Guilin-Yangshou Day 1

Survivor trip of 3 banana to Guilin, China. 

I wanted to visit Yangshou after viewing the beauty of Yangshou scenery pictures seen posted by friends at FB. Yangshou didn't disappointed me though.

So, how to get to Yangshou?

 From Guilin airport, we took the airport bus (RMB20/pax) and stop in front of Swan Hotel (first stop of the bus). After asking around for direction, we were guided to Guilin Train Station which is about 10 minutes walk. We were supposed to walk further down (another 10 minute) to Guilin Bus Station to take a bus to Yangshou but due to no energy (lack of sleep, scorching hot sun, heavy luggage) .. we just took the express bus to Yangshou from Guilin Train Station. It cost RMB20 each and took about 1.5 hour to reach Yangshou bus station. We then using the small map we collected from airport to guide our way to Riverview Hotel. I'm so proud that we did find our way! Although it includes anger and temper.

We found you!

Room for 3 pax cost RMB180, which is a great deal. Room condition is OK and receptionist are very friendly and helpful. After check in, we immediately book our tour with the hotel. Due to very limited time in Yangshou, we have to stuff our schedule which is not too good. It is advisable that you consider staying longer in Yangshou rather than Guilin. We did a mistake here.

After a quick shower, we 'da bao' our lunch from hotels' restaurant and make our way to our first tour.

This is our lunch that we had to had it in bus.

Arriving our first tour place - Silver Cave. We book from hotel tour desk which cost RMB80/ pax. Second and last tour of the day depart from hotel at 2.30pm.

The walk inside the cave was tiring. The walk is leaded by tour guide and takes 1 hour. At first, I thought 1 hour was quite a short tour, but it ends up 1 hour is sufficient due to it's quite tiring for us.

We tried out the fried tofu. So-so only.

When we reach hotel at 6.30pm, we then immediately board the next bus to Liu Shan Jie Performance. See how rush was us?! @@

Tour to Liu Shan Jie Performance was booked with hotel tour desk as well and cost RMB200/pax.

We tried the yam cake. Yucks.

The back drop of the performance, which indeed.. was a natural scenery. Looks very artistic, isn't?

We were shock that there were soooo many people. People mountain people sea.

After sitting awhile, my back bone is aching due to the chair design which is unable to lean on. I would suggest you to buy the first class seat because at least you can rest your backbone during the 1.5 hour performance.

That's all for Day 1. I was so tired that I don't even have energy for dinner.

Phuket Day 4: Phi Phi Look Out Point

It's our last day in Phi Phi Island and Phuket.

We hike up to Phi Phi Look Out Point.

A moderate climb. Not too difficult but not too easy. For me.

The view is amazing!

We had our breakfast on top of the hill.

After hike down the look out point, we walk around Phi Phi Island before checking out at 12pm and took the ferry back to Phuket. When we arrive Phuket, the driver was supposed to be there to pick us up and send us to airport but apparently no one is there to pick us up. So we just took the minivan. Luckily during our ride, we meet some Malaysian which is familiar with Phuket. They help us to contact the con tour agent to arrange for airport transfer for us after we arrive Phuket. After so much of negotiation, the con tour agent finally agree to pick us for airport transfer with extra charges (but cheaper than we pay extra to take taxi). However, we are still mad with it because we already pay for the airport transfer from jetty! And now we had to add additional pay. The Malaysian we meet was very kind and lead us to the hotel they are staying and request the hotel management to allow us to have a rest at the lobby.  :)

End of Phuket trip. Do I find this trip nice? No. Not really an enjoyable trip.

Phuket Day 3: Phi Phi Island

We planned to wake up earlier on Day 3 to watch sunrise before bidding goodbye to Patong Beach. However, we failed. When we open our eyes, the sun had already rise.

But we still take a stroll along Patong beach :)

Bangla road in the morning.

We had McD as breakfast and brought back the coffee to the top floor of our hotel and enjoy it.

As mentioned earlier, we booked the 2 way transfer to Phi Phi Island which inclusive of return ferry ticket from that con tour agency. We waited and waited but the driver didn't show up. Starting to feel panic, we call the tour agency and they gave excuses that the car broke down and they are arranging another transporter to come and fetch us. Luckily in the end they arrive although they are late by 30 minute! And instead of pick up using private Camry, a minivan sardined with other passengers come and get us.

We then took a long ferry ride to Phi Phi Island.

Arriving Phi Phi Island.

We booked Dee Dee beach house which cost RM100/ room/ night. No pick up service, so we dragged our luggage to the guest house. A very hot and shiny day which makes us feel dizzy. The location of Dee Dee Beach house is not strategic. Located at the other end of the island, we had to drag our luggage very far. I was a bit uncomfortable when I arrive the guest house to found out that the tsunami memorial park was located right in front of the guest house. Anyhow, the good news is that due to our standard room was under construction, we were been upgraded to the most expensive chalet available at Dee Dee house, for the price of the standard room.  :)

 After settle down, we head out for lunch.

We had our lunch at Garlic restaurant. The price was reasonable. We ordered thai salad.

Pineapple fried rice. Duh, I was expecting fried rice in pineapple but they are serving plain pineapple fried rice instead. This plate of rice is so tasteless.

Grilled Sotong! Yum Yum!!

Pad Thai in tomato sauce. Total bill inclusive of drinks come up to THB760.

After lunch, we walk around Phi Phi Island.

And back to our guest house waiting for sunset.

After the sun had set, we walk along the beach looking for dinner.

We had our simple dinner at the stalls on the beach.

Banana pancake. I don't really heart this. Nothing special.

Grill corn. Very dry and hard.

Oh.. I couldn't recall the name.

After dinner, we went to 7-11 and bought some beers and drinks and continue sitting and drinking on the beach until we feel tired and call it a day.

Phuket Day 2: Free & Easy

Basically Day 2 is rest and relax day.We woke up late and walk to Banzaan Fresh Market to have a look. It's actually a wet market but the condition is well kept, so it is very clean compare to the wet market in Malaysia. Here, you can purchase your own vegies, meats or seafoods and bring it upstair to the Food Village for the stalls there to cook for you.

I'm amaze that the wet market is not wet and very clean.

Anyway, we did not bought anything from the market to be cook at the stalls there. We ordered what available and surprisingly the price of the foods is cheap and it tastes good as well!  :)

Pad Thai.

The rest of the day is spend at Central Festival Phuket and strolling around Patong Town for some shopping and massage. The town area is actually quite big and we get exhausted from walking. But actually, most of the stalls is repetitive.

At night time, we went to watch Fantasea. The ticket was bought from the tour stall in front of our hotel and ticket cost THB6800 for 4 pax, inclusive of the grand dinner. I did not brought my DSLR there because I read that you can't bring it in. I regretted it. Camera is not allow in the performance zone but you can use it to capture some pictures outside, especially the dining hall. The grand dinner was really amazing! Not the foods but the dining hall, which resembles the one in Harry Potter. The show however disappointed me. I actually fell asleep halfway because the show was too boring! I had seen a better one in Shenzhen.

Phuket Day 1: Half Day City Tour

Another outdated post.

After the Krabi trip on March, we hop to Phuket on April. 

Not a wise choice, as both are neighboring and the activities is almost similar. But not too same.

Accommodation at Phuket town is booked through Air Asia Go - We Hotel @ Sansabai. I booked this during promotion and the price per night for this room is only RM90! A great deal for such a spacious room. The only bad comment is that the toilet tends to get stuck and the hot water is not consistent.

After checked in and had a short nap, we proceed to walk around looking for our brunch. We finally decided to stop by Aloha Restaurant (which located inside Aloha hotel).

Green Curry! Yum!

Garlic Fried Pork. Too hard to chew in.

Sweet and sour chicken. This lunch cost us THB925, which is quite overpriced.

We then begin our half day Phuket City Tour, where the nightmare begins.

Before I proceed, our Half Day City Tour and PhiPhi transfer (return ticket inclusive transfer from hotel to jetty) cost us THB6900 for 4 pax. Where do we get this tour from? While taking the airport taxi to our hotel, the taxi driver stop by a travel agency and force us to get down and buy some tours. I will post the picture/ name card of the tour agent when I found it. I will definitely recommend to everyone if the service of the tour is good, but too bad, this time I would say PLEASE AVOID! Although the price is a little lower compare to those I had surveyed through internet but the services is so sucks!

Basically our half day city tour involves shopping. First we were brought to Pornthip, where you can purchase souvenirs and cashew nuts. For me, the items is overpriced and obviously it's a place for tourist.

We were then being fetch to a shop selling t-shirts. After this second shopping stop, we told the driver that we don't want shopping trip! Driver doesn't look pleasant with our request and starts to drive like mad bull fetching us to Elephant Camp.

 We then have our 30 minute horrifying elephant ride. In the middle of the ride, they stop and took out all those 'jeweleries' made from elephant trunk and start to force us to buy. We refused. And they started to curse us in Thai language and stab the elephant with knife. WTH! Please avoid this elephant camp at all cost. I'm sorry that I'm unable to tell you the name or location of this elephant camp, so at the first place, avoid this travel agency!

Next stop, he stop us at Karon View Point. Finally  a stop for us to calm down a little bit.

Hilltop view.

This is the only view point we were brought to. Although I had read that there were suppose to be like, what, 3 or 4 view point in Phuket?!

Then we were being brought to a mini seaside, in which all of us had no idea what place is this.

Due to the sun shine too bright and killing us, we request to move on to the next spot, not wanting to stay too long.

We were then being fetch to the next spot, thePhromthep Cape View Point.

And Big Buddha Phuket.

It's almost 6pm and driver said that he is off work. But we insist to have our last stop at Wat Chalong. He pull by for us to stop for a short prayer, in which after that he revenge by speeding and driving recklessly which made me feel sick and puke. Damn him!

Anyhow, we glad that this horrible trips end. We back to hotel for a bath and short rest. Then we are out on the town to search for dinner. The location of this hotel is very strategic, as it is accessible to Bangla Road and Phuket Central Festival.

We had our dinner at Pizzeria Hut, looking forward to the woodfire pizza.

Garlic Pizza.

Salmon Pizza.

Hawaiian Pizza. Overall taste .. not satisfactory. Maybe I expect too much. Total bill for this dinner is THB800, which is quite reasonable.

We then have a short walk along Bangla Road before calling it a day.