What’s up in Phuket?

First off, when I accepted the always-anticipated invitation of Cebu Pacific Airways, on behalf of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), to Phuket, for their new Manila-Phuket-Manila route, I did not have any expectations. I was told that Phuket is a lot like Cebu…so I was looking forward more to the fabled Thai fruits, Thai spas, Thai silk and Thai clothes which are really nice and reasonably priced (if you know how to haggle!).

I was in for a great surprise when we did a scenic drive along their three famous beaches:  Patong Beach, Karon Beach and Kata Beach.  We got off for a few minutes at each beachfront and we all agreed that ours here in Cebu are much more ideal for the beach-going tourist – especially those with children.  The white-capped waves in each cove are more suitable for water surfing than swimming --  much like the waves in Surigao and Hawaii.

One important difference I noted was the open availability of the beach to all swimmers.  Just beach umbrellas and lounging chairs a few meters from the water’s edge.  I did not check how one gets a space there, but everything was clean, orderly and peaceful – for the tourists.  No pesky vendors walking around.  I mean, there were people selling stuff but they stayed in place and the couple of young vendors walking along the beach were selling umbrellas but not disturbing the sunbathing tourists.

Now, if only our beaches have not been apportioned to rich landowners who, in turn, told their properties to international resorts, the beaches could as open and free as those in Phuket Island!  Yet, the “free beaches” in Talisay in the past were dirty, without public amenities.  I remember swimmers would go into these public bath houses to rinse and change in dinky cubicles. Can we manage to keep clean the beachfronts if these were free for our use?

Another delightful discovery was that the fantabulous Bangkok show “Siam Niramit” is now also in Phuket.  Hence, if you miss this show in the capital, you can get a chance to watch this very entertaining show in Phuket.  As I have seen this twice before, I did not regret not having it in our itinerary.  What we saw was “Fantasy of a Kingdom” Cultural Illusion Spectacle for spectators of all ages…especially the young!

The show is located in the Palace of the Elephants Theater towards the back of the Phuket FantaSea, the Ultimate Cultural Theme Park.  Fronted by a Magic Mountain façade, one enters through a tunnel of lights into the magical Carnival Village of 18 shops and 32 stalls featuring white tigers, white crows, white peacocks, songbirds in individual wooden cages in the palace gardens, elephants everywhere, while magicians and “kinnarees” {beautiful half bird-half woman of ancient Thai lores) greet guests.

Towards the back, across each other, are the theater and The Golden Kinnaree Buffet Restaurant – the world’s biggest dining facility with 4,000 seats!  The buffet spread is like no other – one can’t even manage halfway through the offerings, from traditional Thai dishes to those from all over the world.  The buffet is part of the package, as is the transfer service from one’s hotel to FuntaSea and back.  At the ticket turnstile, they peel off the sticker attached to the ticket and put it on you.  The sticker already has your table seat number in the buffet, as well as your reserved seat in the 3,000 seats theater.  So, everything is in order.  No rush is seen anytime.

Just like the awesome “Siam Niramit,” this FantaSea extravaganza will surely bring out the child in each of you.

Finally, being one who is born under the sign of the tiger (metal or gold tiger!) in Chinese astrology, I was naturally drawn to the Tiger Kingdom where we spent the better part of a whole morning “cavorting” with some of the 35 striped beasts of the natural park. Actually, we were taking turns pawing the tiger/s before we either lay down on their backs (what I bravely did) or stomachs and playing with their heavy tails.  That fat cat I posed with could have crushed me if I went under him. Ugh!

Then, we had a hearty lunch right there as they serve buffet lunch in their restaurant that overlooks some tiger lairs.  So, we viewed the somnambulant actions of these nocturnal animals while we savored our Thai dishes.

Thank you, TAT and CEB, for such a delightful Phuket getaway.  Special thanks to our super “nurturers,” Ms. Viveca Singson and Michelle de Guzman, who saw to our comfort from the start of the tour in Manila, until our early flight back to Cebu  from Phuket  -- distributing packed breakfast with drinks at the passageway to our flight.  That’s Service Plus in the flesh!