Hello again! Hello 2019.
Apologies that I find it hard to keep up with the blog updates nowadays but I always try.
Okay so last year after Korea, D and I actually went for another 2 more overseas trips. Hehe! 🙊 Initially, we didn't want to go for any because the amount we spent for Korea was as good as 4 trips we went on 2017.
But this self, hahahahaha! Can't help it though. So here's to my update on... Jeng jeng jeng!
Krabi, Thailand.
Yes, we were supposed to go Krabi for our honeymoon last 2 years because D's mommy won a lucky draw from the wedding caterer but due to miscommunication and them not being prompt in their reply, it all didn't happened. We even had to forego the flight. So whatever to that, we still made the trip happen, a year later, on our own.
September 2018. It was for D's birthday trip actually. We wanted to go somewhere affordable after burning a hole in our pockets after Korea. Heh! And found Krabi suit best. We book our flight, accommodation and we rented a car from Expedia, because there is also we booked our hotel.
I find the price reasonable. There are other cars ranges from different brand to prices but again of course, me being budget, we chose the cheapest.
Day 1 - 01 September 2018
We had breakfast first before proceeding to board the flight. And usual! Just before taking a flight, I will have this CRAZY kind of feeling of wanting to vomit or have a diarrhea. Haiz! So frustrating. But anyway, we had a smooth flight. Alhamdulilah! It was abt an 1 hour plus ride to Krabi.
The rental car people greeted us at the airport with a signboard of the car's company name. We have to update them our flight arrival as well as the airline we take, so they'll know when to wait for us. It was so funny that we kinda "ignored" him because we didn't realized that we will be greeted in such a way. 😂 So D and I went to the toilet first and then were sitting down at the airport benches waiting with our booking paper, until everyone carrying the signboard all had left. And then the guy that carried our signboard just tried his luck, approached us and asked if we were the one who rented the car. HAHAHA! I was like "YAHHH!" Haahahahaha! So poor thing! We were so hopeless. Lol! 😂 They had the car's company name instead of like you know, I book in Expedia what, how in the world I know what company the car we rented from belong to. HAHA!
So the booking process was smooth. You need a Credit Card, because they will hold a certain amount using your card, in case if there are any damages or whatsoever that you have to pay extra. But for us, we were all fine and the amount was released back to our card after returning the car.
Oh, we didn't rent a bike (that is what people usually suggest, to ride bikes in Thailand) because D and I do not have riding license but in Krabi, if you have driver's license, renting a car is perfect, especially if you are going in groups of 4 or 5. The road is smooth to drive around just like in Langkawi, except it can get very dark at night but it was all perfect. iPhone's GPS works best too for navigation because that is what D and I realized. His Samsung GPS is a nah nah. Hehe!
We drove and check-in at Ao Nang Phu Pi Maan in their Deluxe Mountain View room and was greeted with a welcome drink.
Except we didn't finish the drink because I was so busy looking for my booking papers and I don't know for some reason, I felt a little kanchiong. But I did take a sip of it and it was nice and refreshing. D didn't even get to try it. LOL!
I can just go on at how best this hotel is for me. Everything is just so PERFECT for me. The location which is accessible to Ao Nang beach, how it caters to especially the Muslim community. There is a prayer's room next to our room (We were at the 2nd floor). I could hear the sound of azan (prayer's call) from our balcony just like when we were in Bintan. It is just so soothing. To the non-muslim community, not to worry, the prayer's call is not loud, you could only hear it if you stand at the balcony but if the balcony's door is shut, you won't hear a thing. The parking space where we park our car was like in an open space but with a roof top just one floor below our room, we could access to our car so easily from a shortcut staircase. From our room balcony, is also where we could see the lobby, so we don't feel like we were in secluded area. I like to see the gardeners doing the garden in the morning, who check-in and check-out from our balcony room. I prefer some noise than it being too quiet. I have yet to talk about the ROOM itself. Even D is so in love with this hotel. Everytime when we talk about all the hotels or apartments that we have been to, he would alway mentioned Ao Nang Phu Pi Maan being the best.
The room was amazing too. Except initially, they had a problem to lock the doors, so the staff had to run back to the lobby to change us to a new key card. But that was just a minor thing that happened because everything else that happen after, was just amazing. I have always loved an "open concept" toilet. Not that I'm cheeky or what lah eh (don't think dirty ok) but I love watching TV when I'm relaxing in the shower. Lol! Don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. 😅 So usually, I'll bring my phone along to watch shows while soaking in the bath tub, but this time, I could just slide open the door and watch TV from the hotel room itself. HAHAHA! They had HBO if I'm not wrong, I knew I was watching Avengers etc, all the good movies.
Of course, we were so hungry after that because it was already lunch time by then. We were slightly tired to leave the hotel room yet for food, so of course, D being D, told me to order room service. I'm always the one making the call by the way. 😏
Thailand definitely have the best Thai Fried Rice and Phad Thai. Looking at this picture, makes me want to teleport back there again. So sedap! I recommend.
It was already late afternoon, we rested for a while and then off we went to do some venturing out in Krabi. I knew I wanted to head down to their night market and also to see the Ao Nang beach. They have a shuttle bus to and fro to Ao Nang beach from Ao Nang Phu Pi Maan. But the "shuttle bus" was like a mini van and at that point of time we had these 2 large Malay family groups, who were also waiting for the shuttle, thus, the driver cannot fit everyone in the shuttle. The driver said, he will make a 2nd trip to fetch the rest of the family and that also include D & I.
But we wanted to go to Ao Nang earlier as we planned to drive to the night market and these family also wanted priority when coming back to the hotel, as they were going to some fireflies tour after Ao Nang beach. So D gave up and decided to drive instead. Thank God for renting a car. Parking when driving a car at Ao Nang beach areas can be slightly difficult, as the place is always crowded, unlike bike, you could just squeeze anywhere to park. But it didn't take us very long also, as we did find a parking space somehow. Alhamdulilah!
Ao Nang Beach
Crowded but still beautiful. We walked the stretch and instead of Klook, we decided to book our island hopping activities at one of the shop right across the beach (not the ones on the beach), it was cheaper. Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of that place.
But if I could remember clearly, it was opposite the island hopping counter on the beach, the shop was definitely on the most left side (if you're back facing the beach)
Until today, D still find it amusing that people around is asking me to take their photos. Lol! And this is what he did.
Took picture of me taking photos of people. Zzz!
Night Market,
We actually didn't realized there are quite a few night markets in Krabi, I guess there are two. One is the smaller one and the other, the bigger one. So, the first night, we went to the smaller ones thinking we went to the correct one that we wanted to go (the big one). It was at least 40 minutes drive from Ao Nang.
Parking was relatively easy as we found a parking space somewhere right behind, like about a 2-3 minutes walk to the night market. The only thing that disappoint, the stretch wasn't a lot like the ones we saw in this poster (at our hotel elevator). I thought when I googled, the place look like it's filled with many tents and push carts too.
But still glad, because it's still food.
This was our first stall that we went to. I ordered the Thai Milk Tea and it was so nice.
Thai Milk Tea.
Next to the Thai Milk Tea was this Pancake shop. You know Thailand, Krabi are best known for their pancakes! It tasted like prata but Thai's version.
If it isn't because of my sore throat, I would have eaten this everyday. But still I go all the way out, I had 2 servings of this on the same day and every other day. Lol!
We wanted to feeling-feeling Island life, that we had Coconut drink too. SADLY, they didn't give us a spoon or anything for us to scoop the coconut out of the shell. Only a straw to drink the juice. I'm not sure if it's the norm just to drink the juice without scooping the fruit out in Thailand, or if the Thais do that or don't but...we left it as it is after trying so hard to scoop the coconut out of the shell using the straw. Lol!
Only a straw to drink the juice. I'm not sure if it's the norm just to drink the juice without scooping the fruit out in Thailand, or if the Thais do that or don't but...we left it as it is after trying so hard to scoop the coconut out of the shell using the straw. Lol!
D then decided we should pack some food to eat at the comfort of our own hotel room, instead of standing and eating at the night market. So we bought Thai food to try from this place since they sell heavier portion of "real food".
While waiting for our food to be ready, notice this cute girl kept looking D and I. So I secretly took a picture of her. She's cute righttt?
I went to buy more food/dessert. Hehehe!
Sticky Mango Rice which is also one of the Thai's known dessert.
The Thai Milk Tea was really nice that I decided to buy for the 2nd time but it was sold out already. 😞 So D bought the Watermelon Juice instead.
My 2nd round of Banana + Nutella pancake for take-away.
Upon reaching our hotel room, we showered and sat down to try Thai food while watching TV.
I ordered something seafood with glass noodles. But so sad, no glass noodles but just vegetables and prawns and it was impossible to go back to buy another food because the night market is so far. It was also too late to call for in room dining. And maybe it is just me. Some Thai food can be really sour because of the vinegar. No offence but I must have a Singaporean taste bud and I didn't find myself liking this as much. So I ate the prawns and end up throwing the rest.
Lucky D. He bought the fried rice and omelette instead. I had half his omelette and a little bit of his rice. I wish I could eat it all but I know he was hungry too. And him having the bigger appetite, I can do the night without much food compared to him.
He bought minced beef but again, it was so sour too with vinegar. Hehe! It wasn't Singaporean version of minced beef. Hehehe! We end up throwing this away too. Lol!
We had an early night because we were kind of excited and nervous for our next adventure - Island Hopping.
Day 2 - 02 September 2018
After all the trouble explaining, I realized that I actually took a picture of our receipt. Hehehe! So you can refer to this company if ever, you guys want to go to Krabi for Island Hopping.
They did a group pick-up too from our Hotel.
I took picture of the brochure too.
Before island hopping, of course, we had our breakfast first. We had complimentary breakfast for 2. Their breakfast is from 7am-10am. D and I woke up for our Subuh prayers, showered and quickly pack our bags for the island hop, left the bag inside our hotel room and headed for our breakfast first. We had a pretty rushing breakfast because we wanted to be back in our hotel room by 745am, in case we need to do some toilet business 💩 before our island hopping pick-up at 815am. 🙈
For our first day of breakfast, we decided to sit somewhere outside, where we could see the beautiful mountain view and the mosque. Also, because I wanted to take a picture with the beautiful view while having breakfast. But that only happened for that day, because when the sun starts to rise and shine right through your face, it was sooooo fringing hot and we decided to sit inside the next day. Lol!
Hot chocolate is amazing. Anywhere with hot chocolate is definitely my favourite hotel. Hehehe!
I had to be the time-keeper (wanted to leave by 745am) but we got carried away and left the breakfast place at 8am. Rushed back to our hotel room, did what we had to do. Thank God, we both were in our swimming attire already. Rushed to the hotel lobby and waited for our pick-up. By then, we saw a lot of people were already waiting for their pick-up from different companies, heading for island hop, for mangrove tours etc. One by one, the groups were picked up and I thought ours didn't come or we miss the pick-up. Luckily, after a good 10 minutes wait, our pick-up finally came.
Excited as I was! I had many things going through my head if I should do the snorkeling or just sit inside the boat and look pretty. LOL! So I told myself, we shall see first. 😅 Made some friends with the other tourists. From different parts of the world:- Australia, Germany, Singaporeans ourselves. And the funny thing, of all places, we bumped into D's colleagues who are a couple and D knows both of them. And they were in the same tour group as us as well as the same speed boat. Lol! At least we had friends and it felt like we were both on a double date holiday. Hehe!
We had to pay an admission fee to the island apart from the tour we already paid. But it wasn't expensive. And then we were separated into groups to our different speed boat. They took our slippers, placed it inside a netting bag and really take good care of their speed boat and make sure noooooooo sands on board. Hehe!
This reminded me of an incident when we were heading back. We all got changed into our clean and dry attire, ready to head back. There was this Indian couple who sat on the beach sand. The boat captain will always remind us to brush off the sand from our skin and clothes before boarding the speed boat. So this Indian couple obviously forgot and took it lightly. So the boat captain just splashed water on to his pants to wash the sand away while he was trying to get on the boat. I cannot! 😂
My first time taking speed boat. It was definitely an experience. Love it!
Glad we decide on Phi Phi Island tour because there were many places that we get to see. Sadly, we had to skip Maya bay because it was closed indefinitely till further notice. 😭 After 30 minutes or so, we reached our first stop.
1st stop - Bamboo Island
Look at how pretty this beach is if you compare to our East Coast beach or Sentosa beach. Hehehehe! The sand is so white and water is so crystal clear. Initially, D and I didn't want to swim and get wet but heck, we have come a long way from home. Besides, it's an experience, so we just soak ourselves in! We were told to come back to our speed boat an hour later.
Sorry about my finger. The sun was too bright when I took pictures, so I didn't even realized my finger was blocking the camera half the time.
Again, I has to take pictures for people and D captured this again. Lol!
This is where you discover the hunting/harvesting of swiftlet birds’ nests and ancient paintings are found on the eastern southern walls of the cave.
Click here to read more.
3rd Stop - Pileh Bay
Where you see all the picturesque longtail boat in post cards, posters etc. And we get to swim here for at least 20 minutes before proceeding to our next stop which is snorkeling!
I was half-hearted to swim or not to swim in here because this time it's not the beach, mind you. It's the sea! Hahahaha! And it's deep! So we were told that we could swim in here but we have to have our life jackets at all time. I was so nervous about going in to the water. Do you even believe that I can swim? But it's a different feeling. I had swimming lesson practical exams in the deep pool at the swimming complex. The last time I check, doing snorkeling at adventure cove which is super deep than a deep pool, makes me so scared like crazy! Hahaha!
I knew D could swim and he is a better swimmer than me, so, I trusted him to take care of me. I told him to jump into the water first and then look out for me. HAHAHA! Initially, I panic a bit because the life jacket is not exactly perfect. It floats, yes but it feels like it was going to detach from my body. So many times I had to push it down and make sure it doesn't gets float out of me. LOL! But after a while, it was manageable and I quite enjoy it. *Just keeps swimming. Just keeps swimming - Sang to Nemo.
Oh yes, I brought my phone along inside the waterproof casing and it started to take pictures on its own because you know water pressure etc. So enjoy the random clicking pictures.
4th Stop - Lohsamah Bay
This was somewhere near Pileh Bay is and this is also where we did our snorkeling at. You could see all the speedboat gather and stopped for us to do our snorkeling. We were told not to bring our camera if possible. Apparently, I heard something like the water there is different pressure or is it a different pH? LOL! And it might spoil the camera. But we can still bring it at our own risk. Me being safe, I decided not to bring. So no pictures taken here.
Eventually I regret not bringing because everyone seems to bring their camera along taking pictures of the corals and fishes that were just swimming around us. But there was one incident, this girl's waterproof bag's strap snap off from the neck and I saw her phone dropped down to the seabed. And I feel amazed at those Thai life guides. They don't even need a life jacket like us. He swam right to the bottom and grabbed her phone! Lucky girl. And that life guide was just. 👍😍
He was also the one who saw me struggling with my snorkel gear and he helped me. Heeeee! 😌 Because D was too busy snorkeling elsewhere. I mean not really busy snorkeling elsewhere. It's just that everyone else had their snorkeling gear on, looking down and swimming everywhere and when you look up, ehhh, you're at a different place and your husband, wife is not next to you. HAHA! But after a while, we found our way to each other. Hehehe!
5th Stop - Monkey Beach
This isn't like a beach but well, this is where you see Monkeys. Thank God we don't have to get down from here because I'm scared of monkeys!
Our last stop - Phi Phi Don
Because we had to skip Maya bay and headed straight to Phi Phi Don. This is where lunch was served and we were all so starving after all the swimming. So D and I sat together with his colleagues. Told you, it was like a double date. Hehe!
The food was not bad and again, Alhamdulilah! It was enough and I wouldn't complain.
We had some extra time, where we changed into a dry and clean attire and then we walk around Phi Phi Don. You can swim here too but we both had enough swimming for the day and we wanted to just dry ourselves. Lol!
Hot day calls for an ice-cream.
The whole thing ended at about 4pm and we were then brought back to the first meet-up beach where we will then be pick-up to be sent off back to our own hotel. And interesting part....scroll down.
Oh oh, this is the life guide the swam to save the girl's handphone. Heeeee! Sis took his pic for kenangan. HAHAHAHAHA!
Anyway, it was here when the boat captain said "Shark!". D saw the shark!!! 
I didn't actually catch the shark but only saw a glimpse of black thingy that disappears into the water quickly. The boat captain said, the shark was doing some feeding, preying on it's prey. LUCKILY, this happened after all the snorkeling. Can you imagine if I were to see the shark before we snorkel? I probably wouldn't want to jump inside the water anymore.
I didn't actually catch the shark but only saw a glimpse of black thingy that disappears into the water quickly. The boat captain said, the shark was doing some feeding, preying on it's prey. LUCKILY, this happened after all the snorkeling. Can you imagine if I were to see the shark before we snorkel? I probably wouldn't want to jump inside the water anymore.
Even if you tell me the sea where we snorkel was probably not so deep and shark would not swim over. But the fact they are in the SAME sea area, deep or not deep, I would have been petrified.😨
Luckily, no more shark but sad that I didn't actually catch the view of it too. D and I bid goodbyes to his colleagues because we both stayed in different hotel. We showered and chill in our room before driving off to the night market again for some food and dinner. This time, we went to the correct one, big ones after D's colleagues told us where it was.
Night market,
Another round of Milk Tea. I tried the Rose Milk Tea as well as the Green Milk Tea.
Banana Pancake with Nutella all day, err day here. Hehehe!
We decided to be safe and get this ones for dinner instead. No more trying local food. HEHEHE! Rice, beef and omelette and this one tasted yummy!
It was time to pack our bags because the next day we will be checking out from Ao Nang Phu Pi Maan to head to another hotel. Heeee! It was a celebration for D and he doesn't know it yet. Hehe!
XOXO,
Princess Azie Anni ♥
