Early Weekend in Phuket

Phuket is one of those places where you can enjoy both the beach and the city life at the same time. That is the main reason why I was there at the end of November. Beach, bars, and shopping.

My destination... PATONG BEACH, PHUKET

I travelled with one of my girlfriend from high school using one of the Air AsiaGo's flight + hotel promotion then. Total cost was RM718.38 for 2 person, so it was about RM360 per person which was really cheap. We reached Phuket International Airport late in the evening and checked into our stay called The Royal Palm Beachfront. From there, you would need to spend about 200 baht and take a van to your stay. The journey would take up to an hour as the van have to stop at several different spots to drop those of us in the van so be patient. Taxi would be faster but costs much more.

We reached the hotel, checked in into a quite decent room.

We got upgraded to a room slightly bigger than what we paid for. Room was nice. Staffs were really nice and friendly. If you need anything like umbrella, beach towel or water bottles just ask them. Because the beach was just right in front, we just had to borrow all those things to lay on the beach.

3rd day activity before boarding the flight back home

Anyway, after we checked in, next on the list was THAI food for dinner! Food here was super good. Authentic and definitely not overpriced just because it was a tourist spot. This place was recommended by the hotel staffs but you can just walk into any other restaurants, they all seemed great too!

Tom Yum Gong! (PRAWNS!!!) MY FAV!!!

Pineapple fired rice, tom yum goong and stir fried minced beef with basil

The next day! 1st morning in Patong Beach, Phuket. Sightseeing and shopping of course.

It is cheap to get suit up! here too

1 coconut and pad thai (fried glass noodles) for lunch: 50 baht + 90 baht

Mandatory lie-on-beach selfie

Took tuk-tuk (cheap taxi) to Karon Beach

 Karon Beach is about half an hour away from Patong Beach. Took the tuk-tuk which cost about 400 baht to get there. It was really worth it. The beach here was so much more cleaner with finer sands compared to where we came from. Be sure to pay a visit to the row of shops nearby to get some cold drinks (I mean beer) to enjoy more.

The Big Buddha 

40 minutes away from Karon Beach high up on the mountains. We took tuk-tuk too. 1200 baht includes the cost of getting us back to our hotel. Those who would like a different view for a change should definitely visit here. If you are wearing shorts and singlets, they will give you a cloth to wrap up for free out of respect to the religion.

on the way down, make sure to stop by at the stall on the roadside to enjoy a cup of tea :)

After the visit, we head back down to our place and went to a mall nearby called Jungceylon. It is one of the most talked-about place to visit for shopping.

Amazingly fresh salad at the salad bar in the mall

These durians are larger then those you see in Malaysia!

After shopping for snacks as souvenirs (seaweed, flavored pocky, tit-bits), we headed to a food street just outside the mall for dinner. There was a variety of choices of the local food there so make sure you have been starving for the whole day to try everything. Just kidding. But seriously, try! All are really cheap too.

Mango sticky rice

Chicken noodle soup

LOBSTERS!!! PRAWNS!!!

Grilled skewers (chicken, mutton, beef, seafood)

And the 3rd day was more sun-tanning. Costed us about 750 baht to get to the airport which was about 40 minutes away but you might want to leave earlier to avoid traffic. Overall, it was a great trip with great food and great company. Happy travelling!