STOP !!! I was saying we / our /etc . Let me introduce the grp. Just 3 . . Gaurav Paruthi, Sharvil Pradeep Patil and myself.
Day 1: FRIDAY, 31st evening 3.30 pm
Being optimistic that we dont miss our flight we ran to Raffles Place for a good deal to exchange SGD for Baht. Started with 250 SGD each. We were just on time at the terminal. When standing at the queue, checking all the details like a perfect orthodox, I let 3 groups cross me. Worst thing is I was just looking at the passports. Forget it more important issues yet to come...
Sharvil had a smiley face, expecting he had enough money for the trip. Everything went well and we landed at Phuket. We directly ran to the Passport Checking counter, waited for 30 min in the queue to know that we have to take VISA-On Arrival first. With no issues, got the VISA for 1 k Baht. Went to a tourism counter to book a Phi-Phi Island trip which takes away the next day till evening. Took a mini bus, to get driven all the way to JENNY guesthouse. After we got down, we very soon realize that we have to be at jinny guesthouse [Assole .. the bus driver, hu said that was the correct address]. Took another cab and went to JInny finally... after a lot of mime, to convey the address to the locals. Jinny is on 'piss''it'koranee road, ofcourse stopped myself from miming it.
After a 30 min rest on the cozy beds, dreaming of the good time ahead (talking abt sleeping), we strolled down to a nicely decorated Restaurant and seems to be the best in Phuket - TIGER INN. There is a live band ... music is gud spanish / mexican one [ both are same according to Guarav ]. Enjoyed the photo and the ambience of the restaurant. Walked out paying 1000 Baht wihch we generally pay for our dinner at Singapore on weekends [too costly to be precise].
To our surprise, there were road side bars, which are of no interest to us. We dragged ourselves to the guesthouse and I had a great night sleeping with no dream. I take it as the best night, when I dont have a dream.
Day 2: Started at 7.00 am . We got ready for the rest of the day at phuket by 8 am. We were taken to the speed boat terminal in a mini bus [again], given some biscuits, tea,/coffee as breakfast. It is said that on sea, in a speedboat, front end occupiers will have to experience THai Boxing and rear end passengers will have a nice Thai Massage. We preferred boxing and ya had a whirpool under my abs. It was a temporary dismay. First reached PHI PHI LEH Island, which is one of the most beautiful islands I have ever seen [forget abt my count]. Started Snorkelling at the beach there to see nothing more than White Sand underneath. Moved on to Monkey Island, where monkeys were too many and they were jumping onto the boat for the fruits we offered. There comes the real Snorkelling. We were given 30 min to snorkel in the crystal clear sea water of arnd 10 ft depth. Minding my expertise in swimming, took a life jacket and the snorkelling equipment. For the first time I have seen the real 'DISCOVERY' type sea bed. It was mind blowing. I was in a trance for a while observing the fish, the vegetation and other porcupine type animals just under me. My ecstatic feeling can be just expressed fractionally, to the best.
The next part is PHI PHI DON Island, where we had a good heavy lunch. Im a poor veg guy, so just some vegetables and Spaghetti with noodles and rice for me. Satisfied with the lunch, we went to another island, Yuan Island, where Sharvil spent all the time playing with fish at the beach with all his snorkeling equipment and life jacket on [its hardly 1 ft depth......chotu]. Had some fruits and started back to Phuket on a rough sea.
Reaching home, we made ourselves ready by resting for 1 hr, for the shopping and the night life ahead. Gaurav is just not thinking anything other than Thai Massage. He had it in a 'gud way' the next day. We shopped for a while. Nepalis are worth mentioning for the reasons known. They are much better than local. Most of the shopkeepers are Nepalis. Lucky guyz they are... dont need to have a VISA.
Day 3: Sunday, starts at 11 pm, as we are just left with Water sports and some interesting stuff
Trying to save money, as we were broke the prev. day and withdrew another 400 SGD, we went to SUBWAY and McD, leaving Indian restaurants. Jet skieing, para sailing and Banana boating are eye catchy. I just did the first one, a little. And the rest were enjoyed by Sharvil and Gaurav. I took the role of the audience, rather, let me put myself as a photgrapher.
Yo... we took 2 motor bikes [we are on road now]. We started our 1 hr travel to the a tip of the island, Phronthemp cape to see the sun dipping over the edges of the ocean [see pictures]. Gaurav had a tough time starting the bike, ensured that it is his learning stage. Sharvil a little better than him , took that as a chance and could start the bike successfully after a while and drove a little better than Gaurav. We lanced down the road, over the hills, through the greenary, crossing Thai elephants, racing some young girls, pausing for poses. I will be happier, if I can have a tenacious memory of all these.
Day 4: "MOnday Morning" The figurative sense of that phrase can be defined from our faces then. Had a dull, cold drive to the airport in the cab, we booked. Now we are 1 hr in advance for the flight. After a long wait, took the flight and finally planned to enjoy writing this, this way.
It so happened;
**Sharvil got his name -- " Chotu "
**Fun Q by Sharvil: He intended to ask "What do u call the female Monkey?"
[ Are.. Bandhar ka BIBI ko kya bolega ? ]
**I was the " Chicken " at the water sports with all my dismay about it.
**GP proved his driving skills
Spent nearly 600 SGD per head expected arnd 400 SGD { Is Sharvil still smiling !? :)}. Just kidding, we all realize the next line to its best.
Its all WORTH SPENDING, WORTH LIVING THAT JOY and WORTH ShARING WITH U ALL, so had all means of travel - Airways, Roadways and Waterways in one trip of 2 days. Thats quiet interesting abt ourselves :)
Photos from Nikon P80 : http://picasaweb.google.com/sistasasi/ToughLifePSIISingapore#
