Phuket and Phi Phi Island, 6 days 5 nights - Part 3

Day 3 - 22st Apr 06

For today's day trip, we had to get up even earlier (this vacation is more tiring than going to work) ! We have to get ready and have breakfast before our ride pick us up. Early in the morning, Patong is still very much asleep, there isn't a lot of restaurant opened at this hour. So we just tapau-ed some breakfast from their local convenient store (like 7-Eleven). I had pork burger...yummy yummy, the rest had bread, instant noodle and stuff like that. After a quick breakfast, and off we go to Phang Nga Province.

Phang Nga is about 1 1/2 hours ride from Phuket. First activity of the day was white water rafting, it's a first time for all of us, we were so excited. Each raft is to have 4 person, followed by 2 captains. The lead captain gave us a short briefing as to what we need to do when he's giving out instructions. That guy is really funny with his accent and he referred the captains as 'katipan'.....and he's says things like 'if kapitan tell you for-what (forward)! you for-what (forward)!'...hahahaha...mind you, I'm not being mean and laughing at this language, but he's a really funny guy and made the trip very lively and had us in stitches the whole time. So, we started calling all the captains - kapitan, and when he said for-what......we for-what !

Soon, we are all in our rafts, in the Song Prak River, waiting for the dam water flow to reach us. Once the dam water reaches us, off we go rafting ! There were so many bright colour rafts blobbing on the river ! After rafting for some time, we would sometimes stop to rest and also to wait for the dam water to catch up to us. When we rest, some will get down from the raft and swim around in the river. If you don't get down from the raft, the kapitans will help you along by sneaking up behind you and pulling you into the water !

After what seems like a few minutes, our rafting time was up. We chose the shorter rafting route while others who signed up for the longer route will continue rafting. Our group was one of the few groups who chose the shorter route, the kapitan offerred us to continue by paying additional money. We were all hype up and was not ready to stop yet! And the early route was quite mild, we were looking forward to more excitement, so we chose to continue with the longer route. For-what !

At the end of the rafting trip, our hands were sooooo tired. We went back to the camp like building to have lunch.....yummy yummy, tomyam, tom ka kai, fried chicken, mixed vege, all over again, but who's complaining, it's all yummy!

Next is the elephant jungle trekking. Upon arriving at the place, we were complaining that it stinks, well, what to expect? Elephants don't wear Chanel No.5. Initially, there's suppose to be 3 elephants for the 6 of us, but one of the elephants fell sick and there's only 2 left. So, the 3 of us gals have to squeeze into the chair of 1 elephant. And the guys....one of the got to sit on the elephant's neck and the other 2 sat on the chair. hehe. Mind you, sitting on an elephant that's moving isn't very comfortable, that chair rock back and forth and left and right, we have to hold tight to the chair to avoid from falling down......and the elephant's 'bulu'....eeeiii...so prickly...hehehe
The elephant took us for a ride around the jungle, crossing rivers, going up hill and down hill. We saw snake (yikkkk!), monitor lizards and got lots of mosquito bites.

After that, the kapitan took us to a water fall place, were we swam in the river. Nothing special there. Just like the waterfalls that we have in Malaysia too.

That's the end of another day trip. All of us are exhausted already. I was so tired, I slept along a way back to Patong. Overall, it was a fun trip. The rafting was not as wild and 'dangerous' as I expect, none of our raft capsized or even came close to capsizing. But since it's a first time rafting for me, also first time in elephant trekking it was really fun and exciting for me. And the kapitans made it a even more fun trip.

Back in Patong, for dinner, we wanted to try the satay...and not just satay....but pork satay ! We went to a restaurant, the owner is a teochew chinese, and they only served chicken satay. We told the owner that we wanted pork satay and the owner said she can make for us. Yes ! Of course, we order seafood tomyam, tom ka kai (with pork) ! and mixed vege (of course) and etc etc....

We wanted to experience the night scene in Patong, we walked over to Bangla Street which has rows and rows of pubs and discos. But suprisingly, 90% of the pubs where closed, on a Saturday night ! How strange. Later on, we got to know that the pubs where closed due to the elections that's going on. hmm...not sure about that.....but then I was a bit relieved that we got to sleep early because I was sooooo tired already.

Another that to note is that I had a allergy attack after the day trip today. My whole body was covered in tiny red swollen spots, it itches too. My hands, legs, neck, back, butt, stomach...the whole body and my lips were swollen! yikkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's so gross. I was afraid that the allergy might spread to my ear, or inner ears or tongue....*gulp*...I can feel my throat closing up already........ ok ok...it's not that bad, it's probably due to the river water and my sensitive skin....but scary......and no photo ok, no mood to photo already that time.

Lucky in Bangla street, there's Boots pharmacy and the pharmacist there speak English, thank you god ! She prescribe me some anti-histamine and cream to put on. By the next morning, most of the red spots have subsided. Thank you to whoever that created anti-histamine !

Day 4 - 23st Apr 06

Today, we made our way to Phi Phi Island. Since there's no early trip, finally we had the time to slowly get ready and have a relaxing buffet breakfast. After breakfast, we walked around Patong Beach again to take some photos. The minibus came to take us to Rassada Harbour, where we'll take a ferry to Phi Phi Island. The ferry journey was about 2 hours.

Upon reaching, a long tail boat came to pick us up from the jetty to our resort. We'll be staying in Araya Buri Resort. We booked 3 sea view rooms, but the agent that we booked with made a mistake and the resort only reserved 1 sea view room for us ! And since all the other sea view rooms were fully booked, they could only offer us 2 more room with no sea view. When we demanded that we get refund since we are getting 2 lower priced room, the staff there said 'no no, same price same price'......then we asked them to show us the price list, to prove that its' the same price. From the price list, there's difference of 300 baht for each room! Same price my foot! In the end they gave us free lunch buffet.

Phi Phi Island

The sea view that cost an extra 300 bath.....

By the time, we reached Phi Phi, more than half a day has already gone past. For the rest of the day, we just walked around Phi Phi and search for our dinner. There's really nothing much in Phi Phi. It's small and quiet, suitable for a quiet down time.