ATV and the Big Buddha

A lazy morning around the pool and then a 2 pm pick up for the ATV adventure.
The ute picked us up on time and we headed of to Chalong picking up a couple of other tourists on the way.
Upon arrival we were issued with hair net and helmets and some quick instruction on the ATV / Quad bikes  basically stop and Go.
Being a party of two adults and 3 kids was a bit of a problem as the bikes only take 2 people and a 6 yr old on their own is not advisable. By prior arrangement the 3rd child was free and would go on the guides quad bike.
Off we set the tracks were quite dusty so after a short while we had to stop and dust masks were handed out.

 We headed up the hill and by surprise passed an elephant station which we think was also run by the same people.
Avoiding a few cars we joined the main road to the top of the hill and had a stop to view the Big Buddha

 Probably the only monks we saw were here during the whole trip.

Mum obviously enjoyed her self as this was"the best $20 she had spent"

A return journey again in the back of a ute was enjoyed as it gives a cooling breeze

Car Hire Thursday Part 2

We found a turn off to a resort and a sign post to a Turtle shopping centre and ended up having cake and milkshakes at the Coffee Club.

We had a closer look at the beach but with the tide being quite high the beach is quite steep so we headed back to Nai Yang where we were on the 1st day. This probably the best beach this side of the the island the atmosphere is good and much more relaxed and almost no pestering from beach sellers and massage parlours. we spent a couple of hours here.

Probably too late in the day we headed of to Rawai and the cape at the south of the island.

We stopped of half way for some shopping.

When we came out it was dark but we still headed to Rawai the boys fell asleep and the traffic was quite busy but easy enough only 1 wrong turn. We got to Rawai could not see much so continued on. William woke up with an ear ache as he had water trapped in his ear. Eventually got back to Patong at about 9pm.
Next problem was to find parking for the car over night but the Hotel staff sorted this and it was parked a couple of streets away. Most of the main streets have parking only on one side which changes on odd and even days so you can get caught out if not up early.
Thought it best to get William looked at by a doctor but could not find one open so spoke to a pharmasist and got some ear drops for 120 Baht.

Phuket Car Hire Thursday

We decide to hire a car for today so booked yesterday for a 10am pick up across the road from the Salathai  Hotel.
1400 Baht / day inc insurance for a little Honda Jazz
Rush hour over so hopefully very little traffic to negotiate. Headed of north out of Patong along the beach rd towards the Tonsai Waterfall just out side of Thalang.
The water fall is in a little National park area that required an entrance fee of 200 baht / adult and 100 baht/ child.
The  main information board is not easy to find but is on the left as you start up the hill there is a 600m short walk or a 2km full walk.

The walk up is mostly on stepping stones on or close to the water the path is over grown in places and fallen trees have not been cleared away for months.
This a great way to loose a couple of kilos in sweat alone.
We saw plenty of different butterflies and couple of larger lizards and 3 squirrels for those at the from of the walk. The walk back down is easy straight down the path.
We were told to be careful of the plants as some can irritate and a few are covered with thorns which you can easily brush along.

We got back to the car and started it up to get the air con working again to have some relief.

We set of to the north of the island to the area Mai Khao which is just north of the airport we saw the beach on this area from Nai Yang on our 1st day. We found the turn off from the main road and started to head to the beach and looking for somewhere to buy lunch or get some fresh fruit. We found the beach down a little soi but nothing to eat. Headed back to some shops on the minor road to get some but surprisingly this was hard we managed some apples and a Mango then back to the main road for better shops.

 

Phi Phi Island Cruise

We had  booked a 7.15am pick up for the day cruise to Kho Phi Phi Island.
This meant a hearty breakfast yes bacon and eggs. The mini bus picked us up on time for the transfer to the port at Phuket City.
We had not been recommended this trip only that a big boat was more comfortable than a speed boat as the sea can have a bit of a swell which it did.
We arrived and were transferred onto the ship probably about 8:15 found some seats or rather some white plastic garden chairs after 10 minutes we realized why they were vacant was because they were in the sun. 45 minutes later when the boat departed we were already over sitting in the sun but the tarpaulin sunshade did not cover the whole deck area but was was positioned perfectly to stop any breeze cooling you off.
See the full review here http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293920-d1887234-r136534302-Phi_Phi_Cruiser-Phuket.html#REVIEWS
Spent the next 1 1/2 hours watching the speed boats wizz past and trying to cover up under a sarong.

The trip was to take in "The Beach" made famous by Leonardo De Caprio Movie but due to the size of the vessel it could not get closer than about 500 m but you could not see much of the beach any way as it was full of the 10 min day trippers and their speed boats. Soon after we docked at Kho Phi Phi and as we had booked the snorkeling part of this trip we transferred to a smaller boat which took us of to a part of the harbour probably no more than 500 metres away.

 we had a bout 45 minutes of snorkeling which was quite good as it was the kids first real snorkeling despite the sea snake and Emily panicking a bit this went well.
Back to the big boat and then off to lunch which was at the Phi Phi Island Hotel which was more than adequate for lunch and was a lazy susan affair and about 10 dishes which were replenished several times.

We did not realize that Phi Phi Island was so developed but much would have been after the Tsunami as many shops and restaurants  appeared to be in newer buildings. With little time before departure we headed to the beach and a quick swim between the long tail boats and a mess around with some under water photos.

We got aback to the boat a found no seats left and realized that this was the reason for other people constantly wandering about on our outward journey. We found some space on the lower deck to sit in the floor but this area was pretty good as it was air conditioned.

Tuesday Patong

The morning was spent around the pool with plans for lunch and the afternoon to be spent somewhere cool for a change.

We headed up the road looking for a street seller and some cheap local food. I suppose you could call this local as it was made as you waited but crepes all round was good. Cost 50 Baht each.

Nice street sign !

We had made plans to go ten pin bowling which we were led to believe was in the Jungceylon shopping centre.  Finding the centre was easy but finding the bowling was hard as it did not appear on any of the shopping centre directories and we assumed it was near the cinemas.

After finding some areas of the shopping centre that we had not seen before including the basement shopping area which is worth a look at last we found it only to then find out we had not got around to changing some cash. Great! off I go back down to the ground floor and out side to find a money changer luckily did not have to go too far then back up stairs again.

Had a quiet musical game of bowling as there were only about 4 lanes in use and the duff duff music was turned up.

That done we then headed of for more food and an early dinner.

we found a fine dining establishment La Casa which had a deal for cheap pizza and of course the kids wanted the toilet not at the same time but 5 minutes after each other. Problem was this nicely appointed fine dining establishment doesn't have a toilet so off in search for the public toilet.

Pizza and drinks finished it was off too a sound and fountain show that started at 7 pm that we had seen as we wandered around. The usual walk back to the Salathai hotel was educational with areas of more street food and shopping. With an early bed time as an early start was scheduled.

James Bond Island Phang Nga Bay Part 2

Part 2

The High light is the viewing of James Bond Island Ko Tapu from the Movie "The Man with a Golden Gun"  The island is much smaller than expected but that's the movies for you. As this is the main attraction it gets a bit busy

  The return trip sees a stop at monkey beech which is a little beach no more than 20 metres long where the monkeys hang out waiting for their daily handful of bananas from the passing boats. The boat moors about 50 metres off shore which doesn't look that far from the top deck and it our only point for a swim so we all jump in no life jackets and swim for it. 50 metres at eye level once your in looks a whole lot further where you feel a leg cramp coming on and the kids would not have swum this far with out touching the bottom before.

A bit of pushing the boys and we were there. Most of the other tourists chose the Kayaks or other flotation devices to get them there. There were about 20 monkeys in all squabbling for bananas.

The boys were sent back on a kayak an I swam back which didn't seem as far and was in some cases quick than some of the novices trying to paddle.

A good day well worth the money.

James Bond Island Phang Nga Bay Part 1

James Bond Island

Part 1
The mini bus picked us up promptly right after our early breakfast.
I guess it was a 45 minute ride to the Pa Khlok Pier which is at the North East corner of Phuket.

The boat is fairly large and oldish but I would be surprised if there were more than 50 tourists and at least a dozen crew.
The boat headed of north into the heart of Phang Nga Bay.
Phang Nga Bay  is a 400 km² bay in the Andaman Sea between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Malay peninsula of southern Thailand. Since 1981, an extensive section of the bay has been protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park. Limestone cliffs with caves, collapsed cave systems and archaeological sites are found about Phang Nga Bay. Some 10,000 years ago, when sea levels were lower, one could walk from Phuket and Krabi.Courtesy Wikipedia.
The 1st part is a little cruise of about 45 minutes to a cave which actually goes in about 50 metres and comes out further along the cliff however because of the high tide we could not go right thru. The crew provide flash lights and point out the various points of interest although the Bats hanging from the roof need no pointing out as you can smell the Guano.

 At each stop the crew get out some sea kayaks and paddle you around the various locations. Some stops can get a bit congested as 2 or 3 boats can be at each location at a time

 Another 20 minutes takes us to our second location which is a hidden inlet again with various rock formations.

 Lunch was next although not overly exciting with the fish being over cooked like most fried food in Thailand it was OK

Patong Saturday

The morning was spent having a buffet breakfast at the Salathai with the usual bacon and eggs, juice and cereal etc not by any means as big a spread as Club Med but perfectly adequate.

The first challenge was to organise activities for the next few days. I had seen some ads as we walked around on the previous evening for cheep boat trips to James Bond island and Koh Phi Phi island for around 700 Baht which was much less than the leaflets and research we had done earlier.
Money Changers
A quick note here. There are plenty around but they do tend to open up late around 10 am on wards and some not until 12:00. The rates are better than banks by about 6%.

I set of on my own to find out more.
I found a very nice helpful local lady running a little kiosk at the end of the street
49 Soi Loma Taweewong  Rd she gave me some prices for the trip to James Bond Island with Kayaking etc. 850Baht / adult and 550 Baht for Kids that about $27 and $17 each. This is about a 40% discount
This means an early start with a pick up at 8:15am we booked and then headed of to the local beach.

Patong beach is very disappointing especially with the tide in.
We search for the red and yellow safe area flags which are not too far away.
We hire a couple of lounges and umbrellas.

It not until you look around and notice all the rubbish the packing case lid up turned with nails poking out and a raft of rubbish in the surf as it floats back and forth with the current along the beach.
It appear the red and yellow flags stay put and the rips come and go. On this day the rip was right there bang in the middle.
I had gone out for a bit of a cool down and started to go a bit deeper in order to get past the breaking waves that when I notices the rip trying to take me out so with some urgency but no panic headed straight back in to tell the kids don't go past waist deep.

Lunch was a budget affair and Mum went off to find some street food acceptable to the kids more than anybody. She returned with some very acceptable chicken rice and some Chinese style noodles.


As the tide retreats the beach does get better but after 2 or 3 hours it was back to the very nice hotel pool a shower and a siesta.

We headed out in the evening to find a restaurant called The Irish Times Pub

We found it quite easily despite poor directions once in the Jung Ceylon Shopping complex. We were met by a rather nice young lady at the door who I hoped would be joining us for dinner but alas no such luck.

The kids loved their fish and chips prompting our six year old to let the waitress know how good it was.

Club Med Friday Our Transfer Day

We have to vacate our rooms by 11 am but we can stay for lunch we have yet to arrange our transfer to Patong and intend to use a local taxi.
We meaning I try to cram as big a breakfast in as possible but the appetite has wained due to the humidity.
We finish the packing and put them at the room door for collection all 10 of them.
We allow the kids a bit of a swim but no kids club today.

Instead we schedule them in to the Bungee Bounce.
I have to go off for my second of three visits to the dentist for the 1st part of a new crown.
I am back in time for lunch a prearranged pick up from the Hotel to the Kok Chang Elephant Safari which is only up the hill from Kata about 5 mins by car. Currently Ranked #1 on Trip advisor

We had a 20 minute rumble thru the Rubber Plantation.
Having returned to Club Med we arranged a car to take us from Kata to Patong cost about 800 Baht our bags are all at the reception area nicely stacked.
We have a little chat with the GO who meets and greet scheduled visitors this time from Korea. Then our car arrives so we help bundle everything in and head off I guess it only about 20 minutes the drives speaks little or no English and then gets lost in Patong he cant find the Hotel let alone the right street. Patong is a bit of a one way area so if you miss the street you want which was also a 1 way street of a 1 way street you have to do another circuit of Patong.
Finally we got the Hotel Salathai entrance and several bell boys appeared and removed the bags from the car and I removed one of the boys from the back seat who had zonked out the ride.
We presented passport etc at reception and were shown to the respected rooms which were above each other on the 2nd and 3rd levels. During this something was noted that there were fewer bags than anticipated and a quick count found 1 of the three identical kids holdalls missing. Back to reception no its not there has it already been taken to the room no !  Great!! missing bag was it in the taxi thought not about 5 people unloading can't miss it can you or did it never get picked up from Club Med or even our room.  The Salathai manager made some calls to Club Med no its not there they must have then gone across to the unofficial taxi rank across the road from the main entrance and checked who the driver was.
10 minutes later and Harry's clothes missing along now with Harry's back pack which is also missing the reception gets a call that the bags are still in the Taxi.
20 minutes later missing bags delivered to the room. Problem Solved Thanks Club Med and Salathai

Our Salathai Hotel room before the boys really messed it up and the view from the Balcony

Club Med Thursday

Our last full day at Club Med.
We spend an hour or two at the Zen pool

The kids are put away for most of the day but an early release allows them free time at the pool.
They are first to go back to the evening meal dead on 6.45pm I wonder why ;)
The only problem with this is that we have to help them choose don't know why they manage on their own for Lunch.

Mum decides to Glam up a bit as we go for a walk out side in an attempt to drum up an appetite.

We cant be away for long as we need to have dinner ourselves and be at the main stage for the kids show which is Pirates and then their final Dance.

Then it's final cocktails all around.