Thailand 2014 - Phuket - Day 4

Check-out day today.

Thoughts on Gracelands:
As we were a group of 30 for a big birthday bash, Gracelands set up was right for a group that wanted everything in the one spot. There's restaurants, pool bars, multiple pools and Bangla Rd is only 10 mins or so walk away which the 'kids' loved.

Most patrons are aussies who like to drink and arent quiet.  If you're aussie and well traveled, you therefor won't feel like you've changed countries as everything is very western orientated. The next largest population are Russians.

The rooms are ok. They are clean.  Just one drawer which made unpacking challenging.

The gym was excellent :)

Today we did the Phuket - Singapore connecting flight to Langkawi. 

Our issued itinerary always had us:

First: landing at Singapore on flight Silkair 753 at 5.40pm. 

Second: connecting via a 6.35pm flight.

The boarding time was 5.45pm. This means a total of 5 minutes to get us off one plane and onto the next. Crazy.

Flight 1 arrived 10 mins late therefor the luggage did not make the flight with us. 

However, even if the flight was not late there would still have been issues as 5 mins to get from the arrival gate F80 (off memory) down to E24 is possibly the most mindless connecting flight that Silkair could have connected! And this is coming from someone with a very heavily stamped passport that is no stranger to Changi.

We were just lucky the gate moved to F30 so we could actually make flight 2 (by the skin of our teeth).

My point is - 10 minute delay or no 10 minutes delay, that connecting flight was never going to come without issues.

When we landed at Langkawi we went straight to lost and found. We were told to just wait around and maybe the luggage would come tonight. But ... there were no flights coming in from Changi so how was that possible? 

We asked procedurally what we needed to do. Go to the hotel we were told. And call later. We phoned later and was told we'd get a call back in 10 minutes. Never happened.

Thailand 2014 - Phuket - Day 3

Today we were back up at Luguna, this time at my sisters place as a photographer had been organised to take family pics as its hard to get the families and kids all together these days when we all live so far apart.

The villas we just gorgeous so I'm sure the photos will be great.

After the pics we lazed around. The boys had a go at scaling a coconut tree and got one so we all had a little taste.

Then we frolicked in the pool.

This night was the big birthday bash for Steve's 50th. A few nights ago a few of our group stopped at a little bar hut for a drink and got talking to the owner. She convinced Rebecca and Steve that she should host the birthday. It's called Chopper.

She'd put food on, organised music, blown up a number of balloons, put on a cake ... It was absolutely amazing, cheap and so personalised. What a great night and memory!!!

Rebecca wrote on the roof so if I ever go back, I'd love to go back and see where we literally left our mark!

Thailand 2014 - Phuket - Day 2

Another average day with the weather so another long lunch was in order.

We wanted to go to Surin Beach but was really surprised to learn that with the recentl military action most of the business on the beach are totally closed down!!!

Twin Palms is still standing strong though so we went to their buffet at Oriental Spoon Restaurant.

OMG ... There was a cheese fondue station, fresh sushi station, Oyster shucking station, fresh seafood spread, DIY salad bar, antipasto station, selection of curries, pizza and pasta, roasts (the duck was amazing!!!), fresh fruit selection, desserts, chocolate fountain, cheese selection. What more do you want ... really?

Next we went up past Laguna to visit some friends who live between here and Singapore and enjoyed good wine and good company until early evening.

Due to the long lunch we didn't need dinner so went and got massaged instead :)

Malaysia 2014 - Langkawi - Day 3

Started the day with a 2.5 hour massage package at

The arrival was fit for a King and Queen. It was warm, attentive and professional.

Within 10 minutes the combination of the foot soak, relaxing drink and sound therapy had me totally zen.

Then into the foot massage room. I was ready to take zen to the next level ... that's when I realized there was a playing toddler in the room next door. Often loudly.  Tried to block it out but as a woman I was on child alert. So ... Bing! Out of relaxation I came within 10 mins and remained hyper alert for the remaining 2 hours. The little one even ran in and out of the room at one stage.

Next room was the massage room and that was quiet and peaceful. But ... Just as I finally went to my happy place it was all over.

If the background noise wasn't creche like this would have been the best massage package I'd experienced globally.

Lunch was also at Telaga Harbour/Perchana (sp?) Quay at Tapaz. The tapas are quite good but the fresh fish special with potatoes was sensational. It was just lovely enjoying these on the (tiny) harbour.

Next we went to check out Temurun Waterfall. I'd say people may have to check their weather app before going. Im assuming if it's rained within the last week that's what determines if there's water???

Decided to go for a dip instead. Pantai Pebble beach didn't look enticing as there were rocks everywhere (not 'pebbles' ... rocks) so checked out Pasir Tenkorak Beach instead. Pasir Tenkorak Beach is small and sweet - of the 3 beaches we've swum at, the other 2 are so much better. Nothing wrong with it as such, just not as picturesque as what the rest of the island has to offer. It was now 6.30 so back to the hotel.

Dinner was on site at the Oriental Pearl restaurant.

Malaysia 2014 - Langkawi - Day 1

This morning, thanks to no local help with our luggage ... we found it ourselves.

8.30 called the airport and again got "well call you in 10 mins". Come 11am concluded that wasn't going to happen.

So, first stop google - I googled what flights were coming in and there were no flights coming in for 2 days from Silkair.

Next stop Silkair's online policy. Here is where we found out for the first time we needed to complete a lost baggage report.

No point in calling back Maya at Langkawi as clearly we weren't her problem. So, called the Singapore lost and found and got significantly further in 10 minutes than the entire time dealing with the Lankawi office. Note to self in case I ever need it again, the number is +6565974500. Found out bags went back to Phuket ... then went to KL. Got the flight number they were arriving on and the new rush tag numbers. Got everything! Why couldn't Langkawi do this???!!! Was also strongly recommended to go fill in the report as otherwise insurance wouldn't be claimable.

Went to the airport and asked to see Maya. 10 minutes later she wandered over. She shared some of what I already knew.. the rest I explained to her. 

Asked to fill in the report, she didn't seem terribly obliging but nonetheless she vanished for another 15 minutes to get the report. 

When the luggage appeared, I explained policy is to send luggage to us - and as we had to come to it due to the stuff up of not telling us about the report we should be sent back to the hotel with the luggage. Maya got annoyed and after arguing went ahead and organised the transport. She said the car would be here in 10 mins. 15 mins later ... no car ... asked about the car and it was on the other side of the island so no choice but to spend even more money on the situation and rent a car.

Back to the hotel and when all unpacked we thought why go anywhere further and went to the hotel's amazing beach!

For dinner we went to Pahn-Thai, one of the restaurant's here at Berjaya Resort.  The view is amazing, the feel is romantic and the food is just delicious. You simply cant miss this experience. It's also very reasonably priced and the staff speak perfect english and are incredibly helpful and attentive. Soft shell crab is a must!!!

Malaysia 2014 - Langkawi - Day 2

Late breakfast today then into the car we hired to see Telaga Tujuh/ Seven Wells (waterfalls)

I can't believe there's no charge for anything? The whole experience and views are just magical!!!

Would encourage western women to take along a tshirt that you're happy to swim in as if you're outnumbered (as I was) by locals and non western tourists that aren't as accustomed to flesh (bikini) ... it will make you feel less 'on show' if you can cover up.

Also couldn't believe how many clean toilets there were :)

You'd seriously be mad to miss here and you can experience the falls in as little or as much time as you have.

From there, as we only had a few hours we thought we'd go check out a beach that we were curious about, but didn't need to spend a lengthy amount of time there. So off we went to find Black Sand Beach. 

Animals that we had to stop for on the way so they could cross the road:

- Monkies

- Cows

- Baby Crocodile

Couldn't find Black Sand Beach. Must be only accessible by a resort?

All worked out well though as we just redirected to Tanjung Rhu Beach ... and ... it ... was ... magnificent. And ... practically empty???

Only issue was that there's no shade so, with my skin, it had to be kept short and sweet. But, it's undoubtedly up there as one of the top beaches on the island.

For dinner we went to Privelege at Perdana Quay. We spent approx 400B and what a let down. Entrées were ok ... but the raw salmon was cooked???  ... the french bourgogne pinot noir was aweful ... the duck main was fine ... my lobster, well there lied the main problem. Menu says it's 450g when it comes out 180g (at best) in a tasteless broth. And,  it's awfully overcooked.  Goodluck trying to convince me that the base of the broth wasn't a chicken stock cube. And, that was 1/3 of the total bill. View ... what view??? you're behind a glass window viewing a few boats front on and a road to the left. Staff seemed apologetic about the lobster issue but were all talk no action. It wasn't aweful but there are so many better places to go.

Thailand 2014 - Phuket - Day 1

We got in late last night to Phuket and the rest of the 30 person clan here for the big birthday bash had also just got in so we went for a cheap eat off Banlga Rd.

Today after breakfast we went for a swim in one of the hotel's pools. We are staying at Graceland Hotel in Patong. For lunch we went up to Baan Rim Pa in Patong. Perfect day to be lunching as the weather was pretty average. Pics attached including the spectacular view.

We had a mix entree for starters then a variety of mains between the 7 adults and 2 kids plus at least 4 bottles of wine. Bill came to 24,500 bhat. Worth every cent :)

After the lunch that spanned across hours we went back to the hotel for a relax and that turned into being asleep by 8pm. Aren't we exciting!