Land of smiles, Phuket

I just came back from a 4D3N Phuket trip. It was a refreshing experience for me, considering the fact that this is by far THE longest getaway so far for me. Preparation for the trip? Lots and lots of blog-reading of Phuket-goers who shared pictures and recommendations... and lots of rounds of questions with fellow friends who are actually frequenters of the land of smiles themselves.

I am so grateful to everyone of you, hence as a gesture of thanks, I would like to return the favor by completing a blogpost to share our whereabouts in Phuket. Ok, maybe it might be overrated because it might seem like another Phuket trip blog. But read further and maybe you will find some Ladyboy-proof areas that you can ACTUALLY head to or the exact massage place to go to!

Our departure from Terminal 1 via Jetstar was on Monday 6th May 8:45am. Gracious parents offered to drop me off at the airport, so I was lucky that I made past the crazy Monday traffic.

In totallity, we (couple) paid about $200 (net) EACH for the round trip airfare. I believe it is quite cheap ya. We actually made a point to settle our accomodation too via agoda.com, with the sweet help from Z's mum. Hence, we saved up alot on our resort net price because she used her agoda points to book for us, which amounted to only S$213.10 for 4D3N with breakfast (more details of hotel - below).

Plane ride took 1 hour 30 minutes. Plenty of time to cuddle and nap...

Upon arriving at Phuket International Airport (KHT), *no picture!* you would not need to worry about not getting a taxi. There will plenty of "offers" from taxi companies who will quote you prices to your destination. By fate, a nice Thai guy walked to us and offered his taxi services. Ok, here we call it taxi, but they call it Airport Limousine. Why Limousine? It is called so because we were driven in a fairly exclusive Toyota Camry.

Rumour has it that these taxi drivers might not be able to understand English, hence it is best that you have your hotel address printed out WITH Thai-character address E.g, our resort:

Note the characters below the English address

But we were lucky, our taxi driver knows fair good english hence we were on our way in no time. Oh, we were quoted 800 baht (S$32) for the trip to Sea Sun Sand Resort & Spa (Patong) from the Airport. That is O.K I guess, especially since our resort it literally situated at the end of Patong Beach.

Taxi ride took half and hour. Weather is blazing outside. Perhaps 32 degrees? Or I would not be surprise if if it 34 degrees. Get your sunscreens ready. But I was a tough chick so NO sun screens for me.

Half an hour later we arrived, and after some administrative check-in time... here we are!

Sea Sun Sand Resort & Spa

If I recall correctly, I had choosen this Resort for us because of the sea-view, private pool & private jacuzzi rooms option that it has. We wanted the sea-view, but noted that we had to top up another 1000 baht per night (S$40) so, no-go for us.

But regardless, they were very accommodating *puny!* and let us have a sea-view room, albeit covered by the trees!

View from the Balcony, abit of sea-view if your eyes laser pass these trees

This is the sea-view people were raving about

Another view of our resort

Honestly, I love this resort! We waited a fair bit before our room was made available from the previous occupant. They offered us a cold towel to wipe our skin, a complimentary drink that we did not get the opportunity to redeem and a buggy-ride to our room. The resort is located on top of the hills so that is why we get the sea-view and people also commented, it is a good resort because it is Tsunami-safe (????) Gulps.

Tsunami signs along the beach

We dropped our bags and headed to walk around on our little adventure. We walked wherever our legs take us. To Patong Beach.

Patong Beach - 3 minutes walk from Sea Sun Sand Resort & Spa - I am not kidding you, 3 minutes.

To Bangla Road. To Jungceylon Shopping Mall (more about this below)

And other wonderful newfound eateries scattered along the street side. Is it safe to eat? Yes, I guess. Every food place is swarmed with people, from Russia, France, Malaysia, Ireland, Saudi.. Many faces in 1 place. Is it safe to walk in the streets, at night? Yes, yes and yes. We felt homely to walk in between the LITED streets. Be careful of the crazy big gaps in the drain covers (almost gotten my tiny feet stuffed in between the gap) but do make sure you walk in groups and keep close to each other. Relatively safe. We joked that we will plan to get our own home ala resort here in Phuket, that was how homely we felt.

What is at Patong Beach that you must do/eat? Other than sun tanning or waves crashing in the waters, you got to find this banana pancake makcik along Patong Beach. Note : She is the only pancake master that we go to  in order to have our pancake craving fixed. The others on the roads of Patong do not appetize us as much!

Halal!

We asked her till what time is she open, she showed us with fingers number '7' . So yes, she will be pancaking until 7pm. Daily I hope?

Must try! Banana with Peanut Butter 

We noted also that she sells the cheapest pancakes! Only 60 baht (S$2.40) per craving! Others sells it for 100 baht (S$4)

Mango with Nutella. Not as delish as Banana Peanut Butter we 1st tried! But must try!

So our plan was to do everything that was recommended by friends.

So we went to Bangla road at night to see the night life. Ok, nothing much. Thai girls on table tops tried to dance but wasn't so appealing to me. Saw 1 Russian pole dancer. Ok, not bad. Said no to Ping Pong shows 500 times as we walked past the street. Listened to the Muay Thai van chanting "...[muay thai] tomorrow night" and  "You see Muay Thai, You see Thailand" another 200 times. Full of fun. Asked Z if he wanted to see these girls on pole but he politely declined. Screamed in my heart "CORRECT ANSWER". Lol.

Upon Clair's recommendation, we had pizza at this pizza place at the end of Bangla Road called The Pizza Company.

Bangla Road in the afternoon

Yes, their pizza tastes awesome. Definitely a good hideout from the afternoon sun too! We tried their Thin Crust pizza, which was really good!

After a hearty meal, we decided to continue our strut to Jungceylon shopping mall. This is not the kind of mall that you would go to to do your F21 spree or equivalent. We headed here initially to venture eatiries, but we found a good AND "CLEAN" massage place instead!

Located at the basement near the foodcourt

We went there twice in 3 days! 1st day I had a manicure  x pedicure for 380 baht (S$15.20!) and Z had a back, neck, neck and leg massage (1hr) for only 380 baht (S$15.20!) Kill me. The 2nd time we came back, Z had foot scraping x pedicure , while I had face massage for 400 baht (S$16!!)

Foot scraping Z

Getting ready for my facial massage - towels and other essentials

It was a good 1 hour facial massage. I wanted a neck massage initially, but little that I know that the facial massage comes with a neck, arm and finger massage! Feels rejuvinated. The staffs were courteous and had good techniques. Do not go for the street massage, as Clair mentioned. Because these masseuse have big boobs pouring out of their t-shirts and place looks skanky. Since I am with Z, we both agreed No to Hoes.

Very satisfied!

Bare-faced after a massage XD

Complimentary drink after a massage

 Indeed, it was Z's birthday, so we wanted a quiet night out. So we went to Kee Sky Lounge, as recommended by Z's mum.

6th Story

I love the place! Paranomic view of Patong at its best. Exquisite as it is, live performing band and we were right under the stars and floating lanterns that night...

Apple juice

Ok enough chillaxing. We wanted to try street food for supper, so we went past a local eatiry and saw this...

I do not know what is the street name exactly, but it is located 5 minutes walk from our resort! Pad Thai, Chinese chicken rice, Meat covered with Egg (?)

Picture from iPhone. Clockwise: Cake complimentary from
Resort, Egg with Meat, Chinese chicken rice and Pad Thai

Pad Thai was good!!!!!!!!! 

Another place to eat out if you are looking for good seafood and comfortable restaurant...

Mr. Good's seafood! Turn left after you reach the end of Bangla Road OR walk down from Jungceylon Shopping mall and you will find this restaurant bustling with people! Truly recommended.

I had so much fun in the sun. It was a good getaway. Lots of new experiences and new memories for me to share.

Also, for the 1st time he introduced me to a stranger as his fiance. I was caught off guard and smiling like a cheshire cat.

Few cases of mistaken identity during our stay there. Locals say I look thai. But then I recall people said I looked Pinoy, even in my own homeland. In Singapore, people recognise me as Pinoy, in Batam, they thought I am Indonesian, in Phuket, they think I am Thai. So, 1 face to fit many ethnicity ya?

Regardles...I'll be back to Phuket!