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Published: September 10th 2007
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It was a 3 days 2 nights company annual trip in Phuket 7-9 Sep 2007.
Staying in Royal Paradise Hotel in the heart of the Phuket where lots of massage centers situated, whether it is massage by men or by women or god knows what gender are they, they have it all. Not sure how many stars the hotel was awarded but overall most of their hotels & resorts here are cheap, in comparison with Malaysia. Even their buffet dinner in this hotel costs only 199TB, definitely alot more cheaper than Malaysia that would costs about 600TB (same hotel standard). But one thing I think you can only find it here in this Phuket hotel is that each room provide the guests with two packs of condoms - free of charge. Encouraging and safety features in consideration as well, how thoughtful.
Oh, coming back to the massage centers, there are like spreading over all over the Phuket town and highly competitive with as cheap as 2000TB for an hour Thai Massage which I took it and hate it (sorry, not my type). Others like 2000TB for foot massage and 3000TB for oil massage. They usually worked til very late
nights (2-3am) and especially very very busy night on Friday (not Saturday). All the road side stores and shops opened til very late night 1-2am (or 3am? Not sure as I went back to hotel at 1am) on friday. Have no idea why they don't open til late night on Saturday.
When mornings come, the whole town looks like a dead town as the streets no longer crowded with lady boys (that's the name the locals called) , mixed genders and "busy" night life.
...and our planned activities are about to starts now...
Departure to Coral Island - initially everyone were very skeptical of going there as afraid will get too bored and most would opt for stay behind and go for shopping instead but I always want to visit one of their islands and this is my chance of doing it, without any hassle arrangement and most of all cost-free for me. Well, why not then?
We took a speed boat and arrived there in a 15min ride. The Coral Island is so-so. We had tele-matches and games for 4 different groups. As usual, everyone beat their ass to win the games (without prizes) - how
silly but for the sake of group spirit and fun enjoyment! After all that, everyone goes their separate ways - snorkeling, diving, swimming, fish watching, climb coconut trees, shopping, photographing but I went for the one and only activity I fall in love the moment I laid eyes on - Parasail! The experiences was just amazing, amazing & amazing! Flying without wings but parachute and a speed boat! Truly worth the money 600TB for one round trip. Banana Boat costs 600TB per pax but I wasn't interested.
After some sun burn and a not very super yummy lunch on the Coral Island itself, we are back to the mainland and went for some shoppings in Gem Gallery and some others factories. Now, the things here are alot more expensive than Malaysia instead. Boring.
Gala Dinner - now, this is the main event of the whole trip. The Phuket Thai Village venue is very nice and decent (as we seen some very unhealthy and "unappetizing" streets yesterday night). The dinner was fantastic. The lucky draw was over-whelming considering it is for the total of 250 attendees. Grand Prize - LCD TV. Second Prize - A trip to Hong Kong.
Not sure about the rest as me and my friends were too busy taking photograph and watching fireworks.
After all the excitements, the dinner ended but our shopping night just started. Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, it was a Saturday and all the stalls & shops are closed. All the streets are very surprisingly quiet except that very "unappetizing" street. I feel very "dirty" even standing in the middle of that street. Saw some "well grown artificial watermelons with black dot" hanging around the door way of the bar/pubs and trying to get some customers. Others were dancing on top of the bar tables with hot and close to naked attire (Gender? Undefined). Plenty of flabby old white guys (young or old) sniffing out the really young Thai girl (or boy?) down the road. We even saw two white guys was pulling and eventually carry up a young Thai girl to bring her home as their "night supper". Really an eye opener for me and my friends. Not planning to drop by ever ever again in this lifetime (hopefully my next lifetime can remember it). I am not sure was there a fresh air I smelled on that street or
something else? Everything just very out of control here. Was the street prostitutes made legal in Thailand? Why? Somehow, we kind of wonder we should respect that hard-headed store girl working their ass bargained with me on an imitated LV sandals (we had it bargained from 450TB to 210TB). The whole place's major "professions" were in the resorts/hotels, massage industry, store/shops and prostitutions.
It was just how insecure I feel? Undefined or should I say clearly defined?
Final day arrived - my whole body aching because of the Thai massage I had yesterday night (so regretted). Shoppings continue...after all, of course they encourage us to contribute to their tourism industry. The most interesting about the Phuket City Tour was the temples we visited with great architectures. But by then, me and my friends already half-dead...way too tired physically and mentally (talking about vacationing, not relaxing).
It was very memorable trip for me as it is after this trip, I officially signed off from this company and moved on to another new organisation. Farewell Fonterra! But not farewell to my dear friends - please keep in touch! (Li Sa, call me now la! :D )
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