tesyasblog

Phuket Airport Bus

We had no idea how to get around Phuket, so we checked on the tripadvisor forum for the recommended driver in Phuket. Then we found a driver named Daj who is recommended by many travelers. We send him email to kanidash@hotmail.com and he replied our email promptly saying that he is available on the dates we requested. As we have only one day in Phuket, we really wanted to do the islands hopping activity, and we realize that Phi Phi island is too far away. We googling whether it is doable to have a half day tour to Pha Nga bay. And yes it was, as long as we hire a longtail boat for our own. We asked Daj to manage a tour for us, and we got a great deal from him.

Unfortunately on the day we arrived at Phuket Airport, we went directly to the exit and search for a guy holding a sign with my name on it, but we couldn’t find Daj! Oh nooo… A day before we sent him email saying that we were in Bangkok already and confirmed him our arrival time and so on. Daj didn’t reply our last email, we thought maybe he was busy with other client. We waited outside the exit, people keep coming to us offering to take us somewhere with their car. We said no, we have our guy already. Rene went inside again to look for Daj once more, but still we failed to see him. We were so sad knowing that if we couldn’t find him, our plan to visit Pha Nga Bay has to be cancelled. Our mistake was that we didn’t have his phone number on our tab. It was because we had contact with Daj using email from my tab as well as from my office email. And the email with his phone number maybe somewhere in my office email.

When we arrived in Jakarta, we check our private email, still we got no email from him. But than the next Monday at the office, I got an email from Daj to my office email! Oh no..that's why we didn't receive any of his email to our tab. He told us his phone number to call etc, he told us that he waited at the airport but couldn’t find us… He is still a very nice guy and we hope someday to use his service. So if you are looking for recommended driver in Phuket, please send him an email.

Let’s continue our story on our first time ever arriving at Phuket Airport…. After a 20 minutes of waiting, we walked to the left side of the airport where we found a big sign of Phuket Airport Bus. We found this orange bus, we were not sure whether it is broken or not, we looked inside, no one was there. But the good news is, the aircon works! Hahah..So we got in, and people start to coming to the bus. After another 20 minutes waiting, the bust left the airport. We paid 85 baht on the bus, I guess it was the cheapest way to go to Phuket town. Taking taxi will cost approx 500-600 baht one from the airport to Patong beach.

The journey was quiet long, it took us 1 hour before we finally reach the Phuket Bus terminal. We decided that we are going to rent a motorbike, and just explore the city. We asked the co-driver how and where to rent a motorcycle, he couldn’t communicate in English, but from his gestures he asked us to stay on the bus. When we arrived at the bus terminal, the co driver told us where to rent a motorbike, so we walked to the place and asked the lady to rent a Honda matic. And I said, it must be Honda and not other brand. Oh yeaaahhh.. We got a Honda click, and it cost 250 baht for 24 hours, excluding gasoline. The lady kept Rene’s passport, and explained Rene how to go to Patong beach, as we told her that our hotel is in Ibis Patong. By the way Rene doesn’t have an international license, and still we can borrow a motorbike.

The Phuket bus terminal is close to Phuket Old Town, so it will be better if we stay in hotel around Phuket Old Town, take a motorbike from Phuket Bus Terminal, so when we return our motorbike, we can continue taking Phuket Airport Bus to the airport.

Our bus to Phuket Airport is better than our first bus. It parked on the same place where we arrived a day before, but this time it was quiet full. Local people use this bus also as they can stop on the way to the airport. This bus will pass the Central Festivals Mall, Lotus Supermarket, the factory outlet and so on. Yes we regret not able to visit Pha Nga Bay on our first visit to Phuket, but we also enjoy ourselves enjoying the city with motorbike.

written on June 21, 2011

Baca Selanjutnya...

Yana Restaurant MBK

As I didn’t have time to shop at the chatuchak weekend market (a reason to have another visit to Bkk:p), we went to MBK directly after we visited the Grand Palace. MBK stands for Mah Boon Krong, for sure it is one of the most visited mall in Bangkok. We took the orange boat from Tha Tien Pier to Sathorn Pier, than continue taking BTS to the National Stadium. When we arrived at National Stadium BTS, it is directly connected with MBK. Wow very easy to have our Jalan Hemat Bangkok.

At the National Stadium BTS we saw an advertisement of KFC’s egg tart, so we took a picture of it just to remind ourselves how delicious it was:p

From what I have read, to do the shopping for Thai souvenirs, we shall directly go to the 6th floor. But as we were so hungry, first we search for halal resto called Yana Restaurant MBK, located on the 5th floor. We thought it was on the same floor as international food court on the 6th floor. But we found out that it was on the 5th floor, just across the Food Avenue on the 5th floor.

We ordered their vegetable spring rolls as appetizer which cost 79 baht. It taste really nice and also crunchy.

For the main menu, we ordered Shrimp Tom Yum with steamed rice, which cost 199 baht (tom yum) and 15 baht for a bowl of rice per person. The Tom Yum taste different, not as delicious as we thought it would be.

After having dinner at Yana Restaurant MBK, we continued shopping to the 6th floor. Bought some souvenirs and also dried mangoes. You can find anything in MBK, too bad I didn’t take pictures inside the mall (we were too busy shopping:p). MBK is really similar to Mangga Dua in Jakarta, the shops, how we have to bargain hard, even the stuffs sold in MBK are similar to Mangga Dua. Hopefully someday the number of tourist visiting Mangga Dua will be doubled than tourist visiting MBK :)

written on June 2, 2011

Baca Selanjutnya...

The Grand Palace

After visiting Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, we had lunch at Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal “Sa Tai Mai”, we had KFC and tried their fabulous egg tart! Owww it’s as delicious as Macau’s egg tart *I wonder why there’s no egg tart in Indonesia’s KFC. We asked people what is the nearest BTS from Sa Tai Mai. They said the Wong Wian Yai is the nearest. So we took taxi which cost 140 baht, then continue taking BTS from Wong Wian Yai to Saphan Taksin. We bought the ticket at the machine which only cost 15 baht per person, as Saphan Taksin is only two stop away from Wong Wian Yai. The BTS is very convenient, and also very well maintained. But we hardly find BTS with escalator, so going up and down to the BTS, we should take the stairs instead.

Arriving at Saphan Taksin, we went to Sathorn Pier, and took the Orange Flag (public boat) to Tha Chiang Pier *I will be posting another stories of Bangkok transportation, and you will find the details of this Chao Phraya River Boat Service. After getting off from the boat, we went directly to the Grand Palace, it was almost 3 pm already, and the ticket counter opens only until 3 pm. But once you are inside, you can enjoy it until 4.30 pm. We read many stories about tourist spams at The Grand Palace. Uniformed guy will approach tourist saying the Grand Palace is close, and offer a tuk tuk ride with cheap price. The tuk tuk driver will be taking tourist to jewelry shops, souvenir shops, etc, as they will get fuel voucher! Be aware of this spams.

So that afternoon we walked straight to the main gate *remember there is only one main gate. At the main gate, you can see the Grand Palace from the outside if you think the 350 baht ticket is too expensive. But for me, the ticket price well worth it. This place is really impressive!

Once you enter the main entrance, you will find the first building on the right which is a place where tourist can borrow pants and shirts. Getting in the Grand Palace, tourist has to wear the dress code: our leg and shoulder shall be covered. Rene took kain sarung (sarong) with him as he was wearing short. But the guy told us that kain sarung was not ok, a guy should wear long pants instead. It was free of charge, but Rene had to give a 200 baht deposit for the long pants he borrowed. After wearing his long pants, Rene was upset seeing a guy with this long socks, and he managed to get in:p

We got into the line in front of the ticket booth, the line was not long as we were the late arrivals. Tourists will be equipped with a brochure to guide them at the Grand Palace as there are many buildings and temple inside.

We got inside and we were speechless, it was so beautiful and colorful!! You will forget the entrance fee price:p and will be busy taking pictures. You have to visit the Grand Palace if you are visiting Bangkok.

We spent until 4.30pm there and really enjoy our visit. Thanks God it was raining before we arrived at the Grand Palace, so it wasn’t that hot. But still after a 1,5 hours of walking we need to recharge ourselves. So we went to the Au Bon Pain, located just across the main entrance, to have some ice blended drinks and croissant.

Actually we still have two more places to go which are Wat Pho (the reclining Budha) and Wat Arun. But it was too late and also we were exhausted. So we decided only to take pictures of Wat Arun and wished to see the sunset. We continue walking to Tha Tian Pier and found a park across Wat Arun where we can take beautiful pictures of it. But it was too cloudy, so we didn’t get the sunset pictures of Wat Arun. At 6 pm, we decided to leave the park and take the orange flag boat to Tha Tien Pier, and proceed to MBK. It was really a busy day:p