Destination: Redang Island

Date:  23 - 25 September 2011

Our initial plan was to go to Club Med Bali, but due to some unforseen circumstances, the plan changed to Redang Island, Terengganu.

We had to take another boat ride from the pier (we had a driver picked us up at the airport and the ride from the airport to the pier took about 15 minutes) to our resort. That was because there isn't any road connected to the resort from the airport. The only resort that is nearest to the airport was The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort managed by Berjaya Group.

That's the beach that is right by the resort, beautiful!

My colleagues having a blast playing beach volleyball.

We didn't manage to do much as it was just a relaxing trip. I was suntanning for a day and we are not close to any shops or anything at all.

Overall, this will be my last trip to Redang Island as I feel that Phi Phi Island is a much better bet as there are alot more places to eat and more activities to do.

Flight Review: Berjaya Air

So the company took Berjaya Air to Redang Island. It was bundled in the package which was really quite nice.

Seat pitch & width for me was quite alright. Seat fabrics were exactly like MAS's.

Took this picture because of the cute Do Not Touch The Turtle.

We were served with a bottle of mini mineral water and cold tissue.

Overall, the flight was good, although it took us about an hour to get there.

Hotel Review: Laguna Redang Resort

Ok, here goes.

View from entrance

It was a company trip this time around. Yay, everything's free. We chose Laguna Redang Resort because it was the 2nd most expensive package and it fitted our budget. The package included a return flight ticket to Redang Island, accomodation, meals (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners) and 3 snorkeling trips. Quite a bargain, really!

Our foyer

Overall, the interior are quite satisfactory considering we are staying at a deluxe room. Foyer's floor was of tiny pebbles and main area of solid timber flooring which was luxurious. However, room smelled murky, maybe because the resort was located by the beach and that the room has alot of wooden furnitures?

The toilet, sink and shower room were all separated. I wished they'd just make it into a usual hotel bathroom where it's all together as it's quite cramp. Luckily I'm not that big of a person, so yea. 

Sink area a little small as I stayed with another 2 colleagues. All our stuffs were all over the place.

I think there were some mistakes in the design of the shower room and the toilet. It will be much better for the shower room and toilet to switch places because the toilet has a window which is facing the outside of the room and the shower room's window was facing the toilet. The shower room were stuffy and wet for quite sometime after someone showered in it.

OK this is my bed.

The bedroom was also not that organised. I was wondering why did the hotel decided to have the 2 single beds by the tv? It's so weird! They should've pulled the queen bed more to the left and then put the other 2 single beds on the right side. There were so much space! If you refer tothe first picture, there's 2 rattan chairs and a table, the hotel should really get rid of that, it's just so ugly and OLD!

And finally, the view from the balcony. Seriously?

Overall, I rate this place 3 star. Their rating of 4 star is totally overrated. Maybe I'm fussy but for the price that the company paid for, we deserve more than what was given. Although my colleagues think it's pretty awesome but my standard for 4 star is definately more than this.

Destination: Phi Phi Island, Thailand Part 2

Day 2
Date: 25 - 27 July 2011

I felt so much better the next morning where I woke up at about 7am. I was feeling really hungry so I rushed to the hotel's coffee house to have some breakfast.

Right about after breakfast, I decided to take a walk on the island, checking out the scene. Yes, that's it, it's deserted and it's already 10am! I guess everybody partied hard the night before. Apparently, crowds only show up at 11am onwards!

A newer part of the town centre. Oh yea, forgot to mention that I have not seen a single car or motorbike on the island. Everyone's either walking or on their bicycle.

I walked till right at the end of where the road leads me to! It was about 15 mins only! Imagine how small the island is. 5 stars resorts are located at the other side of the island though. It's only reachable via a boat ride.

Got myself a strip of sea sick pills for whenever I need them. According to mom, these pills are good for air sick, car sick or whatever motion sickness that you are experiencing. But you'd have to take it 30 mins with food before any motion ride. OMG, this might work on the Pirate Ship rides or rides which moves backwards for me. Yay! I will try that out when I get the chance to next time and report back!

Went for a foot massage as I didn't want to get my whole body oily. It was only THB200! So cheap!

Lunch! Forgot the restaurant's name but it wasn't that good. Should've gone to the other restaurants that we've gone before but it's always good to try out different retaurants.

Sun tanning by the beach. However, it was cloudy, hence it didn't feel too hot! Such a nice day!

This is one of the beaches on the side of the island. We had to kayak here and it took us about 40 mins as we did not kayak continuously. Very tiring but fun nevertheless.

Look at the view!

Love this picture! M's photo taking skills and of course her DSLR is making this picture a good one!

The party that I went to on my last night in Phi Phi Island. It started off with a 'fire' show! How interesting!

Right after that, it's dancing time!

Me on the far right

Destination: Phi Phi Island, Thailand Part 1

Day 1
Date: 24 July 2011

It was a very impromptu invite by my friend M. She posted on my Facebook wall asking 'Shar, fancy going to Phi Phi Island next month?'.

I told her yea and I quickly book for a flight down to Phuket that following week. Ticket was a little on the expensive side but it's ok! The last I've seen M was in 2008 in Singapore. M's actually an online friend of mine since I was 19 and we've only met once in 2008 and I'm excited to meet up with her again this year!

No, that's not our boat. Anyway, M and I met up at Phuket International Airport where she got in from Bangkok (she got sick on the way from Sydney, poor girl!). It was about 9am when we met up and the next boat out to Phi Phi Island was at 1pm. We took a taxi to the town centre where almost everything is closed!

Now this is our ferry. We sat at the roof and it was much more fun than in the air conditioned area. Within the 30th minute of the ride, I had a feeling that I am going to be sick soon. I headed towards the ferry's toilet and sat in it until we reached Phi Phi Island - which was another 1.5hrs later. Yea I know...

Everytime I tried standing up and walking, I got dizzy and felt nauseous. M had to carry my luggage down to the pier for me. Thanks M!

I walked with M and the rest of the guests which were staying at the same hotel for about 10 mins and I just couldn't take it. I sat at the steps of another hotel telling M to go ahead and check in, telling her I should be ok within 1-2 hours time.

One of the hotel staffs came over and asked where am I staying and and I told her at PP Casita. She said both the hotel I am at and PP Casita is of the same group. She brought a bottle of water and 2 Panadols for me. That's how nice Thais are!

Anyway, after about an hour, the same girl came over to me and say she'll bring me to PP Casita on her bicycle. That was really nice, it was about 15 mins ride though. I gave her some tips which she refuse to accept but I insisted.

I still didn't feel good during dinner and decided to sleep in early.

Hotel Review: PP Casita

This is also my first visit to Koh Phi Phi (Phi Phi Island). It's pronounced as PP instead of Phi Phi as in Philippines! Because of the H in between the P and I, I kept calling it Phi Phi instead of PP! How embarassing!

Anyway, we stayed at PP Casita. It's one of the 3 star hotel that's situated in the town area. Hotels that are more than 4 star are all at the corners of the island and there's absolutely no proper vehicle lane on the island as I've only seen 1 pickup truck so far during my trip. Also, to get into town from the more expensive hotels, you'd have to take a boat ride.

Without further ado, here are the pictures of the said hotel.

This the hotel's swimming pool. We only dipped in the pool that one time after sun tanning the afternoon before.

That's our cottage! We initially booked the Building Rooms but it was fully booked and the hotel happily gave us the Cottage at the same price! We booked through Agoda.com though.

This is our room! Our room was the FURTHERST of all! It took us AGES to reach! Ok, fine, I'm exaggerating. It was probably a 3 minute walk from the Lobby or so.

That's my bed. There goes the blue pillow again! What are you doing there?! Love the sheets though.

That's the front door and that is not my backpack.

The lovely desk next to my bed. The pink hair dryer is mine. I simply dislike hotel hair dryers as the air blowing aren't hot and strong enough. Or I'm probably just too used to my own hair dryer. Whatever.

This is the bathroom. Obviously.

Lovely sink. It's so 2000's or perhaps late 90's.

That's the shower area. Ignore the black patches at the corner of the green mosaics. Anyway, the mosaics are cool and as long as you stopped looking at the moss, you'll be fine.

Overall, I like this hotel because it's just simply central. There are alot of shops just outside the hotel area.

However, even at 3am, you can still hear the club's music as Phi Phi is practically a party island! It doesn't bother me much though.

The room came with breakfast but you will be disappointed in it. It looks like canteen food but for what you pay for, you can't expect much.  Service was overall great, bed and room was made up every morning and the reception staff were really nice.

I'll stay here again if I ever go back to Koh Phi Phi!