireland, Swiss, Australian, Korean and I found a number of Philipines working in Phuket too. My first flight on a budget airway took me 1 hour plus to reach Phuket which is one hour before Singapore's local time. When straight to the Mini bus counter to purchase a bus trip to the Hostel for B$ 150. The trip was pleasant as I met an experienced Singaporean on the bus trip, he shared his experiences with me along the way and shared that we will be brought to a intermediate stop over tourist shop which will be selling the Island tours which should cost around $B800-900. The shop wanted to sell me at B$1400 which included 5 islands and lunch on board. I was surprised that the experienced guy bought the trip at $B1500. Also realised that Phuket has a number of uphill travel by the mini bus, when I reach my hostel, I checked in and when out immediately for supper. There were lots of people at 10pm and the night light is very vibrant till 2-3am. There were lots of bars and a Go Go bars along the Banga road area. The following are good knowledge to remember:
No 6 Seafood serve nice and authetic thai food
Big one shopping supermarket is good to get the daily necessities, I bought my snorkeling gear for $B430, drinking water.
Findgic handbag, shoe shops are also good to visit, bought some fragrance incense set which comes with holder, elephant containing wax and wax carved out to form a flower.
Massages done at CNM Massage center opposite No 6 Seafood and Viemann at Soi food lane (run by a Swiss and Thai couple). $B300 for one hour of oil full body massage and $B250 for foot massage. I was encouraged to go for my first massage when i met a fellow Singaporean on my second night at the hostel. Reason was that there are so many massage shops with beautiful ladies offering the massage that I was confused as to which will provide a better service. It was after much knowledge sharing with the Singaporean who experienced it herself that I had the confidence to try.
Met international travellers over lunch, dinner at No 6 Seafood and exchange contacts and exchanged ideas, discussed on Christianity not being a religion but a relationship with Jesus. Met a group of poor and dark family of 2 elderly lady and 4 children along the public bus trip from Patong to Phuket town center. Felt sorry for them as the children were barefooted, bought a box of strawberries from Chang rai for them to eat. According to the shop owner, they are living in the nearby islands and normally begs along the roads?
Day 1 Patong Beach, walking around the round and beach area and waiting for the property consultant to meet up and to share more with me. According to him, Nai Harn is the best beach area and that Patong has been heavily commercialised with lots of vendors pulling and asking you to buy from them.
Day 2 am, Patong beach, had a morning run along the coast line, saw a thai guy with a spear guy with a squid being pierced. Collected sea shells along the beach.
Day 2 pm going to Nai Harn
Met a Norway family with beautiful daughter and boy friend at Nai Harn and shared experiences too. Lots of European citizens there, it is really like I am in Norway? All of them like the warm weather of Phuket rather than their winter.
Met the German lady and a korean family when i returned from Nai Harn beach where I saw live fishes swimming in the lagoon. Korean family spoken chinese with me while the german spoken english. The common language is the enabling factor to knowledge exchange. The next day decided to go Nai Harn again although it took me 2 hours from Patong to nai harn. I met the German guy from 2nd day and he too agreed with me that the public transport has to be improved. He suggested for a round trip, while I suggested a point to point ie a direct bus from Patong to Nai Harn instead of making Phuket town as the central bus interchange. The buses needs to be air condition if possible as the amount of exhausted inhaled is not very healthy. It cost $B 25 from Patong to Town, while it cost $B40 from Town to Nai Harn.
Day 3 Nai Harn beach was very good as I managed to swim near the southern rocks where I could see more marine life, small yellow stripped fish, and live baby crabs. Met a Italian beach manager and a Thai lady into properties, shared that properties in Thailand is on the up swing too.
On my return trip, I met the same German lady up at the bus which was already loaded with another couple ready to travel back to Phuket town. All were quiet till I stepped into the pick up. I made contact with the german lady and started conversation, then I asked the couple where they came from, and found out that she was a Philpino migrated to Germany, and that made the link for the German community to start their German conversation. Proofs that language is the common glue that triggers knowledge sharing and knowledge exchanges, and may be a common enclosed area where we have nothing else to do but to talk as we were sitting facing each other.
My first trip to Thailand left me with both relaxing and hectic moments, rich and poor divide is evident, beautiful and ugly, capable and disabled people along the street selling and making a living, kampong houses and rich condos, schools, people selling flowers on the street. Lots of taxis and tuk tuk which charge the same rate as Taxis about $B400-600 and thus very few people like to take them as they are expensive vs the public buses.
Thai people seldom speak english thus it will be difficult in communicating, end up not talking at all.
Rushed to catch the airport bus back to airport and waited for the air plane which reached late and my flight was delayed for 40 minutes. Realised that there were lots of Singaporean flying back at the same flight too.
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