There's nothing really great about Phuket - its just a tourist island. Maybe I had too many high hopes prior to coming here. Or maybe its because i'm not staying at the bustling Patong beach, but then again who ever would like to stay there? Karon beach, where I'm staying, is more quiet and so much more suitable for someone like me who's looking for some R&R.
I'm staying at the Sugar Palm Resort, which is tucked away behind Malai Resort which is undergoing some reno right now. Looks like a war zone when you first enter the service road leading to both resorts. But do not judge a hotel by its service road. The hotel has a welcoming entrance, albeit with no airconditioning, friendly staff, and the best part of course has to be my room! We chose a Deluxe Pool View room and they gave us one on their highest fourth floor.
The room is all decked out in white, teal and dark wood panels which lends it a very clean and pleasant atmostphere. It even has a day bed where I can do my reading, blogging and what not! This is going to be my favourite area of the room!
I love that the bathroom has a separate shower and bathtub - I never did get the whole showering in a bathtub idea.
So far, I've already soaked in the bathtub twice with my handy blend of The Body Shop's Spa Wisdom™ Plunge & Purify, Divine Calm Serenity Milk Bath Powder Bath Soak and Lush's Up the wooden Hill Emotibomb.
We're thinking of going fishing out in the sea one of these days and we saw this Movenpick place, complete with Survivor fire lamps that we'll probably try one of these days too! A trip to Patong might be cool though the transport here is sooo expensive! A one way trip to Patong (which is just 10-15mins away) will set us back 450B (about SGD 19)! One way! So to go there and back will cost us almost SGD 40. Crazy right! I might just stay in the hotel all day, reading, surfing the net, soaking in the tub, watching DVDS or Discovery Channel. :D Now that's some R&R for you!
I would love to put up some photos but Blogger doesn't seem to be allowing uploading of photos! Grrrrrr! Will keep trying though!
xx
Showing posts with label trips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trips. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
Never been so glad to be back!
Thus far ends my three-city, 12-day adventure in Indonesia. And I've never been so glad at touchdown. We were high-fiving in the plane as soon as the plane's wheels touched the tarmac at Changi Airport.
The trip wasn't so bad, if you don't count the two 20-hour bus-ferry-bus rides we took from Solo to Bali and the return ride from Bali to Yogja (in my previous entry, I said 15-hours. I was so wrong.), the bad state of toilets in the country, mozzies, flu (we all ended up getting sick) and for me, perpetual constipation.
Today I got home and one of the first things I did was.....
poo.
I know, I know, TMI right? But I just have to express my relief at finally doing the big deed and getting rid of the bloated feeling in my tummy which was just horrible. I almost kissed my toilet bowl. No wait, maybe I should call it my throne from now on. Seems more respectful.
There are a few more lessons learnt on this trip.
One: Always, always book ahead.
We only booked a hotel (ok, not hotel more like a homestay) in Solo, thinking that we'd find rooms in Bali and Yogja when we got there. We ended up having to trek from place to place to get rooms and having to settle for no aircon at Hotel Cianjur in Denpasar because there simply was no more alternative and we were all basically dying from that horrid 20-hour bus/ferry/bus journey.
And then over at Yogja, we got out of the cab at Ministry of Coffee (link) only to find that the guesthouse was full. We had to check in to another guesthouse which only had one room available for the 5 of us. It was big, and there was hot water which was a plus. But. It looked like a hospital ward. How apt, considering as all of us were sick. But the real clincher was that our guesthouse was just opposite Ministry of Coffee. There. In our face. Like how a person dangles a KFC original chicken thigh in front of you when you're desperately famished, takes a bite and does not share, or like when you're so thirsty and a man walks by chugging on his water bottle. Yup, that kinda feeling.
Two: Contrary to popular belief, Singaporeans are not the most kiasu people on earth.
For example, at least a mini path still opens for alighting passengers from buses and trains here. In Indonesia? Not. A. Chance. The doors of the train open and its like a horror movie. Sounds close to shouting and screaming are heard while hands wave and claw to get a better hold on the the two handles on either side of the door. A mini path for alighting passengers? More like a barricade. Its like a stalemate. If people can't alight, then there will be no space for people to get on board. Common sense right? But no, these Indonesians just have to get on first. So I had to grit my teeth and really bang my way through. Even hit some kids in the process as their parents were pushing them to get on.
Another case in point. Toilet queues. In Indonesia, queues are invisible to certain groups of people - mothers with children, makciks wearing tudongs, make that gemuk ones, and the plain stupid ones. They ignore the queue, and just make their way into whichever cubicle becomes empty. However, it seems like no one in the queue minds. I'm just thinking if that were to happen here in Singapore, we'd probably raise hell in the toilet.
So, the next time someone criticises Singaporeans for being kiasu, ask them to go check the scene out in Indonesia.
Three: Be prepared with medicines. Diarrhoea, flu, cough, fever, and headache medicines. And not forgetting the one and only Tiger Balm!
Do not overlook this as medicines will provide you with the relief you need from all of the above symptoms. Tiger Balm works wonders on ALL insect bites, so much so that I've learnt to always carry one bottle with me everywhere I go. In Indonesia, very few places have 24-hr stores so to have medicine on hand is very useful.
Photos from this trip will be up soon! After I get back from Ho Chi Minh. I leave tmr! *crosses my fingers* Hope I get well by then!!
The trip wasn't so bad, if you don't count the two 20-hour bus-ferry-bus rides we took from Solo to Bali and the return ride from Bali to Yogja (in my previous entry, I said 15-hours. I was so wrong.), the bad state of toilets in the country, mozzies, flu (we all ended up getting sick) and for me, perpetual constipation.
Today I got home and one of the first things I did was.....
poo.
I know, I know, TMI right? But I just have to express my relief at finally doing the big deed and getting rid of the bloated feeling in my tummy which was just horrible. I almost kissed my toilet bowl. No wait, maybe I should call it my throne from now on. Seems more respectful.
There are a few more lessons learnt on this trip.
One: Always, always book ahead.
We only booked a hotel (ok, not hotel more like a homestay) in Solo, thinking that we'd find rooms in Bali and Yogja when we got there. We ended up having to trek from place to place to get rooms and having to settle for no aircon at Hotel Cianjur in Denpasar because there simply was no more alternative and we were all basically dying from that horrid 20-hour bus/ferry/bus journey.
And then over at Yogja, we got out of the cab at Ministry of Coffee (link) only to find that the guesthouse was full. We had to check in to another guesthouse which only had one room available for the 5 of us. It was big, and there was hot water which was a plus. But. It looked like a hospital ward. How apt, considering as all of us were sick. But the real clincher was that our guesthouse was just opposite Ministry of Coffee. There. In our face. Like how a person dangles a KFC original chicken thigh in front of you when you're desperately famished, takes a bite and does not share, or like when you're so thirsty and a man walks by chugging on his water bottle. Yup, that kinda feeling.
Two: Contrary to popular belief, Singaporeans are not the most kiasu people on earth.
For example, at least a mini path still opens for alighting passengers from buses and trains here. In Indonesia? Not. A. Chance. The doors of the train open and its like a horror movie. Sounds close to shouting and screaming are heard while hands wave and claw to get a better hold on the the two handles on either side of the door. A mini path for alighting passengers? More like a barricade. Its like a stalemate. If people can't alight, then there will be no space for people to get on board. Common sense right? But no, these Indonesians just have to get on first. So I had to grit my teeth and really bang my way through. Even hit some kids in the process as their parents were pushing them to get on.
Another case in point. Toilet queues. In Indonesia, queues are invisible to certain groups of people - mothers with children, makciks wearing tudongs, make that gemuk ones, and the plain stupid ones. They ignore the queue, and just make their way into whichever cubicle becomes empty. However, it seems like no one in the queue minds. I'm just thinking if that were to happen here in Singapore, we'd probably raise hell in the toilet.
So, the next time someone criticises Singaporeans for being kiasu, ask them to go check the scene out in Indonesia.
Three: Be prepared with medicines. Diarrhoea, flu, cough, fever, and headache medicines. And not forgetting the one and only Tiger Balm!
Do not overlook this as medicines will provide you with the relief you need from all of the above symptoms. Tiger Balm works wonders on ALL insect bites, so much so that I've learnt to always carry one bottle with me everywhere I go. In Indonesia, very few places have 24-hr stores so to have medicine on hand is very useful.
Photos from this trip will be up soon! After I get back from Ho Chi Minh. I leave tmr! *crosses my fingers* Hope I get well by then!!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Off Off and Away!
Tomorrow I head to Jogjakarta with my multi-racial contingent. Lol. We have three Chinese (Meiyin, me and Soap), 1 Malay (Amran) and 1 Indian (Arul). Maybe we should bring the Singapore flag. 5 stars arising. Just nice. HAHAHAHA. :D ok enough with the patriotism already.
We'll be aiming to travel around Indonesia, from Solo to Bali and then to Jogjakarta, where we'll be studying from Pak Pardi and Pak Joto in Solo, watching performances at the Bali Arts Festival and then in Jogja, more studying with Pak Sunardi and Pak Subowo. Amran wants to chillax so thats why Bali was included. Not that I'm complaining you know, seeing as I've not been to Bali at all.
Yes!
But I heard there's a 15-hour train-bus-ferry-bus ride from Solo to Bali.
....
....
....
Well, I certainly can do without that. We'll see!
Adventure awaits!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Happy New Year!!!
I know, I know. I'm late by eight days. But all the same, the new year is still new! So what are your new year resolutions for the year of 2009?
Mine are:
- to spend more time with my friends and cultivate our friendships
- to spend more time with my family
- i want to lose weight!!!!
- take up more music courses. I need to upgrade and learn other types of instruments!
- to raise more awareness for my babies, Suite Stuff and The Headbangers Brigade
- to have MORE TIME for SELF. yep. I need to continuously rethink my priorities and the direction my life is going.
Actually there are more, but these are the main resolutions that I really want to focus on this year.
Anyways, I just returned from Bangkok last night. And because of two really damn cool necklaces that came in the form of a hand grenade lighter and a pistol lighter, I was detained at customs for 45 mins. The policemen who were to interrogate me, took 15 mins to come to the immigrations counter. I mean, how huge is the airport!!! And then when the policeman came, he seemed flustered, didn't know what to do, stuttered all the time so much so that I couldn't make out what he was asking me and he dropped his walkie-talkie. Okay, so maybe I looked damn pissed. But you would too! They kept asking me how much the necklaces cost. I'm like, so are you going to reimburse me. They said no. Then ask for what!
The best thing? They kept asking me how to spell chatuchak market like 6 times. Three different people asked me the same freaking question. Don't they talk to each other?!?! In a bid to appease me, one woman started asking me how the situation was in Bangkok. I don't want to small-talk with you! I want to eat my dinner. I don't want to answer questions about possible protests, discuss with you whether its safe to go to Bangkok. I don't want to laugh and giggle with you about how good chatuchak market is for shopping.
OMGGGGG....so stupid. Just take the necklaces and let me leave! Waste of time, manpower and energy. Luckily I had Popeyes to calm me down. Mmmmm....yummy Popeyes. The biscuit tasted especially nice that meal.
Photos and videos up soon!
Mine are:
- to spend more time with my friends and cultivate our friendships
- to spend more time with my family
- i want to lose weight!!!!
- take up more music courses. I need to upgrade and learn other types of instruments!
- to raise more awareness for my babies, Suite Stuff and The Headbangers Brigade
- to have MORE TIME for SELF. yep. I need to continuously rethink my priorities and the direction my life is going.
Actually there are more, but these are the main resolutions that I really want to focus on this year.
Anyways, I just returned from Bangkok last night. And because of two really damn cool necklaces that came in the form of a hand grenade lighter and a pistol lighter, I was detained at customs for 45 mins. The policemen who were to interrogate me, took 15 mins to come to the immigrations counter. I mean, how huge is the airport!!! And then when the policeman came, he seemed flustered, didn't know what to do, stuttered all the time so much so that I couldn't make out what he was asking me and he dropped his walkie-talkie. Okay, so maybe I looked damn pissed. But you would too! They kept asking me how much the necklaces cost. I'm like, so are you going to reimburse me. They said no. Then ask for what!
The best thing? They kept asking me how to spell chatuchak market like 6 times. Three different people asked me the same freaking question. Don't they talk to each other?!?! In a bid to appease me, one woman started asking me how the situation was in Bangkok. I don't want to small-talk with you! I want to eat my dinner. I don't want to answer questions about possible protests, discuss with you whether its safe to go to Bangkok. I don't want to laugh and giggle with you about how good chatuchak market is for shopping.
OMGGGGG....so stupid. Just take the necklaces and let me leave! Waste of time, manpower and energy. Luckily I had Popeyes to calm me down. Mmmmm....yummy Popeyes. The biscuit tasted especially nice that meal.
Photos and videos up soon!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Back from Solo and Jogja
I'm back after spending 8 days in Indonesia. It was really fun and luckily my body waited till I got back to fall sick. So i'm now stuck at home. Will post more photos soon. I'm going to sleep now...
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