The last couple of days in Phuket passed incredibly quickly. Sairozi and I went to the beach almost every day and we also visited some places that we didn't have time to go to before. We saw Wat Chalong, which is a large temple about 20 minutes from the university and a famous tourist destination in Phuket. Afterwards we passed Rawai beach, which was a bit disappointing, because it's was quite small and dirty. But if you drive from Rawai to Promthep cape (I think, that's what it's called, but I don't remember exactly) and then to Kata Noi beach you pass many small beaches with white sand that are great to hang out and swim. During low season they must be great to visit, but since we saw them during high season they were extremely crowded.
Unfortunately our time in Phuket passed so quickly and out of a sudden it was already time to leave. On our way to the airport we took the local bus to Central Festival and then took the airport shuttle bus from there (it leaves once an hour until 5pm and costs 85 Baht/person). It takes about 1 hour to go from Central Festival to the airport.
I must admit that it was kind of sad to leave the island because I've had a great time there. I liked the university but Phuket also offers lots of other things. The beaches are great and even though it's a famous tourist destination the village where we lived wasn't touristic at all. Prices there are still affordable and the atmosphere is really relaxed. And in case you want to go out Pathong is only a 15 minute drive away. My semester there was a great experience and I would really recommend it to everyone who is interested in spending some time abroad.
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Friday, 11 November 2011
Loy Krathong
Yesterday was a holiday in Thailand, Loy Krathong. Our university teachers had recommended us to go to a dam close to the university to see the festival because it would be less crowded than in Patong or other places on the island. We went there at around 7.30pm. The first impression was amazing. People let little boats made out of leaves, flowers and candles float on the lake and ballons where lighting up the sky. It was a truely magical experience.
The week before Loy Krathong a friend of mine visited us in Phuket. Actually he is staying in Bangkok but he left the city due to the floods. His visit gave us the chance to visit some other places in Phuket that we hadn't seen before. On Sunday we took him to Kamala beach. We hadn't been there before either but I was pleasantly surprised by it. It had a really relaxed and laid back atmosphere. However, the restaurants were totally overpriced (120 Baht for fried rice in a very simple looking place at the far end of the beach!). But if you just want to hang out there it's a really nice place.
It is also very close to one of the main attractions in Phuket. When we had a walk around on our search for affordable food we ended up at Phuket PhantaSea. They have daily shows there with an all you can eat buffet (show only: 1500 Baht, dinner only: 800 Baht, both: 1900 Baht.... so not in our budget). From the outside the place looked touristy but nice. However, two other exchange students went there and said that they weren't too impressed by the show and the food.
In the end we went to Patong to have dinner at a nice Isan restaurant (Isan is a province in Thailand) with live music. The singer tried his best and even sang an English song, even though it took us a while to figure out that it was English :) In the end it turned out to be a really nice evening.
The week before Loy Krathong a friend of mine visited us in Phuket. Actually he is staying in Bangkok but he left the city due to the floods. His visit gave us the chance to visit some other places in Phuket that we hadn't seen before. On Sunday we took him to Kamala beach. We hadn't been there before either but I was pleasantly surprised by it. It had a really relaxed and laid back atmosphere. However, the restaurants were totally overpriced (120 Baht for fried rice in a very simple looking place at the far end of the beach!). But if you just want to hang out there it's a really nice place.
It is also very close to one of the main attractions in Phuket. When we had a walk around on our search for affordable food we ended up at Phuket PhantaSea. They have daily shows there with an all you can eat buffet (show only: 1500 Baht, dinner only: 800 Baht, both: 1900 Baht.... so not in our budget). From the outside the place looked touristy but nice. However, two other exchange students went there and said that they weren't too impressed by the show and the food.
In the end we went to Patong to have dinner at a nice Isan restaurant (Isan is a province in Thailand) with live music. The singer tried his best and even sang an English song, even though it took us a while to figure out that it was English :) In the end it turned out to be a really nice evening.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Free time activities
Besides studying we also have lots of free time and Phuket offers lots of activities to spend your time and money. Going to the beach is always an option and there are plenty of beaches to choose from.
Apart from just hanging out at the beach there is lots of other stuff you can do here. Last week we went bowling (60 Baht/person/game)and two weeks ago asiaexchange arranged surfing lessons for those who were interested. It cost us 1000 Baht (25 Euros) for a 1,5 hour lesson (it might seem like a short time but trust me, it's more than enough!) and we could use the boards for the whole day. It was lots of fun but the next day my body felt like I got run over by the All Blacks... ouuch! Of course we've also had some pool parties since around half of the people are living in two houses which have pools. So don't worry about feeling bored in Phuket, there is always something to do here.
Patong beach is closest to the university (15 minutes by motorcycle) but also the most crowded beach on Phuket. It's full of tourists, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and people selling all kinds of stuff. If you're looking for entertainment it's the right place to go but for swimming and relaxing on the beach there are better places. There are also many water sports available in Patong.
Karon beach is located a 10 minute drive to the south of Patong beach. It's a large beach with a volleyball field and when we went there it was not too crowded and the sea was perfect to swim.
Kata beach is just 5 minutes south of Karon beach and a very nice but expensive place. There are lots of activities you can do there such as jet ski (people told me that you shouldn't try it on Phuket, because there are lots of scams, who will charge you hundreds of Euros even if there is just a small scratch on the jet ski), banana boat, surfing and para-sailing. The scenery is also very beautiful but take your own lunch because a simple Pad Thai can cost you around 200 Baht (5 Euros) on Kata beach.
Kata Noi beach is at the southern tip of Kata beach and has been my favourite so far. It's a lot smaller than the other beaches and there are also a lot less tourists. The wave were quite big when I went there and it was great fun playing in the water and diving through the waves.
Photos: Patong, Karon, Kata, Kata Noi
Photos: Patong, Karon, Kata, Kata Noi
Apart from just hanging out at the beach there is lots of other stuff you can do here. Last week we went bowling (60 Baht/person/game)and two weeks ago asiaexchange arranged surfing lessons for those who were interested. It cost us 1000 Baht (25 Euros) for a 1,5 hour lesson (it might seem like a short time but trust me, it's more than enough!) and we could use the boards for the whole day. It was lots of fun but the next day my body felt like I got run over by the All Blacks... ouuch! Of course we've also had some pool parties since around half of the people are living in two houses which have pools. So don't worry about feeling bored in Phuket, there is always something to do here.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Koh Phi Phi – "The Beach"
After the orientation asiaexchange 
had organized a trip to Koh Phi Phi, the island next to where “The Beach” with Leonardo diCaprio was shot. If you are now thinking about the quiet paradise island that you can see in the movie – forget it. The place was so crowded that it would be impossible to build another small shop on it and even though
it was low season, the whole island was full of tourists. At night the beach turned into a dance floor and you had to keep a distance of at least 70 meters to the bars to be able to have a normal conversation. If you are into partying, don’t mind being surrounded by other tourists and want to spend a couple of Baht more on food & accommodation compared to other places in Thailand (we stayed at the Harmony House and paid 400 Baht per night for a very basic room with bathroom, fan and cold water), Koh Phi Phi is THE place to be. However, even if you’re not a party person, Koh Phi Phi offers beautiful scenery and if you charter a boat for a daytrip you can go to less crowded but still very beautiful beaches.
had organized a trip to Koh Phi Phi, the island next to where “The Beach” with Leonardo diCaprio was shot. If you are now thinking about the quiet paradise island that you can see in the movie – forget it. The place was so crowded that it would be impossible to build another small shop on it and even though
it was low season, the whole island was full of tourists. At night the beach turned into a dance floor and you had to keep a distance of at least 70 meters to the bars to be able to have a normal conversation. If you are into partying, don’t mind being surrounded by other tourists and want to spend a couple of Baht more on food & accommodation compared to other places in Thailand (we stayed at the Harmony House and paid 400 Baht per night for a very basic room with bathroom, fan and cold water), Koh Phi Phi is THE place to be. However, even if you’re not a party person, Koh Phi Phi offers beautiful scenery and if you charter a boat for a daytrip you can go to less crowded but still very beautiful beaches.
On Saturday we all went on such a trip and it was definitely worth the 250 Baht we paid for it. First we went to another island and spend some time at the beach. We could also go snorkeling; however you could hardly see anything (i.e. nothing at all) due to the recent rainfall and the rough sea. Hanging out at the beach and playing in the water was lots of fun though. Afterwards we went cliff jumping and some of the asiaexchange students were brave enough to try it… I wasn’t one of them. In the late afternoon we arrived back in Koh Phi Phi.
That evening Sairozi and I had a nice dinner at the beach to celebrate our 3rd anniversary. Even on Koh Phi Phi we could find a quiet place and we had a wonderful evening. The next day it was already time to return to Phuket, because the following day university started.
Friday, 5 August 2011
What to bring to Thailand?!
Only ten days left until I'm leaving Germany and it's about time to think about what to take, or rather what NOT to take with me to Thailand. On my flight to Phuket I will only be allowed to bring one bag with up to 15kg which limits the amount of clothes, make up and other "very important things" that every female traveller needs to take with her. For sure some light shirts and pants are on my list but I will also take 1 jacket and 1 set of formal cloths with me. The insect repellent will have to stay at home cause you can get better and cheaper ones in Thailand. However, I guess I will take some sunblog with me (I'm sure they have it in Phuket as well, but when I was looking for it in eg. Bali it was totally overpriced!). Laptop, camera and bikini are a must as well... and shoes!! With a German size 40 I found it quite difficult to find (cheap) shoes in Bangkok so I guess I'll take an extra pair with me. Another must-bring is a bed cover... not because I find it too cold in Thailand (well, it depends on the ac^^) but I use it as a sleeping bag. It keeps the mosquitos away and especially in places were you're not so sure about the hygiene it can be really usefull. And for all the ladies... bring some tampons! You might be able to get them somewhere but it's quite handy to have them with you, cause usually you can't find any if you really need them. Ok, that should be it... leave some space in you bag for souveniers or clothes you'll buy in Thailand. Just fill up the rest of your bag with your favourite candy or stuff that you can leave in Thailand so later you don't have to think about what to take back home and what to leave behind.
I almost forgot... I scanned my passport (I did the same with my learning agreements and all other important documents) and saved the files in my dropbox/email account. It's better to be prepared and have a copy just in case my bag/passport gets stolen.
I almost forgot... I scanned my passport (I did the same with my learning agreements and all other important documents) and saved the files in my dropbox/email account. It's better to be prepared and have a copy just in case my bag/passport gets stolen.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Who am I and what will I be doing in Phuket?
Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! For the next couple of months I'm going to share with you my experiences at the Prince of Songkla university in Phuket/Thailand. But before I start I would like to thank Asia Exchange. Their general scholarship program made it possible for me to study one semester in Phuket and I am very thankful for this unique opportunity!
Ok, so now back to the question. Who am I? My name is Anna, I'm 21 and currently doing my Bachelor's degree in "International Cultural and Business Studies" with a main focus on Southeast Asia at the Universtiy of Passau (Germany). Spending at least 1 semester abroad is a compulsory part of my studies and since I have a special interest in the Southeast Asian region Thailand seems to be a great choice! Of course, I'm very excited about studying in Phuket. And luckily I will not go through this adventure on my own. My boyfriend, Sairozi, is going to stay with me in Phuket and I'm sure we're going to have an awesome time :D
Concerning the second part of my question "what will I be doing in Phuket"... well, there're many things I'd like to do during my stay. First of all I want to learn the Thai language, get to know the Thai culture (especially the food!), learn about business in Asia and Thailand and make lots of new friends! Of course travelling and seeing the beauty of Thailand's nature is on my list as well ;)
Ok, so now back to the question. Who am I? My name is Anna, I'm 21 and currently doing my Bachelor's degree in "International Cultural and Business Studies" with a main focus on Southeast Asia at the Universtiy of Passau (Germany). Spending at least 1 semester abroad is a compulsory part of my studies and since I have a special interest in the Southeast Asian region Thailand seems to be a great choice! Of course, I'm very excited about studying in Phuket. And luckily I will not go through this adventure on my own. My boyfriend, Sairozi, is going to stay with me in Phuket and I'm sure we're going to have an awesome time :D
Concerning the second part of my question "what will I be doing in Phuket"... well, there're many things I'd like to do during my stay. First of all I want to learn the Thai language, get to know the Thai culture (especially the food!), learn about business in Asia and Thailand and make lots of new friends! Of course travelling and seeing the beauty of Thailand's nature is on my list as well ;)
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