BALI - Phuket - 2008
This year we decided to go to Bali from the 25th July to the 6th August 08
and then fly from Bali to Kuala Lumpur and then to Phuket from 7th to 15th August.
We flew with Jetstar to Bali which was 2 hours late for take off.
We arrived at Bakungsari Hotel to find that someone else had my room 211.
I was put in room 210 until the next day and then I was moved into my room.
Over the next 12 nights I did the same thing as I do on all my holidays to Bali.
Straight down to Marti Hari for my Mentari Sim Card and to get our supplies.
Shopped till we dropped at all the markets and shops.
I found most of the items at the markets are still the same as last year.
I did manage to find a nice pair of thongs with frangipani's on them for 50,000RP at
Discovery mall and a queen size quilt for 225,000RP in Poppies lane 2 at a fixed price shop.
I also found a new style black halter neck top at Melasti markets for 35,000RP.
Supa Nova have a great range of shoes and sandals cheap.
I managed to get a pair of black dressy sandal thongs for 54,000RP.
We managed to get around to all our favorite restaurants.
Indo-national Restaurant had a mud crab special for 70,000RP. Yummy!
Jesen's is a great place to eat while the staff play with your
children while you enjoy your dinner.
4th August
My daughter Sally had her 12th Birthday at Waterbom Park and then dinner at Bubba gumps
She picks Buba Gumps every year to have her birthday dinner.
The staff come out with pots and pans clanging together and sang her Happy Birthday.
The cake was supplied by Bakungsari Hotel
If you let the office know who is celebrating a Birthday while your staying in the motel, they will supply the Birthday cake free.
Just let them know 1 day in advance.
Buba Gumps is a fun place to celebrate anyone's birthday.
I bought Sally for her birthday a chip for her Nintendo DS 400,000RP and a game disc with 600 games on it 300,000RP.
I bought it from Marti Hari in the toy section.
I also bought myself a lovely bra for 120,000RP.
I had my hair done at Lucy's.
Washed, blow dried, straightened for 40,000RP.
We visited the new Carrefour shopping complex.
The kids had a fun time playing in the big Time Zone while we looked around.
We walked along the beach looking for the Bondi Rescue guys but we couldn't find them.
When we arrived in Bali we was getting 8750RP to $1AUD on the street and towards the end of the holiday
we was only getting 8350RP to $1AUD.
On the 5th August we was woken up at 12.45am by a bunch of idiots in our motel.
1 guy was checked into the room and a few days later, 2 of his friends arrived.
He let his friends stay in the room without the motel knowing.
1 of the guys came back so drunk and went into the room and went to sleep.
Then 1 of the other guys came back and knocked on the door to get in but the drunk guy didn't
let him in as he was so drunk to even register who he was and where he was.
So the guy knocking on the door started bashing and kicking on the door and he was making so much noise.
I contacted security but nothing was done.
Security let him in and he got the drunk guy out of bed, brought him outside and started bashing him.
The drunk guy couldn't even stand up, that's how drunk he was.
There was smashed glass every where and the door was kicked in.
My 12 year old daughter Sally was that scared. She cried for an hour.
I complained down the office the next day and the 3 of them was kicked out of the motel and had to pay more
money for he other 2 guys staying in the room.
The guys thought it was so funny the next day.
None of the other guests thought it was funny.
The 6th August came and we had to say our sad goodbyes and head for the airport to go to Kuala Lumpur.
We flew Air Asia to Kuala Lumpur ( A 3 hour flight).
We spend 1 night at Concorde Inn Kuala Lumpur International Airport
The Distance from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Concorde Inn Kuala Lumpur is only 3 minutes.
There is also complimentary airport shuttle from Main Terminal Building
Kuala Lumpur International Airport ( KLIA ) from 5.30am till 12 midnight every 30 minutes from Level 1 Gate No 3.
You just call 6-03-8783 3118 for the complimentary transfer if you are arriving after 12 midnight.
However, the hotel DO NOT provide complimentary transfer from Low Cost Carrier - Air Asia (LCC Terminal)
Which is located 20km away from the KLIA Main Terminal Building (MTB).
It is for the 'no-frills' airlines like Air Asia, Jetstar.
With basic terminal facilities and amenities.
So we got the old green bus at for 150RM to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport ( KLIA ) and then got the free complimentary transfer.
This worked out the cheapest way.
7th August - (My 43rd Birthday) flew with Air Asia to Phuket Airport (a 1 hour flight).
We pre arranged a driver for our transfers to the motel via email to pick us up at the airport for 800Baht for 5 of us.
Daj is a lovely young man with a beautiful mini bus. (I highly recommend).
He can be contacted via email on kanidaj@hotmail.com
You could get a taxi for 600Baht but I didn't think we would fit into a taxi with 5 of us and large 5 suit cases.
We stayed at Sunset Beach Resort Phuket which is a 45 minute drive from Phuket airport.
I picked for the
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297930-d506882-r8190397-Sunset_Beach_Resort-Patong_Phuket.html
I read about it and how the staff treated the guests when the Tsunami hit in 2004.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297930-d506882-r8190397-Sunset_Beach_Resort-Patong_Phuket.html
You can read the reviews here!
http://www.ixplore.com.au/index.jsp?reloaded=true
We booked our accommodation with I-xplore
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297930-d506882-r8190397-Sunset_Beach_Resort-Patong_Phuket.html
We arrived at the motel and my mum was waiting for us.
She had already spent a week there before we arrived and she loves the resort and Phuket.
We was taken to our room and when we walked into the room, there was a big bunch of red and white roses sitting in the room.
Mum had arranged them for my birthday.
We settled in fast and couldn't wait to explore Phuket as this was our first trip there.
We got the free shuttle bus supplied by the motel for free and went into Patong.
We spent hours walking the streets of Patong.
Looking in this shop and looking in that shop.
We had dinner at
http://www.mollymalonesphuket.com/
Molly Malones An Irish Pub. Great atmosphere. Great meals.
I had a fisherman's basket and I was surprised to see it come out with no chips.
After dinner we headed back to Sunset Beach Resort.
We had a swim in the beautiful motel.
Mum failed to arrange a cake for me so we all have a famous butterscotch Sunday. Yummy!
All the staff and my family then sung Happy Birthday to me.
What a great start to our holiday in Phuket.
8th August - The next day we went to breakfast.
WOW what a great buffet breakfast.
So much to choose from and you defiantly wont go hungry.
After breakfast we went into Patong markets.
I bought myself a Billabong singlet top for 150 Baht.
The weather was 36 degrees and my 3 year old son Bobby couldn't walk any more.
We went to Carrefour at Patong and bought him a stroller for about $50 AUD.
It was worth it cause now we can shop till we drop without him winging at us.
After hours of shopping we went back to the
http://www.sunsetphuket.com/
Sunset Beach Resort and the kids went to Kids Club.
The kids club is great for the kids.
The kids club has 3 computers, TV, DVD player, games, blocks and so other things.
My children spend a lot of time at the kids club.
They even spent time playing pool and snooker in the games room.
And also had little workouts in the gym.
We went back into Patong to
http://www.see2sea.com/patong/home_p.html
Patong Beach Hotel to watch the
http://www.ritchienewton.com/eng/concerts.html
Elvis Show by Ritchie Newton.
What a great fun night we had.
Got home after midnight.
9th August - We booked a tour for
http://www.phuket-scuba-diving.com/visit_activities.htm
elephant trekking with the gibbons.
The 1 hour trekking was 1000 Thai Baht for adult
and 500 Baht for children.
I found this tour very educational with a 45 minute talk before the trekking started.
It is run by Megumi and Richard and they can be contacted in Phuket on 081-893-4686.
I highly recommend this tour with Megumi and Richard.
Below is what they say about this tour.
The best of the elephant trekking operations
available in Phuket is called "Kok Chang Safari" and it is located in the
Kata Hills in the far South of the Island. "Kok Chang" can be found on the
Kata Viewpoint road about 1 kilometer South of the viewpoint 50 meters
after the elephant crossing road sign before you begin climbing the hill
to the summit. The Kata Viewpoint is clearly marked on all Phuket maps
issued at the airport and hotels.
Enjoy interacting with the
"White Palmed Gibbons" that freely roam the nearby jungle and come out to
visit people when they are in a playful mood. Everyone's favorite is
"Charley" a seven year old, black male that loves personal grooming and
searching unwary visitor's bags for new toys. "Lum Yai" is an eight year
old tan colored female who loves mangos, personal grooming and swiping
sunglasses and sodas so please be careful of your drinks.
Feed the
elephants bananas before you begin your 45-degree angle trek up and back
down the mountain jungle trails on top of these gentle pachyderms through
a working rubber plantation. If you have a sense of adventure your Mahout
(Elephant Keeper) will jump off and let you take over the driving on the
way down the mountain after some great photos from the summit. Between the
trek, some quality interaction time with the animals and wonderful photos
you should plan for at least 2 hours at this facility.
The
facility can not accept credit cards or anything other than Thai Baht,
there are no ATMs in the area and you pay directly to the camp management
for the trek. Due to costs there is no website, e-mails or telephone
services available. There is a refreshment bar for water, sodas and
alcohol and please be advised not to leave your drinks unattended around
the gibbons. There are also basic toilet and washing facilities on
location.
After the tour we headed back to the motel.
I went to the laundry to put my washing in.
12 items for 180 Thai Baht.
We had such a long day we just went to bed early.
10th August - We hung about the pool and have a lazy day till 5.30
We was picked up by our driver and we was taken to
http://www.phuket-fantasea.com/
This is what they say about Fantasea.
The ultimate in Las Vegas-style theatrical productions.
Created by international experts and local professionals, this
audio-visual extravaganza incorporates, for the first time, nine stunning
show themes — Thai culture, magical illusions, 4-dimensional effects,
aerial performance, acrobatics, indoor pyrotechnics, special effects,
elephant circus and stunts — into one unforgettable theatrical masterpiece
guaranteed to thrill and delight visitors of all ages and
nationalities.
Schedule
• Dinner time: 18:00 - 20:30
• Show
Gate Opens: 20:30 p.m.
• Show Starts: 21:00 p.m.
• Show duration
is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Park operates 17:30 - 23:30
every day except Thursday
Show + Buffet Dinner + Round-trip transfer -
Adult 2,200 Baht - Child 2,000 Baht
We did not arrive back to the
motel till midnight.
This was a fantastic evening.
The kids was
stuffed and they went straight to bed.
11th August
Today we
spent more time venturing around Patong.
Then back to the motel for a
mid afternoon swim.
Tonight we went to Simon Cabaret.
This is what
they say about Simon Cabaret.
This entertaining Las Vegas style
cabaret show is the largest and most famous of its kind in South East
Asia. With elaborate costumes, background settings and a cast of over a
hundred it is performed entirely by Katoys (lady-boys). See if you can
tell the difference when you meet the cast after the show for the evening
photo session. Thailand is of course famous as the land of copies.
What a fantastic time we had here and only 500 Baht.
Transvestite
Show!
If it is your cuppa tea, go watch the show.
12th August
I stayed in the room for today as my 3 year old son Bobby was vomiting
and had diarrhea. I didn't want to take my chances.
13th August
We just spent most of the day around the Resort.
I did not want to
go far incase Bobby started vomiting again but he ended up being fine.
Nothing worse than a sick child on holidays.
14th August
We booked a tour today to Phi Phi Island by Speedboat.
Started at 7.30am when we was picked up at our motel and transferred over to the pier.
9.00am we departed the pier to Khai Nok Island for snorkeling and time to relax on the beach.
10.30am we left Khai Nok Island to go to Phi Phi Lay Island for swimming and sightseeing on Monkey Beach.
12.30pm We enjoyed a great lunch in a Restaurant and then more relaxing on the beach.
We then departed Phi Phi Don and enjoyed more sightseeing at Viking Caves and Pileh Lagoon.
We took some great photo's.
We snorkeled in some crystal clear waters above the coral gardens teeming with fantastic colourful sea life at Loh Samah Bay.
We relaxed on a white sandy beach at Maya Bay
(Where the movie "The Beach" was filmed)
on partially, swimming and snorkeling with colourful tropical fishes.
5.00pm Departed Maya Bay to the pier.
Adult 1800Baht Child 900Baht
We had a fantastic day on this tour. We all could not fault it.
But watch out for the sunburn.
15th August
The last day of our holiday is here. Did the usual thing.
Run around buying the last minute shopping items, packing, saying our goodbyes.
In my opinion Phuket is not Bali.
Bali will always stay number 1 in my heart.
But it was great to have a double indulgence holiday.
Our flight home on Jetstar was very disappointing.
Jetstar flight on Friday the 15th August 08. Flight JQ28. Phuket to Sydney.
My 3 year old son Bobby and myself had seat 38A & 38B.
Up the side of the seat was a panel on the wall what was pushed in.
You could see the installation and the wires of the plane.
When taking off and landing all we could smell was heavy fumes.
When flying home the cold air coming out of the pushed in panel was freezing.
I let cabin staff know and the head cabin crew lady came to have a look and got some tape to keep it in place.
She was very lovely. But the tape did not hold.
We had a very cold and smelly flight home which I was not happy about as the fumes gave me a migraine
for the 9 hour flight home and I am still experiencing headaches.
I was also worried when my 3 year old son went to sleep, he may not wake up again due to the fumes.
I have put in a complaint but no answers yet. I want hold my breath.
Well Jetstar did give us a voucher. $100 per person. So thank you Jetstar.
I have added a few links below for your benefit if you would like to use them.
PhuketShoppingPrices.doc
Phuket Shopping Prices
http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet
Phuket Cheat Sheet - Convert
your $ into Thai Baht
 
 
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