Phuket Hotel Reviews

I'm by no means a trip advisor or whatsoever, but i do have my fair share of Phuket Hotel stays given my tri-yearly trips.



Hotel 1: Baumanburi (deluxe)

Well the first time i was in Phuket was with 2 colleagues and all we wanted was cheap and okay accomodation since we will be staying there for about a week.

I secured my hotels (1 in Patong, and the other in Phuket Town) via a tour agency in Singapore.
So for 6 days, all i paid for BOTH hotels were just SGD$150+.
Mad cheap but let me show you why.





Well pictures always look perfect. Truth is, the real deal wasn't as nice as what it looks in the pictures. It really looks more like the one below. In fact, it looked just like a chalet just to bunk in. However, the receptionist were all helpful and drinks were served on our arrival. Staff were all friendly and nice, so were their buffet breakfast.

Location is not too bad. It is right opposite Hard Rock Cafe and about a 5-10 minutes walk to Patong beach. Nearby there's convenient stores like 7-11 and some street market stalls selling beach essentials and souveniers.
In fact my girlfriend and i walked all the way from Bangla Road back to our hotel just to explore the streets.

If you're looking for a cheap place with decent breakfast, this hotel is not bad. Just that i couldn't sleep at all for 3 nights for some reason... Felt abit creeped out. Hmm.




Hotel 2: I Pavillion Phuket (deluxe)

Now this hotel is in Phuket Town, and believe me it is really way out from everything. Phuket town is boring in the night. Well there was the weekend market on both Saturday and Sunday but really besides that, just oily street food vendors that operate till pretty late at night.



Hotel is really deserted. It is located in some corners. Even tuk tuk drivers were not sure of the hotel's location.
Staff were fine, friendly but just fine. The hotel seemed really deserted too but maybe that's due to the unwordly hours that we go out and in of the hotel.

The room was fine, i had a much better sleep here. The view from the hotel however was some rooftop of another run-down building. So it's better to just keep the curtains closed.

The good thing about the hotel is they offer free shuttle service on a tuk tuk/lorry to Central Festive Mall.
The bad side is the service isn't punctual. We waited pretty long like 15 mins and there was no one else onboard it.

The buffet breakfast wasn't as good as Baumanburi. The hotel's restaurant looked and felt more like a staff's canteen. It was however cluttered in the morning so there IS a crowd afterall!
Basically again, pictures sell. The swimming pool's water was certainly a very much darker shade compared to online pictures.
The room however was really as spacious and authentic to how it looks like in pictures.

And it didn't have wifi when i was there in April 2010. The staff did say it's going to be installed though so check out this place only if you're really on a tight budget and is staying in Phuket Town. Else, it's pretty far away from the night scene.




Hotel 3: Burasari Resort (Premier but i got Classic wtf)

This is a boutique resort and again i booked it via the agent in Singapore. I remembered i paid for Premier room which explains its hefty SGD$400 bill for 3 nights but i paid for 2 persons. So per pax should be about $200 odd.



Top photo: Classic
Bottom photo: Premier

I remembered i asked for twin separate beds and the receptionist gave me this room. Damn i should have checked further.

Location wise is really good. It was reccommended by 1 of my girlfriends and they enjoyed their stay there. There's free wifi as well, which is awesome for a internet buff like me. (Actually just facebook & Whatsapp)
It is right smack in Patong, just really minutes away from the beach and very short walking distance to Patong shops/restaurants/bars etc.

The buffet breakfast was really good too. I recall dragging myself down with a really bad hangover just to have their awesome breakfast even when the buffet was ending in 10 minutes time.
Giel ordered room service for pizza and it was freaking awesome!! Pizza was really really good.

Bad thing about the hotel is, though it is right smack in Patong, we have to walk really really deep in the resort then only to reach our room wing.

A highly reccomended hotel if you love good food and convenient locations. Expect to pay but get normal looking rooms only. The Classic room looks exactly as it is in the top picture.



Hotel 4: The Baycliff (2 bedroom suite)

Some troubles getting to the hotel as it is still new and many aren't sure how to get to the hotel.
However upon reaching, the pool looks inviting.
Staff service was poor. They literally couldn't speak English and had many miscommunications.




The view of Kalim Beach was breathtaking. We had a private jaccuzi and the view was perfect.
Many friends have asked about the hotel upon seeing the pictures. However the area is still in construction so you'll get alot of sandhill views and trashpoint views too (seen from other parts of the hotel of nearby constructions)

There is no restaurant as it is a service apartment. And the location is really on top of a hill so unless you have your own transport, this place is not so advisable. Several times we tried to get taxis/tuk tuk but could get none from the Hotel staff.
Giel had to bring Andre go rent a bike and come back for us in the end.

There's a kitchen so you may cook for your meals or just eat out and buy some snacks back.
Overall the view and rooms made up for everything. It was really great! Quiet and relaxing.
And we got this at a STEAL.
I paid $200+ for 2 pax, 3 nights thanks to an online promotion and we booked it via Booking.com (I think the promo is already over)



Hotel 5: Sea Pearl Villas (deluxe)

Well, will update this space after i go for my trip in January 2011!



Booked through Booking.com again at S$261 for 2 pax, 2 nights.

It has free wifi and private jaccuzi too. Read that it's a pretty new place as well.
Just that it's quite a bit of distance from Patong.

Well i hope it'll be great!



Hope this was all helpful and interesting!

another reason why my bank statement never increases

2 years back, i had 45 pairs of shoes and counting.
I have by far given away a few here and there, thrown away here and there.


This was 2 years back.






Today i have 52 pairs of shoes... -.-

opening up.

Sometimes, it takes alot for a man to open up to a woman.
Not about making feelings known, but more of worries and frustrations.
I waited.
Knowing his personality, i waited and waited.
And then it came, he opened his thoughts to me.
I must say I'm happy that such a private person has finally, slowly, warm up to me.
But I'm sorry for the circumstances that brought it..

I'm back to loving myself more, once again

Well, it's always a good thing to love yourself.
Not that i'm doing any good loving my body at the rate of hours i'm sleeping each day.
Or not sleeping. Hmm.

Well, i find myself sinking back into that cold, familiar, dark hole of loneliness again, having to fend for myself, my own needs, my own happiness.

I realize, no matter what, happiness should always come from within, and not from anyone else.


But then again, it's always not easy. Because when you love someone, you get hurt, your state of emotions get shaken not that you want it or not. It's just not a choice for you to make, it just gets to you and eats you inside out.


I find it sad that i'm back to my unworldly hours of sleep.
My constant need to shop and buy things to make myself happy is not friendly to my wallet.
My addiction to television series, occupying me so that my state of emotions are taken care of, not having to let my mind wander too far sometimes.


Yes, I'm lonely.
I feel needy and i feel weak.

Are these the consequences of being in love?
Why do we have to face these when we open ourselves to the people we love?


As if it makes any sense blogging at this time.
Well at least, one can never go wrong loving yourself.
So yes, i'm going to give my nails a new colour!
It happens to be gray.

Hmmmm..

No right or wrong, more or less

I feel that when a person is in a relationship with someone else, personal pride and ego and many other things should not get in the way nor obstruct what your heart really feels like doing.


Personally, i really feel like going down to Phuket to see Giel next year, end of January because i really miss him.
I want to spend time with him, even if it's just 3 days.
I want to do what a regular couple can do.
Like catch a movie together.
Take a walk by the beach.
Time together etc.

I'm really contemplating the idea of going down reason why so because i'll be busy after that all the way till July and we will be apart for a really long time.



Long distance relationship is really hard.
I don't know what we're having will last, but i hope both of us will keep trying.
It's really negative when i have friends always telling me i'm the one trying so much more because i'm the one going down, but thing is, between us, i'm the one that is more flexible with work and all etc.


This is something that many outsiders don't see or understand.


BUT i do get affected when i hear such negative comments like i'm spoiling him too much, he'll take me for granted, let him be the one to come and visit you blah blah.
And the one question that will always be brought up:
"When is he coming to Singapore to visit you?"


I do get my insecurities from these concerns of my friends. I'm not saying that it's bad, and i really do APPRECIATE their concerns and advices.


Having basic communication is quite an issue. And there are times when i really want to be heard by him.

But again there are times when communication doesn't happen and it's really quite sad because you'll have to bottle things up first, plans, decisions, or questions etc.


I'm still troubled about whether to go down in January or not.
Of course i'm worried that i'll be taken for granted for.
But yet, at the same time i really really miss him.

And i know that come next year, i'll have to face the very big issue (objections) from my parents because they're bound to know.
I'm worried is it worth it? Given my nature i'll fight with my family over what i want. And i know, it'll be serious.


I'm troubled about does he really wants me there.
I don't want to appear too sticky you know.


I'm in a dilemah and today, i got a perfect answer from Sweetie Tan. Not based on what my heart yearns or wants, but because, she merely reminded me what love should be.

Mindy: "I think you should try to maintain the relationship within your means. So that there'll be no regrets"

And there, i felt like i've seen light.
I'm a person that always follows my heart so that i'll never regret. But because of all the above issues, my heart is side-tracked and wavered.

But there, we both agreed that any relationship has its differences.
Thinkings and opinions play a big part, but they're just each and our own characteristics.

What we SHOULD NOT take into consideration is:
1). Who is the one going down more often
2). Who loves who more, who loves who less
And alot of all these SHIT.

What i'm trying to say is, there should never ever be an comparison simply because we all have our own ways of loving someone!

Falling in love should never worry about the progress but what's more important is its process. :)

xoxo

The Phuket Returns Again

So here i embark on my 3rd and final trip this year to Phuket.

My darling parents drove me and MinDre to the airport early in the morning. :D
After checking in, we had American breakfast at Dome, searched for missing ATMs, did some alcohol tasting and shopping in the dutyfree and then almost late for our flight again ;)





FACT: I actually fell asleep in most of the journey and woke up for abit to write on the arrival/departure card. And back to zzz-land again.




After quite a long bit, and delay at a Tour Agency, we reached our goregous service apartment hotel which we got for a real steal. ;) Can't find such promotions anywhere else.
Well the bad thing is.........



There is a kitchen!
Which means... No restaurant!!
Hallelujah!

And it's really out of the way from Patong, really hard to get transport hmm.






And surprise!! Before i could even settle in, Giel called and he knocked off super early! :D So he reached really sooner than expected so we went down to bring him up (the hotel is a confusion) and showed him around our suite while Andre waits for his rental bike.




And on the bed lay...... His presents from SG. S95 & Ikelite casing!




Well i became his test model for a bit ;) and soon we set off to check out Andre's ride. With just 10 minutes of coaching from Giel, Andre followed us to Patong with a pair of broken slippers.




Had late lunch (and very bad service) at Junceylong where Darren came shortly after. He was really envious of Giel's new S95 :D (well lots of people are)
We went our seperate ways. The guys went to do some shopping for the housewarming party while MinDre and i went to Phuket Town's weekend market!

We had some time so we just shopped around Patong for a bit, bought some DVDs, went to the beach for a bit then got Som to bring us to Phuket Town. On the way, was on the phone with Claudia baby discussing our Halloween costumes!





So big surprise, i only bought like 4 clothes, 2 pairs of shoes. THE END OF WEEKEND MARKET.:(
I knew i'll be shopping lesser but i didn't think it would be so pathetic!
Actually i had plans to return the next day but oh well, we didn't get to ;)

So rushed back to Patong where Giel picked me up, rushed me back for my bath and off we go to the Housewarming party at Nanai. (MinDre continued groceries shopping)





The food was really good, hmm missing it now. Yummy shit.
Well Darren has got to get some new chairs since apparently, 2 of his has broken at his new house!
Poor Tommi had quite a fall from the broken chair and off and on, came the crutch joke of Giel's.







John, the male host of the night was very lovely, making sure my liver was lapping up alcohol, refilling my glasses etc. Of course he got to that by shouting across the hall for Darren, his bitch to get it for him, for me. Hahahaha! It was quite a good time.

Alas i didn't really know anyone there, so yea i just keep to the people i know (just the 3 musketeers!) and listen to their stories and jokes.




Lovely Darren, wore the skirts ever since he bought napkins like these. My goodness hahaha. Like seriously?




Giel calls this the romantic photo. Hahahaha! :)




3 lovely guys, Darren, John and Giel :)



NERD ALERT!!
Hahaha I brought my fake specs for some fun photo-taking and look how the guys are playing with it!

I bring you the nerds and we have Prof. Al Cohol!! Didn't expect them to have this much fun with the glasses hehehe.



Sunsets here are goregous. Shame I couldn't take a walk by the beach with Giel when he took these with his awesome cam. I was having my half day tour at Khai Island.



The guys made breakfast with love for us girls!! Rushful breakfast but oh, so delicious :D
How I wished Giel could join me at Khai but the boat was already full :((((




It was a wonderful ride out to sea, crashing waves, embarassing moans from me when we hit a big wave and very very messy hair for Mindy thanks to the goregous wind. I was suffering from a bad hangover and yes, the perfect weather and environment cured me! (More likely the boat ride ;)







So we snorkelled and thanks to Giel's camera with UW housing, we took many wonderful UW pictures!! :D
All the fishes swimming around you.
I didn't really enjoy the first snorkel.
Probably getting used to the mask and all.

And the view wasn't that fantastic.



I SWEAR I DIDN'T GET THEM TO POSE! Andre was guiding Mindy towards him, i saw and i snapped! Haa i'm getting more and more interested in UW photography!!






2nd plunge was right smack in the middle of the sea, it was BEAUTIFUL. My god, i wished i could dive instead of just peasy snorkel. But it was good enough, hated the life-jacks though, keep getting in the way, annoying.
We could see the corals, i spied some white anemone and clown fish. It was really good but such a short one :((










And our 3rd island hop, we were dead bushed and hungry! Had our sandwiches and some coke. IT'S HEAVEN.
It was my best time ever, the beautiful beach, the sun, i blasted relaxing music from my phone. It was awesome.




I could just stay there forever :)




We had a long journey back to our secluded hotel and there, my darling was waiting and watching the Karate Kid on TV. I washed up and we went for dinner at NaNai. We were ALL famished!
Food was good, super love the tang hoon (vermicelli)!!!!!
Giel was in love with the dvd that was being aired on the tv. All the golden hits of the past ;D

We parted and went to Bangla Rd to look for Adam and his friends.
(Adam kept going on and on if Angela could bring him a camera like what i did HAHAHAHA)




I made more friends and they were wicked awesome people! Sofie, my Danish BFF. Lol!
She's a super hot dancer, her hips when she move, WHOA~
Hot stuff ;)



Well we partied till really late, had nice hotdog and Giel had burgers AND hotdog for supper. It was a quiet one, though along the street stalls of Bangla. It felt so nice to just sit beside him, not talking much, and just mmmmm eat.




Slept the whole of the next day and i finally visted Giel's place!! Nice, cosy, nothing fancy, but home :)
Hehehe, now i know where he stays! Haa!
And finally i used abit of his internet and i literally dragged myself to shower :( didn't feel like moving at all my GOD.

I kidnapped his gf into my bag, it was hilarious. Hahahaha!
And that's our Honda bike :DD



Finally met Jessica & Ben up for dinner in Jungceylong along with MinDre. So big group having dinner. Darren and John came and join us as well. Met Tik up for abit and she'll be coming to Singapore next April!! :D Gonna meet her and bring her around in Singapore!

She's my Thai BFF hahahha!

Brought the whole group to Magic where we stayed for a short while, teaching the rest how to play SG's drinking games like 5/10, and 7-up. Hahaha well, not many were interested.



MinDre was surprised to see Giel and i back so soon. We took some pictures of Kalim beach at night. It was a beautiful moment.
Sigh, i miss the place already!!



MinDre returned for Singapore in the morning while i slept my morning away. But we headed out to Giel's FAVOURITE Mission hospital, with his FAVOURITE nurses there. (Ok, im just being anal)

His nurse is cool, she spoke gibberish to me in Thai, and we had a good laugh because she wanted me to bring Giel to the x-ray room -.-

I'm glad Giel can start moving around with his crutch but hmmm, still quite some time before it fully heals.
It was so saddening when i saw his x-rays from 5th June.
It was painful to look at.
Apart from my favourite x-ray that shows a nice view.. of his jean's zipper. Hahaha! What were u thinking?


We got drenched in the rain and was so so cold when we got back.
Checked out, headed to Edens. Had lunch. Saw Sofie etc.

Giel brought me out for an hour's massage. It was good. I couldn't stop myself from giggling though, i was so annoyingly ticklish -.-
Even my masseur kept laughing at my reactions.

Got some snacks from Watsons. Saw some nike shoes. And back to Eden. And got a tuk tuk.

And it was time to bid goodbye. :(



It was a painful ride to the airport. I never felt more alone, cold and sad. I couldn't stop crying that i called Mindy in singapore.
I really couldn't bear to leave, not knowing when i'll ever see him again..

This trip i'm really thankful i got such a nice, beautiful hotel. And im even more thankful that he had 3 days off instead of 2! Although we were constantly surrounded by friends, i felt happy.



It was a good return, and i can't wait for my next one soon again.

Disappointment

Disappointment is a lousy feeling.
It's like a steel knife in your windpipe.

It's like, when you have a certain expectation of something that's going to happen, and in the end, it doesn't happen.

And it is something, that you were actually looking forward to.
But in the end, it doesn't happen.

Horoscopes & Zodiac signs

Are you dating a Virgo?


As a rule, a Virgo is attracted to someone who possesses good conversation skills. They love to talk and surround themselves with friends who are even-tempered, nonchalant, and intellectually stimulating. If you are planning a date with a Virgo, try and avoid noisy places, especially with lewd or obscene entertainment. The Virgos' reserved nature and insistence of good taste means they would get more pleasure from a quiet restaurant with soft music playing in the background than from a rock concert. They would prefer a place where the two of you can talk. You will probably find the Virgo to be very interesting and be able to discuss almost anything with them. However, don't be in a hurry to jump right in and ask too much about their personal affairs, since they may find it to be an intrusion of privacy.


It is a rare occurrence for a Virgo to hand out praise, so if you are looking for constant flattery, you may want to keep looking. While on the contrary, if you are looking for advice or an opinion on a certain matter, the Virgo will gladly participate. Virgos are careful planners and are constantly seeking personal achievement and financial security. They won't put up with frivolous spending habits and won't jump into a serious relationship without looking ahead first. Most likely they are seeking a partner with practical ambitions exactly like themselves. Once the Virgo has found someone worthy to share their life with, they will always be loyal and provide plenty of happiness. This responsible, sensitive, and intellectual person takes love very seriously. Although they may appear aloof and distant at times, they are very sensual and warm people. If you win them over, you will be more than rewarded with a prosperous and memorable life with them.


*****


Well some are true about my Virgo, some are hmm, not really. Im not very leo myself so, sometimes it's just good to have a guide in knowing the person u love, but not really base your assumptions and thoughts on that.
Or in finding yourself, sometimes reading my own horoscope makes me realise what sort of a person i am too.

*****


Tiger + Tiger

Tigers might initially be very attracted to each other, but the excitement can quickly wear off. When things are going well, the tigers' fiery natures can make for a passionate and wild relationship. During down times - which can come about when the tiger starts to itch for more independence - tigers will not last together. They find it difficult to build stability together, and will quickly spend their savings together. Tigers share too many domineering characteristics to build a happy partnership.


*****


Horoscopes are just guides. How you choose your way, your thoughts can be based on horoscopes personalities, but sometimes it can be all different.
So don't be too obsessed with misguided horoscope readings at times!


XOXO,
will update my phuket getaway & halloween soon!