Phuket Trip - Photos from My Dad's Camera

My parents' room was all decked out in orchids and fancy fruit bowls.
My dad had to take a photo of this. It's the bathroom mat!
What used to be open bare beaches of Patong is now filled with stalls and statues. I've been here 15 years ago and a lot has changed.
Notice the crowd and the stall set up for the Tourism Carnival opening.
Nigel fooling around with more dolphins.

My macho son and his curiosity over the bugs and insects served at this stall. He insist to have just one.
Without even hesitating, he took a fried silkwork and munched on it ! Eyeww! I asked how the maggot tasted - he just said, "Nothing. Like nothing!" with a cheeky grin. No shivers at all.
Shopping at Jungceylon, Patong Beach. We walked all the way and took the tuk-tuk back to the hotel for 200bht! It was due to the traffic too. Jungceylon is a brand new shopping mall. A huge one with a Junk ship right in the middle. This shopping mall closed at 12 midnight that day!


The next day we hired a tour guide and went looking for seafood. This is at Parli Restaurant, Chalong Bay.
Seafood and good view of the Andaman Sea. Coconut was only less than 10bht in the markets and they sell it here for almost 50bht!.
No tourists here. I think the trick to finding a good place to eat is to go to where there are more locals eating than foreigners.

Mom and dad enjoying the view. Chalong bay was protected from the tsunami by the surrounding islands. Notice the fishing boats around.



Another big shopping mall, Central Festival is in Phuket Town. I like the supermarkets here. Lots of varieties, both local and imported goods. We also buy a lot of Boots products from Thailand. Our favourite toiletries!
Back at old Robinsons. Bought two pairs of shoes from here. I can only find shoes that fit me in Thailand. Those who know me - I have really big size 9 feet!!! Nigel had some fun messing around with some power toys. Sorry, very expensive toys. Thais are very accommodating. No one stopped us when he was whizzing around on the floor in this cool motorized bike.
A late lunch at Phuket Bay restaurant. The pier was quite rickety and the whole place looks a little rundown - Food still good. I bet the restaurant was glorious ten years ago! See the fishermen's village behind.


Fireworks when we arrived and when we left. How grand is that!

Our Trip to Phuket

We celebrated my mom's birthday by whisking her off to Phuket for a weekend. It's really all about the food and shopping. The beaches were crowded due to the Carnival that started on the 1st and right on our holiday weekend. We stayed at Club Andaman of Patong Beach, it feels like the Holiday Inn at the Ferringhi Beach, Penang. With all the festivities going on at the beach, streets were lined with food stalls and the night market fare. Just like what you'll see on the Discovery and Living channel. Unfortunately for poor Nigel, he was down with the viral fever throughout the trip and was having fever spells on and off. So, no playing on the beach and the poolside. He was grouchy most of the time and his appetite was just at a major low. Here are some of the pictures from my camera. Most of it is in my parent's new camera. Sorry, not much outdoor photos here - it rained most of the evenings! But we still managed to watch a spectacular firework show complete with hundreds of floating lanterns on the launching of the carnival at the Patong beach.

Poor Nigel. He looks pumped up with Antibiotics!

Seafood lunch at Parli Restuarant at Chalong Bay. We had clams, lobster, prawns, kailan with salted fish and papaya salad - My favourite!
Dad having a good meal. Prawns are really fresh here.
The rice is absolutely fragrant and what you'd expect from Thailand, Asia's Rice Bowl!
Most seafood restaurants are seafront establishments. They're quite rustic in appearance but I guess they're pretty old. Parli Restaurant is a favourite local haunt and I think the food was just fantastic. Must try their seafood fried rice - Hmmmmm!


Happy Birthday Mom! A lobster for a cake.
The lobster up close. Best oven-baked in butter and garlic.
Nigel, trying to clear his plate.
My mom's favourite part of the meal.
We whacked everything!
This is in Phuket Bay Restaurant at Phuket Town. It is also a seafront restaurant but very tourisy, but nevertheless - good food too. The Homok is incredible, it's our Malaysian version of Otak-otak but with loads of seafood, crab, squid , oysters and fish. Very spicy but yummy.
Fresh prawns in ginger and fish sauce. Absolutely fresh out from the swimming tank at the restaurant. They have a wonderful way of cutting the prawns, The butterflied prawns are slit into half up to the tail and twisted in, so when it is cooked the prawns's meat is extruded and the sauce just soaks in. Mouth watering dish!
Stan enjoying his meal. All the salivating infront of the Travel and Living Channel, finally satisfied!!!!

Christmas Family Gift Exchange

Hi Family, It's that time of the year!

We're planning the biggest family Christmas again this year. Most of you will be home for Christmas and for the second time now, we are doing the gift exchange with another new twist. Instead of gifts for the individual, it is a whole family affair. I've randomly drawn family names for the gift exchange, refer to the chart below for details. Family members will only have to buy ONE or accumulated gifts for the other designated family under a single budget. You may present the gifts in a big box or a basket with the family name labeled on top.

We will be including our other family members overseas, please keep in mind shipping or posting costs and timeline for these destinations. Addresses will be provided. Those who request to be excluded, please let yoonie know by 25th of Nov (and with a valid excuse!). If your name is not in the list and you wish to be included - do let us know, pronto!

BUDGET! BUDGET!
Since you will be buying gifts for the whole family, and to ensure some consistency, it is suggested that each box of gifts amounts to RM160 or more. You may also give other gifts to other family members at your own discretion and generosity. Please don't forget about the kids!

CHRISTMAS DAY CONTEST
This year's contest is about building your own Christmas tree. Surprise supplies will be given. You will be briefed on the rules and regulations on the day of the contest. Please choose 1 partner to participate. E-mail me your partners so that I can organise the supplies. You are also allowed to bring 1 secret weapon to decorate your tree. This year's present will be FANTASTIC - so join in the fun!!

ANY QUESTIONS? Leave a comment here or Email : duodesigns_2004@yahoo.com or call me at 012-2815900. Thanks and Hope to see everyone soon!

Please let me know if I've missed out anyone. Thanks!!! The list with the Orange button on your left is the gift buyer and the list on the right with the pink button is the recipient!