Among the many places we visited during our trip in Phuket, Rang Yai Island stood apart for its subdued beauty and tranquility. Also known as Pearl Island, Rang Yai is only 15 minutes speed boat ride away from the main island. Unlike other activity packed day trips, we decided to pick a tour with the most relaxed schedule, which means plenty of time to relax, swim, snorkel and just explore the island on our own. Unbelievably, we were the only visitors on the island that day, possible due to the fact it was near the tail end of the low tourism season. After a quick tour of the pearl farm, our guide led us to the beach basically just to roam around and do whatever we desired.
As Nick snorkeled, I found this huge squid washed up on the beach. I have never seen a squid besides in a restaurant or supermarket, so it was quite an exciting discovery for me. One of the guides picked it up, and when asked what their plan was for this unexpected guest, he said flatly, "we eat".
After lunch, we borrowed a couple of bicycles and set off on our own little expedition around the island. This lovely little island can be circumnavigated in just over 15 minutes. The path were damp and soggy in certain places due to the rain storms that hit sporadically throughout the morning, so we had to be careful not to get our bikes stuck in the mud. Peeking through the trees, we would spot stretches of white sandy beaches so secluded that we just had to stop and take a closer look.
True to the nature of their laid back attitude to life, the Thai guides on the island enjoy playing a relaxing game of mini golf. The tranquil setting of the sandy beach and the palm trees provided a stunning back drop for the golf game. We would remember this island for what it stands for, much like its alias, hidden jewels in this paradise.
We decided to stay at Karon beach seen above, the second largest beach on Phuket island. It's a more couple oriented setting than a night life oriented at Patong beach. And in case if you really want to get some action from the hustling and busting, it's only 20 min away. This photo was taken from a nearby hill top hotel, outlining the whole beach.
We found Karona Resort & Spa from one of the Phuket tourism board web sites on a last minute deal. The hotel driver picked us up from the airport in a caravan, after a 45 minute ride south bound on the island roadway, we finally arrived at what was to be our little island oasis for the next couple of weeks. The hotel is perched up on a small hill right across the street from Karon beach. Almost all of the hotel guest rooms had an ocean view, ours was no exception, high up on the third floor with beautiful sea view from our suite. We instantly found comfort and ease at this little resort, and throughout our stay took full advantage of all the amenities and services it provides.
The swimming pool is situated just above the lobby and the restaurant, surrounded beautifully among lush tropical plants and coconut trees. There are miniature clay women with fresh flowers tucked behind their ears placed all around the pool, which adds to the ambiance a touch of color and liveliness. I call them the bare naked ladies.
Our favorite place was the spa located on the ground floor of the guest room building. We were frequent visitors there. We were greeted by the gracious host as soon as we entered the spa every time. After a treat of locally grown Chai tea, we would be led into a quite room with wooden spa bed and wonderfully smelling burning scented candles. We would slip into traditional Thai clothing and just let the spa staff took away all our stress. There are of course spa treatment readily available almost on every street corner, but if you want to be served only by certified professional staff, in a clean and well established environment, your best bets are usually the spa at your hotel. The photo shown was taken right after we had a Thai Massage, and let me tell you, it’s a must do while you are in Thailand.
After a traditional Siam massage and an exotic facial treatment with fresh fruits exact, we truly felt rejuvenated, and ready to get some more sunbathing again.
Elephants are a huge part of South East Asian societies. They are loved and respected by everyone. It's easy to understand why, especially after the type of close encounters we had with the elephants during our trip. Our meeting with the 4 year old elephant shown in this picture was particularly unforgettable. We were treated to a fantastic show by this adorable elephant on our way to a white water rafting trip. After the show, while waiting for the other guests to return from their elephant ride in the jungle, we happened to see the elephant trainer giving our little star performer a much deserved shower. When the trainer saw us snapping pictures, he signaled us to come over and take over the shower hose from him. Obviously this is something we have never done before, and neither me or Nick knew what to expect. But to our surprise, the little elephant (not so little compared to everything else) hardly cared who was giving him a shower, he was having too much fun to notice! Once in while, the curious elephant would brush his trunk playfully against our faces, leaving us both a little startled and thrilled!
The elephant trekking tour up the hills of this Phuket roadside slope was something we wanted to do. We did not expect to feel what we felt when we first decided to do the trekk. I understand that these types of tours contribute significantly to the local tourism industry, but it's really difficult for us to really believe the animals are actually benefiting at all from the money their owners are bringing in.
I'm not very good at people shots because I think it's the hardest thing to do. It's difficult to capture people in their most natural and unpretentious state. However, I thought this one did a decent job of presenting a moment of two people in love and mostly unaware of the photographer. Right before the sunset, most tourists have gone back to their lodges. Nick spotted this cute Thai couple on the beach. Based on their body language, we could tell love was the air. I immediately took out the camera and snapped away from the distance.
Just another day of sun tanning at Karon Beach, Phuket. I couldn't help taking a few shots while Nick was in the water. It was taken from the distance with an interchangeable Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f3.5-4.5 lens. I used sports mode, which allowed me to shoot at a fast shutter speed without blur. This is one of my favorite.
We left Chalong Bay pier at the southern tip of Phuket for our 3-night short stay at the Racha. The resort staff greeted us at their tastefully decorated reception office located near Chalong Bay. As we would later experience, and indeed expect, everything was thoughtfully taken care of for us, down to the every small detail. Each and every staff at the resort accommodated us with such warm care and thoughtfulness that we truly felt welcome and at home.
The resort is billed as a premier deluxe resort, offering a variety of activities accommodating a wide range of interests. Among all the available adventures, snorkeling off Siam Bay, northeast of the island was the most memorable. Unlike any beaches off Phuket, water off the coast of Racha is calm, crystal clear and full of breathtaking colorful tropical fish and exotic marine life. Just imagine swimming lazily in the warm Indian Ocean water, with hundreds of fish covering all spectrums of color moving elegantly all around you, some of them gently stroking your skin.
After a hard day of lounging around the magnificently situated swimming pool, snorkeling, diving or canoeing or even sailing, there are just as many services at the Racha to refresh and relax you. We took advantage of most of those services, including spa, fitness center and yoga.
One unique feature of this resort is its seamless integration with the island’s natural habitat. In fact, when the resort was being designed, the architect tried to save as many coconut trees as possible; all structures were designed to coexist with existing plants. Throughout our stay, we constantly came upon manmade structures with unconventional shapes to accommodate the native plants and vegetations. Like the picture seen here, holes were cut in the roof in order to keep the trees.
Any discussion of a Thai resort without mentioning its fine dining experience would do it grave injustice. The Racha, even though remote in location, somehow manages to churn out in its 3 restaurants some of the most authentic and mouth-watering food I have ever tasted. The daily brunch combines Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and French cuisine to overwhelm the guests with an amazing selection. To pick a favorite item off the brunch menu would be difficult, but we were blown away by the thin sliced assorted smoked meats, the cheese varieties and the fresh mango juice. Thailand is not known particularly for its coffee, but the Racha offers a dark, full bodied blend that left us wonder how we were ever going to get used to anything else after that.
We dined at each of the three restaurants at the Racha. Fire Grill is the most formal of the three. If you decide to go there, make sure to try the halibut wrapped in baked potato.
Earth Café has a romantic and comfortable setting. We had the most authentic Thai dishes there, and enjoyed the unforgettable performance by their lounge singers.
Sunset Beach restaurant is located at Ter Bay. It features daily fresh catch from local fishermen, and if you love seafood like me, you will not want to miss its famous seafood platter.
There is a huge variety of cuisines to choose from across the various beaches on Phuket Island and inland at Phuket Town. We found that the best place to taste real authentic Thai food are some of the open air street side restaurants that congregate near most hotels and shopping centers. You can find bargain price seafood meals daily that features fresh catch from local fishermen. We tried a number of fish dishes, and none of them disappointed. Our favourite dish was steamed white or red snapper with lemon grass, which is served hot and spicy on a heated metal dish. There are also plenty of appetizers to keep you busy while you wait for the main course. As you could probably guess, most appetizers also feature seafood. Most people have tried Tom Yum soup (Sour and spicy Thai sea food soup); it’s also a favourite of the travellers there.
I have to say the one dish I kept going back to was spicy glass noodle salad which comes with either chicken, minced pork or seafood, and Nick’s favourite was Yum Squid (baby Squid salad). These restaurants offer a casual and authentic dining experience even for people with limited budget. If you are somewhat a daredevil, make sure you ask your server that you want your food nice and spicy, but watch out for the little green chilli peppers. They are deadly!
If you want a little bit more than the usual tourist dining experience, then get on a scooter, forget about the map and get lost, that’s the best way to stumble upon a local market or food fair that will absolutely blew your mind! That’s exactly how we discovered this amazing outdoor food court right in the center of Phuket Island. We were looking for a fruit vendor when we saw the food court, located discreetly among some office buildings and commercial shops. The first thing we noticed was the lack of English on all the signs and menus. We looked around the food court and saw all sorts of interesting food items, mostly vegetarian (we found out later that the locals were celebrating the Vegetarian Festival), such as Thai curry vegetable with rice, tofu with chilli pepper, Pad Thai (the really spicy version), and all sorts of mouth watering noodle dishes. Almost all of the diners at this place were locals working at the office building nearby, and indeed we found the food tend to be spicier than what are usually found at most hotel dining rooms.
After drooling over the displayed dishes, we decided on one of the kitchens that had some sample dishes on display. I somehow conveyed to him that we wanted some fried rice with vegetables and a Pad Thai. In no time, we had our food made and served to us, and oh boy, it was probably the most memorable meal we had during our trip! The vegetable was just spicy enough that I was able to eat it without calling an ambulance, and the Pad Thai had all the aroma and taste that will leave you beg for more.
Once in the heart of Phuket Town, one is treated to an exhilarating stroll through some of the most colourful and tasty show of street vendors, sidewalk stands and local dinning halls that jams the streets of this hustling and bustling civility. Your money will go a long way here, so be prepared to treat yourself to a barrage of little snacks as you venture out into the busy local streets. We certainly didn’t pass up on opportunity to try something new and exotic. There are the delicious steamed buns, fresh fruit shakes, papaya salads, dumplings, glass noodles, little rice cakes with coconuts icings, and the list goes on and on. After stuffing ourselves with everything we could get our hands on, we ventured into the fresh produce market. Walking among the streaming crowd that congregates daily at the local market, we took in the sights, sound, smell and taste of the streets.
We rode the bus once. It was an interesting experience, and we enjoyed it. It's very economic to travel by bus there. It costs less than 1 dollar(25 bhat) per person to Phuket Town from the beach and you can sightsee along the way. Its downside is slow and you have to wait for it by the street. It comes every half an hour. If you miss it, gotta hang around the beach for another half an hour. Image standing in the heat of 30 celsius plus humidity, hum..not very fun, or running for the bus in that kind of heat, which is what we did...huh..wishing we could jump into a pool after that run.
You can also take tuk-tuk to the town. Tuk-tuk is Thai version of taxi. It is essential to bargain before getting in a tuk-tuk. The price ranges from $10 to $20 one way from the beach depending on your bargain skills :p. A tuk-tuk sits 4-5 people, so if you have a group of people to share the cost with you, it's not bad at all. 
We found the best way to travel across the island is to rent a scooter. It costs $5 a day plus gas only. You can ride it anywhere, stop and go anytime you want. We discovered a lot of interesting places while scootering around the island. We came across local eateries, night markets, elephant trekking, and sunset view points. And riding the scooter in and out of traffic like locals is A LOT of fun although we had some embarrasing moments, not to mention how I fell off the scooter at the gas station. Watching the chaotic traffic, you probably don't think there's much to the traffic rules. Well, not entirely true. There are rules to comply when it comes to ride a scooter. Drive on the left-hand side of the road; never drive in the opposite direction on a one-way street; bring your driver's license; wear a helmet. The last one applies to the drivers only. Yeah, I know. It doesn't make sense. Only are drivers required to wear a helmet in Thailand. Many foreign travellers get fined for breaking these rules. We witnessed a lot of them. Actually we are not an exception. We got caught just one block away from the bike rental for not wearing a helmet. If you think you can talk your way out of it, well, good luck! We tried. He took away Nick's driver's license. Nick had to go to the police station to pay for the fine in order to get his driver's license back. We learned our lesson :p