One blanket policies

We went over to JB yesterday(actually afew days ago) for dental fixing for Doug. It went so well, and even sis had to give Roland Lim a go at fixing a crown. And we had a okay KFC lunch at the Holiday Plaza, where the dentist office was. And I got a couple of “tea eggs”…

The most vocal touts are those selling pirated videos and games. .. which I really didnt like… but otherwise, the Holiday Plaza was friendly, lively and bustling with a touch of old charm. I like seeing boutique shops selling snacks, cookies, clothes, shoes, etc. .. quite unlike in Singapore, where every mall feels like the same busy, brightly lighted, filled with glamorous looking products and lifeless souls. Yes, thats what I see is diff between malls across the causeway.

Well, but anyway… sometimes.. I just have to be irritated into writing a blog post… .. ok ok, so what happen now? …

Have you ever wondered why such primitive and backward policies such as no backpacks are allowed in some stores in Malaysia? I totally couldnt understand. This is totally so not cool in the new age of consumerism and is demeaning to the potential customer/shoplifter! I certainly refused to shop in any store that practices this. Especially not Tesco! A large UK chain setup in Malaysia adopting 3rd world security measures! Why does it allow itself to drop to the level of their local competitors!?

With all the instore camera, beepers at the checkout, staff and undercover security personal, if the shoplifting losses of the store continues to be high, then the question is integrity of its staff and effectiveness of the security. Why do customers have to take it if they enforce no backpacks policy and demand that all backpacks be placed in the 50cents lockers next to the entrance? Is this is scam for additional revenue or what!?

I, for one, refused to be treated like I am going to be a shoplifter! I refused to enter the store! I wonder how many people would actually behave like me? How much revenue is lost? Maybe insignficant, but no matter, loss of revenue should be added to the total cost of measures taken to reduce store losses.

On the other hand, if they allow me to enter with my backpack and not others who appears to be more in need than I am, that would be a form of discrimination. Is it possible to have blanket policies and have exceptions? I wonder how effective is this no backpack policy at preventing shoplifting. Does the store loss $200 or $2000 or $20000 less after this policy? Well, $200 would have been I would spend at the store, easily, if I went in there…. I wonder if they could be persuaded.. maybe if I flash my 3 Singapore issued platinum VISA cards…

An adventure, not quite complete

I asked God to give me a sign, that I should go on this trip… and he did! So I went ahead, got myself ready, Eleanor ready and went…. Despite not being in the best of condition(health wise), despite Eleanor not looking her best and despite being delayed on departure date and time.

Eleanor sitting in a pool of crude

27 May 1100hrs, Lang is not yet ready to go. Decided to delay departure to 0500hrs next morning.

Its all around inside the breakwater walls

28 May 0600hrs, arrived at SAFYC Changi and found Eleanor sitting in crude mud pool! Yucks! Not a good sign for departure…

Passing thru the walls of SAFYC

0730hrs, current movements inside the marina opened up a path around Eleanor.. just enough clear water for me to start the engine going without sucking up too much oil into my trusty Suzuki. Eleanor left her berth at SAFYC Changi. This is 10hrs later than originally planned… recognized immediately that I will be fighting current all the way up to Telok Rumunia, but I will get slack tide around North Rocks which should make my passage thru it comfortable.. and if I got my tides right, I should get a current boost going up to Jason Bay.

Out into clear water.. just motoring.

0900hrs, Eleanor cleared out Singapore immigration at South Angler and head out East into some rather choppy waters around the point of Pengelih. This is where the inflow of current was the strongest… I try to stay dry and only making 3kns cutting thru some short choppy peaky waters. For those of you who are wondering how does short choppy peaky waters look like, I am sorry that you have to rely on your imagination, because I refuse to take out my non-waterproof camera in these conditions.

Look at how smooth this water is ..

1000hrs, we pass Pengerang… the chops flattened out into silky smooth waters. A very light breeze, now making 4 -4.5kns with mainsail and motor at low trottle only, motor-sailing at 15′ off the wind. This is Eleanor’s normal speed going against current. Very comfortable ride to Telok Rumunia… albeit slow…

1100hrs, was puzzled by the puddles of crude that we had to circumvent, all the way up to just off Sg Rengit… Hey! Isnt that the tanker with the gaping hole!! It was anchored off Sg Rengit! No wonder! All the broadcasted reports of containment are just rubbish!

Tanker with 10m wide hole anchored of Sg Rengit.

12oohrs, passing the point of Telok Rumunia. SE wind picked up to 5kns. Raise jib. Motor-sailing at 40′ to the wind, slack tide, making 5kns. Small chops, quite comfy really.. tho slow and passing this point later than I had hope. Will have to catch up later…

A little more breeze, a little more chops. Islands off Telok Rumunia

1300hrs, passing the North Rocks. E wind picked up to 15kns, 1m waves coming from South.. large chops and mild peaks with some white caps. Cut motor, just sailing. Making a decent 4.5 to 5kns… was surprised that tide was not with me…? Couldnt make the 6kns that I was hoping for to make up for the lost 2hrs. … but it was a really comfy ride on Eleanor in this condition. Yahoo! This is Eleanor making it out to the S. China sea for the 1st time! And she is doing so well!

1400hrs… we are somewhere near Point Penawar… E wind 10kns, current picked up pace against me. Now making only 3kns sailing. Time to make a decision. My options. 1) To continue North, non-stop to Tioman. A trip of 28hrs, then turn around for another 28hrs back. 2) To continue North and hope to anchor in Jason Bay for the night and then turn back next morning? 3) To turn back now and ride the current back home, but beating against the wind and waves.

This is how I spent 14hrs 01min on the 28th May!

… well, I choose 3. My biggest realization is that Eleanor would have made it, if the captain had more time…

1410hrs, down sails completely and head South. Wind and waves makes heading SE uncomfy and wet. Strategy, head S and turn E whenever there is a chance.

1600hrs, passing the point of Telok Rumunia again. Back into calmer conditions, and time for catnaps. Motor at low speed and we are making 5kns. Foot on tiller as I winked away. Found that I get about 30′ off course every 5mins… ;P

1700hrs, passing Sg Rengit again, and now in silky smooth waters again. Felt like reading… passing smoothly and reading till sundown…

1830hrs, lights on. Getting into the chops at Pengelih again.

1930hrs, at South Angler… called ICA on channel 74. Dark, dont see them… was told to look for blinking yellow light … Arhhh! They are 1.5nm off they usual location!

2030hrs, cleared SG immigration again… starting to drizzle.. warm air. interesting combo… 2100hrs, pushing against large peaky chops off Naval Base. 2130hrs, finally made it back to SAFYC. Tied up to fuel dock for the night, as berth is boomed off.

So happy to see Doug again… 14hrs 01mins after leaving in the morning….

In short, I went sailing in the right season, but the worst of time. … and so, I never made it… but hey, I went with the attitude that as long as I tried and made it on my own around the rocky bend into the S. China sea, I would celebrate and praise God for helping me make it that far.

delay = more prepping

To depart as planned..? Yeah right!

My intended departure is pushed 1 week. .. many reasons. Weather wasnt that favorable.. been raining all 3 days this week.

There are some pluses for this delay tho. I get to look over the anchoring system and the “depth sounder” over this weekend, to put things away neatly.. in a organized manner… Plus I will get to sail in the night with a full moon, hopefully better weather…   The tides may be a bit of a problem tho. .. fast moving and maybe rough around some of the points .. we’ll see…

Preparing for my adventure of the year

I have been so involved in our moving away from our last berthing … and almost had to let go of my plans to sail this year to Tioman. .. I think I am not so ready to go, but hey, I have to try… maybe I can get myself ready in the next 10 days or so…

Taking the motor apart, getting to the gear shift knob

1st off, make a list of must do actions, then a list of must haves on this trip…. then actually going out and work on those actions.

bad corrosion on the aluminium shift rod, not too bad elsewhere.

This is the time of the season that wind may be slight… I be counting on my motor to get me there, maybe a slight breeze in the afternoon but usually windless nights.

I had been struggling with the frozen gear shift lever for my last 2 trips, this will be the 1st item to fix. For this trip in this season, no motor means no going!

Gearshift knob is being pushed out from the inside.

We worked all morning on the gearshift.. until we were so pooped! The knob that wont shift, wont come out either! We had to engineer a way to make it come out, using a system of bolts and nuts, pushing it thread by thread! Finally! And the conclusion is…. O-ring failure causing corrosion on the aluminium that was holding the knob in place, resulting in the expansion of the aluminium surface that gripped onto the black plastic material that is between the 2 O-rings.

Chipped O-ring! Thats why!

Well, we clean up the aluminium with a mini wire brush run on a Dremel and apply plenty of that “Never seize” compound. Seems to work for now…

Even I am hoping not to anchor… I better be prepared with my anchors. Old ropes deteriorated much by the UV, needs replacing. Am bringing 3 anchors… a bruce, a danforth and a little fold up one (my little good luck anchor )

Okay, whats next? Sails (checked), motor(checked), anchors(checked), life jackets(checked), flares(expired but hope 1 out of 6 works).. .. hmm… oh yes! The gadgets! Charge batteries for my little VHF, GPS and nav light. And yes, am going to buy some of those chemical reaction light sticks… emergency use and maybe decorative use…

The essential shopping trip! Provisioning is a major subject in going cruising.. Always overstock on water, then food, then snacks.

… hmm… ok, am I ready to go..? I guess so…

A little better, s’il vous plait

I was a little embarassed when I brought some friends out to dinner couple of nights ago, at a pretty well known restaurant serving chicken rice in Serangoon gardens. We were early and the waitresses were happy to serve up quickly.

More diners came and soon all the tables were taken, and the room was loud with lots of chatter. .. above that chatter was the occasional (rather too often) drop of utensils and used plates into the wash bin that was in a corner of the room.

We might be in the middle of a good story and then a loud “thump” “clang” of stuff being dropped into the bin. .. I saw my guest “jumped out of their skin” at each crash. It was disturbing for me to see such inconsiderate behavior by the waitresses, but I dont think they deliberate did that. This is a restaurant with 1st class food, 2nd class environment and 3rd class service… very sad… I dont think we will ever go back there again, despite the best tasting chicken rice in town.

Another discovery, my visitors (mostly from the US) actually prefer to eat at hawker centres rather than mid range restaurants or air-conditioned foodcourts. Can you guess why? How about these reasons: 1) Bad enclose acoustics resulting in very loud chatter and loud dish dumping noises 2) Too crowded and even if seats are available, its usually near a central dish dumping station or else its in the alley way or worse, near the toilets…. under the exhaust air vent from the toilet itself! 3) Too business like.. no local charm in the food that is served.. food are prepared by uniformed robots in branded chain food outlets.

We might be better than most… but there is alot of room for improvement… dont you think..? Starting from our expectations. If we take everything now and think it is good enough, then we will never get there.. .. very sad..

A very windy day

Sailboat, para-boardsailing, and wind surfing.

It has been a unusually windy week. Almost non-stop blowing of 15-20 knots for 4 days, even blowing quite hard through the night. This is the North East monsoon season, but I dont remember if we ever had this much wind..

This guy was air borne for 5 secs!

So anyway, the wind is in and the wind-lovers are out! Pardon me, my poor camera cant take good telephotos at dusk. Insufficient light for focussing.. I think.. I dont like the dull bluish tint on these shots…

Look at this guy, hes airborne! No wake under his board, that must be fun. .. only 5secs…. what do I know about boarding and parasailing..? Nilch..

Retired, for the day.

He has had enough, I suppose.. seems tired but reluctant to leave. Still a lot of good wind to go surf in…

Retired para kites.

Resting kites laid out on the square of the park, while the “regatta” is still going on. I didnt think there were that many in this club..

Pleasantly surprised I am, on this nice evening walk along Changi coast road.. my regular fortnight walk, coming back from Sebana on the Belungkor – Changi ferry.

Para-sailing regatta?

Mobile Hawkers

It is interesting how seeing something triggers a whole bunch of flashbacks in my mind. As a kid growing up in the 70s in SG, I remember those early morning market trips with Ah Ma to the wet market that was just 5mins walk from our place. In those days, little 3 wheeled Suzuki vans were still quite common and some were food counters, mostly unmarked because as early as that, SG had already banned street hawking. These mobile hawkers had to be ready to run at the 1st sighting of the enforcement officers. Ah Ma have no qualms about patronizing them, and I like seeing them around too. As a result of regulations and growing prosperity where people were in demand to work the production lines, street hawkers declined in numbers and finally disappeared from the Singapore streets.

Sungai Rengit wet market, 5am - 8am only

I have forgotten about them actually. With all that proporganda about hygiene and proper food preparation, I have also come to think of street food as unhealthy and probably very contaminated. .. a typical SG hippy youngster you might say.. … but actually I still do patronize street hawkers.. alot more than I realize or care to admit..

Whats that bluewagon? Its the Sg Rengit meat man.

Since berthing our boats in Sebana, we have been making our weekly trips into our neighbouring Malaysia, driving past JB, KT and into Sebana. In the early days, we would always bring our food or ingredients from home, which we buy from the supermarkets.  We had no desire to buy streetfood or buy anything from their supermarkets… and we didnt know about their wet markets.

The meat man. Nice chap and speaks good English.

Until much later, some yachting neighbours told us about the early morning market. Urh.. do we really want to wake up at 6 and make it there by 630? And many other ugly images of dead fish, poultry and livestock came to my mind… typically young SGrean disdain..

.. but.. during 1 of our extended week stay at Sebana, we were out of fresh food and we know that the local supermarkets’ selection for anything fresh is just undescribly dissappointing.. Guess we just have to give the wet market a try.

sorry if this picture disturbs you...

Yes.. all that stinky smells hit my sleepy mind and boing! Urg! Slimy wet floors with fishscales floating around, fish guts everywhere! Groteques! .. but if you overlook that, you might find the freshess shrimps, squids and fishes around. Chicken, delivered to the market dead and featherless, are being chopped up.

Nobody sells beef around here.. and where do you buy pork? … From the man with the blue wagon! Never! … It took yet another few months and a craving for pork to make me yield to buying meat from a van… Cultural shock! and yes, we SGrean will succumb to anything for a good meal.

Honda bike with sidecar selling breakfast.

Yes, indeed. The porkmans pork were very good cuts and very fresh. Reasonably priced too. 1/3 the price from Fairprice in SG and no foam packaging that is so ungreen..

Sometimes we drive thru JB a little later.. like 0630hrs .. We get to see the morning come alive with people crawling out of their little holes to go marketing at the very popular wet market in Tebrau City. We have been there too early at 0530hrs and only afew hawker stalls were open for business and plenty of rats were scrimpering around unwashed cement flooring littered with all sorts of garbage. A really disturbing sight. Rat city, Doug calls it. But the Roti was good.. and I didnt get poisoning.. .. nah, I dont think I will go back there.

Deep fried flour that we call "You Tiao"

But there is alot at Rat City .. and I dont mind getting something from those mobile street vendors. At least they are outdoors and their stainless cooktop stalls look much cleaner.. and no rats running around their feet. In MY, street hawking is not illegal and these hawkers are possibly licensed to operate as they do, in vans, motorbikes, bicycles or makeshift cooktops. We did enjoy the cheap and good “You Tiao”… will try the carrot cake on our next visit.. ..

I am hoping to find those corn hawkers.. I have a special fondness of that old corn taste that I had as a little kid. It was a kind of corn that was more flavorful and not sweet.. more chewy .. and each kernel was a little harder… that was 1 of my favorite snack… if anyone knows where I can find that, do let me know!

Collection of photos around Sebana

Well, I was planning to clean the insides of Eleanor this AM, but we were hit by a Sumatra which makes cleaning a little more tedious. Stuck indoors onboard Calliste, and just letting the RC run itself for the next 30mins..

Pretty shells, but nobody home.

Looking thru my collection of photos.. thot I might share some of the sights around here.

Starting with my walk on the beach at low tide in Sungai Rengit. I confess. I was looking for a clamming beach.. This is a muddy sand beach and it stinks. Littered with garbage at the high tide mark, and with vacant shells at the low tide flats.

stinky, sucking, sinking mud ..

I guess this beach would be interesting if you were a collector and not a clammer… the oysters harvesters were having a field day out. There is a bed of small oysters all over the lowest tide zones that are only exposed once a month. I tried to go a little closer to them, but I wasnt prepared to get really dirty, muddy and stinky… Notice how the muddy cracks around my feet? They were sinking slowly, and if I stood long enough it will suck me right in! Yucks!

Home robber!

Back to firmer ground on the low tide mark. There were some live snails.. but not my fav Gong gong. Most of the pretty shells were taken over by hermits. Hermit are everywhere on this beach…

Mobile home moving.

These littles things remind me of the bankers foreclosing on the home owners who have fallen on hard times. And they are always on the lookout for bigger and prettier shells to move into. If you love watching hermits fight, there is plenty of action right here. Venue: downtown Sungai Rengit beach. Time: low tides only. Admission free, squatting room only, unless you like to go back with a muddy bottom. 

No swimming, this pool is seriously off limits

Back to Sebana. Whats new around here? Once a year, we are visited by a squadron of cuttlefishes. They are always a welcomed sight. They sorta look like slow moving light bulbs and very colorful. Mostly bluish… yes, they are poisonous. Try not to go swimming with them around.

Green nuts. Great drink.. but.. doug woulnt crack one for me.

Another regular sight, coconut clearing around Sebana compound. Here is 1 pile of the clearing. There are at least 3 piles of them waiting to be collected.

What is Doug doing in the bush?

We dont usually drive into the wilderness on Sebana, but this week we needed to check out the power supply box . Power at the hardstand/dry storage is giving us some problems.

This is a fun picture.. is Doug peeing in the bush…

The revelation!

Hee hee hee… well, no.. The truth is not so fun.. Doug is just setting up for the power testing. Using our heaviest load, the 3HP air compressor to test the current directly from the power box. Trio, is really a tool wagon around here. Poor girl.

Dark clouds right

And finally, the Sumatra! Wikipedia has a very good description of the Sumatra phenomenon, go look it up.

Quite interesting really. I was actually enjoying the strong cool winds blowing through this morning, standing on Eleanors deck and soaking in the atmosphere of impending rain, dreaming about the time when I was sailing in a condition similar to this. Cant believe that I think it might be fun going out right then…

Day 2 in Phuket

0500, I woke up.. that is after Monique has been shuffling around the room for quite a while.. The electric has been cut, with only the diesel generator going for the toilet lights and mini fridge. Front desk guy told us that electric from the mainland was cutoff!? Would be up in about 1hrs time..? Room was stuffy and no TV. Sure enuf, it was up again, but our sleep was interupted. Just our luck.

Breakfast with a view of the Andaman sea

0800, up and going for the complimentary breakfast, sitting outdoors and great view of the sea. What a great way to start the day… (trying to forget about the electric incident) …

I was robbed. My missing sausage.

Thats my breakfast! Pancakes werenot so good, buy the rice was ok. Hey, I am missing a sausage! I been robbed!

The matron at our breakfast was very nice. She made our eggs and brouhgt it to us. This level of service to Asian travellers is new to me…

beach dog patrol

0830, off to the beach. Just a little walk this AM, a little feet soaking.. We negotiated with the dog. Okay no swimming, just soaking feets..

Feet soaking 1

A big smile on Monique on getting feet wet. The sound of rolling crashing waves, the feel of water rushing around your ankles, looking out into open space and seeing just 2 fishing boats out in the distance… 

Lang hitchiking a ride over to Nicholas Bar Islands..

Somewhere out in the Andaman seas is the Nicholas Bar Islands… maybe 1 day I will get there..

This is not happening to me!

Opps, did I go out too far!? I have my phone in the pocket! Running as fast as I can! Just a little damp around the phone cover…phew.  Lucky me, didnt fall into the soup(which could easily have happeded)!

Pool at Karon.

930, a little tour around the hotel. Pool, wish we have time to use it… but I seriously doubt it. Looks inviting.

Kinda close.. too close actually.

Thing that I dont like, too close to the neighbouring hotel. This pink building is so new, they are still installing the lights and furnishing the place. Quite noisy, drilling and hammering!

Rolly Tasker from across the street

1015, after a little wash up and rest, it was time to take care of business. This is Monday, have appointment with JP of Rolly Tasker on that spreader business.

Inside Rolly. Waiting area.

This is my 2nd visit to Rollys’ and I enjoyed it as much as I did in 2006. On the inside, the whole building is a very big “open” space. There is no walls and hardly any pillars. The lobby area is as aways, colourful and showcase the rich history of sailing and racing.

Open space.. and sails bagged and ready to go.

Rolly’s is well established in Phuket and I hear its getting bigger. This is one of the few honest business outfit that is really good for the locals. The jobs that it creates, the skills of high tech sail making, the way of conducting business with  global sales and international clients, will truly benefit the keen learning young Thai workers. I am very impress with the level of energy that is in the air. Most of the girls (Rolly hires 95% females) that I met are “working with a purpose”.

Mast rigging workshop

Thats JP working on a mast section. A very nice work space below the sail loft, set aside for storage and mast rigging. I like that triangle base stand he’s got.

Checking my purchase. Spreaders, looks good. Straight and no major scratches.

JP was very busy running about his business. His office girl was very efficient and spoke relatively good English. She knew the business and learnt afew rope tricks… this is after all a rigging shop eh.

Exotic cold drinks?

1145, we are headed to lunch at Ao Chalong. Lunch at the Lighthouse was okay. Sandwich and cold soda with a great view of the bay. Being at Chalong is quite nice. I have fond memories of this area. Rustic, slow, sailor/cruiser type of area.

A very special roundabout.. marked by cones!

After lunch, I needed some internet time and Monique needed spa time.. I went into the same old internet cafe that was on the corner of the Chalong roundabout! I should have gotten a picture of the shop, but I was just too happy being online and forgot everything else for 2 hrs.. anyway the shop has a POS sign on the door. It is also a postal service shop and serves drinks to the surfing customers.

4 years later, the Chalong roundabout is still marked by cones.. In the 48 hrs that we were in Phuket, we went around it 10 times at least! I have finally gotten the hang of going around it..

2230hrs at Patong.

1600, we are back at Karon. Preparing for the evening wonder around the touristy areas of Karon and Patong. 1700, drove over to Patong. Driving around Patong is almost too crazy for me. After 2 big rounds, managed to find a pretty good parking spot.. Phew. Our objective tonight, food and local stuff for gifts.

Interesting, but no thanks.

Many interesting sights around here. This lady is walking around with a stove and all that food. She walks among the crowds, where this man with the foodcart stay on the roadside.

Grill corn and pancakes available

I hate it that they do not put up a price for what they sell. You know for sure its triple what it normally is, in less touristy areas! 70B for this man’s pancake, and we got some for 30B nearer to our hotel. We got so sick of asking the price and bargaining till its less than half.

The pedals turn on this bicycle!

Finally, a honest man in Patong. He made all this stuff himself and he post his prices. Price was so reasonable that I just bought a bunch of his stuff happily. Who likes bargaining, really!?

Check out the bikes and Tutus.

All these created by this artistic fella. I like his shop! There are galleries and artist at work around patong. Guess there must be a demand for Thai arts and crafts. Oh BTW, there was a street vendor walking around with fried critters…

Pina Colada x 2

1100, looking for supper and a refreshing drink! How about Pina Colada and nuts.. ? Also got the banana pancake that I was so craving for. I had them from my 2 trip and always wanted more. Sorry, no picture.. it got eaten too fast.

Was looking for more food, even tho we really didnt need it.. Didnt see anything that appealing..

1140, back at hotel. Was taking a shower when power got cut again! It was a warm night and stuffy in the room. No fans. We know for sure, that the electric was not cut from mainland. The hotel cut its line to save money! .. 0130, diesel generator died.. out of fuel I think. Total darkness for 5 mins, then everything was back on.. aircon and TV! .. hmm.. somebody didnt buy fuel.. hee hee. Left TV on all night.. Hmmpphh! Nice hotel, what a pity!

Phuket again – part 1

My 3rd trip to Phuket, but this time with Monique. My previous experience in Phuket were not so great. 1st trip to Patong was not fun. 2nd trip was onboard S/V Calliste to Ao Chalong and we stayed for about a month in the area. Right side of Phuket is nicer to me, then the overly popular Patong area. The snobbish people who work around that area and the aggressive TuTu drivers put me off.

We are needing new mast spreaders for S/V Calliste since a long time ago and the cheapest place we could get some is Phuket. This is our conclusion after 5years of internet search, emails and phone calls. Expiring Krisflyer miles is quite a motivation for making this trip at this time and add to that, cheap 4-star hotel @ S$40/night breakfast included, cheap car rental @ S$35/day.

I have hope that this trip would be more fun as my travelling partner is not “white man”. I dont really wish to go into the details on “why is that” on this blog… So my slightly crazy friend and I were at Phuket to shop, eat and relax.. .. how relax can we get with a tight shopping schedule in 48hrs?

Picture of rental car before we drive it out.

Oh well, my travelling starts from Sebana. 0910, left Sebana on ferry to TMFT. 1045, on bus 35, TMFT to TM-MRT. 1100, on train ride to Changi T2. 1110, waiting for Monique while eating a puff at T2. 1200, checked in, and shopping begins at T2. 1320, Silkair MI754 took off. 1450, arrived Phuket.

check out dings, bumps, cracks

1500, we have a rental car reserved for us.. but where to get it? Dave’s rental car email says that they were across the street from the airport. So we walk out of the building, pulling our little travel trolley boxes, across the big parking lot, getting out through the vehicle exit gates, cross a busy road and finally walk down the aisle of rental car businesses. The staff at Daves’ were great. Very polite, smiling all the time, spoke some English and very efficient. They were surprised that we walked over in the hot heat when we had someone to meet us at the airport. .. opps, I didnt know that.. it was not in the email from them..? Thats ok, for us, we dont mind. The old Nissan LV that I booked was not available, so we were upgraded to a Toyota Vios and no additional charge. Great! who woulda thot you can get all this with S$35/day.

Winding roads, steep up and downs.

1530, getting used to the -1hr difference in time. Driving to Karon Princess via Patong. Not for the faint hearted who has never driven in Asia. Rather heavy traffic until we hit the bypass road into Patong. Bypass road was very winding and lots of steep uphills and downhills, not fun but you get glimpse of the Andaman seas and its really refreshing.. I should be really tired by this time, after all day of travelling, but there is energy in the air and expectation of fun is pushing me on. 1600, driving through the complicated and very cramp Patong area. This place is crazy, too many people around and too many Tutus!

The sign of Karon Princess

1620, the sign that we were looking for. Checking in was easy. Staff were very welcoming and helpful. A refreshing cool drink right there at the lobby while we get keys and sign the paperwork. Great service.

Leading the way to our room

………..And we get a cute bellboy to carry our stuff. Hotel seems pretty new and nice. Long narrow frontage. Every where in Karon is the same.

Abit of the seaview only.. and a crane

Guess you have to pay for the prime view, and the cheap guest gets only whats left.. which is not much.. I think the other view is better..

garden view

……We have a nice little balcony too. It is typical resort hotels to have a little private outdoor space.

Happy Monique

……….View from the balcony.. why so close to the neighbour..? 

View from the balcony

…………4-star hotel.. really? I think tile flooring small hard beds wont make it. Room is clean and space is okay. Good size bathtub and new shower makes all the difference in the WC. In room safe box is sized just right for putting in a laptop! Great! I wouldnt trust it totally but I dont want to carry it around all day either. Plus, I got  insurance so…

simple room.. S$40.. whatdya expect..

1700, we are going to Central Festival market, the biggest mall in Phuket. Small dinner with Tom Yam soup in the food court. Followed by lots of shopping until mall close at 2200.. still didnt finish the mall entirely.. Hope we be back again in next few days.. sorry no pictures in mall, too busy shopping..

Hawker stand. Not many stalls open at 1020.

1030, looking for supper. Late night snacks is a Asian thing and anywhere in Asia you can get great food all night long. We checked out these guys near to Ao Chalong. Clean and friendly. Very local and not touristy pushy. We like places like that. Real down to earth kinda feeling… but I was really looking forward to some seafood, hopefully the exotic kind..

squid rings and mussels in tamarind.

1100, We were at the road side restaurant between Karon and Kata beach, they served big prawns, crabs and shells.. and was almost closing for the night. Most tourist dont eat supper I guess? There was this guy that was trying to get us to buy from his shop.. a little pestering and 50% off he says, only for Monique.. ? hmm..? Okay, so we ordered for take out. While we waited, he pestered Monique all this time, to go disco or clubbing or anything.. his treat..? Wow.. ? Somehow she managed to politely accept the flatterings and turn down those activities.. I could care less, I only want to eat.. Anyway, this is what we bought from the seafood place near our hotel.. It was GooD!