Phi Phi Island - Day 6

30/12/2015

We were ready by 6:30 AM. Had continental breakfast and hopped on Van to go to Phi Phi Island. Phi Phi lies in the Andaman Sea, just north of Tonsai, and south of Phuket. It’s fairly central location and beautiful make it a very popular spot for vacationers and partiers. All tourists must arrive by Ferry. The trip from Phuket takes around 90 minutes. This has essentially turned the island into a rush of day trippers who overpopulate the island. Many instances I thought I was in India.

Our tour was very nicely organized from start to end – thanks Srini garu. As part of the tour, tour organisers will pick up and drop off at hotel. They arrived on time for pickup. During pick up the driver will put a sticker which you should retain well as based on this you get all other facilities in the trip. Ferry leaves around 8.30 am. You can sit inside in air conditioned room or outside in the sun. There are free soft drinks and some snaks for all in the Ferry. 

 
We booked an air conditioned room ie extra care will be taken by the staff. We were given croissants and tea for breakfast.  Even though we booked a special room, Mns was outside all the time enjoying the water, view and weather. He was completely wet and enjoying the water that is spilling from ferry. He was behaving as a kid playing in water. Felt happy to see him like that.

5 start veggie lunch was organised at Phi Phi hotel as part of the package. After lunch,  take the snorkeling equipments and again the boat will take to deep water for snorkeling. Those who cannot swim can stay in the island.

Rathna and myself dropped out. We both walked alongside the beach shops and I had henna tattoo. We returned back to ferry and exactly same time Srini, Mns, Vedhu and Bharath came from snorkeling. Back in Ferry and inside A/C room. Staff served us with coconut water and fresh fruit. We went around the ferry again watching other people lying around.  Return journey is in the same path. Ferry will pass by the James bond island, Maya Beach and Viking caves. Not stopping there but you can take some pictures from the Ferry. After arrival, van took us to the hotel.

 

 

 

--Sunset from hotel balcony--

Phuket - Day 5

29/12/2015

Took shower and went for continental breakfast at resort.

-- Centara Grand Resort (where we stayed in Phuket) view from outside balcony --

Played pools in resort with Rathna while Mns and vedhu played table tennis.

In the afternoon we went to Anantara grand resort. Free pickup and drop off from resort. Saw few double and triple bedroom resorts in Anantara.

Mns and Srini garu signed for 30 years of holiday accommodation package. We came back to resort and went to Indian place for dinner. Vedhu, Mns and I went out for shopping and bought sea pearls as gifts for family members.

-- Cheers with juice glasses after signing 30 yrs of holiday accommodation with Anantara --

From Bangkok to Phuket - Day 4

Day 4 - 28/12/2015

-- Swimming pool view from apartment --

Mns and Vedhu went to gym and pool.

-- MNS on pool deck after swim --

After Mns came from gym, he went to electronic market with Srini garu.  Rathna and I took kids to Breakfast in Ibis. 

-- Biscuit house on Breakfast table @ Ibis -- 

We returned to apartment and started packing for Pukhet. Mns bought few electronic gadgets for me & Vedhu. Hired taxis and left to airport.  Rathna and I did some shopping at airport.

-- At Bangkok airport --

I bought crystal bracelets for all my female family members. From airport to Pukhet Centara grant Resort took 3 hrs due to traffic. Went out for dinner but we found only few places for veg dinner. Vedhu went out and explored places in resort. We went to bed early as we were planning for a big day tomorrow.

Bangkok - Day 3

Day 3 - 27/12/2015

1. Woke up early morning and went to Ibis for Breakfast. From there took an express boat and went to Grand Palace. A strict dress code applies. The Grand Palace with The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is Thailand's most sacred site. Visitors must be properly dressed before being allowed entry to the temple. Men must wear long pants and shirts with sleeves no tank tops. Women must be similarly modestly dressed. No see-through clothes, bare shoulders, etc.

 If anyone show up at the front gate improperly dressed, there is a booth near the entrance that can provide clothes to cover you up properly (a deposit is required). Vedanth and Barath came in shots and they were sent to change cloths J

Finally entering the Grand Palace, I was totally captivated by the beauty of the place. I quickly saw why many proclaim this to be the most beautiful place in Thailand. The structures and monuments were all shiny and gold, and very majestic looking. We booked for a guided tour. As per the guide, this palace was built in 1782 and the tall building on the right is the royal monastery of the emerald Buddha.

 

It houses a Buddha image carved from jade actually, which was first discovered in the year 1434. A ceremony officiated by the king is held three times a year to let the emerald Buddha wear different outfits according to the season, summer, rainy season or winter.

Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed to take pictures from inside. We took pictures from outside. We walked to the main mansion and took few pics of the palace and some with guard.

2. -- Panoramic view of Buddha at Wat Pho temple  --

From there we went to Wat Pho by walk. It took us 20 min to walk from Grand Palace. Wat Pho (Golden) is temple of Reclining Buddha. This is one of the oldest and famous. As per guide in Palace, The statue of the reclining Buddha represents Buddha’s serene and composed posture before leaving this world. We went around the temple. It was very hot and free water bottles were provided inside the temple. Gold Buddha statue is almost 150 feet long. Felt very calm after coming out of the temple.

3. From there we took train and sky train to go to markets. Kids were very tired but after entering into the market everyone got into shopping spree. Vedhu bought sandals, I bought some over coats, Srini and Rathna bought some cloths too. We had coconut ice cream in the market. Taste of it is new and awesome – I liked it. We took return train, speed boat and went back to apartments as kids want to spend some time in swimming pool.

4. We all went to pool and played there. It was very good and kids forgot about how much they walked in the morning. Took ferry and went to Asiatique for dinner again. Today we went to a restaurant and ordered thai food. Enjoyed our dinner and came out to have massage.  Vedhu and Mns went for shopping. I bought few anklets and sat in front of river while Rathna went with kids as they want to play on hoverboard. We all met at 9:50 PM and hopped on to ferry to go home.

Bangkok - Day 2

26/12/2015

-- Panoramic View of Bangkok (one side) from water mark --

Got up and stepped outside balcony to see the view. Sunrise and view from apartment is spectacular. Mns & Srini garu went to markets and got Jack fruit and guava. We got ready by that time and we all went to Ibis for continental breakfast - went out and saw the beach front and back side of Ibis, took few photos.

 

 

--  View from our apartment --

Hired taxis to Damneon Saduak floating markets. On our way to floating markets we had fresh coconut water from street vendor. After waiting for half an hour, we finally hopped on to small boat to go on floating markets.

We went is around 8kms on boat. There are shops for souvenirs, food and cloths. Floating stalls are full of tropical fruits and authentic thai food. Our first break was at Coconut sugar making place. Coconut sugar is made from coconut flower extract and it will be boiled until it get solid. We tasted coconut sugar and bought peanut toffies and banana chips.

From there we went to Elephant rides. We all took elephant ride. Rathna and Barath went together, Mns and I went on other and Vedhu got a special one for himself. It is a different experience altogether as elephant went inside a creek and climbed hill.  I felt really bad for hopping on elephant. I will never again sit on any animal.

There are crocodiles, monkeys and baby elephants around the place. There is a Buddha temple in the middle of the water. We went there and found people feeding fishes and fishes come in 000's at a time. Whole ride took 3 hrs and it is completely different experience.

On our way to Bangkok, stopped again for coconut water and left in two taxis again. Driver took us to gems place for shopping. Driver told us that Sri Mahamariamman is a hindhu temple next to it. We went there for 5 min and saw beautiful lotus flowers everywhere. Shrines in the temple include Devi, Ganesha and Karthikeya. Everything is in Tai language which we did not understand.

Went home, took shower and went to Asiatique The River front night shopping markets. Water Mark apartments has a separate watermark ferry (free) which can accommodate more than 100 ppl.

Went to Indian restaurant for dinner and started to explore the place. Asiatique is a huge riverside mall combining shopping, dining, sightseeing, activities and events.. everything under one roof. There is plenty of authentic Thai street food to eat especially Sea food, drink, listen to acoustic music, shop, walk around, take hoverboard/kart/ferris wheel ride.

I found lovelocks at the clock tower area little fascinating. There are millions of love locks with peoples name on them.

We bought some gifts and went for Thai massage. I had full body massage for just 300 bath and it was too good. Rathna and Barath had foot massage.  At the massage parlor, I found foot massage with live fishes. It seems they eat dead skin. There are different elephant status all over the place with amazing colors and shapes. Back to apartment had good night sleep.

Thailand Trip - Day 1

Day 1: 25/12/2015

Adelaide to Melbourne.

Melbourne to Kulalampur & Kulalampur to Bangkock