Phuket (Thailand) Day 4: Hern Coffee and Bistro + Checking Out Baan Laimai Beach Resort

 I woke up at 6.50am feeling tired with only 2 to 3 hours of sleep. It was really so hard to fall asleep during this trip. Knowing that I was heading home today was a source of relief, I was exhausted and appreciate having a good sleep at home. Glad I took another day leave to rest at home too.

It was 7am and I was greeted by the blue sky, the persistent rain had finally stopped for now. I went back to bed to snooze awhile before getting up to prepare for the day.

Since the time was still early after preparation, we spent some time chilling at the balcony and absorbing the essence of the rhythm here. With only two full days here, it was enough to cover the sights and places on my agenda despite the rain. Being away from the city and observing the lifestyle here, it allowed me to take away lots of thoughts for reflection.

We went up to level 5 to see the rooftop. From this angle, the gorgeous hill behind the hotel can be seen. Everywhere we went in Phuket, the hills had become a recurring sight like the city was surrounded by hills.

I felt like I was in a tropical paradise with a mix of greenery, sandy shores and blue sea in sight. The hotel nestled in the heart of Patong was a good place to stay in.

Hern Coffee and Bistro is an open-air and cosy place, decorated in a Modern-Asian style. Food spotting places are within arm's reach from the resort so we did not need to venture far to look for breakfast.

Egg Benedict and Nutella Latte for breakfast. The egg benedict had a balanced taste with savoury bacons and earthy mushrooms. The portion was huge for my morning appetite and I could not finish the potato. 

The nutella latte was something unusual as this was my first time seeing it on menu so I had to try it out. The latte had a smooth, creamy texture and lingering aroma of Nutella which I quite enjoyed.

After an hour, the rain had subsided. Patong is like a food street, offering an array of food variety to explore. It was a pity that I always felt full after a meal and left no capacity for dessert or light meal in between.

Hern Coffee and Bistro

66 Thawewong Rd, Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand

Operating hours: 9am to 11pm daily

Phuket (Thailand) Day 3: Patong Beach + Roxane Cafe + OGGI Nanai Restaurant

One of the best parts about staying at Baan Laimai Beach Resort was the mere 5 minutes walk to Patong Beach, a vibrant spot in Phuket, booming with an array of great restaurants, bars, cafes and famous beach.

No trip to Phuket will be complete without heading to Patong Beach. 

Even though it was raining, there were still people enjoying the beach. It would have been more crowded if not of the rain. The wet sand beneath our feet made us dragged to walk further down to the shore. I was carrying an umbrella while standing here.

Patong Beach stretched over a lengthy distance, offering a large sandy paradise. The presence of coconut trees and umbrella seating provided shade and shelter for the visitors. Despite the rain, the ambience remained inviting.

After checking out the beach, time to hit the walking street next. Patong was a charming town with convenient location with everything within walking distance. The street was lined with many restaurants and eateries.

With the street being narrow and crowded, it was a little difficult to walk and look around with umbrella as it was jam up the pathway. It was around 5pm and with the rain continued, we decided to find a place for drink and eventually settled at  Roxane Cafe & Restaurant.

I was elated when we got a window seat and the breathtaking view of the beach unveiled before us. Though majority of the view were blocked by trees, we can still see a partial glimpse of the sandy beach and sea. The discovery of this cafe compensated for the rainy weather.

Roxane is a three storey cafe and we were seated on second storey. While the street outside was buzzing, the cafe offered a serene escape with a laid back vibe. A perfect spot for unwinding, enjoying a meal and observing the surroundings.

Phuket (Thailand) Day 3: Baan Laimai Beach Resort & Spa

We returned back to Baan Laimai Beach Resort & Spa at 3.20pm for check in. I picked this hotel for its prime location, just a street away from Patong Beach. It was nestled in a vibrant area with many shops and food spots lining up the bustling street, an ideal spot to stay in for first timer with everything within walking distance.

Baan Laimai Beach Resort & Spa is a 4 star hotel spanning over 6 floors with 225 rooms available. The beach resort has a laid back atmosphere which immediately put me in a relax mode.

Baan Laimai Beach Resort & Spa

66 Thawewong Rd, Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand

The hotel lobby offered plenty of gathering area with lounges and chairs for guests to hang around, soaking up in an open environment if they did not want to stay in their room the entire day.

The beach resort was filled with a vibrating energy and the ambience that added a touch of relaxation to the last leg of our trip.

The resort is big with beautiful landscape, featuring a large outdoor pool with inviting sun loungers placed in the middle of the walking path.

We were ready to head up to our room. The bellboy took our luggage and showed us to our room, he also shared with us the various amenities available within the room. Such personalized service was a delightful surprise, which I only experienced in Phuket, never in other countries.

The bathroom was spacious with with rain shower on one end, bathtub on the other end and toilet bowl in the middle.

Our room was at level 2. There is corridor view, garden view, pool view and beach front view types of room, we decided to go for the outdoor balcony overlooking swimming pool which is their most popular room type. While I was at the balcony, I spotted at least 5 guests who were at the balcony at the same time too.

The balcony was not entirely private, you can look into your neighbour's balcony and other guests' balcony too, a good spot to do people watching.

Phuket (Thailand) Day 3: Checking Out of Novotel + Jungceylon Shopping Centre + Spice House

It was another night with 3 to 4 hours of limited sleep with me waking up at 3am and 6.50am. Despite feeling tired, I just couldn't sleep peacefully. But at least, I woke up slightly later today.

We returned to Amor Restaurant for the buffet breakfast located in the hotel lobby at 8.40am. However, the charges were different today. It was at 400 THB (or S$16.26) per pax.

I liked that the stations served different selections of food with some items repeated daily to ensure a diverse dining experience. The food were freshly replenished from the kitchen.

I did not managed to get scrambled egg yesterday so I ordered one today. The scrambled egg was mixed with tomatoes and mushrooms, adding an extra later of satisfaction. We spent an hour indulging in the breakfast.

After the breakfast, we went to level 3 to check out their swimming pool area. It was covered by a roof shelter to shade the guests from rain or shine while swimming.

As we stood there, we felt droplets of water drizzling down. With plans for another day outdoors, we hoped it was just a passing rain shower. We then made our way to the room to pack up for check out.

I had Fried Rice with Fried Chicken at 210 THB (or S$8.54) before taxes. The spiced fried rice was fragrant, complemented by the crunchy texture of the batter chicken fillet and juicy interior.

Spice House

Rat Uthit Song Roi Pi Rd, Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand

Operating hours: 11am to 10pm daily

We have a pleasant one hour lunch and energy replenished to continue shopping. I bought some items from Watson and one of it was the Tiger Balm plaster, as I was having a backache from the constant walking these two days.

It was still raining outside, how I wish I could cross over and continue shopping from the long stretch of stores. Patong is also surrounded by lush greenery of the hilltop, forming a beautiful backdrop.

We braced the rain and crossed over to Central Patong, which akin to a department store like Robinson, offered limited shopping options. The continuous walking made us feel exhausted, prompting us to return to the hotel for check in and rest.

Phuket (Thailand) Day 2: Phuket Old Town + Aquaria Phuket

Just 6 minutes walk from the restaurant, we stumbled upon Phuket Old Town filled with plenty of beautiful streets with French style shophouses. The vibrant area with many shops and cafes, inviting us to lose ourselves in its surroundings. It was about 3pm and we began our discovery of the Old Town.

We passed by Ancient buildings in Sino-European style, a picturesque town showcasing unique architectural style, bringing a cultural sight and charming spot to visit. Old Town has a bit of everything for us to see.

Phuket Old Town is home to diverse shops, vibrant architecture and amazing food scene. I stopped by one of the snack shops to get a packet of coconut candy and big roll seaweed at 148 THB (or S$6.02).

It was in our plan to visit Phuket Thai Hua Museum. However, upon reaching the entrance, we noticed the gloomy sky. Worried about being caught in the rain without shelter on the road, we decided to forgo the visit and continue walking along the street.

The pink and white architecture created a warm and lovely feeling, reminiscent of a princess house. Just 7 minutes after the time we passed by the museum, it started raining. In total, we only spent half an hour at the Old Town. Judging from the rain, we knew it will not stopped any time soon, we decided to take a Grab ride to Central Phuket Floresta to spend the rest of our day in indoor.

Since it was only 4pm and we had ample time, we decided to visit Aquaria Phuket located at B1 floor. The ticket price was quite steep though, it was not in our initial itinerary as we did not have plan to visit this shopping mall again today.

Phuket (Thailand) Day 2: Amor Restaurant

It was a sleepless night where I just closed my eyes to rest and accumulating a 2 to 3 hours of sleep. Being a light sleeper, I need a quiet environment in order to sleep. Unfortunately, any noise will disrupt my ability to sleep.

It was 6am and I was already awake. Looking out of the window, the sun was just about to rise and the street was quiet. This marked the beginning of a new day in Phuket.

By 6.30am, the sky has brightened up. When I had nothing to do, I can be seen at the balcony, gazing at the spectacular view, absorbing the morning glory of the town.

Our stay did not include breakfast as I initially assumed there would be nearby options. However, after exploring around yesterday, we did not discovered suitable breakfast spots nearby. Hence, we went down to Amor Restaurant in the lobby for the morning buffet at 8.30am. We got a deal at 400 THB (or S$16.26) for 2 pax.

The breakfast buffet served from 6.30am to 10am daily. Guests can enjoy a wide selection of international, local foods, snacks and beverages. The morning buffet included cooked dishes, egg station, bread and pastries and fruits station.

My preference leaned towards bread and pastry and these were what I had for breakfast. I initially wanted scrambled egg but there was a queue at the egg station, prompted me to take the ready fried egg instead. The selection was just nice for my morning appetite. We just took our time to enjoy the one hour breakfast.

We went back to our room for half an hour rest before venturing out. Glad that we had a sunny morning because I had planned a day at the outdoor.

Phuket (Thailand) Day 1: Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra + Thai Brasserie by Blue Elephant

 

I arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 2 at 11.40am for our flight at 1.10pm. As meal will be provided on plane, we did not grab any food at the airport and went straight to the boarding gate. I took Singapore Airlines this time round and was pleased that there was no delay in boarding. I was already at my seat at 1pm.

The flying time to Phuket was about 1 hour 35 minutes, excluding the aircraft taxiing. I got a window seat where I can stare out from the airplane window, looking out at the astonishing view as we ascended higher into the sky.

We were soaring higher, with the landscape beneath us still visible and at the same level as the clouds. 

This plane was on a smaller scale with only 6 seats in a row (3 by 3), it was formally a SilkAir airplane with narrow seating and no in-flight entertainment. The only difference was the free check in of baggage and complimentary meal service. Since this was just a less than 2 hours flight, it was fine for me.

I was served with the meal after 40 minutes of flying. I had Creamy Chicken Penne served with a bread, Magnum Mini Classic, a bottle of mineral water and apple juice. The timing was just nice, the cabin crews started clearing the tray once I finished the food.

I can never get tired of the window view, it was so magical to be on the top with fluffy clouds beneath us.

I did not exchange additional currency as I still have Thai Baht left, my previous exchange rate was S$1: 24.60 baht.

We touched down at Phuket International Airport at 2pm local time in Phuket, an one hour behind Singapore. Clearing the custom was swift which took left than half an hour, but we spent quite an amount of time locating the Grab pick-up point as we don't want to go their cab. 

We were on the right track initially but missed the signage and found ourselves walking further away and in circles. After nearly 20 minutes of finding, we found the pick up point and the time was already 2.45pm. When you come out from arrival hall, turn left and walk straight until the next block.

The journey from airport to our hotel in Phuket Old Town was exactly an hour drive and the fare was 684 THB (or S$27.80). Halfway through our drive, it was raining heavily. The rain ceased when we were reaching Phuket Old Town.

We were staying at Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra for two nights at S$266.46. It is a 5-star hotel in Phuket Old Town that spread over 18 floors with 180 rooms and suites.

Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra

40, 5 Chanajaroen Road, Tambon Talat Yai, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand

It was a common sight in Phuket to see the overhead cabling wires along the road. During the one hour ride from airport to hotel, one thing that struck me about Phuket was the absence of office or commercial buildings, the views were mainly villages or shophouses or vacant land. The people here live a laid back life.

I was impressed by the service the moment I reached Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra about 4pm. The bell boy came to retrieve our luggage from the car and carried it to the concierge.

I had Green Tea Lemon at 95 THB (or S$3.86), we spent half an hour at the lounge immersing at the scenery, sipping our drink and enjoying the traveling moment where we can disconnect ourselves from our laptop and mobile screen (except for taking photos).

Estrela Sky Lounge

Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra Level 18

40 5 Chanacharoen Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand

Operating hours: 4.30pm to 12am daily

We returned to our room to ready ourselves for a trip to Central Phuket Floresta, the largest shopping mall in Phuket. We went out at 5.30pm and took a Grab ride which was 14 minutes drive from our hotel at 285 THB (or S$11.59). To our surprise, the Grab car that arrived was a spacious van, resembling a mini-bus and in different car plate number from the app.

Central Phuket Floresta housed many luxury and renowned fashion brands that we are all familiar with. There was not much sales so the items were not exactly cheap, so I did not spend in clothing purchase.

It was nearly 6.15pm and time for dinner, we walked around level 3 where many of the restaurants were located. We eventually settled for Thai Brasserie by Blue Elephant, wanted to try out the authentic flavours of local cuisine.

The interior of the restaurant looked modern and inviting with a blend of yellow and blue elements - yellow chairs against vibrant blue walls. The price of their creative Thai cuisine may be slightly higher than the other Thai restaurants as they used fresh and premium quality Thai products.

The 3 pieces Prawn Cakes was priced at 380 THB (or S$15.45) before service charge and tax. Though it was expensive, the quality was good and the portion was generous as they used tiger prawn. It was deep fried with bread crumbs to achieve the crispy perfection. It was juicy tenderness on the inside and crunchy on the outside. It remained crispy even after some time.

I had Phad Thai Vegetarian at 280 THB (or S$11.38) before service charge and tax. The stir fried rice noodle was loaded with many ingredients like baby corn, carrot, broccoli and beansprout to create  an injection of flavours. The portion was too huge for me and I couldn't finish the generous serving.

Phuket is a food paradise, one of the highlight of our vacation was to indulge in delicious food. 

Thai Brasserie by Blue Elephant

Central Phuket Floresta, 3rd floor, No. 304, 199, Tambol Vichit, Amphur, 83, Chang Wat, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand

Operating hours: 11am to 8.30pm daily

Time to burn off the calories with more shopping with plenty of shops surrounding us. We crossed over to Central Phuket Festival to check out the other connecting shopping mall. I gotten some beauty products from Watson and Miniso for my friends as souvenir, and snacks from Tops Supermarket for my family. I tend to buy more for others than myself whenever I travel.

I got a pack of Lotte Koala Mango from Tops Supermarket at 100 THB (or S$4.07) for home consumption.

It was 9.10pm and we finished walking around the two malls. The wet floor outside hinted a rain during our time in the mall. We took Grab ride back to hotel at 324 THB (or S$13.17).

We were back in hotel, here's the night view from our balcony. This marked the end of my day 1 in Phuket, a day filled with long car ride, food delight and shopping.