Trip Report 12-22

What can I say鈥? Our group of five had 8 fantastic nights in Phuket @ Patong Beach Hotel during 12-20 Oct. We enjoyed our stay at this inviting hotel, and the breakfast Buffet was to die for!

The only grip we had (because we had one very early morning) was the music from the Banana Disco located at the end of the St, in saying so, I would stay there again!

Plenty of our time was spent around the pool and one full day by the beach鈥?this was so relaxing and enjoyable. We paid 50baht for sun lounge for the full day. We had a mute guy %26#39;the boss%26#39; as we called him and a young boy waited on us hand and foot鈥?they became part of our family while in Phuket and each morning flagged us down to see if we wanted our chairs鈥?The only low light is that you will be harassed most of the day on the beach from walking sellers.

We Visited the much hyped about Rehab Centre on Friday 13th, and all I can say is it%26#39;s a must do! Charlie and Lum Yai are the cutest little things I%26#39;ve ever seen. We learnt how to groom them, and what an experience having a gibbon grab your hand as a sign you%26#39;re doing a good job. At one point Lum Yai wrapped her arm around me while I groomed her! The boys in our group, loved the bar there, and we had hoped to get back another day. They were amazed at being able to sit in an open bar drinking, watching Charlie and Lum Yai swinging around the bar, play fighting, trying to steal Richard%26#39;s beer, while also enjoying the elephants near by and seeing the odd pig or two! One word of warning, do not stand under a tree that either Lum Yai or Charlie climb, you might fall victim to a golden shower! Richard you do a wonderful job and Charlie and Lum Yai just love you! If joining Richard at the Sunshine Bar with the Friday night social鈥?Stay away from the Sunshine Charts鈥?those shots are lethal!

Another Highlight was Hong by starlight and our fantastic guide Baw. We ate, we drank, we joked and most of all we took photo after photo. The sights you%26#39;ll see and the sheer pleasure of being in the middle of nowhere lazing in a canoe are so worth picking this tour over the other boating trips! We also did a trip to Phi Phi Island by speed boat. This was a long day, but glad we did it for the snorkelling and socialising. While at Phi Phi for lunch, we heard the test alarm for a tsunami鈥?quite a long warning, and many on our boat had a laugh that at the ended it said ';don%26#39;t panic and please keep working.';

We had an unplanned day, where we hired a guy called Danny near the Patong Beach Hotel to drive us around. This saw the boys in our group take charge! We ended up watching Gary go Bungy Jumping, than the 3 boys have a go at the Phuket Shooting range and I hate guns!! To include us two girls in the day%26#39;s activities we were treated to a snake show鈥?very budget show, but entertaining.

During our stay we made a point of getting a massage everyday, who can say no to an hour massage that cost 180Baht ($6AUS). After trying a few, I fell in love with Original One! We were greeted with a cold glass of water, while they scrubbed our feet, after the massage we were seated while they gave us a cup of herbal teal鈥?just fantastic.

Our other %26#39;spare%26#39; time was spent shopping, my tip would be to cut any price offered by at least 50%... also try the walking off trick, and they are quick to drop the price or give your asking price! We all had suits made through Hong Kong Tailor (not the one on the beach St, but just down a side St) and enjoyed the many stories that Mr Sun told us鈥?a very lovable character!

We also spent a few nights checking out the sights of Bangala rd, as it was always full of night life. We found Bangala Rd can be what you make of it, we happened to find a quieter bar down near the Thai boxing end and sat drinking and watched the night unfold.

We fell in love with Sabai Sabai for Dinner (think this is off Soi Post office) and I can not recommend this enough! Also a good one to try is Sweets; this is on the same street as Original one, the Street with Patong Tower at the end of it.

After 8 wonderful days in Patong, we headed to Bangkok for 2 nights and then home. I am suffering from withdrawals from my wondering holiday made in heaven. I feel I have lost a bit of myself in Patong, I was relaxed and happy my entire trip. I think this was a mixture of being on holidays, the atmosphere and the beautiful nature of the Thai people. I look so forward to going back to the paradise of Phuket!

Trip Report 12-22

Wow, just loved reading your report Neegs, especially the bit about Charley %26amp; Lum Yai, that place is just the best.. Never thought of not standing under the trees while they are up there haha.

How much did your suits cost at Hong Kong Tailors, I might have some clothes made next trip.

I just cant wait to get back, thanks heaps for your report.

Cathy

Trip Report 12-22

thats a great report neegs, i don,t think iv,e ever seen a bad report anywhere on the net, about phuket!

regarding the beach sellers ,if they are thai , you can say ';miow-krup'; (no thanks--)

they go away a bit quicker i find --

if you DO buy anything from one of them, all the others notice, and home in on you !(grin)

Reading your report makes me realise how much I am looking forward to our time in Patong.

Where did you get your massage? It sounds wonderful.

We are going at the end of April and a couple of recomended massages will be on the agenda.

Thanks

Thanks for the tip Andy, I think we got caught up in the moment... Lazing by the beach, having food and drinks brought to us, seats swept down if sandy, umberella moved for shade, and then to be able to do shopping without moving, until they came in their droves... sounds like we asked for it though!

Kathy, Hong kong tailor is loctated at soi kepsup thaweenwong rd. Patong. email is no1hongkongtailors@hotmail.com.

My partner and I between us got 3 shirts, one mens suits - amarni, with the armani lining and tag. 1 female suit - pants, skirt and jacket.

In total we paid around 12,000 baht. We didn%26#39;t bother to try barter with this as we were tired and hot, but for the service and Mr Suns stories it was money well spent.

Aussie, The name of the massage place is called Orginal One and located on the street off the beach rd, that has the Patong Tower at the end of it. There is also another place down that street next to Sweets restaurant that was quite good as well. Orginal one, was my fav. Some of the group went to a pink massage place on a corner near the Patong Beach Hotel, where one of the boys was scared off when a very scary looking lady boy came in to give him a thai massage... was quiet funny for those there.

Hope this helps!

Can%26#39;t wait to get back in nov next year (as promised by the boy)... Already missing my Mai Tai cocktails and daily massages!

Hi Neegs

We also had a wonderful time in Phuket and visited th Original One for massages and found them terrific, good value and friendly.

How did you find Bangkok? I want to go there next year, should I go before or after my visit to Phuket?

Hi %26#39;We want to go back%26#39;, - I share the same feelings!

I had Vee @ Orginal one massage me a few times, she was so sweet, but so where all the other girls!

As for Bangkok, I would say our experience this time was horrible. People are not like they are in Phuket, and it didn%26#39;t help that in the first 2 hrs we were there, we had been scammed, by a helpful gentleman sending us to a temple open 1 day a month. And Tuk tuks that ripped us off, and dropped us everywhere but agreed on.

Part of me would like to do Bangkok over again, as soo many people have rave reviews, but I don%26#39;t think I could.

I would suggest doing your research, maybe hire a guide early in your trip there and only go with METER TAXI%26#39;s...

On the upside, the train system is great, we felt much happier when using this and the shopping there is great, just don%26#39;t expect the atmosphere or people to be anything like Phuket.

Cheers.

hi neegs the'; helpful gentleman'; scam in bkk is the most commom one if ANYONE approches you in bkk,(or anywhere in the world for that matter) you can guarantee theres going to be some kind of scam!

the good thing about these message boards is lots of people read the info, and go, armed with important knowlege!

Thanks neegs for the info I certainly will do as much research as I can before booking to go to Bangkok I wonder if we shouldn%26#39;t just spend more time in Phuket instead.

Hi all,

Andy... you are so right! these forums are a wonderful source of information, and we realised we had been scammed from start to finish with our %26#39;helpful gentleman%26#39;. When we were about to catch the train, another %26#39;helpful individual%26#39; came over to see if we knew how to work the system et, and tried to %26#39;sell%26#39; us other sites to see other than the Market. WE LEARNT though and said thanks, but no thanks.

We want to go back. Bangkok is what you make it I think... While we were there another couple who we picked up on the way to the airport agreed with us an hated Bangkok and were happy to be heading home. Others talking on the plane talked about what a wonderful stay etc. I think if you do your research, possibly get a guide for a day you%26#39;ll be fine.

I have uploaded some photo%26#39;s on to my site

www.jacintan.multiply.com

More will go up eventually, but i took 200 pics and the other have a total of 600.