Travel: Easter Holiday @ Amanpuri Phuket

Kinda belated in posting my last phuket trip but what the hell, it's my blog. Lol

We had canceled the Japan trip and swap it to Phuket last min during the easter break. Initially we were booked in for Indigo Pearl Phuket because we had a good time there when it was newly opened in 2007. We should know better to go there first on a peak season, and secondly when it has gotten such a high ranking in Trip advisor. 

The place was jammed packed when we got there. Both the pools were fully "loaded" with all the holiday makers. I couldnt even find a single lounging chair till after 3pm. It was crazy. What made it worse was the fact that none of the in house restaurants we wanted were available due to full crowd. Seriously! We ended up having to eat at one those local eateries along the beaches but I swear I wont go back there again after their very dishonest attitude of overcharging. Sometimes, this is one of the reason why i dislike going to these developing countries, where some people lacks the integrity to run business just because they are in a tourist district, it really brings a bad name to the region.

However, what broke the camel's back and had us scurrying away was not the crowd, but a bunch of Singaporean family. We were rudely awaken at about 9.30am by this series of screaming kids running loudly up and down the long common corridor and adults talking loudly. I can understand noise but come on man, this is a resort and while you want to unwind, so do other people. Will it kill you to talk softer and stop your kids from making such a din near other people's room? This is not your house and common courtesy would be nice.

So not having the luxury to sleep in, I made the most of it and woke up to brush my teeth. During the next 10-15mins, the kids were still screaming. WTF. I really am annoyed with these ill mannered brats. I opened the main door and looked. The parents obviously saw me checking the source of disturbance but not a word of apology or taking their kids in hand. U can tell a singaporean anywhere from their accent and I couldnt be more ashamed by having to call myself a fellow citizen at this instant. Dont singaporean parents have good parenting skills when they are away? Sure this is a holiday resort but shouldnt kids be making noise at a pool or playground or open field instead of just outside someone else's door?  There are other kids in the resort. How is it that I couldnt hear any noise from the non chinese kids but once the singaporeans appeared, their noise could bring the house down? So I wasnt being anal about kids, I just had the bad luck of constantly being placed in the same confine places with irritating singapore kids.

Just when we were deciding what to do, the next room of Singapore adults started chatting and laughing. They made sooo much noise that EVERYONE resting in the pool area looked up and stared at their room. Dear god, did they think being chinese, we are part of those inconsiderate noisy bastards too? hope not. Judging by those looks, I obviously wasnt the only ones being annoyed at the having the peace and serenity destroyed by a family of selfish people.

However, it was thanks to them that I had the great fortune of moving to Amanpuri. It was US$700 more expensive than what we paid per night at Indigo but my husband didnt want to have our precious holidays ruined by a bunch of people who couldnt learn to tone down their volume. 

It was funny listening in to my hubby's conversation with the Amanpuri people. He was asking how long it will take and he couldnt believe his ears when they told him 45mins. So he spend the next few mins aruging about how it is impossible. I couldnt hold it in and asked him "Does it really matter if its 30mins ot 45mins dear? I mean, is it such a deal breaker? Plus if it is less than 45mins, then the ride will be less than 45mins, so why are u endlessly going on and on in circles about it?" Hearing that, my hubby seemed to awaken from his broken record loop and told the hotel to book in our stay. I went back to my packing. Sometimes, i really dont get how his brain functions...lol

Anycase, Amanpuri was lovely. Expensive, but lovely. And prob because of the price, there were lesser kids. No let me rephrase that. There were lesser western kids but NO chinese kids. However, the western kids were very well behaved. Apart from the beach, they were very quiet and conducted themselves appropriately and I couldnt even hear them talk, least of all anything remotely resembling like scream. Why is there such a disparity in upbringing I cannot understand. Is there something wrong with some chinese parenting?

Anycase, the room here is big and spacious and I love the toiletries for a change as compared to other standard fares in other resorts. There isnt a TV in the room but u can request for it. Each unit comes with an outdoor pavilion. It was too hot to roast outside, plus I might as well roast by the beach than out amongst the garden. Still it was nice. I love their library too! They have really great decent English reads! From pop fiction to classics. U can easily find something here! The best thing was I forgotten my iphone charger and the hotel has one to loan to! Amen!!!

The changing room and main bedroom

 The outdoor pavilion that comes with each self standing villa.

 The garden view resorts

The common pool

The best thing about Amanpuri was that they had lovely private beach. The sand were white and soft and the water was so placid and welcoming. For the first time in my life, i actually enjoyed being by the beach, esp when i have wi-fi access all the way here!

 Lounging by the beach

 Inviting waters

Having a lap swim after a day of doing nothing

 View from top from the restaurant

 "YEah! After a successful sun tanning day!"

 "Enjoying my book in the shaded breeze..this is life!"

 "the biggest hermit crab I have seen to date!"

"View of the restaurant from down at the beach"

 The sea view from the gym

We snorkeled but there was nothing much to see. I saw this big beautiful pink jellyfish and was rather excited until I remembered "Oh fk, jellyfish sting is venomous isnt it?" and i have never backpedaled so fast in my life!!! I got on to shore and goggled. Ok, box jellies had been spotted before. Okie, going too far out is not a good idea then. When I water jetski and I saw so many jellies further out from the cornered off swimming area. They were lovely from the water surface though.

Food was not bad in the place. The thai food was actually pretty good and so was the Italian. Didnt try the Japanese food because the menu didnt look appetizing enough. 

At the end of the stay, we gotten a lovely Amanjunkie shirt as a gift for staying more than twice in more than two different Aman resorts. I winked an evil grin and twinkle at my partner and he rolled his eyes..."What have i turned u into" he bemoaned. Too late now darling, too late now. I can never go back to Indigo Pearl ever again! Bwhahaha.

Travel Log: Settling in Sala Phuket

After 4 beautiful days at Pearl Indigo Resort, we moved on to Sala Phuket Resort. http://www.salaresorts.com/phuket/

It was about 20mins drive away from where we were originally. Sala is actually nearer to the JW Marriott compound really, about 5mins drive away but I personally think its MUCH nicer than JWM.

One is welcomed by the wide water pond like feature, with the sleek black reception counter overlooking it, with several cages enclosed with glittering tearshaped crystal hangin from withinI like how the whole reception area opens up to a long stretch of open air and greens, straight through all the way to the beach front. It's pretty, zen like, and reeks of nothing but tranquilty and peacefulness.

We arrived about 1.30pm and we got upgraded from a pool villa to a one-bedroom pool villa - for free. Fantastic!

The first villa we had was Villa 67 but we decided to swop for another similar villa the next day. Reason being we had a huge tree at the former villa and the birds were freaking noisy early in the morning -chirping away like at 5am. So much for being close to nature, not a great idea when u want to sleep in. The next villa 76 was MUCH better. Everything else was status quo, minus the birds and dropping leaves into the pool from tree.

I fell in love with the villa. The pool was nice and lengthy.

The rooms comes with french doors that opens out from the master and the living room.

The 2 rooms are divided by a solid swing door. Each room is equipped with its own TV and DVD/CD player and minibar. The rain-shower and toilet were all outdoor. I thought it was really quaint. I like showering outdoors but it was abit odd and inconvenient having to leave the comfort of the room to take a leak outside. Especially so when you rose from the middle of your sleep in the middle of the night and you have to stumble out, wrestling the blackout curtains, and unlatching the door, and then ambling out to the loo. I wish they had provided some candles so that I can keep the are lit instead of being forced to leave a night lit on wasting electricity.

Truth be said, there actually wasnt alot of insects but I (was) am paranoid. I grew up being a bitie-magnet so I tend to overimagine their existence, and one track mind to eliminate them. Esp in tropical where bities and mozzies are common. However, thank to my personal vendatta against all bitie things and vigilance in keeping the mozzie coil burning continously at the door and loo area, we were safe without a singular attack. Other than that, everything else was perfect.

Venturing out of the villa, we have 2 lovely adult pool. One being a straight deep lap pool. Lovely! The other side was also a long pool but mixed in with shallow bits for the kiddies. There were mattress laid out all comfy for one to doze in esp with the continous beach front wind blowing inwards. It was absolute paradise! In between, while hanging by the pool, they serve free longan tea drink, and around late noon, staff go around dishing out free fruit popsicles.

There was only one restaurant here but they do ok though not fantastic.

The spa and massage was ok. They had the usual steam and sauna room which I didnt use. The rooms were nice but the therapists were average. I thought those at Indigo were much better skilled. I didnt try the private ones out at the beach that is a fraction of the cost (400baht/ hr).

It was another lovely 4 days at Sala. As most of the guest would have their own pool withing their villa, most people didnt hang out by the pool. There werent much americans again, and most of the crowds were from Europe and Korea, mixed with couple of Thai locals.

It was only towards the last night when we head to JWM for dinner did we realise why we hardly saw any Americans. All of them were holed up in JWM. The place was swarming with them of all shapes and sizes. The minute we entered the lobby till we finished our dinner, voices, laughters came crashing at us from all angles at all times. The booming scene here was drastically and contrastingly different from our serene accomodation, where the birds alone made more noise than the human occupants.

The crowd at Sala were mostly couples. All nice quiet folks, without any tantalising scandalous story to spill.

I had a Mr Muscle-man Adonis lying next to me one day. I thought he looked really weird and out of proportion when he stripped down except his trunks. He was all beefed up on the upper torso, but with his teeny weeny tight white-trunk, the proportions was all wrong. He prob thought he looked marvellous, but personally, he looked gross to me. He looked ok with his boardshorts on but in that underwear thingie, it looked like he was being squeezed from waist downwards. Not a cool look. Perhaps beefy guys are just not my cup of tea. I like mine with a small inch of love handle to hang on to....

I didnt do much except hanging out some day at the pool, beating my husband at most card games. At one point, I couldnt resist yelling "VICTORY" while doing my victory dance and suddenly I heard a lady clapping, cheering me on. I turned around and this girl around my age was shouting from the end of the pool "Yeah way to go girl!!" I laughed while my poor partner suffer in "public defeat". Later before the girl and her bf left, she walked over explaining she had never won her boyfriend in any card games and thus, it was absolute delight when she saw me thrashing my husband. Finally, she find some comfort and taking delight in my husband's misery. Haaa haaaa. Her bf gloated and proudly declare he would never be beaten of course. It was funny.

There was another family, a Singapore woman with her Indian husband. While it was a common sight for anyone growing up in Sg, it must be a relatively unique and unheard marriage combination in Korea. The 3 korea couples had walked up to the family and asked to take their pictures. I guess they are gonna go home and tell their friends about this "rare" sighting.

Speaking of the Koreans, the men there must be the only race who didnt mind being seen with paper mask plastered all over their face in public places. I was so amused I had to take a shot at the guy with the mask on while he was busy with her camera.

I thought it was really funny when I see the Korean girls going "Oppa Oppa" and fussing over their boyfriends with sprays, cosmetic products, big shades, lip balm, lotion and all. It wasnt sissy or anything but still, it was kinda strange to see a man so comfortable laying there and be "pampered" with all the products as their gf get to work. My husband would personally never be caught with anything on his face apart from lip balm and sun screen. As a typical outdoor auzzie bloke, he would rather lob his head off than be caught dead with a mask on, ever. "Metrosexual" terminology is lost on him.

Much that I wish my face could be spared, unfortunately it turned brown after the week despite my best efforts with large flapping hat, sunscreen and staying half in shade. I lost the natural shine on my face, to be replaced by oily skin now. I forgot how tropical weather isnt exactly my best friend. I hate the heat drawing my zits back on. Brown is not a good look for me. Drats....more new freckles too. Sigh. Well, at least I had a heavenly week!

Travel Log: Experiences to share from Indigo

Greetings from the Ms slightly charred-face, back from the lovely blistering scorching hot Phuket.

The last time we were in Phuket was prob 5 years back and we had opted for JW Marriott. It was nice but as with any typical international hotel, it was safe in design and everything is at double the premium. So this time round, we tried 2 new luxury resorts instead - the Indigo Pearl Resort and Sala Phuket Resort for a change.

We had a lovely time.
Actually that would be an incorrect.
Truth was, we had a fking glorious freaking time there!

Two main reasons why the hol was such a great getaway. Firstly, there were hardly any loud American nor China-chinese in plain sight. Sure there was one or two there. Yet fortunately they belong to the gratifying civilised, cultured and considerate soft spoken ones. (No offence to people from there but we all know many people from these 2 ctries love to talk 24x7hr and has no concept of sparing other people from their loud booming conversation or nasal twang.)

The 2nd reason for the great hol was that there were NO noisy toddlers, babies, children within miles of my room as well as the pool we laze around in. In Indigo Pearl, there were 3 large pools. One was a dedicated adult and children pool, while the other 2 were strictly off limits to kids and children below 16yr (as one pool serve alco within). It was by far the best fking miracle for any holidays I have been to date. I mean what are the chances of that? A truly quiet tranquil getaway.

We stayed 4 day 3 nights in Indigo and another 4 day 3 night at Sala.

I first heard about Indigo resort when I was travelling to Bangkok for work and I got acquainted with this Brazil guy, whose friend was the designer for the hotel. He was telling me all about the resort and I had been pretty intrigued then. Throw in rave reviews from Trip advisor, I just couldnt resist.

Sala was a recommendation from my husband's colleague who also happen to be there within the same week. I didnt check out the place online before heading there so I had no expectation but I was truly completely blown away with its sleek contemporary feel, and the sense of space. Do u know what a great change in scenery it is from cram HK? The infinite green, long lap pools to indulge the swimmer in me, the beautiful SPICY food. Christ I forgot how much I miss those spicy hot cuisine.

We move one room type up from Kelly Quarters at Indigo because many reviews had said the room was small. So we had the suite with the outdoor bath tub and balcony and we had a really great room at 3237. The size was just right! It was smacked right between the 2 adult pools with a garden view between but relatively far away so you dont hear much noise. To the left was the infinity pool and to our right, the adult pool with mini bar.







We had the corner room on the 2nd level so we are position to catch the cross blowing breeze. The room had a separate and more than sufficient changing area, with a rod across to hang clothes rather than a cabinet. (Our corner room directly behind me from the infinity photo below)

Both the bathroom and the bedroom open up to the balcony.

The only thing that I thought could be improved was adding a shower curtain at the showering area. They forgot the cold draft can get in...I suppose its one trick to make one conserves water with shorter shower time :) I love the overhead fan but it creaks so much in motion that I didnt have the option of leaving it on.

The weather during the whole week was lovely. Heaven couldnt be kinder. It was mildly overcast the first 2 days and I had thought it was gonna be a drabby trip but hell was I wrong. The remaining week was bright, sunny and windy throughout the day, only raining in the middle of the night during our sleep, having it all cleared up again when we woke. Perfect!

The food at Indigo was pretty good. In fact we were spoilt for choice. There were so many restaurants to choose from - starting with Siamese food from Black Ginger, Western from Grill Rivet, and the Tin Mine buffet cafe. We had like 2-3 other cafes/ bars to choose from and honestly, everyday I was stuff beyond imagination. Breakfast was a great and delicious spread of asian and Continental breakie. I stuck to asia breakfast the whole hol of course. Why would I, brought up in Singapore, be eating only boring cereal and bread in the morning when I can a range of solid good minced pork porridge, noodles, dimsum and soup to pick from? The fruits was amazing. No, the MANGOES were amazingly sweet. People were fighting for it. I swear it's true.

A side story to Mango at breakie buffet.
Everyone was making a beeline for it. So u can imagine it was always gone in a flash. Yet, all the Caucasian men were just standing there. Not very bright to me considering there was a Thai woman standing just behind the counter peeling other fruits, but her line of vision to the fruit platter was blocked by the ornaments. So this is when I came into the picture. Rather than just hovering around and waiting for something to happen, I politely informed the lady that the mango ran out. She smiled and quickly get to work and started on peeling new mangoes. Now this is the part where I found it a little rich and distasteful for my liking. Those men who were earlier just surrounding the empty plates like vultures, forcefully stood before the mix fruit plates. I stepped back to make way for OTHER people to grab other fruits. Guess what?

When the thai lady barely place the mango down by the counter top next to her, all those waiting men simply rush in, reached over and stab at the mangoes to their plates like it was the last they will ever have. They just push off everyone else who happen to be there. Greedy guts. Over a mango to say the least. I got really fed up so I snuck in between them and grab the mango plate from them and placed it firmly back to the original fruit area. One of the man had the audacity to glare at me, when his plate was already full with 4-5 slices, and he wasnt even the first ones there. Arsehole. I ignore him of course and when I was done, politely relinquish the fruit picker to another lady who was Q'ing up behind me. I got my revenge seeing his red face and empty mango plate.

Anycase, they were only a small handful of people who didnt display much social grace.
There was another contrasting story that I really wanted to highlight.

They were the PERFECT example of how parents should behave with small kids in tow. They are truly one of a kind. The sort you want to hold their head, kiss their forehead and say "bless ur heart".

The story goes like this. We were having dinner at Black Ginger restaurant. It's the sort where more refined manners are expected though unspoken. Quiet conversation in the nice quiet ambiance. So stroll in this french speaking couple with their daughter about 6yrs and son about over 1yrs old. When I realise they were gonna be seated next to me, I wanted to sigh. Generally I hate gettin stuck at dinner next to children because you cannot control their behaviour or noises they make. If I could, I would avoid families like plague. To prove my point, the boy was restless and started whining away. I was almost resigned to my fate when 5 minutes into the seating and some serious low-toned discussion in french between the parents, the father stood up with the boy in his arms and told the waitress.

"I'm sorry but I have to cancel my dinner tonight. My son is making noise and I dont want to disturb other diners in the restaurant and spoil their lovely eve." The wife then stood up, apologised again and left together with the daughter. I was stunned. That was the MOST considerate and lovely thing the family did. How many parents esp on hols would do that? To sacrifice their dining experience because they didnt want to ruin the dinner for others? Most would stick to their diner and hope for the best. They are the first couple I know who are so sensitive to their surroundings. I was truly stunned and held much admiration for the parents. They are one hell of a living example to folks out there who had no qualms to leave their human products running amok in public, making a monkey nuisance out of themselves.

It's amazing how we live in the same world, but it produces such contrasting different behaviours. The desirable are often overshadowed by bad behavior but it is days like this that makes me optimistic that perhaps there is hope afterall, that not all parents out there, are blatantly selfish and oblivious to the "pain" they inflict on others with their kids...