Jeff Space: Dec 30 - Jan 2 Phuket Trip (Wave Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010)

4.18pm, Saturday, 16 Jan 2010, Sunny

Date: December 30, 2009 - January 02, 2010
People Involved: G6

Location: From Changi Airport to Phuket

G6 Members: Augustine, Selene, Adelene, Azlin, Patrick & Me

The Tale began:

The journey began with G4 meeting each other at the last cabin of the train

We decided to transfer to take a taxi to save some time instead, thus, G4 alighted at Tanah Merah MRT station.
Journey to Changi Airport from Boon Lay via Clementi Via Tanah Merah Interchange to Changi Airport.

G3 Group Pic: Me (Jeff), Adelene & Azlin

Patrick enjoying his train ride to Tanah Merah Interchange

PKL

(Patrick taking the priority seat as though he is elderly, but truly he is!)

Finally we arrived at the Budget Terminal and checking in, at the same time, taking a pic!

After checking in and having breakfast @ Mc Donald's, it was around 8 plus( I can't remember the actual time!), we are all ready to board the plane...

In the pic G3: Me (Jeff), Selene & Adelene

G3: Augustine, Me (Jeff) & Adelene

Finally, we had boarded the plane!

Our Group Pic G6 members:

From top Left Selene, Adelene, Azlin, Patrick, Augustine, Me (Jeff)

It was a one and a half hours flight to Phuket, though the night before, I was excited and had only 2 plus hours of sleep, and wanted to have some sleep, however, laughter and the jokes were just unable to simply close my eyes to rest..

Arrived at Phuket International Airport around 10 plus, the first impression of Phuket, It's very hot and sunny day to sun-tan. But the airport and the getting our bags did waste some time at the airport.

It was my first time going to to Phuket, thank goodness, Patrick and Azlin are very familiar with the route and checking out the prices of the coach to bring us to our destination. It was another 1 and a half hours journey to the hotel.

Time Check: Nearly to 1.30pm...

We arrived @ Expat Hotel.

The group was separated to the our rooms, the 3 ladies @ Level 3, while the guys @ Level 2.

Well, though we requested to have the rooms next to each other but the hotel just insist to have us separated for good, I guess, at night, it is convenient for the girls to enter the guys room for extra service, maybe!

There is always reasons to be hungry, No 6 restaurant located just across our hotel was the choice recommended by Patrick & Azlin cos of the prices...

No. 6 Restaurant

If you think lunch will filled our hunger, then think again!
Just a few metres away from No. 6 Restaurant, we spot something sweet, fruit, chocolate sauce and the pan...

Near the beach, there are a number of locals selling pancakes with fruits and chocolate sauce for simply a few sing dollars...If you think we are going to give it a miss, think again!!

Pancakes!! Pancakes

While waiting for the pancakes, taking pictures killed time for waiting...

Some collection of our pics!

Day 1 was a shopping and orientation tour by 2 lovely tour guides, Azlin & Patrick, at the same time, checking out the prices for our day 2 activites, and comparing them with different agencies, it is a reminder from our 2 lovely guides, as if you wish to come here with your friends, some local agencies have special prices for large group.

Not just comparing the prices for Day 2 tour, we had placed reservation for our night massage...

Time passed really rapidly.

Time check: Around 6 plus

Time for Dinner at roadside store, well, though the cleanliness is beyond our control, but who cares, if there is good food, here we are!!

Our group pic at the roadside local delight store.

Day 2
Time: Waking up @ 5am , VIP Van arrived @ 6am

Location: From Expat Hotel to Similan island tour including sun-tan and snorkeling...

This is the map that I had scanned which some of my friends are really interested to find our more about Fantastic Tours, a local Snorkeling Co. have provided us with. In total, we will be visiting 4 islands, they are

1. No. 4: Miang National Park Island

2. No. 8: Similan Island

3. No. 7: Koh (Payu)

4. No. 9: Ba -ngu Island

The Day 2 snorkeling was a whole day event. It cost us 2600 Bakt, which the usual price for one person is around 3600 Bakt or above. But the price we got 2600 Bakt was a special discount that we got from our local travel agency, thus do your homework by comparing the prices.

Check our more info @ Fantastic Similan Tours Web:

http://www.fantasticsimilan.com/

Tour Map of Similan Island Tour

Some of our Similan Tour compile pics

Day 2 @ Night

Location: @ The Pizza Company Restaurant

Dishes we ordered:

Calamari

Cheese garlic bread

Cheese & bacon twist

Chicken Wings & drumlets

Spinach lasagna

2 pizzas:

Seafood pizza

Hot dog stuff crust with Hawaiian pizza

Our compile pictures @ The Pizza Company
Say Goodbye to 2009, Welcome 2010

Location: Patong Beach

Mission: Countdown & Kong ming lantern & Firework

We were surprised that firework can be brought, what you simply need is $ Bakt.

Well, we brought 2 Kong Ming Lantern & 2 tins of fireworks each at 1000 Bakt .

What is Kong Ming Latern?

According to Wikipedia:

Sky lanterns are airborne paper lanterns traditionally found in East Asian and Thai cultures.

They are constructed from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame, and contain a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material. When lit, the flame heats the air inside the lantern, thus lowering its density causing the lantern to rise into the air.

The sky lantern is only airborne for as long as the flame stays alight, after which the lantern floats back to the ground.

Sky lanterns are also referred to as sky candles or fire balloons, however this term is also used to refer to balloon munitions used during World War II.

Well, Kong Ming Lantern are very common in Southern & Eastern Part of Taiwan & Thailand, as it symbolise wishes you hope it will come true. According to the locals in Thais, the wishes you hoped for, just simply write them down on the lantern, once done, you will light the lantern and it will fly off to the sky. In the past, most locals will light a lantern daily during the World War II hoping the War will be over. Though on the actual day, we did not write our hopes for 2010, but it is all kept in our heart.