Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Aeons and Aeons
Well Im still not done wif my HKT trip cos i dunno jus seems tat there is so much to jus write.. Goodnes.. Wonder wen ill be done.. Yikes.. Im like so lazy man.. ahah
The weekends were alright.. Went bladding on sat, and aunty luna was in town.. After bladding, wen to fetch her from e airport.. Was rushing wen i saw e plane docking at the aero bridge.. Have u seen a boy in beach wear and slippers running in e airport?
I did.. It was me.. hehe.. Managed to catch her and she was stunned to see me.. We headed to the hotel and well singapore was at its busiest.. Christina has a concert at kallang indoor stadium, Kallang stadium closing ceremony, NDP Preview 2..
Had to wait for e rm to be ready wen we arrived.. The first rm we got, had someone inside. ahah Finally we got a rm tat was empty.. Later mummy who was already there, went out wif aunty Luna and i showered there.. hehe
Waited to be fetched for NDP.. First time saw a pregnant lady told a white lie.. haa.. anyway NDP07 was nice.. upload some shots soon..
The week so far was gd.. haha.. wasted like $6.50 on a stupid horror show on monday wen i skipped law.. dam boring man.. depressing to spend so much on 7% GST.. sians.. well tats it lah.. haha
Friday, June 15, 2007
Back from Land of A Thousand Smiles
It was like rushing thru. I mean i heard professional painters can paint within 2 days and well i kinda used tat as my guide. However on monday, while i was painting, i received a call saying that i have an interview with SATS and its either i go else i wont be accepted.
This again is another story but well jus say it.. Well My contract wif this current co. under SATS was coming to an end and so if we wanted to join this new company, we had to go thru another round of interview .
Will cut the story short and continue another day.. I got accepted so headed home and painted my rm. Spend the night painting the walls and well slept like in e wee hrs of the morning. Later tat morning, it was the last wall and touchups and extra coating.
Later in the evening, headed to PS and Ikea to get some last min stuff like my shelf and bed. Everything was suppose to arrive on FRiday so on Thursday, wen to buy storage boxes and well threw lots of stuff..
Friday came and well the bed, shelf arrived and later after tat, i did minor cleaning up before leaving for the airport.
Took a cab to the airport and was actually early.. ahah.
It was an unofficiaited upgrade compliments of my friend from the airline. At that point of time, I kinda feared that the person whom I was flying with would embarrassed but thank goodness such a thing didn’t happen at all.
Jessica arranged for a bday cake and mind u my bday was aeons before this trip so it kinda acted like a complimentary cake compliments of the airlines.
Siti came and asked the person I was flying with if she could address e person as SO AND SO. She later got this person e drink and soon we were preparing for take off..
Amelia asked if it was my birthday and well haha.. I said no.. And they showed me the cake. Not bad. They were kinda busy so I proceeded back to my seat where I was readin the inflight magazines as well as inflight sales magazine as well as the “TODAY” paper.
Flight up was a bit bumpy so it kinda took sometime before I saw Amelia and e rest moving. So yea they walked in e cabin and gave the choice of meal and what they wanted. When it came to my turn, well it was some chicken with pasta and man it was yummy!! Hee
wine. And so my mistake I took the red wine.. My God!!! It was dry.. The last time I had such a wine, was in Brunei on Christmas I recalled when my late uncle was alive. I recalled vomiting after drinking that wine.
Kinda downed the wine. Didn’t really finish drinking everything and later when Siti came, I asked for an extra bread roll and if I could have a screw driver. Drink came and well yea food was great!! Hee
Hmm wanted to do some inflight shopping however I didn’t see what I wanted or rather it was not listed in the inflight sales magazine.
After meal service, I went into the cabin and requested if I could take a shot with Siti and Amelia separately and hehe.. Shots were great. Later I proceeded back to my seat and well by now I was moving around and sitting like the flight is mine. And so they had to prepare for landing.
Well Belated then.. hehe :) White Chocolate Cheese cake.. Yum :)
The drive from the airport to the hotel was abt 30-40mins and well Phuket I have to add is filled with mountains. Of course there are the beaches and some of the mountains can be placed in the middle of no where.
At night, we headed to this well area to eat and well the water in Phuket, unlike Singapore, cannot be drank from the tap and u have to buy bottled water. Kinda troublesome. Here in the hotel, they will give u complimentary bottled water. 2 bottles a day.
Dinner was so so.. Went to just walk around to look around and later headed back to the hotel. Smsed mummy, dearie and some friends. Ended my night quite early and yea that was abt it.
Sight Seeing City Tour
Headed to the mountain top ‘ViewPoint’ and well took some shots of myself there. Later we headed down and off we went to the Cashew Nut factory. Rather interesting to learn that the oil is actually so harmful to the hands that they need to wear plastic gloves.
Somehow this whole entire trip somewhat turned into an Education trip. Bought like lots of tidbits and well had to get them packed into a small box.. hehe.. J After that, we went to the Royal Jelly Factory.
Upon arrival, we were ushered into this room. The Boss’s sister, was happens to manage that factory and very pretty I must add, came to explain to us how Royal Jelly is made and there was even free sampling too.. Not bad.. haha..
After we were done, as we were leaving, the guide told me that she (Boss’s Sister who explained to us the process of how Royal Jelly is made), majored in Law in Singapore’s NUS. I then asked why isn’t she doing anything related to her field of studies and well lets jus say that some prefer to help in the family business.
Next, we headed to the Gem Factory. Kinda irrelevant I found cos like hello.. Do I look like I carry loads of cash around to buy them? NO!.. But well, just went. Was welcomed by 3 ladies standing by the entrance.
We were brought into this theatre where they showed us the video of how gems are found and made into jewelry and likewise for the pearls too. Quite interesting.. Before that, we went to this well kinda like a DFS cos it sells their specialties and sorts called “Porntip”.
Apparently this place is famous bcos it was by Mr Taksin (Hope I spelt his name correctly. If not pls pardon). Didn’t buy anything there because already did so at the cashew nut factory.
Anyway, after the gem gallery, my guide paid the gallery driver to drive me back to the hotel. Thereafter, I headed to e pool for my first session of tan. Sun was quite alright however it soon kinda disappeared and at the same time, I had to leave early cos I had to get ready so that I could go to “Fantasea”.
Headed up for my shower and dressed up. Just so you know, for the last few days, I was wearing the same top over and over again and anyway, it was clean so wat the heck.. ahaha.. So yea I wore the same thing that I wore to fly to Phuket to “Fantasea”.
The ticket purchased for “Fantasea”, comprised of dinner, and a show. This show is a live show or performance and not a movie cinema kinda thing. Very nice I have to add.
At about 1730 Phuket time, abt 1830 Singapore time, the van from “Fantasea” came and well the van was quite pack. In anycase, still made it there and gee! It was nice.. I mean well place is nice. Was walking around and taking shots and pictures of myself and also with an elephant.
Dinner was buffet style. Not bad. As the show was about to begin, we had to walk thru this lane or something and well on ur way in, they will seize ur cameras and so on and on your way in, I saw baby elephants which I did touch and play wif, there were baby tiger cubs where u had to pay to take a shot with them.
As I was in the theatre, beside me, was an American couple. Elderly couple. Somehow being here I have been talking to lots of English speaking people and well handling them at the airport and socializing with them, is something I enjoy doing.
One of my colleagues calls me “Sarong Party Boy”. But I don’t care. As people started strolling into the theatre, well and while I was talkin to the old couple, a group of thai kids came in and we were wondering where they were from.
As we were jus passing that topic about the kids, this lady seated in front of us told us that there were Tsunami Orphanage. Then, in my mind, lots of questions abt these kids came to mind but then didn’t get to ask.
Just them the show started. Hmm it was a very light hearted show however towards the end of the show, I jus started to tear. Somehow I kinda jus felt the happiness amidst the poverty some might have, the singing and joy in the voice of the kids, the animals.
The respect they have for elephants because they are a religious icon. After the show, headed to take the hotel shuttle back to the hotel.
That’s like kinda ended the say for my well second day in Phuket.
Somehow through the last few days, I feel that the thai’s in Phuket, they are sincere and unfortunately unlike Singapore, they do not have what we have to really provide the X factor. Or maybe they are able to but well, this American guy asked “Are Singaporeans as friendly as the thai’s in Phuket?”
My reply to him was that some are but it depends. Anyway being here, I was constantly being ogled by transsexuals, gays, and prostitutes. Even if im with a large crowd, there is that eye contact that’s they and well, its kinda scary.. hhahaha
This is where the show will be at after dinner ;p
Island Hopping
This morning, had to wake up at abt 6 plus. Here in Phuket at about 6 plus, its actually quite bright. Hee kinda like Singapore when its 7 plus. Well I showered and yea headed down for breakfast before the driver from the island travel agent come to fetch me.
So headed for breakfast and only had milk. A glass of milk. Yet again, they had to fetch passengers until the van is filled. So after me, we headed to few other hotels and off we went to the Jetty.
When we were there, we had to fill up our names on this list. Its for some insurance. Thereafter, from there, we proceeded to wait. There was this well counter where were was coffee and light refreshments.
Along on that table was this small container with seasick tablets. So far to the best of my knowledge, I do not have sea sickness. However to play safe, I just pop one in just in case. We had to wait till another van came before we moved off..
First stop was to this well the boat didn’t really stop at then island but jus at the sea and we jus jumped off the boat into the water to snorkel.
I didn’t use the snorkel provided cos it didn’t appear clean to me and I jus used my goggles. The waves there weren’t very stable cos of other smaller boats and well lots of people were in the water.
The water on the other hand, was very very clear. You could see fishes and well it kinda looked scary at first however after getting used to it, you will like it and for me, I was a bit off having to use my goggles and well plus the waves and sorts.
The next island was Maya Bay at Krabi. Its easier to get to Phi Phi Island from Phuket though it belongs to Krabi.
Later, we headed to Phi Phi Island. Hmm the island wasn’t as “nice” as I tot it to be. Hmm there was no harbor so we had to just walk into e water and well make out way to land. The boats could dock at sea level to as low as my knee level.
Quite cool. When we reached the eatery, I headed to e toilet first to wash my back cos of the sand tat flew to my back while making our way to land. Thereafter, I headed to join e rest for lunch.
Didn’t really eat much. Well I had rice, and curry gravy on it and well there was this thingy tat looked like onion but it was actually fried sea coconut. Quite a novelty I have to add.
Throughout the trip after the first island or first dive, I kinda have been have naked. Well without my top. On top of that, I was the youngest of the rest J To an extend I was kinda being looked out ahaha..
Well at the eatery I kinda wanted to put my shirt on and I saw lots of this sharp buds on my shirt.. scary.. pulled them out but decided not to wear my top. So was half naked most of the time.
We headed back to the boat and headed to Monkey island.. The reason y it was called monkey island is because its name speaks for itself. There are monkeys. Initially when we were there, there weren’t any however within seconds after they saw humans, one after another they came out.
I didn’t want to get off so I spend some time on the boat tanning and catching up with the rest. Getting to know some of them. Few of them work in Singapore, one of them, this lady from New Jersey, she was in Phuket for a holiday but lives in Bangalore.
She wasn’t really liked by everyone firstly because we was relatively loud and has a very strong character. However I guess I could click with almost all on the boat except for few whom I nvr spoke to at all.
After Monkeys island, we continued to Khai Island and it took 40mins. The boat ride was great. Love it tons. The wind, the sun, the sea and ahah.. I loved it.. the view. Peace, serenity.
Something I haven’t felt for a long time. Khai island was like tis sand patch in the middle of no where and not a mountain jus a sand patch and some chairs and a shop. That abt it. There was another island that was like a photocopy of Khai Island. Very unique. From afar, Khai Island looked very tempting because the water was clear, the sun was rite, the sand looked smooth and soft.
But as we neared the island my gawd! The Sand!!!! So rough and lots of dead coral parts lying around everywhere. I was tempted to get off the boat and I did however when u stepped on those dead coral stuff and rough and course sand, it was quite uncomfortable and well hurt a little..
As I mentioned, Phuket and its islands have lots of mountains and some are mini islands thus at each beach and sorts, I was always cautious because of the rocks and stones or whatever is in the water etc.
Soon after, we left Khai Island and well the boat trip back to mainland Phuket was about 40mins. When we reached harbor, we headed to our van and headed back to the hotel. Hmm the lady who had a very strong character, I was bonding with her throughout the whole trip and it was quite fun.
However I didn’t manage to get her name.. heh. Headed back to the hotel and wen to get my shower and washed my trunks. Later jus relaxed and started uploading all my shots because I took lots of shots that e memory card was full.
. Later headed to this Cantonese restaurant up in the hotel’s highest floor for dinner.. the view from the top was absolutely beautiful. Took some shots there too.. Had a 6 course dinner.. First was Sharks fin soup with crab meat which frankly tasted like fish to me. Next was prawns with asparagus followed by beef in red wine and some sauce, sweet and sour fish, hokkien mee and desert was ginko nut with red dates and it was dam sweet.
wen to 7-Eleven to get mineral water cos like I said, water isn’t free here.. ahaha
To top it off, more and more guys, trannies (Transsexuals), girls and even their citizens kept ogling at me. Kinda weird. Wonder y. But did get tons of comments that I was handsome and good looking and dam young and worst even a model.. haha.. Wonder for wat? Ahaha
Went to walk around and look around. Took shots of the night life here in Phuket. Took a shot of this Muay Thai competition that they are having tomorrow (Monday, June 11, 2007, the day I’m returning to my Singapore) and the street food they have as well as jus shots tat portray the thai’s way of life.
Well yea came back and washed up. Soaked myself in the tub finally and well wen out to see e night life. You see, directly in front my hotel, there are tons of night clubs, normal ones, with gays, trannies..
So jus downstairs, there is this bar for men called “The Way”. So many trannies.. wen to take shots.. hehe.. And just in front of my room, there is this room in the opposite housing area where 3 trannies live together and well took a shot of one of them naked but could only see the back. Ahaha.. too bad.. cant get a front face shot.
Here I am now, blogging.. Kinda tired.. Very slpy.. Cant wait to get home tomorrow.. Thus far I feel that phuket is a great place however being here, u have to be here wif a partner or a group and may I add, u have to be comfortable with them only then are u able to enjoy it to the max.
Really enjoyed my stay here though water to an extend is a bit of a problem for me. Perhaps being in Singapore as a Singaporean, life is kinda pampering. Unlike here.. Even the simple essential like water has to be bought and not drank from the tap.
Think I gotta end here.. nights..
If Brunei International airport looks like this, well no surprise tis is Phuket.
Lakchimi my classmate in IO0301B :)