Phuket Trip- Day 1

8th December 2009
Phuket Airport
Mum and GG taking pic while settling car rental documents with Pure Car Rent.
Recommended company, very prompt and friendly service, no hidden cost. Even handover is really fast, no hassles. We rented Toyota Vios at a promotion rate of 1200B perday.

First thing we reached Patong is to look for food. It is only 11+am and our check in time for our hotel is only 2pm. We found this at Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road, exactly outside Christine Massage, after Jungceylon, on the left.
Minced meat Tom Yum noodles 40B each. We order 2 bowl to try, not bad.

Then we proceed to look for Beef ball soup, saw this recommended by Sis. Just outside the 7eleven. We ordered 4 bowl of noodles and a packet of roast pork. Costs us 460B!!! Really expensive! GG likes the roast pork very much, as for the rest, not really good compare to the rest we ate later.

In the early evening, we drive up to Kata Viewing Point and take a quick snap. Proceed to Prompthep Cape but due to lost of our ways, we reached there 5 mins after the sunset. We'll go again other days.

Nightlife in Patong

GG misses the pancake crepes since the time we went to Krabi, we give a try at this stall.

40B each. Not the ones we looking for, its more like roti prata.

And JJ tried their starbuck blend and Macdonald Cheesy fries, nothing fantastic...

Phuket Trip- Day 3

10th Decemeber 2009

First destination: Methee Cashew Nut Factory.

It takes us quite awhile to reach there, had missed the way couple of times.

We are the only customer, most of the staffs speak mandarin. We are lucky to met the lady boss originally from Taiwan and she showed us around and given us a 15% discount.

Cashew Nut is grow on the fruit of Cashew Nut tree. When the nut is ripe, the fruit is too ripe. When the fruit is ripe, the nut is still not ripe yet. So can only use either one at a time. Cashew Apple Fruit Juice has Hi- Vitamin C, very refreshing when goes with soda.

Processing:

1. Break up the shell and only pick up good nuts


2. In the process the nuts break up, it can only sell at a cheaper price


3. Bake the nuts in oven for 14hours at 70-80 degree


4. Peels the skin off the nut by hands


5. Bake another 2-3 hours again before selling

Told by the lady boss, their cashew nut are very light due to their long baking time. Others from Indian bake lesser time and therefore heavier and spoilt easily due to the moisture.

The factory had actually moved to the village but the lady boss still gets one of staff to demonstrate the processing of the cashew nut.

After our shopping, she recommended us a very popular Fishball noodle stall for our lunch. Was told alot of people from Bangkok come down to eat their food. Just about 1-2 mins drive away. From cashew nut factory, 2 red light turn right, then 2 red light turn left and you will see the first stall on your left after the bridge. First stall is the more popular one and exactly opposite Royal Phuket City Hotel (Tilok Uthit 2 Rd).

Must try their deep fried fish! We order 4 bowl noodles, 2 plates of deep fried fish, 2 plates of mixed fishballs and tofu, 5 bottles drinks. Total cost 400+B.

After lunch, we proceeed back to Patong.... Passed by this duck noodle and take a try again. Extremely expensive, 60B and not nice:(

This time we make sure we are early for sunset. Reach Phromtepe Cape (Susnet View point) at around 5pm. There's some shoping around and not expensive.

Each coconut only 20B. They don't provide spoon for the coconut flesh but after you finish, u can pass it to him to open for you. They will open it up to 2 and cut 1 slice of husk from each pcs and use the husk to scoop up the coconut flesh.

Here now, the view point. Windmill is also nearby.

5.15pm

5.30pm

5.40pm

5.50pm

6pm

We have been trying to look for Mama Noi restaurant for 2 days but still cannot locate where it is. Finally gave up and just drive in to Nong Ham Karon Park and walk in to the 2nd resturant.

Milk shake 80B
Fried cashew nut chicken
Green beef curry
Fried sweet basil beef
Tom yum seafood
BBQ garlic grilled fish 200B

Prices from 100-150B, not cheap though... Food still not bad except for the sweet basil beef. Total bill: 1290B

After dinner, we still have 30mins for shopping. We came to their biggest bazaar sale in Patong and found this Pancake crepes. This time we ordered 2, coconut and lemon sugar. Mum likes the latter. 35B each

Then after we rushed to Simon Cabaret for our 9.30pm show. We got the tickets from Mr Wooddy for only 650B each, retail price 900B each. GG enjoys it alot, Dream Girls, Wonder girls etc.... Surprisingly it was almost full during weekdays.

Worth watching, they are better than the previous time i saw.



Photo taking session, GG likes this fellow, 40B each.

HE asked mum and me to join and we initally thought 40B for each photo taken. after taking he demand us to pay 120B, we have no change and he snatched away 130B from us:(

So remember when take photo with HIM.

GG also likes this, HE is nicer. He allows us to take 2 photos for 40B only:)

Phuket Trip- Day 4

11th December 2009
First Destination: The Phad Thai Shop
This is the famous Phad Thai in Phuket. Newspapers and media recommended this stall and Jamie too.
Located at Patak Road East, diagonally opposite Baan Karon Resort. Just along the main road, easy to spot. Open during the day.

Another popular dish, stew beef. Must Try!
We ordered Phad Thai, stew beef, stew chicken and a dessert.
All Phad Thai comes with raw spring onion and bean sprouts.
Each at 40B, dessert 10B

Next we go for massage just next to our hotel.
The life Spa (C&N Resort) located at Sirirat Road, they have 3 branches in Phuket. The one at Bangla Road have 50+ therapists. This is smaller, only 7 therapists. Very reasonable 200B for a Thai massage per hour. Very clean and comfortable.

After massage, we went shopping along Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road again. Weather too hot and we drop by this bistro and have some drinks. The staff is so friendly and jovial, mum so happy with her.
We order Kiwi milk shake, mango milk shake, vanilla milk shake. 60B each.

Then after we finally met the Tom Yum minced meat stall again. As this is a mobile stall, i think he operates from 12noon to 3pm.
Boxing promoting their show today.

Now we have no way to go, weather so hot. So we decided to find some indoor with aircon to relax.
Chang Pool Club has 57 pool tables, the biggest pool club in SE Asia. Located just the new road right behind Jungceylon. Happy hours 4-8pm, free pool game. we ordered 2 water melon shakes at 100B each.

It's about time to have a quick dinner before we depart, saw this small cafe.
Enjoy Thai Food/ International Food.
Price ranging 80-150B, reasonable but food not really good.
Spring roll, Tom yum with coconut milk, Fried garlic chicken, 2 shakes.
Take away mango sticky rice 60B.
Total bill cost us less than 600B

Before we moved on, we rushed to buy our pancake crepes again (Patong Beach).
This time one for each of us. 35B each.

TOTAL PANCAKES WE ATE: 15 PANCAKES

We passed by a local eating place along Nanai Road, 2 road behind Jungceylon. Phuket marketplace, lots of seafood stalls around.... should be cheap, mainly locals. And a restaurant call Nanai BBQ Buffet at only 120B per person.

4 days in Phuket, hot and dry weather. Learn some traffic rules..........no parking on one side of the road at night, no parking if road kerb is zebra color etc...
Most understanding from each others....

Snacks bought from Methee and GG favourite Lays potatoes chips.
Thailand had more flavors than in Singapore, price slight cheaper than here. Everyday she needs to eat at least 1 packet during the holidays.

JB Trip by Bus

First time going JB by bus, we give a try time time since there is direct bus near our neighbourhood.
GG showing off her buns:)

It takes bus 170 around 30mins to reach Woodland custom, alight and to screen our passport, resumed bus again and head to Johor new custom. After clearance from Johor custom, follow the crowd and walked to City Square thru the link bridge. All covered with aircon, do not even need to step out of the street at all:)

When just step in to City Square, the first shop we patronise, Mr Baoz! 包子先生.
Many varieties, steamed or deep fried.
For just $3.50 you can get any Baoz and a green tea during lunch time & tea break.
We had treid 2 sets, Viennese cheese with ham, BBQ chicken, both nice but former is better. Their green tea nice too........

We bought some back home at the end of the day.

1/2 dozen for $15.80RM
3pcs for $8.50RM
Curry chicken, Viennese cheese & ham, Onion chicken.

Vienese cheese, Curry chicken, Strawberry chocolate.

Nice packing ya

After this GG proceed to Kenny Roger for her muffin, $2.20RM per pcs. Smaller pcs n too soft. Will not go back again.

Next, we headed to Cathy Cinema for her Pop Corn $6RM for a regular one. Very sweet, we like it.

We had our lunch late since eaten many things, we proceed to the basement Stone Grill.
Chicken Tom Yum Tang Hoon $8.90RM, very big serving, sufficient for 2.

Seafood Combo For 2 $51.90RM- Fish fillets, squids, prawns
It comes with mashed patatoes and coleslaw....


After lunch, we proceed to our next destination, Jaya Jusco located in Tebrau City.
We took a cab there for $18RM, taking a bus will be $2RM each around 25 mins.

Mini donuts, 12 for $2.50

We buy one at Lavender Bakery, Bamboo charcoal with balck sasame seed bun $2.80RM.
Abit tough but after taste is nice.
Lavender Bakery is nice place for tea breaks, they served snacks and drinks as well.


Currently bamboo charcoal is very popular here Johor, Bamboo Charcoal Bread everywhere, $3.50RM for 3 slices.
I remember it was very popular then in Japan when I was there years ago.

I long for Starbuck's White chocolate frap. Unfortunately they don't sell it here, but they have Caramel cream frap.
$13.15RM for venti (L).

We pass by this Macau restaurant, decided to try their Portuguese Egg tarts.

Don't judge the look of these egg tarts!
They are fabulous!!! They serve all piping hot!
Cripsy and yet tender and juicy inside, is a MUST try...

Then, we order a Steamed ginger milk (姜汁炖奶) $4RM, it is nice too:) exactly the same as those I ate in Hong Kong. Afterwhich we decided to have dinner here later.

We then walked to Tesco which is just opposite Jusco, smaller mall but heard was cheaper range for supermarts. Bought Kueh Bhulu a small box (18pcs), quite nice, should buy a bigger box.

SEE, GG enjoying so much:)

Portuguese Egg Tarts $2.20RM each.

Dinner time, we headed back to Macau Express again. Pricey but worth trying:)
We ordered:-

Yuen Yang Spicy Spaghetti $11.90RM

Portuguese 1/2 Chicken Set $13.90RM
This is good too, roasted chicken taste different from others

Desserts:-
Steam Milk $3.50RM
Steam Ginger Milk $4RM
Mango Sago $4.50RM
Watercress dates $2.50RM

Some snacks which we bought back home.
Satay Fish $6.52RM
Tapioca chips $15RM
Muruku Ikan $6RM
Kueh Bahulu $5RM

Massage @ Batam 10-6-2009

Meet at Singapore Cruise Centre at 9am.
First time taking Wavemaster to Batam new ferry terminal, Harbour Bay. It is located at Nagoya.
After reaching, our driver, Teddy brought us for breakfast first before proceed to our massage.
This is also first time Chan and Serene came to this massage centre.
IndoThai- Komplek Penuin Centre Blok K No.2-3-4 Batam Tel: (+62-778)423268.
This is a traditional Indonesian cum Thai massage centre, surprisely very clean big and spacious.
As all of us are long due for foot and body massage, we decided take up a custom package for 5 hrs.

Body Scrub 1.5hrs
Foot refelxology 1hr
Body massage 2hrs
Ear waxing 0.5hrs

Total S$75 + S$7 Aroma therapy oil

This is 1/3 of the price if we do it in Singapore.

I love the foot reflexology, it is really good.
Next time we will try the massage in Hotel 89, heard was better, by Javanese. Need to book 3 days in advance. 3 hrs body massage for S$45.

After massage, we went to Golden Prawn 993 for seafood. Not nice and ex, will not go back again.