RETREAT IN PHUKET

OK, I was supposed to do this write-up a long time ago, but I was too busy to compile the pictures and videos.  So after 6 months of procrastination, I am finally done with this.

I was very fortunate to be offered a 4-day free stay in Marriot’s Phuket Beach Club, Mai Khao Beach Phuket in Oct 2012.  So 7 of us embarked on a 6-day retreat in Phuket.   Since there were a number of resorts sitting along the same stretch of the beach, we decided to book another resort next to Marriot so that we could enjoy both facilities from both hotels.  We even rented a car to make travelling easier.

                            RENAISSANCE PHUKET RESORT & SPA

Raelene and Sunshine booked this hotel.  It is quite near Marriot Club, but it’s not within walking distance. Especially when nightfalls, it’s really not that safe to walk between the two hotels.  The streets have poor street lamps thus making the street too dark to travel by foot.

                                   MARRIOT’S PHUKET BEACH CLUB
This is a 2-bedroom suite that I was offered to stay for FREE!! I felt that it was big enough for 6 people in this room.  It has a living room, dining room, balcony, 2 bathrooms and a fully-equiped kitchen. 

 Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2 

Such a Nice decor on the Dining table!

By the time we settled down, waited for the car that we rented to arrive, it was already about lunch time.  We had lunch at a café nearby.

Yes, we had Coffee Club. There wasn’t much choice as we were too hungry to explore. 

 

 Phat Thai was served in Coffee Club!!! It was really good!

 Err…can’t really recall the name of this dish.  It was Fried Rice but tasted really good too!!

By the time we finished lunch, it was back to Marriot’s.  Planned to check out the hotel facilities but we ended up lazing in the hotel room till late afternoon.  Some were taking a short nap, watching tv, some were busy shopping online!!! Yes, yes – the deprivation of shopping sinks in.  (Too bad, no pictures to proof that, all just too lazy to move!!! Haha……).

 Finally we managed to change and head for the pool!!

 The pool was huge with a slide. And they have a few pools. It was a breezy early evening.  With the warm water in the pool, it was really relaxing to just chill by the pool.  You could even see elephants strolling along the beach, which was very near the pool.

 I was excited to see an elephant, quickly jump out of the pool, with my camera in hand, water dripping all over…

 The evening tide was quite strong on our first day

 After a lazy evening swim, we decided to have dinner nearby. Mai Khao Beach is kinda quiet at night, not much of night life around.  
 

 We read about this local place on the TripAdvisor that serves good Thai food.  After studying the road map, asking for directions with the reception. We decided to head to Kindee!!! I must say; if you are really craving for good Thai food and there is no where you can find any good ones other than those served in the hotel.  This place can and will satisfy your cravings.  However, be prepared to wait for about an hour for food to be served (regardless if the place is crowded).   The place is non air-conditioned, and is kind of dark with very dim lights. (Due to the poor lightings at the restaurant, the pictures of the food that we had taken didn’t turn out well).

 Don’t I look like an ambassador of the restaurant?

 Some Sunken treasure soup, it looks plain but it's actually quite nice and refreshing!

Thai Chicken Stay

 Thai Crab Cake is very good, we order a second helping of this.

My favorite Thai Mango sticky rice



Started Day 2 with morning workouts in the hotel gym before we begin with all the eating, shopping and lazying by the beach and pool!!

 Here are the video clips of the workout!


Yeah!! All done!! Hope you have work out with me and feeling good!! Now it’s time to eat, shop and laze…….

Day 3, we decided to catch the morning sunrise around a fresh water lake near our hotel.  We started the day at about 5:20 a.m.  Unfortunately, we got lost on our way trying to get a good spot.  Here is a clip of what we have shot.

 After a unsuccessful attempt to catch the sunrise, I decided to head back to the Marriot’s  gym for more workout.  The workout of the day consist of:-

This shall be our last day at the gym!!!
(The girls were obviously very excited to hear about this haha…)




We spent the afternoon shopping at the mall nearby. I tried to keep to my diet of steam chicken as pre-lunch so its’ time to shop for chicken at the Supermarket.

 After a long day of workout, shopping, eating, I zonked out in the car whenever I have a chance.

 Time seems to pass fast when one is enjoying.  Very soon we will be leaving Mai Khao Beach.  Since we had complimentary drinks at Marriot’s, we decided to utilise it.

 Day 4 – This is also our last day in Mai Khao Beach.

As mentioned earlier, all hotels are sitting on the same stretch of the beach.  I had 2 friends staying in Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, so I’ve decided to have a morning run from Marriot’s to Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa.   It takes about 20 minutes.  But I must say, it was a refreshing run in the morning by the beach, feeling the sun shine onto me, with the wind blowing onto my face, listening to the sound of the rolling sea waves, and most importantly I seem to be the one and only running by the beach!!! For a moment I feel that I own the whole beach!!  




This is also considered my 1st  attempt in running along the beach from one hotel to another!

 Me and my barang (didn’t have my waist pouch so I’ll have to settle with this)
Want to know what’s in there?

I shall take this opportunity to enjoy the sun and sea breeze from Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa.  Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa is a much quiet resort filled with peace and tranquillity.

 After resting for about 15 minutes, it’s back to workout time My plank series (by the beach!!!!)

 After the plank series, I couldn’t resist not swimming in the sea – whatsmore it’s quiet with nobody in the beach!!! After having my Me-Time, enjoying the waves, it’s time to run back to my hotel.

 Before we leave Mai Khao Beach Phuket, we managed to catch the beautiful sunset!!

 Goodbye Mai Khao Beach!  Thanks for giving us a memorable experience.  We will definitely be back again!  Now it’s time to move to a more happening town – Patong here we come!!!



  From a quiet Mai Khao Beach, we will be heading to Patong Beach – where nightlife exists!!!  Not that we are really the party-goers, it seems much more choices than we were in Mai Khao Beach.  However the hotel we had in Patong were not as nice as Mai Khao Beach.