Sunday, May 22, 2011

Thailand



Maya Beach



Patong

From Singapore I took about an hour flight to Phuket.  I went to four different places in Thailand. Honestly, I had no idea what Phuket was like.  I had seen pictures of these beautiful rock islands and formation coming out of the water and expected to find this in Patong.   I booked a hotel that got rave reviews from Trip Advisor, which is a site I use that rates hotels.  I was picked up at the airport by their cab driver and taken to the hotel.  I was greeted at the hotel by a young Thai man and I paid for the room for one week in advance.  I walked into the room and it smelled musty and mildewy.  I went the bathroom and the toiled was dirtily.  The room was dingy to begin with.  I was very upset and the next day, I told them I wanted out.  I talked to the owner (an Australian) by cell phone and he let me out and gave me my money  back and actually paid for the night as well.

The next hotel was very nice and reminded of a Miami hotel.  It was actually cheaper at $39 a night and by far the best value of my whole trip.  Only draw back was it was on dusty road and a bit out of the way.  Patong, the city I stayed in Phuket is a bit like the wild west.  The bars are filled mostly with westerner as well as Thai girls that you can buy drink for or buy something more.  There are more bars than any place I ever seen in my life.   Since I don't really drink, I did not spend any  time in them.  Besides bars, there is a ton of shopping and a lot of cheap foot and regular massage places.  A foot massage is around $10 and I had a bunch of those.  A few regular massages and there was nice spa I went to, too.  I did a lot of window shopping and picture taking.  The food was good, especially the squid.  I also have a new favorite drink a watermelon and banana smoothie, which I had almost every day as it is terribly hot there
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Buddah At Restaurant Near Hotel
Street With Lots of Bars
Ronald McDonald in Traditional Thai Pose

Ubiquitous Massage Place
Me At The Fish Spa
Bar With Bar Girls
Fresh Fish (Not From Fish Spa)


Cat By Pool
Back of Mini Van Bar Hard Rock Hotel in Background

Street Bar Made Out Of Minibus

Night Food Street Vendor Area
Kiosk In Near Mall

Watermelon and Banana Smoothie
Phi Phi Island

My main interest in Phuket was going to see the exotic locations with the protruding rock formations.  I found out that there were several places to go to but I would have to take a ferry.  I took a cab ride to the port and boarded the ferry with around 200 other young people.  My destination was Phi Phi island.  For a young person, I would say that this area is pretty much the closest thing to paradise.  The are is absolutely beautiful and it is filled with bars and restaurants.  The are is made up of several Islands and if you want to see the real beauty, you need to take an excursion boat.  For around $15 or $20 I bought a ticket and took one of the greatest trips of my lives.  The boat was charming and the crowd were some young couples as well as some single girls.  I actually went with a couple of British girls I met.  The scenery was breathtaking as we headed to Maya Beach, where they mad the film "The Beach" starring Leonardo Decaprio.  The boat stopped in a few places to let us out to snorkel.  The water was clear and the fish looked like they were in an aquarium.   I hadn't snorkeled since I was very young.  I ran into a whole school of tropical fish and it was like being in a dream.  Later we went to a place where there were sea turtles and I was able to follow one for quite a bit and almost could touch it. 

For going to our main destination, Maya beach, we need to go over land a bit for a short hike.  The beach was not disappointing.  There were quite a few other tourists there but still quite beautiful.  The combination of the scenery, snorkeling and adventure could not be beaten.

Beach at Phi Phi Near Hotel
Boat To Maya Beach
Group Swimming To Maya Beach Path
  
Long Tail Boat Maya Beach
Incredibly Beautiful Maya Beach
Thai Boxing At Bar Phi Phi (Taken by Blackberry)
Noodle Making ( (Taken by Blackberry)
Tattoo Parlor ( (Taken by Blackberry))
Beach Night Life Phi Phi

Fire Dancers on Phi Phi Beach
Kamala Beach

When I returned from Phi Phi, stayed at a very nice resort in Kamala Beach which is north of Patong.  The resort was huge and the room was big as well and freshly decorated.  This was just a place to relax.  In the middle of the resort, they had a massage hut outside that I had a few massages at.  I think the massages were around $15.  I enjoyed eating on the beach especially the banana crepes, which they make at a stand.  I bought a new pair of eye glases and on the way to the store, I got pelted with water.  The it happened again.  As I walked along the road I found out it was Thai New Years also known as Songkram and the ritual is to throw water on people.  The idea behind this is that the water cleanses one of the past.  Luckily I had a swimsuit on but my Blackberry took a few hits and has not been the same since.  It was actually a lot of fun.  Later back at the hotel they had a ritual at the restaurant where you could pour water over the Buddhas shoulder for good luck.  I was able to do it and they gave me a string bracelet for participating. When traveling you can get lucky and run into to a local ritual.
 
Kamala Beach (Blackberry Photo)
One of The Many Pools at the Resort (Blackberry Photo)


Massage Hut At Resort (Blackberry Photo)

Beach Cafe (Blackberry Photo)

Banana Crepe (Blackberry Photo)

Tree House on Beach (Blackberry Photo)

Sokran Holiday Water Throwing (Blackberry Photo)

Sokran Holiday Children Water Throwing (Blackberry Photo)

Couple Taking Sunset Picture (Blackberry Photo)

Ko Samui

My last place in Thailand was on Island called Ko Samui.  The ship stopped at this spot.  I had wanted to go on an Elephant ride in Thailand and I had my Chance in Ko Samui.  I booked a tour at the pier and was taken in a van to the Elephant ride.  I enjoyed the trip through the jungle and held on for dear as he went down some steep grades going into the river.  The jungle was really beautiful.  The elephant and the guided both did not seem too happy.  After the ride, I got to feed another one bananas.  Right next to the elephant was a Buddhist shrine and a small waterfall where people swam.  My next stop on the tour was a famous rock formation.  I have been to Pu Pu springs, Phi Phi Island (pronounced pee pee) and now you will see the interesting shaped formation, that they call grandfather rocks.  I ended the Island trip with a foot massage for around $7.  The women spoke a little English and were very fun and friendly.  One of them, that was sitting around, got up and gave me a shoulder and neck massage while the other one gave me a foot massage.  They were not exactly fashion models, but they were so kind and good natured.  Something you don't find every day.


Me On Elephant Ride

Feeding Elephant


Monks Taking A Break

Grampa Rocks

My Massage Harem From Foot Massage Place

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Singapore

My cruise from Australia ended in Singapore and I was there two times.  As you can see the above photo, the architecture is quite remarkable.  (Please note I have lots of photos of Singapore and have left them at the end of the blog.

When I arrived in Singapore by ship it was a beautiful day and the trip in was the most spectacular harbor that I have visited on this strip.  The sheer number of ships we passed was staggering.  The city looked pristine, modern and glistening.  I stayed at two different hotels there.  The second hotel I stayed in was extremely basic.  The room was not much bigger than the bed and the bathroom the size of a small closet.  The bathroom did not have a formal shower, but instead had only a handheld shower head and a drain in between where the sink and toiled were.

The hotel that I really liked  was located in Chinatown, The Saff and had a very comfortable homey feel.  It was decorated in an Indonesian or Indian style and in very good taste.  The Saff, short for Saffron was a befitting name.  I understand it was renovated recently.   On the street corner near the hotel was a Hindu Temple that was active.  

I went to the Chinatown area a number of times.  I especially liked one restaurant on the corner.  You can see some of the dishes they serve by blowing up the photo.
Some of them are Frog Porridge, Chickens Feet Soup and Fish Head Soup.  I opted for the fish head soup for the novelty effect and when I tasted it, I could not believe how good it was.  They prepare it in a clay pot and it cost $5 Singapore dollars, which is close to $4 US.  I had it two times. 

I enjoyed walking around Chinatown and did gift shopping, drank fresh juice and ate cheap and good food. Besides shopping you can also find foot massage places that for $20 give the most amazing foot massages. 

One night, I went to Little India and had some great Indian food.  It is a bit casual there and ended up sitting with a younger guy Indian guy who worked in Singapores financial district.  There are quite a few Indians in Singapore and it is very much a mixed culture.   After dinner, he showed me around Little India, I bought some shoes and then we took the metro to the riverside area aka Clarkes Quay  There is an amazing nightlife with restaurants and bars along the river.  We stopped at a riverside place for beers and the bill was $26 singapore for two beers or around $20 for two beers.  In Thailand, a beer at a bar is around $1.50.  The range is prices in Singapore is staggering.  You can get a Chinese meal for less than $4 and then not too far a way a bottle of Champagne is $1000.  The old world and new world, rich and poor coexist in a very small place.

Another part of Singapore is called Sentosa Island which features shopping malls, casinos, and hotels.  You can take a monorail or small cable cars over to the Island.  At the harbor where you catch the transportation, there is also a huge mall.  I would say the shopping situation in Singapore is overwhelming and nothing short of fantastic. 

There is a ton to do and see in Singapore.  It is world class city that is a great place to visit, shop and eat.  It is a combination of New York, Chicago and Disney Land.  There is always something in
Singapore to impress you.

When I arrived at the harbor it was a very hot day and as we approached the city there was a conclave of ships that must have numbered in the thousands.  I have been to a lot of ports but have never seen anything like it.
This is a magnificent new building complex.
The cable cars you see, lead to Sentosa Island, which has amazing shopping as well as a beach and hotels and casinos.
The above Hindu Temple here was on the corner of the hotel I stayed in and was very active.  My hotel, the Saff, was in an Indonesian or Indian style, was newly renovated and very homey and comfortable.
The hotel was adjacent to Chinatown and there was great cheap food.  Take a look at this menu by clicking on it and reading the dishes.  Some of them are Chicken Feet, Frog Porridge, and Dried Chilli Pig Liver.
I opted for the Fish Head Soup for around $4 US dollars.  It is one of the best things I have ever eaten.
There were little shrines everywhere.
Outdoor eat street in Chinatown.
Chopstick store with amazing different sets of Chopsticks and prices into the thousands.
Checker games in town square.
Another Hindu Temple.  Singapore is a mix of cultures and religions.  I saw an active Mosque as well.
Another street in Chinatown.
Incredibly ornate Buddhist Temple Chinatown.

More eating at night in Chinatown.
My bathroom with non shower just the head and a drain.
Chinese lanterns, Chinatown.
Just an apartment building.
Row of restaurants on the Quay.
These restaurants cater to mostly expats (white people)
They had great menus.
Lots of fresh seafood.
I think Carlton hotel and sightseeing boats but I never took one.
Famous children diving sculpture.
More brilliant architecture.
School children learning about Singapore history.
Famous Singapore Lion fountain is ensconsed in a hotel room setting as part of a promotion.  Kid of like if they put the Statue of liberty in a huge hotel room. 
Near Lion, a group having their photo taken.
Padang area with Cricket Club near and financial district in background.  They play soccer here as well.
The Famous Raffles Hotel where the Singapore Sling was invented.
Clarkes Quay restaurants.
Fountains Clarkes Quay.
View from my $12 beer.  The view itself was worth the twelve bucks.
Never a dull moment in Singapore.  That is actually a space ship model that someone flies.  I have video of it and it is pretty awesome.
The monorail to Sentosa.
Blow up animals rides at the harbor mall on the way to Sentosa.
Just one part of spectacular Sentosa.
Candy store Sentosa.


Famous swinging bridge at beach at Sentosa.