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Loads of Fun in Phuket! Read the Adventures of Ene Abah During Her Trip to Thailand
{Click here to read the earlier part of Ene’s travel adventures.}
We landed in Phuket and our driver greeted us warmly. We decided to try staying in a hostel, more my suggestion, my travel buddy wasn’t keen. From questions we asked the driver, we found out that although Patong beach is in Phuket. It was not really in Central Phuket, so we already knew that we would not stay long in the hostel. We checked out a few hotels before setting wandering around Phuket city.
We spent one night at the hostel.
We took a trip to the famous Patong beach, so many activities were going on around there – that was where we wanted to be! We went to one of the hotels we checked online; after looking, we were convinced, so we made payments for the rest of our stay in Phuket. We were picked up with our belongings from the hostel the next morning.
Depending on where you might like to stay, this worked for us. Bangla road is where everything happens. The road that doesn’t sleep! We didn’t want to be right in the middle of the noise so we stayed at Larn Park Resortel which was a fifteen-minute walk to Patong beach or Bangla road. There was also a pool to return to which was great! We did a lot of things in Phuket so there will be more photos than writing.
We moved to Patong 🙂
Open air food market
This food market was two minutes away from our hotel, easily accessible and it had variety. It was there all day till about 10 or 11pm.
Next day, heading to Phiphi, Maya, Bamboo and Khai Islands
Phiphi Island in its morning glory according to Bambam (tour guide)
Approaching Phiphi Island where THE BEACH was acted by Leonardo DiCaprio
Pieces of bread got all the fish together
Snorkeling time
Snorkeling over, time to go…
On each island, we had enough time to explore. We were nearly left behind once because we went far in!
Next day, off to Panak, Hong and James bond Islands
We were fortunate to have Buoi row us around one of the Islands
He carved this out of a leaf then took this lovely photo 🙂
James Bond Island – The man with the golden gun was acted here.
Meanwhile, back in Patong…
BANGLA ROAD, the road/street where everything happens, the street that doesn’t sleep!
Somewhere on Bangla road, there was a passionate Thai Elvis Presley
Then we had some m-a-d fun
Tiger bar on Bangla road
Next day – Hilary parasailing
She landed in water
Me parasailing
Landing…
We went for this super amazing show where people and animals performed. It was very well coordinated and we enjoyed every moment of it. Then, it was followed by a 5-course meal. Yumm!
Going in – we were not allowed to take photos beyond this point. We handed our cameras and phones over to be picked up when leaving. A great way to end the day.
Next day – we went on a buffalo ride
Then an elephant ride.
We proceeded to check this rehabilitation project for monkeys. It was interesting to see the work they were doing.
Unfortunately, the rains had not started so there was not much water to see
On our way out, he painted my face…I tried to dodge but he succeeded
Songkran face paint
On this day, it was the Songkran festival which signified the New Year/Water festival. The whole day was all about water. From the previous day, water guns were being sold and people prepared with water proof pouches for phones and cameras, but we didn’t anticipate that the day would be the way it was.
From the minute dawn broke, it was a water festival indeed! Nobody needed permission, water was poured on any and everybody. Some had face paint smeared over themselves and others. Some people had barrels of water and stood by the road waiting. There were hoses in the barrels that refilled as the water went down. Everybody was involved – old, young, tourist, local. It was fun!
I started the day by going to church – it was a Sunday. I was keen to see what a Thai service would be like, so I checked for a church close by and I was careful to check for one that had non-Thai speakers in mind. My travel buddy slept in.
It was different, but nice. As I so obviously stood out, someone came to sit beside me and did the translation. There were two of us who were foreigners. At the end, the older ones sat in a row outside and had water beside them. We filed out to greet them and they blessed people by dipping their hands in water and sprinkling on them or some poured a little. I asked what the significance was and I was told that it was the culture and as the day started a New Year, water was used to call blessings for the year – something like that. They served lunch. As we ate, I had a good conversation with a few people; then, off I went.
As I walked on the streets, water was thrown at me, poured over me. I had no water gun so I just walked through and enjoyed the whole thing.
Bangla road was a mad house
Face paint, no permission needed
Bangla road
Old, young, local, tourist, everyone was involved. There were hoses everywhere for refills, the price of water guns was crazy that day! There was a mall off Bangla road that had an organised water battle. Guys took turns to hold the water hoses – the kind that are used by fire service men. It was a swim on the streets day.
She went for the water battle, I had given up and stayed indoors.
The day after, we walked out half expecting water to be thrown at us, but sanity had returned. It was like nothing happened the previous day!
These were everywhere on the streets
Our last lunch in Phuket
And last evening at Patong beach
We went for a ping pong show…please check for yourself what that is. It is better seen than written about! Photos were not allowed so…
There was no slowing down through our stay in Phuket: the shows, the Islands, Bangla road, everything! It was such good fun, there is so much to do and I would recommend it happily!
On the next trip to Thailand, we hope to go to Chiang Mai… Who talked about travel club again?! Get in touch so we can get it started!!!
