8 things to do in Phuket on a rainy day

For most people, going to Phuket means going to the beach. But what if due to the unpredictable weather, this activity is not possible? Well, there are still quite a lot of things to do in Phuket on a not so sunny day and some of these I have tried out myself. I know there are a lot but here is my list: 

1. Dine Out

This is the first on my list. Of course when travelling, it is not only about the beautiful sights and sounds of the place but also how it can please our palates. This is best because you are in Thailand and who does not love Thai food? It is better to go out and choose a restaurant of your liking and taste the dishes that are offered. One of my favorite restaurant is Tunk-ka Cafe which I wrote about here.

I even brought my mother and sister to this place to enjoy the food and ambiance. 

There are numerous places for dining in Phuket as well as other cuisines like Japanese and Vietnamese. Doing research on where to go and what to eat will definitely pay off. 

2. Shop

image taken from asiawebdirect.com

If its cloudy outside,it may be best to spend time on shopping. Stores and malls are all over Phuket and offers a wide variety of products such as dresses, souvenir shirts, keychains and whatnots. Great gift ideas too for loved ones who are back at home. 

3. Watch a movie

It was cloudy and we were afraid to be wet and sick so my sister and I decided to try out the cinema in Jungceylon Mall in Patong, Phuket. Here she is ready with her snacks. One tip for cinema goers in Thailand, you have to bring a jacket with you or you'll freeze inside. 

4. Strike a pose at the Upside Down House

It was actually my second visit to the upside down house and I still had fun this time with family. Striking a pose can be enjoyable especially when the staff helps out and takes your photo. You can read my about my first experience at this post.

5. Pose a lot more at Phuket Trick Eye Museum

Can't get enough of poses and photos? Try out the Trick Eye Museum located in Phuket Town. Funny and challenging positions ensuring memorable photos. How me and my friends had fun can be browsed here.

6. Attend a Cooking Class

Eating is good but I think learning and experiencing how to cook the dish is better. I tried this out in Bangkok but there is also a class being offered in Phuket. It is quite expensive but I am sure that it will not only fill the stomach but enhance the experience of eating Thai food. My cooking class adventure can be accessed here.

7.Karaoke

I remember we used to go out and celebrate birthdays in Karaoke bars. Its a fun time for us Filipinos to sing and a lot of these kind of places are already in Phuket. Go ahead and sing your heart out. It does not matter if you don't have a nice voice. What's important is your having fun!

8. Watch a local show like Siam Niramit

A showcase of Thailand's history and ancient heritage is a good idea to attend to. I was especially amazed at how the performers delivered the show. I thought it would be a boring one but the 1 hour seemed to run fast. My story here.

Phuket is great during sunny or cloudy weather and there are amazing options to choose from. Thank you for reading and 'til next blog!

Crab House

Nothing beats good food to bond friends and make good memories. It's also a wonderful opportunity for discovering great places to eat. I browsed my phone and found that I still had photos of our dinner the night before Songkran (Thai New Year) 2014. I originally want to blog about the restaurant but since other priorities got in the way, I forgot all about it. So for a short throwback blog, I'll write about the time we ate at Crab House in Patong, Phuket.

Our hotel was only a short walk away from this restaurant and since we did not want to risk being splashed with water, we chose this place. The menu had reasonable prices. As usual, while waiting for the food we had to have a photo of ourselves. Its amusing to note that we were still quite thin during this time.

When the food arrived, we were surprised because it's not enough for a party of 6. To solve the problem, we ordered additional dishes. The place's specialty is of course, crabs. Guests are able to choose how they are served. By the time the crab came, I was already busy eating. Thus, I had no photo :P.  Our orders were mostly Thai dishes because we just can't get enough of it.

Before the food disappears suddenly from these plates, of course we had to have a photo.

It was a satisfying meal for us and I'm happy to have enjoyed the rest of that year's Songkran celebration. Thank you for reading and 'til next blog! 

Trying Out A Capsule Hotel

Going to Patong from Phuket Town is quite expensive as there is a limited number of bus going to and from the places. These buses run from 6am until 4pm only and it takes a long time for them to come because there are only a few buses. Most of the time, taxis are hired for faster transport and cost would range from 300-600THB. Yesterday, I decided to meet 2 colleagues from my previous workplace as they were having their holiday in Patong, Phuket. Since I wanted to take my time in being with them and I do not want to spend a huge amount of transport cost from Patong back to where I reside in Phuket town, I decided to stay in a cheap hotel for a night. 

As I was looking at Agoda the day before I was to meet my friends, I stumbled upon Capsule Hotel and Sauna, Patong. They were advertising their Korean style mixed dormitory bed which was basically a mattress laid out in the huge lounge. I am not fond of dormitory beds anymore due to the terrifying experience I previously had but I am curious with their offered deluxe single capsule. Reading the reviews made me feel more confident that this option won't be that bad. I booked one single capsule bed and paid 350THB via my credit card.

photo of a Korean Style dormitory bed. Photo taken from www.spanish.hostelworld.com

When I checked in on the next day, the staff was very courteous and speaks good English. Check in was a breeze and they gave me a towel and a comforter for my bed and a locker key. I was asked for a 500THB deposit for the locker key. I have observed that hotel staffs in Thailand really do take time to accompany and instruct guests about their hotels. The lady who checked me in, led me to the lockers, to where I can leave my slippers, pointed the shower area, toilet area and to my single capsule.

I just surveyed the place and went out to meet my friends for dinner. I went back to the hotel at around 10pm. This place was situated in Bangla Road where all the party's at. Surprisingly, when I came in and on my capsule, I cannot hear the blaring noise of the street music. Though the wooden walls are thin and I can hear the people in the other capsule or in the lounge, it didn't bother me anyway because they were not that loud.  

I sought to prepare my bed by laying out my comforter. There were 2 personal reading lights, a mirror and place to hang my towel. The roller blind helps to give me privacy inside as well as a way for some light to enter my capsule if I turn off my reading lights. An outlet is also beside the light switch making it convenient to charge my phone. They turned off the Hallway Lights at around 11pm but left a night light which all the more made my area conducive to sleeping. 

I was able to sleep well with the privacy and dimness of the place. When I woke up, it surprised me that it was already 9am. My booking included breakfast which consisted of juice and bread. 

When it was time for me to shower, I headed to the locker to safely place my valuables and straight to the shower area which is just adjacent to it. I was the only person to use the women's shower room as maybe the other guests are still sleeping. I find it very spacious and with about 7 shower cubicles. Some guests were hanging their wet clothes but I didn't mind. Toiletries such as shampoo, body soap and hand soap were provided as well as a  hair dryer.

image taken from tripadvisor.com

Upon check out, I gave back the locker key and dropped my towel and comforter to their laundry hamper.  The lady staff made sure to remind me to check that I haven't left anything. I just smiled and said I did. I got my deposit back and bade goodbye to my comfortable 1 night stay. 

For those solo backpackers planning to come to Patong and wanting to stay in a good and clean location, you can try Capsule Hotel and Sauna. I believe they are changing their name to WHY-NOT?! Backpackers. It's cheap, convenient, clean and a place to socialize with other travelers. The capsule is really not that claustrophobia inducing as it offered me ample space. I am not paid by the hotel to write this but I am just sharing my wonderful experience. Thank you for reading and 'til next blog!

28 January

Today, 28 January 2015, marks my first year from leaving my homeland and working abroad. 

I can still remember that faithful day of 28 January 2014. As I hugged our dog, Cody, goodbye and walked out from the room that my sister and I rented in Cebu City. It was a sunny day and I had to catch my flight. I tried hard not to cry on the way to the airport and while in the airport. 

As I hugged my father and sister before going to the check in desks, reality was slowly dawning to me. The immigration officer who checked my passport and papers spooked me out as she was apprehensive of letting me pass through. Thailand at that time was having a political unrest and there I was itching to get into the country. Assuring her that the place I was going to did not have any safety issues, she stamped my passport and allowed me to board the plane.

While on the flight towards my first layover in Singapore, I kept thinking of the people I left and the "routine" life I had. It was exciting and scary at the same time to venture into the unknown opportunities waiting for me. I landed in Phuket at around 9pm. It took me around 30 minutes to find the driver that my employer sent for me.

The first few days in the city was not that bad. My friend, Mel, took me to some of the popular places. This was taken in Patong Beach.

Banana Walk still in Patong.

I thought I found my knight in shining armor. 

One of the advantages of living and working abroad is that one can broaden horizons by meeting a lot of people from different cultural backgrounds. The opportunity to know their foreign customs and taste their delicious cuisines too. I also have learned to value and miss the food that I have taken for granted back home. Hearing people talking in foreign languages do not amaze me anymore. I just learned to put those sounds as background noises and instead focus on listening to words that I can understand.

Truly, there is no place like home. Meanwhile, let me make most of my time here to work and enjoy. :)