On the other hand, Phuket and Phi Phi Island in Thailand remains touristy, with incoming tourists coming internationally for Thailand's new year, the Songkran Festival. The Thai New Year is celebrated every year on April 13. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia. The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. People roam the streets with containers of water or water guns, or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby.
Sawadee.....................
ITINERARY:
Day 1: Singapore - Phuket
Day 2: Diving at Koh Ratcha Yoi & Koh Ratcha Noi
Day 3: Diving at Anemone Reef & Sharks Point
Day 4: Phi Phi Island Day trip
Day 5: Songkran Festival in Patong
Day 6: Phuket - Singapore
The Preparation
When Tiger Airways first launched the airfare promotions in November 2008, I and some friends snapped on the opportunity to grab the offer and made plans yet again for another Songkran Festival in Thailand, for the 6th consecutive year running.
The plan to arrive few days earlier prior to Songkran was to go diving and island hopping at Phuket. I had pre-arranged for a dive trip with Gill Divers in Singapore to link up with Euro Divers for 5 dives in Phuket. The 5 dives at Koh Ratcha Yoi (x2), Koh Ratcha Noi, Anemone Reef, and Sharks Point, together with equipment rental cost S$270.
Prior to the trip, I’ve also purchased a Canon G10 camera and an underwater casing online for my dive trip. Adding onto Jame’s Inon Z24s strobe, Saeko Dive LED torch, arms, and tray, the combination looks like this.
DAY 1 (09 April 2009, Thursday)
Arriving in Phuket on flight TR152 at 0900hrs, I took a taxi to Patong Beach Lodge for 408Baht. As the hotel is running on high occupancy, I only managed to get a room after lunch, at around 1400hrs.
Shortly after check-in, it was raining till the evening. So there goes day 1 of the trip.
DAY 2 (10 April 2009, Friday)
The mini-van that is suppose to pick me up for the dive was late by almost an hour. Upon arrival Chalong Bay, we were greeted by the representative from Euro Divers Dive Centre, who led us onto the dive boat.
A briefing was conducted, for the boat orientation, the dive sites, and some safety issues. Soon we were down under water, at Bunglow Bay, Koh Ratcha Yoi.
Nudi Branch
Bearded Scorpion Fish
After the first dive, lunch was served on the way to Koh Ratcha Noi. At Banana Bay, Koh Ratcha Noi, we had the second dive.
Speckled Sandperch
Spotfin Lionfish
The third was a shipwreck dive back at Koh Ratcha Noi, at Home Run.
Lionfish
DAY 3 (11 April 2009, Saturday)
Today, the mini bus was on time to pick us up to get to Chalong Bay. As usual, we had a safety briefing, and dive briefing before we arrived at Anemone Reef for our first dive.
Blue & Yellow Fusilier
Lunch was served shortly after before our next dive at Sharks Point. On the second dive at Sharks Point, I was kind of lucky to see 3 leopard sharks. They were about 2-3m in length.
Cuttlefish
Moray Eel
At night, we rented 2 motorbikes at 100Baht each to get to the BBQ Steamboat place for dinner. At 120Baht per person, its an eat-all-you-can affair.
After a filling dinner, we went to the beach for the annual Phuket Bike Week event where bikers gather annually to show off their bikes. There were some performance and bazaar stalls at the event site.
Men in white... stay cool
Miss Phuket Bike Week
DAY 4 (12 April 2009, Sunday)
Chung had manged to secure us a Phi Phi Island Tour at 1200 Baht per person. The mini-van picked us up at the hotel as 0800hrs, where we were transferred to Chalong Bay for the 3-engine speedboat to Maya Bay.
At Maya Bay on Phi Phi Ley, the place was made famous when it was used as the backdrop for the Hollywood blockbuster "The Beach" starring Leonardo Di Caprio.
The entire beach was so packed with tourists despite being the low season due to the monsoon period from April to October.
We spent about 30mins on the island before moving to Viking Cave. This natural limestone cave has been a place of activity since prehistoric times. More recently, this cave has been used primarily for the harvesting of swallows nests, a Chinese delicacy.
We then arrived at Monkey Island. Bananas were provided for feeding.
At the nearby Loh Samah Bay, the boat stopped for 30mins on the crystal clear waters for us to swim and snorkel. Many species of tropical fish call this bay home.
Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Damselfish)
By noon, we arrived at Phi Phi Don for lunch at one of the restaurant. Food served was not bad, with free flow of topping up should you need.
We had some time to roam around the island. It was a nice cosy island with narrow aisles, and small bunglows/apartments, convenient stores, and many dive/snorkel centres.
Interesting signages were seen on the island.
The main beach at the far end of Phi Phi Don.
Then we move on to Khai Nok Island for more beach activities where we snorkeled and laze around the beach.
By the time we arrive back in Patong, Songkran has already begun. The Thais and the tourists were already splashing water everywhere to celebrate the Thai New Year. We had our very own water splashing fun at the pool at our hotel.
DAY 5 (13 April 2009, Monday)
We met at 1300hrs at the hotel lobby for a group photo before moving out together for water war.
Morals were high, and as per previous years, we stationed ourselves at the same bar at Soi Bangla, so that we have constant water source.
Look who's here.... Osama?
Interesting water tank!
Minnie Mouse water gun!
Later in the afternoon, we moved to Junceylon for more water-splashing fun.
Wet policeman on duty, ready to handcuff offenders!
DAY 6 (14 April 2009, Tuesday)
It was the last day of the trip and we had to check out at 1200hrs. We left our baggages at the Bell Counter and headed out to Jungceylon for facial and shopping. Facial at Hanako cost just 300Baht for an hour session.
Before facial/makeover:
After facial/makeover:
See you at Songkran 2010!
MORE PHOTOS
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FAST FACTS
Air tickets: $199
Accomodation: $94
Diving: $270
Phi Phi Island Tour: $53
Transport: $53
Food & drinks: $83
Miscellaneous: $64
TOTAL EXPENDITURE: S$778
TRAVEL GUIDES / NEWS / MAGAZINES
Phuket Bike Week
http://www.phuketbikeweek.com/
Phuket Beaches Guide
http://www.phuket.com/island/beaches.htm
Things to do in Phuket
http://www.phuket.com/activities/index.htm
Phuket Fantasea
http://www.phuket-fantasea.com/
Weather Forecast in Phuket
http://thai.wunderground.com/global/stations/48565.html
Phuket Gazette
http://www.phuketgazette.net/currency/currency.asp
Phuket Today
http://www.phuket-photos.com/frameme.php?page=phuket-tidal-wave.htm
Safety Tips
http://www.phuket.net/visit-phuket/tips/safety.htm
Medical Facilities in Phuket
http://www.phuket.net/visit-phuket/tips/hospitals.htm
MAPS
http://www.phuket-maps.com/
http://www.phuket-info.com/maps.htm
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