Phuket Town in A Day
My sister had complained that I was not a good travel mate for her. When we traveled together to Phuket, instead of spending so much time wandering around to see what’s happening here and there, I chose to a be a lazy person. In my defense, we stayed in touristic area called Patong, where the famous beach was only couple of steps and many fancy restaurants around. Moreover, our hotel has nice swimming pool at the third floor with the view right to the beach. So, who cares to walk around as crazy?
Normally, in the morning, after having breakfast, I would go to swimming pool, with my books, and some cold drink and snacks I ordered from the reception. After spending one hour to swim, I would get out of the pool, sitting on the lazy chair with my books and being spoiled with fresh air breeze and beautiful views in the same time. My sister was there too, just sitting, watching at me realizing how good life had threatened me. She didn’t swim, by the way, and seeing me enjoying my freedom for being lazy in the pool irritated her.

My sister was at swimming pool at our hotel. It has view right to the beach.

Patong Beach

Patong Beach neighborhood
When I satisfied with my morning rituals, we would leave the hotel and walk to the Junceylon, the famous shopping mall in Phuket. Here, that was my turn to get bored. My sister loved to see the things even though she didn’t have any intention to buy them. She was totally opposing me. Avoiding to hear my mumbling while she saw some Thai crafts in the building, she would let me go wherever I liked that I accepted with full of happiness. So, I would spend my time at the coffee shop in the building, trying to finish the book I read during my trip. In one of our visit to Junceylon, while waiting for my sister, I accidentally found a retail offering Thai massages and I didn’t miss the chance to have wonderful massage for two hours.

Junceylon, the famous shopping mall in Patong
In the evening, we would go back to our hotel through a famous “Bangla road”. This road is full with night clubs along the road, that started to open since afternoon. Usually, they just served some drinks during the day. Once the sun went down, some attractions would also start. We didn’t drink, so what we did just enjoy the sparkling lights from the club buildings.

Bangla Road
But that day, my sister successfully convinced me that we should leave Patong beach for a day. She kept saying that she wanted to see the famous Big Buddha. I didn’t want to leave the image of stubborn sister to her, moreover traveling together is not something that we could always do together. So, I agreed to leave the beach and heading to Phuket town using the public bus together with the locals.
Once we arrived at the city, a Thai man with his son aged 8 years old probably approached us. He spoke in Malay to us, which was surprised me by the way. Before that time, I never knew that Thai people could speak Malay too. He offered us to take us around the city with his car and gave reasonable price for five hours. When my sister said something about Big Buddha, that man immediately said, “OK. I know that place. Don’t worry. I will take you there”
So, he took us to one Buddhist temple in the city, with huge Golden Buddhist Statues sitting in the middle of temple compound. I found that the name of the temple is Was Khao Rang. It’s exactly located in Phuket downtown, on the slope of the Rang Hill. Beside the big Buddha statue, visitors also could enjoy the beauty of scenery surrounding. When I read more explanation about the temple, the statue is considered as the first big Buddha image in Phuket before the Giant Buddha was built in the other Hills. I started telling myself that this is not the Big Buddha that my sister actually wanted to see. But, seeing how excited she was, I didn’t want to distract her happiness and didn’t mention anything about my doubts. Moreover, I was also quite happy seeing this beautiful statue.

Was Khao Rang Temple, Phuket Town

Big Buddha at Was Khao Rang Temple

Was Khao Rang Temple
The next place we visited was The Butterfly Park. Again, I let my sister to decide our next destination. This garden was built in 199o that has various variety of butterflies and insects. One of staffs working there told us that the best time to visit the park is during the sunny days since it attracted butterflies to be more active. We came during the cloudy day, but still we found it attractive enough with colorful butterflies flying around. It was delighted seeing colorful butterflies flying everywhere. The park doesn’t keep the alive butterflies only, but also there are some preserved rare types of butterflies in one exhibition room. Still in the park, we could find the silk museum that show us the process of silk making, including the yarn spinning machine.

Phuket Butterfly Park

Phuket Butterfly Park

Phuket Butterfly Park

Phuket Butterfly Park

Phuket Butterfly Park

Phuket Butterfly Park

Phuket Butterfly Park

Phuket Butterfly Park

Phuket Butterfly Park

Silk Museum at Phuket Butterfly Park
The driver took us was so friendly and his son was amazing too. The son even assisted us to open and close any door we passed that I actually found was a bit too much for me. I was just not used to to be served as much as this. Overall, I was happy with them. Thus, we separated in Phuket town. In the city, we didn’t need the car since we just want to walk around how the city was. My impression to Phuket, it’s okay. In my opinion, it was not so particular place, even the city reminded me as the old town of Medan, the city where I came from.

Phuket Town

Phuket Town
After a while, we decided to go back to Patong. On our way back, my sister told me, “I think, the big Buddha that we’ve just seen was not the Big Buddha that I wanted to see”.
You saw some amazing butterflies, even if it was a cloudy day. And how nice that you got to see them together with your sister.
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Yes we did. That was really great since normally we just met like twice in a year. Thank you for visiting my blog and reading my stories 😄
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I loved the butterflies the pictures are brilliant. I actually failed to mention that in my comment.
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Thanks J.J. I’m glad you love them 😄
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banyak juga kupu-kupunya yah mbak kayak bantimurung
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Iya Winny. Jinak2 pula. Jadi gampang motret nya 😄
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Happy to see pictures from Phuket town. I wanted to take a walking tour in old phuket town which has old colonial style houses but things didn’t work out for me as I was in middle of rainy season. I had to let it go.
The jungceylon mall reminds me of the shopping I did over there. Who wouldn’t know Bangla street? Some people like it others don’t for some obvious reasons!
Happy to see Phuket town through your blog post, Nurul.
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Thank you, Arv. Apparently, it was a rainy day as well, therefore we spent more times inside the building instead of wandered around. Bangla Road, normally I prefer the quite places. But, our hotel located next to the beach where we must pass the Bangla anytime we went to Junceylon..
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During one of the day I was in phuket the rain was accompanied with strong winds, apparently umbrella were useless. Even then I enjoyed getting drenched. I loved my stay in Phuket. ☺
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Perhaps that will bring you back to Phuket, someday. Who knows 🙂
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Well said… Who knows? Thanks for good wishes Nurul 😊👍
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Love your pictures, so vibrant!
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Thank you so much, Megan. really appreciate your comment..
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You give a very detailed enjoyable description of your travels here which I enjoy. You made me laugh with you and your sister window shopping. I get very impatient with people who like to look at things and I want to take off quickly. I’m not really a shopping person I guess. More the type to just see what I want get it and I’m out.
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We are the same. Normally I go to shopping place if I have something in my mind. And I wouldn’t be happy if I left the place without getting anything I need. But not for my sis. So, you felt me 😃😃
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Phuket is beautiful I didn’t get a chance to see the butterfly park… may be next time…
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You will have chances in the future. There’s good reason to return to Phuket, isn’t it? Thank you for your words. I do really appreciate it ..
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Lovely pictures and the ending gave me the giggles!
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Thank you very much.And please accept my apologize for replying late. I really appreciate your comment
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