Glimpses of Phuket: Patong Beach and James Bond Island

                                

  

Did you finish watching the video? It’s a bit long, I know, and it's okay if you didn't. I will be featuring some of the photos anyway along with my stories. This is a continuation of our escapade in Day 1. If you haven’t read my post of Day 1 yet, you may view it here. Just make sure you’ll be back to join me today.

Oh, there you are now! Are you ready? Come on, let's go!

Day 2. With hubby attending the conference the whole day, I had all the time for myself. Hmmm... what could be a better itinerary than exploring Patong Beach, one of the popular beaches in Phuket. 

How about a morning stroll along the beach, for a start. 

Patong Beach was just a few blocks from the conference venue. With my google map on, I started walking towards the vast expanse of the beach. There it is!!! Now, left or right?

To the left, I went.

I believe this is the symbol of Patong. I really don’t know the reason why 

but I kept on seeing these figures around.   

It was early in the morning so I deliberately didn’t open my umbrella. I didn’t even wear my hat. I wanted to feel the sunshine. Tourists were just starting to arrive at the beach clad in their swim wear, with their beach mats and towels. I watched them enjoying the lure of the tan under the beach umbrellas.

Here's a panoramic shot of the beach I took while walking. 

           

How I loved looking at the cool green waters. I so enjoyed taking photos. 

So there I was, taking photos and videos while walking. 

I had all the time to savor the sight of the sea. Walking on the sand was so relaxing! Thanks to my walking shoes. No leg pain. No foot aches. I just walked, walked and walked. I felt sand getting inside my shoes.

Sneakers on the beach? Hmmm... oh, yes, I deliberately didn’t wear my flip flops as I had no plan of getting my feet wet. I had plans of walking around, remember?

I haven't been to my country’s very own Boracay Beach  that's why I was amazed at this panoramic view of Patong. Although I read a review of Patong Beach that says it is the least in rank among the other beaches in Phuket. It might be true because during the city tour I saw just so many tourists in another beach we passed by to pick up another tourist.

Then from the beach, I walked back to the hotel taking another route, a longer one, hoping to find a market where I could buy some items to bring home. Unfortunately, I walked past the place, without me knowing it. 😬😡😢

I walked quite a distance without my hat or umbrella under the scorching heat of the sun. No wonder I was so thirsty when I arrived at the hotel. I ate some street food I bought along the way.

In the afternoon, I walked to the beach again before meeting hubby at his conference site. It was only 4:00 o'clock  in the afternoon so there was enough time for another stroll, this time, on the other side of Patong Beach. 

I loved the view from this side of the beach. It was the opposite side from where I strolled earlier. It’s that part  that I marked in the photo. I saw rocks and trees from a distance.

I found a big rock. I sat on it. Watched the tourists. Enjoyed the panorama. I lingered under the shade of the trees, watching how tourists grabbed the heat of the sun for a tan. See all the photos and videos.

Where I sat was a perfect site to hide myself from the sun. Was it a shame to hide myself, while all the tourists bathed themselves in the afternoon sun?

I enjoyed watching the tourists walk, swim and grab the afternoon heat.

I also enjoyed taking videos of the beach and the tourists allowing the waves to hit their feet, making the sand their seat.

I loved listening to the sound of the splashing waves.

I wonder how many stories I could have made had I stayed longer? But then I had to leave the beach to meet hubby at the conference. Guess what, he received the Best Presenter award! I told him about my day-stroll and I wasn’t mistaken, he wanted to see the beach, too! So that explains these photos.

Yeah, wearing his conference attire at the beach! 

After our walk down the beach, we planned to go to the nearest market to shop for pasalubong. But I was so tired after the whole day walk, I ran out of energy to do as planned. We had to call it another day. 

Day 3.

For our last day in Phuket, we both decided to go on an adventure to James Bond Island. We were both excited to take a ferry boat ride to see this very popular tourist attraction.

From our hotel in Patong, we were picked up by the tour bus going to the other side of Phuket where we had to take a ferry boat to Phang Nga Bay.

On the way, we stopped at a hillside where we had to get off the bus to climb some flight of stairs. The bus driver said we were at the Viewpoint overlooking Phang Nga Bay. 

Phang Nga Bay Panorama seen from the Samet Nangshe View Point

Samet Nangshe View Point has very quickly gone from being unheard of to become one of the most popular areas giving a picturesque panorama of Phang Nga. It is well known for its stunning view of limestone islets of Phang Nga Bay. 

Here, take a closer look at the island. I hate to confess that I missed this beautiful sight. I wasn't able to take photos. While all the previous shots were taken by me, all the shots below were taken by hubby. Of course, I have his permission to post, applying the dictum, "What is yours is mine". 😀😁 Giving credit to whom credit is due!

Guess what happened ... I was almost on top of the view deck when I started seeing stars and my vision started to dim. I had to hold tight to hubby's arm as there was no place to take a seat except the stairs. Too bad, he was not able to take more shots. He was already getting his camera ready attempting to capture the breathtaking view of the place where we were heading! Good that he managed to capture this scene. I saw the bay through my blurring vision but I was afraid I would pass out so I just had to close my eyes. Hubby escorted me slowly back to the bus. Then off we went again to a private pier where we took a ferry boat to Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island!

The ferry boat

James Bond Island, where the movie "Man with the Golden Gun" 

starring Roger Moore was shot in 1974.

Very picturesque and photo worthy, indeed! 

A one-day tour of Phang Nga Bay would also feature a floating Muslim village, sea kayaking, and fascinating view of limestone mountains. 

I had to stay on the boat because I felt so dizzy. I insisted that hubby go and join other tourists canoeing around Hong Island, one of the famous canoe sites in Phang Nga. Hong means room in Thai. Canoeing around the area of big and small limestone mountains gives one a feeling of being surrounded by a large hall with two doors. 

Waaahhhh, this makes me so envious! I didn't enjoy this experience of taking selfies at these famous and beautiful tourist attractions 😞😢😡 

See this selfie shot of hubby with James Bond Island at the background.

Hong Island

Photo of James Bond Island taken from inside the Hong Cave

The tour allowed some time for swimming and relaxing. Hubby didn't swim as he was too busy and amazed taking photos of everything he saw and before he knew it, it was time to go. 

Well, I was able to fake a smile when hubby insisted for a selfie at the pier, while waiting for our bus to arrive  to bring us back to the hotel. See, I looked pale and sick. I still felt dizzy but was able to walk holding on to him. I had to close my eyes on our way back to the hotel and slept without having dinner on our last day in Phuket. We were not able to go anywhere to buy pasalubong. 

I was so thankful that I woke up feeling so much better to pack my things to go to the airport. That meant I was spared the need to see a doctor. We had a few hours of lay-over again in Kuala Lumpur International Airport so I had time to sleep again --- in a bench. What an experience it was! 

Bye, Phuket!

Thank you for keeping us company in this travel. Till our next trip! 

Did you enjoy this trip with me? Do leave a comment below.