Started my trip in the month of December which is considered to be one of the best month to travel Thailand. After landing in Krabi International Airport, I headed towards the Ferry Port to catch my Ferry to reach Koh Phi Phi Island. Booked the tickets online from Direct Ferries. Let’s see what Phi Phi island got me in experience.
I realised Ferries are pretty reliable and leave regularly from Phuket to Phi Phi. A single ticket will cost you around 500 baht and get you to Tonsai Pier. These ferries are packed with people and are not comfortable; their purpose is to get as many people from A to B as possible. The ferry takes you to Koh Phi Phi Don which is the accommodation area, so if you want to sight-see and visit Maya Bay, you will need to buy a ticket for an additional journey with either a longtail boat or speedboat.
Phi Phi is heaving with people and the islands seem to be getting more popular every day. Thousands of people rush by ferry and speedboat to get a glimpse of the naturally beautiful surrounds. I was shocked by how touristy the islands were and it was difficult to enjoy the scenery when everywhere you looked, you certainly someone was clicking the perfect pictures. Although I knew that the trip to Phi Phi can never be secluded or without the hoards of people, there are numerous ways to maximise your enjoyment of the islands and make it worthwhile.
Whether it looks like you experience sand and seclusion, or selfies and speedboats, depends on your camera angle. At the end of the day the Phi Phi Islands have fallen victim to mass tourism, but we feel that the stunning natural beauty of the islands still makes it worthwhile visiting. The water of Phi Phi island is crystal clear unlike James Bond island which is quite dirty.
I stayed 8 hours in Phi Phi island and experienced longtail boats to get around the islands and visited the beach. Longtail boats are popular in Phi Phi island. I got back to Phuket with a speed boat which is the most expensive option but it seemed worthwhile. I loved the speed boat, it was a thrilling experience beside the annoying sound of the speed boat. I was so exhausted and ended up sleeping on the speed boat. I decided Phuket because it was substantially cheaper and just do a day trip out to Phi Phi.
PHUKET
SIMON CABARET SHOW 2019:
The Phuket Simon Cabaret Show is considered to be the best cabaret show in Thailand. The show is a must visit while you are in Phuket. It was full of energy, beauty and glamour. You get to see the colourful dresses, costumes and glitters. The songs covered from several countries which the audience of related countries liked very much. Photo and videography was strictly prohibited. There was huge fine for that. I booked the show online through their website and they only offered the vip seats and I believe that it was worth the money. You get 2 free bitty of water with the vip ticket. The show was energetic. There were so many colours and so much movement it was difficult to decide what to watch. The songs were upbeat, however the volume of the show could have been made less deafening. Well the singer in there are not live singing and its not even their voices.The Lip syncing was superficial, some of the performers were not much into it but the main characters were flawless.
The show runtime is 60 minutes and the show offers a pick up and drop off from the hotel with sub charge, I didn’t try it but I am sure it is worth it since the tuk tuk (Rickshaw) fair pretty expensive to get to and from there.
After the show I was ushered outside where you can get photos of the girls free if you stay up on the walkway. The cast was lined up outside beckoning viewers to come and have a photo, and then bluntly demanding payment for the photo. If you go down to the girls and have photos with them be prepared to pay 100 baht each visitor for each girl in the photo. The girls try and intice you down but it’s your choice. There is a sign stating 100 baht minimum for each girl for photos. Fun, relaxed, family friendly activity. It would certainly be some free advertisement as viewers from around the world would likely post photos of the dazzlingly cast. The show made me grin as I was dazzled by the people on stage before us.
Overall, it was certainly a highlight of my visit to Phuket and I adored seeing the colour, sparkles, energy and spunk of such a spellbind and alluring cabaret show!
JAMES BOND ISLAND WITH KAYAKING EXPERIENCE IN PHANG NGA BAY:
James bond island together with kayaking is a very good combo which one should not miss when visiting Phuket. The James bond island was kinda crowded with many tourists when I visited in December 2019. There are alot few souvenir shops in the island but these items are quite pricey. The kayaking activity is the best as you could explore the hong and caves within Phang Nga bay.
The resulting mixed bill of James Bond and Mother Nature is a heady one, and one I set out to explore on a balmy morning from Ao Por Pier on Phuket’s north east coast. The cosmopolitan crowd at the pier chats away in Arabic, Norwegian, Dutch and lots of other languages. Once aboard our ship started and our tour leader, fills in the details of the day’s itinerary.The Tour Leader mentioned that we will be visiting the Bat Cave, Hong Island, James Bond Island and spend some time on Lawa Island. I bought a plastic bag to protect my camera from the Ao Por Pier. However it is best to bring along a snap-shut waterproof camera bag.
Kayaking and the Bat Cave
After 30 minutes later I dropped an anchor outside our first destination – Bat Cave. We are assigned guides – one guide with every two people – and before long are being paddled towards the mouth of the cave.
It’s all very leisurely in these sea kayaks with hardly any swell at all. Once inside, we turn on torches (although I get the impression that Reman, our guide, could do this blindfolded) and scrutinize the bats hanging upside down from the ceiling.
Well the cave was dark and very spooky. Still I tried to make it interesting by singing song as “my guide Ramen” knew one Hindi song and kept on singing that – ‘Ye Dosti Hum Nahi Chodhenge’ (I will never give up on this friendship). So, Even I sang with him to accompany him and I actually enjoyed it a lot. I kept on singing loud and didn’t care of what others will be thinking of me. I was aware that people were listening my songs and laughing. But I was sort of enjoying it and it didn’t bother me at all. I also The cave fairly reeks of sulphur, humidity, dragon’s breath and bad gas but there’s only 200 metres to negotiate and pretty soon we enter the island’s ‘hong’.
In a Phang Nga Cave
Way above, a couple of sea eagles flutter and fidget in the branches of a precariously rooted tree and halfway up the cliff stands a palm tree – a sight that poses a lot of questions, like how did the coconut get up there in the first place? I observed how shallow the water is with Ramen’s oar. It was three foot deep.
A leisurely paddle around the hong ensues, as Ramen points out various oddly shaped rocks, a dead snake being eaten by a crab and the marvelous lush vegetation. The silence is surreal and it’s as if time has stood still here. After 30 minutes I heard back to the ship. Bat Cave has so many large entrances and no need of torches.
A speedboat growls and snarls through, its enraptured passengers gazing at the outcrops and vegetation sprouting from the cliff sides. By now, we’ve grown to know our guides and the whole atmosphere of the tour is much more relaxed. On the way up to James Bond Island two of the guides kept cracking up jokes and made everyone laugh.
A BUFFET LUNCH !
Suddenly I got so famished that the onboard buffet lunch was more than a welcome. Featuring the deep-fried and battered tempura, pineapple fried rice, mixed vegetable and some fish dishes, chicken soup, sweet n’ sour steamed fish – it’s as much feast for the eyes as for the stomach. By the way journeying through some of the most beautiful maritime scenery in the world does wonders for the appetite.
The Tour Leader told everyone on the ship to stick to the northern part of the beach if we want to swim as there are sharp rocks at the southern end. We passed half an hour in that Phang Nga Bay, lolling in the shade, clicking some pictures, wallowing in the warm water and relaxing while floating on the water before heading to James Bond Island.
The Tour leader gave us one hour to spend in the James Bond Island.I took so many splendid pictures and even did trekking over there. Played for 10 minutes in the beach. The water was too muddy in there and that’s why snorkelling and scuba is not doable in there. The place was over crowded and had to wait in the queue to get clicked in the touristy place. It’s been a great day out but the most impressive experience by far was the silence and serenity of Phang Nga Bay’s hongs.
Day tours offer a minivan service that picks you up from the hotel. My pick up time was 08:30 and I was at the Ao Por Pier by 10:00 after having passed by other hotels to pick guests up. We all were back by five o’clock.
PHUKET FANTASEA– PALACE OF ELEPHANTS
I had a confusion before visiting the Phuket Fantasea Show but later I realised that is inspired by Thailand’s rich and exotic heritage, and not only showcases the charm and beauty of Thailand, but also enriches ancient Thai traditions with the wonder of cutting-edge technology and special effects. So, I took the tickets from the counter as it was equal to the online price. The show includes acrobatics, illusions, pyrotechnics, stunts, aerial performances and more. It involves a cast and crew of over 400 people, 44 elephants, three tigers, 40 goats, 40 chickens and 400 pigeons. The result is a stunning 140-acre theme complex, packed with a multitude of activities and entertainment.Photography is strictly prohibited. And that’s the reason why I had to give my phone and camera in the service desk. You need to pay a huge fine if you get caught while taking pictures.
It also has a Carnival village with games, handicrafts and shopping; a 4,000-seat theme restaurant offering a grand buffet of Thai and international cuisines; and a breathtaking Las Vegas-style theatrical show, where state-of-the-art technology and special effects enhance the grace and beauty of Thailand’s myths, mysteries and magic in a wondrous extravaganza certain to delight the whole family. A 70-minute extravaganza showcasing Thai culture and mythology.One of the best buffets in Phuket in a grand 4,000-seat restaurant.It’s a very Lively Carnival Village, with games, parades and shopping available. If you wish you can opt for a round-trip transport to and from your hotel. The show starts around 9 pm and finishes by 11 pm.
I wasn’t able to explore the place after the show got over at 11pm as they close the Fantasea by 11:30 pm and I had only 30 minutes to glimpse after the show got over, and also I had to wait in the long queue to take my stuff that I gave in the counter which almost ate my half 15 mins.
I would advice you to go there by 6pm because the place has got lot to explore and you need to see them before the show starts.
Tiger Kingdom – Phuket
I am a big time animal lover and I was very sure about going. But I heard so much about drugging the Tigers and was sad thinking if I am promoting this by visiting the place. But I thought it can be my one time experience so, I ended up going there and it was better than I expected. I took the tickets from the Tiger Kingdom Desk because tickets are cheaper over there and they don’t have any height issues whereas when booking online they ask you for your height if you are going for the bigger tigers.
I saw the smallest tigers and went into the play area. The tigers were very playful and definitely not drugged. They were interacting with us and the keepers were quite gentle with them, only tapping them with a small bamboo stick if they were getting too naughty but not a hard hit, only a small tap.
I looked around at the other tigers which some were in small enclosures but others were walking around and swimming in pools etc and they rotate them around so it was better than I thought it would be. The tigers who were interacting with the people seemed to be well trained and not drugged or too bothered by the presence of people, they looked settled and relatively happy.
I was thinking about it a bit and would rather the tigers be in here than being killed in the wild where they are hunted for their skins etc. Once they get to a mature age they are moved to the larger tiger place in a different cage. When I was there, I saw two tigers were waiting to be moved out. Overall, not the most amazing conditions for the tigers but again, definitely not the worst and at least the money is going back to the well being of those tigers. The cubs were fed with milk.
I opted for the big tiger and when I entered the enclosure there were six and had various poses etc for pictures over ten minutes.The tigers were trained well and I never felt in danger – they were certainly NOT drugged and may have benefited from the interaction – all cats sleep for most of the day and the bigger they are the more sleep they need.I found the experience worthwhile and value for money.
Whilst it may not be 100% ethical to visit such places, they are the only places you get to see tigers up close – if these places were not here the tigers would not be (or they could be need for the skin and Chinese medicine market).
If you are not going to take part in an interaction then it may not be a worthwhile visit
Big Buddha Phuket:
The statue of Buddha itself is located on the highest hill in the vicinity. The view from far deceives that you can come to it easily and that it is close. It’s not, and the hill is tall and when you add awesome warmth the trip on foot could be tough. I hired a taxi which took us to the Budha statue and the Tiger Kingdom. You can also use tuk-tuk, or borrow in people alongside the quad, respectively bike. I don’t have patience to bargain with the Tuk Tuk drivers as they charge a huge amount to the tourists and upon that they act like they don’t understand English and not even your sign language.
The statue of Buddha is enormous, It is garnished with white marble, which shines into distance.The terraces that are built near the statue offer great views of all sides, the Phuket, the Andaman Sea, the Gulf of Thailand, boats and ships. There you can see the Buddhist altar, monks, buy souvenirs, snacks, find out a lot about Buddhism and to discover the stories of some celebrities and stars who worship Buddhism. And above all, you need to have enough time for you to enjoy this trip. And as an addition to the trip, you can stop on the way to see elephants. If you wish you can also take bath with the elephants or feed them.
And also make sure you have pants or covered shoulders when you visit the Buddhist monk that you can have a blessing done for a small donation , the views are amazing as the big Buddha overlooks Phuket
Wat Chalong Temple -The Best temple in Phuket
This was the third place I visited on my trip with the hired Taxi from our hotel. It was a tour to the Tiger Kingdom, Big Buddha and the Wat Chalong Temple.The taxi service is an excellent way to see things. The driver actually waits for you whilst you visit places and returns you either to the taxi rank, or to your hotel all for the set price. As we left our first place, ‘The Big Buddha’, the driver even stopped so I could take photos of a baby elephant that was on the route.
When I arrived at Wat Chalong Temple (Phuket’s most famous) I was amazed at the beautiful architecture of the buildings. They are so colourful and so ornate with traditional sloping tiered roofs in red and gold. There are quite a few buildings here that have been built at different times and a beautiful gold pagoda that was built in 2002. This is where a bone splinter of Buddha is enshrined.
There is a little market selling refreshments and street food as well as souvenirs. I tried tender coconut water there which was so sweet and all the local vendors are so welcoming and friendly. One lady offered me some bitter mango that she was eating and waiting for me to try, and I still remember her laughter as she saw my ‘soured’ faces! Brilliant! You can also buy flowers and candles to leave inside the temple. As this is a Buddhist place of worship, ladies are requested to cover their legs and shoulders and shoes and hats must be removed, although we did wear socks as the floor was hot! I always carry a sarong to wrap around over my short dress. In one of the buildings I saw ‘Poh Than Jao Wat’ which is a Buddha statue where you can place your flowers and candles and sit and pray.
It is tradition for locals to set off fire crackers as a thanks for prayers, and it can be extremely noisy and scary as they are very unexpected. A must visit for anyone who wants to embrace the culture in Phuket.
PHUKET NIGHTLIFE:
The nightlife in Phuket is so colourful. The nightlife of Phuket didn’t fail to attract me at all. Like a magnet, it was hard to resist a wander down Soi Bangla with scene where neon lights and deafening music fights for your attention. There were more than hundred bars starting from beer bars, Go-Go bars to nightclubs and pubs. Every place was so packed and still so happening.
Apart from Bangla Road, Patong Beach houses other fun nightspots along its two main strips – Rat-U-Thit Road and Thaweewong Road– the former hosting Paradise Complex. There is also a centre of gay nightlife scene in Phuket, as well as very well known Hard Rock Café and Hooters. You can also experience so many dance clubs.
The best time to go to the Bangla Road is after the sunset. I visited the place after I came back from the James Bond Island Tour. I took a shower and power nap for 30 minutes because I had to be awake the whole night to enjoy the Night life of Phuket. So, I reached Patong Beach at around 8pm where the Bangla Road is. And the road is closed to traffic becomes a 400-metre festival of neon lights, loud music and cheap beer. The place was so jammed because of its popularity. Undoubtedly, its a very friendly and a lively place to walk around as bars and clubs compete with each other for customers.
What I observed was the beer bars there occupy most of the street’s length, with several go-go bars and a few pubs, restaurants, discos and shops rounding out the attractions, both on Soi Bangla and down its side streets.I got to see so many dance performers on the road at night. Its common to see the leaflet distributors, street vendors and ping-pong show and it is all part of the fun.
I saw the Tiger Night club when exploring Bangla Road. There are three floors and the building is fitted out with stone-like cement decor with large concrete tigers overlooking the street from the second floor. The ground floor is packed with beer bars while the upper levels are home to a nightclub where parties go on into the wee hours.
I started going down and there I saw the beach end of Bangla Road. The southern side of the road is lined almost exclusively with beer bars. After crossing the road I saw some of the area’s most notable establishments. I also found ladyboy cabaret dancers posing for photos around there and directing people towards their venues. The beach end of the street is taken entirely by shops, selling suits, souvenirs and fast food where I tried the deep fried baby Octopus and Durian juice.I had an amazing experience with the Phuket’s nightlife and best club experience.And that was my last day in Phuket.
KRABI-
Early morning I woke up around 11 am after my super nightlife experience in Phuket. I actually hired a Taxi and left for Ao Nang in Krabi. I kept my luggage in the Hotel and moved straight away to the Ao Nang beach.
It was 17 minutes walk from my hotel to the beach. After reaching to the beach I saw so many boats and The beach is narrow but not too busy and the water is clear and refreshing! It was a great beach to go to for a swim, tanning or just a stroll down the beach. Lots of restaurants around if you get hungry or some cocktails if you get thirsty. When low tide sets in from around 5 pm, its so nice to walk all the way and see the beautiful rocks and watch the sunset from afar. Loved to spend my time there I clicked so many pictures in Ao Nang beach. But yes! The beach doesn’t have any white beach.
Lots of Thai massage options and tours available on the streets of Ao Nang. I feel the massage centres in Ao Nang is very professional and maintains a good professional relation with their customer. If you are looking for a good and a decent massage you can try any massage parlour in Ao Nang and this is according to my experience. And its also true that the Ao Nang is, in fact, downright sleepy after about 9.30pm.
“Thailand was built on compassion”
This is my opinion and experience which is only one in a million, so if you have been to any of these places then please let me know how it went. If you have any comments, recommendations or experiences that were different to ours, leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you.
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