After planning for many years, finally we had our first family trip to Phuket. We (8 adults and 2 kids) had a great 4 days 3 nights trip with great time bonding and chatting. Everyone in the family went except my youngest sis's daughter who is just 1 month plus.. but i am sure she will be joining for the upcoming family trip :)
26th November 2014
Our flight is at 8.30am, so we got out of our house at 6am, planning to reach the airport by 6.30am. There are no cars on the road but the cabbie driver exercise extra caution and drove super slow... we reached at 6.40am, and my mum they all already queueing to check-in and had to let a few other passengers to go before them as we haven't arrive...so check in is fast since we are already first in the queue when we reached. Quickly proceed to boarding gate and after passing the immigration, we had about an hour for breakfast before boarding.
Had a quick breakfast at Bakerzin as there are not so much choices at Terminal 1....Their hot chocolate is good but a bit pricey. Meanwhile, sis, mum, BIL all walked around the airport as they already had breakfast before we arrived.
We boarded the plane at 8am and the plane is delayed for 15 minutes or so as two of their passengers lost their passport. It is quite a drama though cause the couple actually queue in front of my sis and brother in law....and they were blaming one another for misplacing the passport. They went back to look for it but i guess they couldn't find so the pilot make final decision to unload their checked-in luggage.
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| Jaclyn enjoying the company of grandpa... requesting for grandpa to draw pictures for her |
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| Meanwhile, Justin played with granny |
Flight was uneventful and we reached Phuket at 9.30am (local time, Phuket is one hour slower than Singapore).
I was carrying Justin when i walked into the Thai Custom, looking for the shortest queue and I was approached by one of the custom officer. He asked how many of us are together and was pretty shocked when i told him that there is 10 of us... but he kindly lead us to row which is for Thai Resident and there is no queue here...so we cleared custom within 15 minutes thanks to the little ones.... it is like an express queue for kids.. hehe! Luggage came out pretty soon as we got out and we were given a free sim card (True Move) at one of the booth.. just need to top up at 7-11 and activate, then the sim card is good for use... It is 150 baht for 3 days of 3G use, and 200baht for 7 days use which is quite ok.
I had emailed David Car Rental before we arrived to book for car and the staff is already waiting for us outside with my name board...This car rental place is quite reliable and they don't even ask for deposit for the car, so just need to email them with the cars that you wanted and they will be waiting outside the airport. It is the second time we booked car with them.They drove us to their office which is just opposite the airport and we collected our car for the trip... One Honda Civic (1300 baht per day) and one Toyota Altis (1200 baht per day).
The staff in charge is really friendly and even offer to sell us Phi Phi Island Tour... we got it at a discounted rate with complimentary fetching from our Villa at Rawai. It is 2000 baht per person including pick up from Rawai and a full day tour by speedboat with lunch.
We wanted to lunch at Prantalay Seafood Restaurant as hubby and me enjoyed the food there very much on our previous trip but we can't find the place so ended up at Luk Lay Seafood Restaurant which is not nice... food is very normal and super pricey, portion is small too.
After lunch, we drove to our villa.. took us quite sometime to find it as the villa number doesn't go by sequence... the villa we booked is 86/81 but it is definitely not next to 86/82 or 87/81 or anything like this.... in the end, we had to call the owner who kindly came to the main road to get us...so the trick is to drive to the main road at Soi Saiyuan 9 Road and get the owner to come and get you cause believe, no matter how many times you go in and out looking, where the villa is... there is no way we are going to find that place on our own...
After checking in and chatted with the owner, we know why the number aren't in sequence. They basically gave out the house number by sequence to the buyer but no one knows which plot of land the buyer is going to build the house, so the house next to you can be build long time ago and therefore the number will be vastly different.
The house manager showed us around the house (pool, BBQ on rooftop, 4 bedrooms, 3 toilets, a living room, and kitchen.... while the owner bring my BIL on a motorbike ride to show him around the area.. where to get food, massage etc.
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| Private infinity pool |
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| Bedroom |
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| Bedroom |
We settled in... kids played for a while, then shower as they didnt shower in the morning since we woke up pretty early.... watch Frozen for a while then nap together with daddy. Wanted to make them milk but they fall asleep before my hot water is ready....They must be really exhausted.
Meanwhile, mummy, me, my youngest sister and her hubby swim and chill at the pool. After shower, we hang out at the living room and play cards while munching some biscuits.
After the kids woke up at about 7pm, it is time for dinner and we decided to eat at Rawai Seafood Market... it is definitely highly highly recommended... best meal in Phuket! We get to choose seafood at the stalls, and cook them at the restaurant just opposite them.... super fresh!
Do bargain for the seafood price as the price is not fixed!
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| Fresh seafood to pick |
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| Daddy choosing crab for our meal tonight |
We bought 2kg of crab, 1kg prawn, some squid, 6 oyster, 1/2 kg flowered cockles for 1550 baht. One fish at 180 baht...
After meal, we went to Makro (a local supermarket) to buy some snacks, drinks and breakfast for the next 2 days (croissant, bread, sausages, egg tart etc)
Went back to villa to rest....
27th November 2014
The next morning, mum, dad, my youngest sister and her hubby woke up earlier as they need to go for the Phi Phi Island tour... who supposedly pick them up between 7.30-8am...but they got lost finding the place and only came at 8.30pm...
Meanwhile in the morning... we grilled hotdog and salami for breakfast.... and heat up egg tart, croissant ... The hot dogs is super nice.. everyone love them!
Jaclyn and me woke up early so we were chilling at the poolside with grandma and grandpa....
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| Chill-laxing by the pool in the morning |
And after breakfast , time for a swim with the kids....
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| Happy.... |
After swimming and shower, we got ready and leave house by 10am... My second younger sister and her hubby went shopping while hubby and me went for elephant ride with the kids.
It took us quite a while to find the place as the GPS kept bringing us to the wrong location... in the end found where we wanted to go.. Kok Chang Safari .. apparently this place is better at treating their elephants though the rates are slightly higher than the other place.. we had a good time here.
Kids less than 4 years old is free... and as the seats are not enough for 4 of us .. we got into 2 elephants...
Prior to our trip, Justin keep wanting to go on elephant rides, kept saying even before we left for Phuket but once got onto elephant.. started crying... I think he is scared.. on the other hand, Jaclyn loves the ride, kept saying it was super fun!
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| Rates for elephant ride |
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| Posing with elephant |
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| Justin and me |
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| Nice photo |
After the ride, we went for a lunch nearby.. at Baan Chow Restaurant. Great view , food is normal... price is slightly pricey but we were hungry so just settle for the food.
After lunch, we went for coffee and cakes at A Spoonful of Sugar. It had great reviews online but were quite disappointed with their cakes.... it says nice homemade cake but very disappointed with the quality of the cake. Coffee is good, i also had Magic Mocha which is nice and special. Instead of using steamed milk for mocha, it used coconut milk so the mocha has a tinge of coconut taste... kinda special.. a bit weird in the beginning but getting nicer as i drank more... yum!
Meanwhile, mummy, daddy, my younger sister and her hubby enjoyed their day at Phi Phi Island Tour....It was quite a good tour, plenty of water and food onboard, nice lunch... and the tour guide is nice and friendly...
They came back at 4 plus and even had another round of swim at our pool....
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| Snorkelling |
Kids slept till about 7pm and then we went to Patong to walk walk and dinner. Parked at Junceylon ... easier to find parking and fees aren't too expensive (10 baht per hour, and if purchased/eat 100 baht, you will get free parking for 3 hours, not a bad deal)
We just had a quick and simple dinner at McD then walk around the area... was already very late when we reached home... bout 12 plus... super tired.. quickly go sleep :)
28th November 2014
The next day, as usual we had pool time after breakfast...
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| Justin is more comfortable with swimming today...Compared to yesterday where he just play a bit of water and stand around. |
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| Jaclyn crying as I pull her towards deeper water... she just wanted to sit at the side of the pool... |
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| So happy |
Got ready at 10.30am and first stop is Promthep Cape which is about 10 minutes away from where we stayed.
The sun is scorching when we reached but since we are here, of course need to explore a bit... saw lots of brides and groom taking photo for their wedding album... view is good... just a little too hot...
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| Group photo |
We wanted to lunch at
Rawai Seafood Restaurant again and it only opens after 1pm, so went for elephant ride again.... This time hubby , Justin and me didn't ride since we already went for it yesterday. My second younger sis also couldn't ride as she is pregnant... So the rest of them went for it...
It is free for Jaclyn and she loves the ride so much, so she went for it again.. this time with grandma...
The rest of us who stayed, we had ice cream and cool drinks to cool down....
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| Girl girl enjoying the ride |
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| Daddy and my brother in law |
Lunch is at Rawai Seafood Restaurant again.. we ordered more or less the same stuff since it is so yummy.... didnt take photos cause everyone just busy eating...
We were exhausted so went back to villa to nap.... I slept for a while then chill by eating some tidbits and watching movie on my iPad. Jaclyn is very tired, she slept till almost 7.30pm...
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| Fantasea... |
Mummy, daddy, my second sis and her hubby went for Fantasea .. the rest of us are too tired so we just rest in the villa and went for dinner at
Sala Mexicali.. OMG, the chicken fajitas is the best i have ever eaten... the meat is well marinated, soft and i don't know how to describe... just keep eating... yummy!
This is the entrance to the restaurant. Upon entering, the decor is simple yet cosy. There are already a few other tables occupied by the time we reached.
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| Entrance to the restaurant |
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| Simple yet cosy decor |
Fried chicken is rather normal...
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| Fried chicken... |
I ordered chicken fajitas and it is the best I had ever eaten. First time the chicken meat is so tender and so well marinated. The onions, capsicum all very well cooked and taste fantastic. It is served with warm and soft fajitas and accompanied by sour cream, cheese, homemade tomatoes cubes, and homemade guacamole. It was so nice that everyone gave thumbs up! A must try if you are here.
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| Fajitas |
Hubby ordered salmon and it is also nice but not as breathtaking as my fajitas. The mashed potatoes are homemade and there are minced vegetables inside which are special. The salad is well flavored too.
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| Salmon on mashed potatoes |
My sis ordered chicken quesadillas and it is also not too bad. Nicely flavored but verdict is i still love my fajitas the most!
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| Quesadillas chicken |
After dinner, my younger sis and her hubby went out walk walk while hubby and me slept early... the kids were tired too so slept early too...
29th November 2014
Will be flying back today... it is the last day of our holiday... Went out to get breakfast as our sausages and bread finish....
So today we will be having local food for breakfast....Found a few stalls with good food..
Some of the good ones...
These are little mini tarts with coconut milk inside.... coconut milk is still jelly-ish after cooking, and it is top with sweet potatoes or spring onion... love them!
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| Sweet coconut mini tart |
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| Coconut mini tart? |
The other nice one is this mini fried "you tiao" .. you can eat them on its own or dip in kaya.. very nice too!
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| Mini "you tiao" with kaya dip |
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| Fried "you tiao" |
We also had fried chicken with glutinous rice... fried chicken is nice. the rice is pretty normal.
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| Fried chicken with glutinous rice |
Went for a last round of swimming after breakfast and then checked out. Electricity is not inclusive of the stay and cost 1600 baht for 3 nights stay.
Went Patong again as my sis wanted to buy some souvenir.... We lunch at Fuji Japanese Restaurant and the food is good! Even have free dessert and coffee with each set meal ordered.. yummy! We were rushing so didnt manage to take photos.
After lunch, was pretty rush to the airport but luckily still manage to check in and board on time! Phew....
Flew back uneventfully and had a quick dinner at airport before coming home...
Great trip overall though the weather is a little too hot... Do ensure sufficient hydration for both yourself and your kiddos during the trip!
Some highlight of the trip:
I especially love the private pool and dip in it quite a few times during our short trip.
Seafood at Rawai is really nice and at a very reasonable price.
My girl love the elephant rides and went on it twice.
I also love the mexican food that we had during the last night of our trip.
Most importantly, it was a great family trip and everyone had a good time.
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