Driving around Phuket Island

This is my final post on my travel in Phuket 2009. I dont think I want to, but I never know if I might be back in Phuket again.. Hope not.
Anyway, I just wanted to post information that might be helpful to those who are planning a trip there. I will add my my personall recommendatio on what to do.. or what not to do. Take it with a pinch of salt ok.. everybodys different, so you might enjoy what I dont…
#1 tip, avoiding looking like a rich arrogant white male, and avoid going with one..  I must say that I enjoyed Phuket alot more without the company of Doug, even tho he dont look anything like a rich nor arrogant…

Google driving map: From David's to Karon Princess

#2 tip, David car rental is a pretty nicely run business across the street from the airport. They will have a driver pick you from the airport arrival to their doorstep, or walk over like we did… just a little comment, I have not yet confirm this, but my credit card that was used as a garantee at David is now unusable… why? have there been fraud charges during this time.. I have yet to find out.. hope its not. Anyway, try not to use credit anywhere in Phuket. My room at Karon was prebooked and paid using AsiaRooms. Have used AsiaRooms several times before and found them to be reliable. The reviews at AsiaRooms influenced me on the hotel choices… but why nobody mention about the frequent electric disruption!? 

Google Maps: Karon to Rolly Tasker

#3 tip, if you were going to drive, prepare for it. Get driving instructions from Google! I found it very useful indeed. The local directions were good also, but .. try driving in a new place and try to remember all the things that lady said about turning right at that pink building…  And the girl at David didnt know exactly where Karon Princess hotel was.. what do you expect when there are a dozen large hotels and numerous little ones along Karon beach.

I have update my Platial page (which you can find on the right widgets column) to show my favorite places in Phuket.

#4 tip, I havent need to pay for parking yet. Parking at the mega malls are free. Parking on the outside of Karon is free. I was lucky to find free parking near to the central of Patong, the alternative would be to pay for parking at some strange looking spots. .. Anyway, its okay to assume that the white boxes on the side of the streets are legal parking spots and are free. Do not pay anybody who claim to be collecting the fee unless official, government receipt is given.. then again, how can you tell if its official or not if its all in Thai ?

#5 tip, avoid tutuks and touts! The asking price per pax per ride on a tutuk is 100 or 150 baht, even for a very short distance. Its just crazy! Rent a car and drive around is a much cheaper and less stressful way to see Phuket. I have gotten to the point where if I have to bargain again for anything, I would rather not buy it. It is stressful dealing with overly aggressive touts and knowing that they are out to rip you off even chance they get.

#6 tip, there is quite a fair bit of uphill/downhill winding roads across the island. Dont drive too fast, look out for the motobikes and pedestrains and animals! I bought extra travel insurance coverage just to be sure this trip dont turn out to be a long lasting nightmare of liablities and claims.

Okay.. quite a long list.. have I forgotten anything? Hmm.. drop me a note, let me know.. especially if you have something to share with me and readers of my blog.

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!