It was my best birthday celebration - welcoming the 30s in style - actually the number 30 completely slipped my mind - I still feel like I always do :) So, it's true that age is just a number.
This time, we decided to take a break from the beach and try something different. We stayed at Patong in Phuket and enjoyed the night-life there - we are not the night-club-sort-of-person, but Patong's nightlife is really happening! To a certain extent, it was a culture shock for both of us. It's a common sight to see transvestites almost in every street in Patong - and it's amazing to see them all dressed up and groomed to perfection.
Things we enjoyed in Phuket:
1. Simon Cabaret
A ladyboy show - it's the ultimate transvestite extravaganza! It's a show to rival Las Vegas - with its spectacular display of colour, originality and fun. A single show runs the entire range of musical theatre from cultures around the world - Chinese, Bollywood, Korean, Egyptian, among others. My favorite was the Bollywood dance - they can really dance! We were amazed with the show's extravagant costumes, make-up, bright lights, excellent sound system and sets which takes us from Egypt to Latin America to China and back to Thailand in themed displays of classical dance and song - truly a mind-blowing experience :) And the soloist impersonating Tina Turner was absolutely good!
For most parts of the show, we sat quietly stunned by the appearance of the most beautiful women who were born as males - we just couldn't believe our eyes.
2. Phuket FantaSea
It is a 140acre theme park, with loads of activities and entertainment, a festival village with carnivals, games, handicrafts and shopping. A sharp contrast to Simon Cabaret, Phuket FantaSea show is more of a historical and cultural showcase of Thailand. The one and a half hour show has great sound and light effects, and is beautifully coreographed - with 30 or so elephants, mock battles, wonderful acoustics and pyrotechnics and aerial ballet in a state-of-the-art theater that seats 3,000. The elephants were all well trained - but then, it's still an exploitation of animals of some sorts - which I don't condone. In between the cultural show, there were magic shows and comedy acts.
Overall, we loved the experience and the details put into the construction and design of the entire place and also the excellent service and management - but honestly, the show itself was not that great to be advertised on such a grand-scale like that.
Some shots taken in the colorful and vibrant theme park:
The magnificent Palace of the Elephants is fronted by a glorious reconstruction of a Sukhothai-era stone palace, with intriguing elephant statues. This was amazing!
We were impressed by their buffet hall which holds 4,000 people and the food is good with a large spread of vegetarian, Indian, Japanese, and Chinese cuisines. Despite the magnitude of the crowd, the service was excellent and everything was so well organized.
3. Night-life at Patong
Happening, jazzy and mind-blowing just to walk along the main streets after 10 p.m. Even the policemen were seen selling the tickets to watch some kinky performances *shudders in disbelief*
4. The food!
Totally enjoyed the spicy Thai food! A gastronomical fare.
Tom Yam Goong
Glass noodle seafood salad - it was darn good - and spicy!
The famous crepe guy! His crepes are hot-selling items along Patong beach
Banana-peanut-butter crepe - crunchy and delicious! We went back the second time.
5. Patong Beach
On our last day, we strolled along the Patong beach and just sat and enjoyed the beach for a moment.
6. Massage
It is so cheap to get a massage in Thailand - for an hour, oil massage is RM 30 while traditional Thai massage costs RM 20. We went for oil massage on my birthday - it was relaxing and rejuvenating. On our last day, we went for traditional Thai massage - it was Alfred's first experience - I just couldn't stop laughing seeing him being twisted and turned and bent by a lady.
7. Shopping
Did some shopping - and some exciting haggling!
The service industry here is very well-organized. The tickets to Simon Cabaret and Phuket FantaSea is practically sold everywhere. Our entire stay there was pleasant and entertaining.
Things we enjoyed in Phuket:
1. Simon Cabaret
A ladyboy show - it's the ultimate transvestite extravaganza! It's a show to rival Las Vegas - with its spectacular display of colour, originality and fun. A single show runs the entire range of musical theatre from cultures around the world - Chinese, Bollywood, Korean, Egyptian, among others. My favorite was the Bollywood dance - they can really dance! We were amazed with the show's extravagant costumes, make-up, bright lights, excellent sound system and sets which takes us from Egypt to Latin America to China and back to Thailand in themed displays of classical dance and song - truly a mind-blowing experience :) And the soloist impersonating Tina Turner was absolutely good!For most parts of the show, we sat quietly stunned by the appearance of the most beautiful women who were born as males - we just couldn't believe our eyes.
2. Phuket FantaSea
It is a 140acre theme park, with loads of activities and entertainment, a festival village with carnivals, games, handicrafts and shopping. A sharp contrast to Simon Cabaret, Phuket FantaSea show is more of a historical and cultural showcase of Thailand. The one and a half hour show has great sound and light effects, and is beautifully coreographed - with 30 or so elephants, mock battles, wonderful acoustics and pyrotechnics and aerial ballet in a state-of-the-art theater that seats 3,000. The elephants were all well trained - but then, it's still an exploitation of animals of some sorts - which I don't condone. In between the cultural show, there were magic shows and comedy acts.Overall, we loved the experience and the details put into the construction and design of the entire place and also the excellent service and management - but honestly, the show itself was not that great to be advertised on such a grand-scale like that.
Some shots taken in the colorful and vibrant theme park:
The magnificent Palace of the Elephants is fronted by a glorious reconstruction of a Sukhothai-era stone palace, with intriguing elephant statues. This was amazing!
We were impressed by their buffet hall which holds 4,000 people and the food is good with a large spread of vegetarian, Indian, Japanese, and Chinese cuisines. Despite the magnitude of the crowd, the service was excellent and everything was so well organized.
3. Night-life at Patong
Happening, jazzy and mind-blowing just to walk along the main streets after 10 p.m. Even the policemen were seen selling the tickets to watch some kinky performances *shudders in disbelief*
4. The food!
Totally enjoyed the spicy Thai food! A gastronomical fare.
Tom Yam Goong
Bean Salad
A spicy fare!
The cook was tickled to her bones seeing Alfred sweat profusely after taking in the spicy papaya and bean salad. She even brought some more chillies and jokingly asked if he needs it to be more spicy, haha! He was the one who repeatedly told the cook "Spicy - just the way you eat".
A spicy fare!The cook was tickled to her bones seeing Alfred sweat profusely after taking in the spicy papaya and bean salad. She even brought some more chillies and jokingly asked if he needs it to be more spicy, haha! He was the one who repeatedly told the cook "Spicy - just the way you eat".
Glass noodle seafood salad - it was darn good - and spicy!
The famous crepe guy! His crepes are hot-selling items along Patong beach
Banana-peanut-butter crepe - crunchy and delicious! We went back the second time.5. Patong Beach
On our last day, we strolled along the Patong beach and just sat and enjoyed the beach for a moment.
6. Massage
It is so cheap to get a massage in Thailand - for an hour, oil massage is RM 30 while traditional Thai massage costs RM 20. We went for oil massage on my birthday - it was relaxing and rejuvenating. On our last day, we went for traditional Thai massage - it was Alfred's first experience - I just couldn't stop laughing seeing him being twisted and turned and bent by a lady.
7. Shopping
Did some shopping - and some exciting haggling!
The service industry here is very well-organized. The tickets to Simon Cabaret and Phuket FantaSea is practically sold everywhere. Our entire stay there was pleasant and entertaining.
And our kind tour agent, Ya arranged for a honeymoon suite for us at Royal Paradise Hotel - this is what I call a value-added service!
5 comments:
Happy 30th birthday! :)
Thanks for the wishes :)
Happy birthday~
it's a nice place for couple, I think I should pay a visit there one day if I found someone, hahaha..
see u so happy, I also happy la..
continue live happily and spread your happiness to us!!
Thanks, Chin Nee - I am thankful for having wonderful friends like you - and I am happier because of that :)
Very nice photos.Phuket is a great place for special occasions.I hope 31Th Birth Day you will come back to phuket :)
Post a Comment