Backpacking to Phuket

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Phuket...Island of smiles. Sound so beautiful, isn't it? Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, it's about the size of Singapore (minus HDB estates). One hour by flight from Bangkok or Singapore, great for short gateway or long and relaxing vacation. Nice beaches, beautiful view, optional of island hopping tours and great people will accomodate all tourist need in vacation.
There are hundred of hotels around th island, you may choose from super budget (about $10) to super expensive accomodation (more then $1000 a night). Other option is just make a good friends wherever you are, so you may have free home stay or even lucky like me...stay for free in stars hotel, Clubmed.
I took budget airline from singapore, Jetstar was my choice. Its about $170 per person for return trip, not bad. But just make sure that you can wake up a bit early to catch the flight...8:20 AM, what a deal to start your vacation. And my return flight was at 10:05PM, yeah like you all guess...I got in Singapore after midnight. 15th of April 2010 and return 18th of April 2010, like you all see...very short vaction. That's why i took early morning departure from singapore and the lates fligth back home.
More story and information....just look at the pictures.
Enjoy
Momon

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Photos

Sunset at Kata Beach, in front of Clubmed
The sunset at Kata beach. Betwen 5:30 Pm to 6:30 Pm. Tips: try go to club med hotel side, since at other side busy with jetski and surfer around, so you can get clear view of sunset.

Late afternoon at Kata Beach, 15 April 2010
Kata Beach, very famous tourist with familly or couple. There was surf break most of the times and clean water plus beautifull sunset too.

end of my first day, 15th April 2010
There you go...Sunset of Kata Beach. Tourist were enjoying the view while all the beach boys clean up the beach chairs and all water sports equipment. Another hot day with good bussiness ended.

Club med pool side at 2AM
This hotel very happening. so only time i can get no one at the pool is...2 AM. Food is good and the staff was amazing.

Clubmed at 2AM....still
i took this picture with long exposure. If you see carefully there is hill behind the building in the centre. That building is the main theatre and on the left is one of the restaurant.
Good night people

The best way to get around
Cheap but very evicient, 150-200 Bath/day. You can also rent bigger bike for about 400-600 Bath/day. But make sure that you have valid motorbike liscene or the policemen will stop you. I spent about 90 Bath for petrol to travel entire island.

Chalong Big Budha
I start my second day to visit Big Budha, its about 30 minutes from Kata Beach where I stay. you can use phuket tour to get easier to go around including this place. But, explore by yourself...that's more fun. Dont worry getting lost to get here. Get your local map at your hands, follow a big red color sign "BIG BUDHA" you wouldn't misss it. Just take it easy with the road when you climb up hill. Slow and easy guys...your trips is just start, dont finish it in hospital...hahaha

360 degrees view from big budha
well, do you want to see entire island from sky? Expensive if you want to rent pirvate plane. But you can see almost all island even till part of Phiphi island can see from this place. Second best spot for sunset in Phuket.

small budha in big budha site
The Big Budha having a big renovation now, and no body know when it will complete of projects. That's local people said. But this budha as the small budha stand just beside him with almos 12 metres high, will explain all question. Look so expensive project.

Afternoon at Patong Beach
About 45 minutes from Big Budha (actually I was a bit lost). You can find many kind of watersport available here, good atraction for tourist all around the world and also local people.

jetski parade
Thanks God, human invated truck. Watersport company use truck to tug all jetski back to thir shop. Its about 150 bath to rent jetski for 30 minuts, well...actually you can get cheaper if you can bargain them.

Playing with sand
Don't be surprise if you see many of expensive yacht around the beaches of Phuket. You can also rent it as private cruise.

Beach Boys going home
All day under the heat of sun, now its time to go home. I dissagree people say that they are only relaxing at beach, they start 8 AM and finish after the sun goes off.

Sunset at Patong beach, 16th April 2010
That's end of my second day. The sun went down to horizon quitely. At the same time, the junk boat on the picture knock the bell couple times.