Phuket Island is not all sand and sea. There are a myriad of attractions inland, and even up the hills to satisfy the tourist who want more to do, buy or see. This is Thailand's biggest island in the first place!
There are as many tour companies offering this-and-that tour for you to choose from - other than just island hopping. Many have desks at hotel lobbies. I availed the service of one at the HIE Patong lobby.
I joined a tour with the 'Phuket Big Buddha' as highlight, though it passes by other 'interesting' sites of the southeastern uplands. I saw more of the good and bad of Phuket, thus, this tour was educational!
First, a rolling tour from Patong to Karon Beach. No stopping, just sightseeing. This is Karon Circle.
This is a snippet of Karon Beach. Others say it's better than Patong. Others say Kata is even better!
Those are beach umbrellas and tents lined down at the beach - all colored blue!
The highway (asphalt on cement), sidewalk (where the couple walks), beach and the Andaman Sea!
Exercise equipment, all in stainless steel, lined at one of the walking paths on Karon Beach!
We passed by Kata Beach - also not part of the itinerary. This is front of 'Beyond Resort' on Kata.
4kms up from Kata Beach, we reached the tour's first stop - "Phuket Safari Pang Chang Sai yuan" .
This post said many things.., but I gathered we were in this place only to ride the elephants.
Our real and only purpose here was to ride the elephants.., yes elephant trekking. Yes, 'trekking' yan!
There was some wait.., there had to be.., since there are only a few of them elephants (5 or 6?) versus the number of us tourists listed for the ride. But there is a young one you can 'play with' while waiting.
This cute 'little one' (4 or 5 year old? I forgot!) is playful and seems to enjoy interacting with people..,
May bumara sa lalamunan ko when I heard that girl ask her father "doesn't the iron thing hurt her leg"?
We never know "how, when and where" real and practical lessons may confront us as we roam, right? That's why I keep saying 'travel is education' really. At that point, I felt a little more, what animal rights activists feel in their hearts when they keep harping about what they keep harping about! Honestly, it shrunk my excitement to ride elephants (again), since I've already done this years ago in Chiang Mai!
Anyway, I was already there, and this ride was already payed for, so I waited watching the big ones..,
At tingin lang ako ng tingin, nakatunganga pa. I did not hear, our guide was already shouting my name all over the place! Yan na pala ang magdadala sa aking kamahalan! So I quickly 'flew' to that platform!
So, off we went! But I could only take pictures of those ahead or behind us, right? And I liked this..,
Ah what a fun start! That pachyderm ahead of us felt it was time to download his soft and hardware!
We could holler at each other as this is a rather quiet edge of a jungle, by the way.
There were some heaps of uprooted pineapples on the side of this house/shack/building/whatever..,
And THAT was THE "Elephant Feeding Show", na pala! Ah okay, I learned some things, okay.
The trek goes up the hill behind those shacks. AND THIS IS WHERE THE HOLD UP HAPPENS.
How does that happen? When you're already up on that hill, farthest from 'civilization', your asshole of an elephant driver (na akala mo mabait, kasi always smiling) will stop the animal, pull out a container and coercively sell to you whatever he has in that container (at sky high prices of course). The issue?
If you are not buying, the elephant is not moving even a bit. You are stuck, and ONLY under his mercy! What will yo do? Shout? It is far and too noisy down at the shack, there is a very loud speaker playing Thai music. You want to jump off the elephant and run for it? Pwede, naisip ko rin yun, gino-o ko hehe!
I've heard about this scam before, pati na yung sa jetski, motorbike, etc. But I was caught off guard. I did not expect it happening to me in Phuket. I assumed sa Bangkok or Chiang Mai lang nangyayari ito.
Here's what happened to me and my tourmate (di ko kilala, two to an elephant, remember?):
When we were already at the top of circular route of the jungle, elephant stopped, and yes, our 'driver', yes that goon in blue, pulled out his "plastic case" and attempted to sell to us various kinds of trinkets - those you see on many sidewalks of Phuket and all of Thailand. I immediately said "no, I don't want".
At first, he tried countering me by making beautiful descriptions of his 'products'. But I said "no, I am not interested". So did my fellow tourist beside me. The first problem (I think) is/was: when this thug was dangling some necklace, etong si wakanga na katabi ko said "no, I already have". Eh di syempre, naglabas ng bracelet si sanggano, now being profusely offered to the wakanga beside me! No pa rin.
This criminal dramatized his spiel with 'paawa effect': "need food, family very hungry" ganun-ganun, but we were not buying. I busied myself taking pictures of the surroundings (avoiding this goon, baka magalit at kung ano'ng gawin sa akin)! Tahimik na rin si fellow tourist, just shaking his head to say no.
Eventually, tumahimik din si sanggano-driver, and that became a problem - because we were not at all moving. We were just in the middle of nowhere, the elephant standing still. The goon picked a big bolo (yes, itak as in sundang) and just kept tinkering with it saying nothing. I know that.., nang-i-intimidate.
What happened next was.., the insik beside me said politely "can we go now"? This crook replied with "buy now, we go". I burst loudly "LET'S GO"! I think nanlilisik nanaman ang mga mata ko this time, and I think umuusok ang tenga at ilong ko when I said that. Aba nakahanap ako ng katapat, ayaw pasindak!
I looked around, all other elephants were also stationery - which meant all my fellow tourmates were under the same situation - being extorted. AND, the wakanga beside me gave in, binili yung pulseras.
And we started moving! Our driver from hell was cheerful again, as if nothing anomalous happened. I was like already trembling in anger.., tanginang 'yan, tinalo kami ng isang manggagantso? I looked at my seatmate in consternation, yes with all ire. He tapped my hand saying "es okay, not too expensive".
As we all returned to our coaster, everyone was quiet and frowning. When we started off to the next destination, I jokingly said "that was some hold up"! And everyone started talking with disbelief and aghast, the end of which was blaming the tour guide why they brought us to an extortion den hahaha!
The van backtracked some 1km on the road, and we reached our next destination, Karon Viewpoint.
I kept near him anyway, so I could hear his annotations, or even ask about places we were visiting, like the wonderful views as seen from this Karon Viewpoint. That, cove that looks like a reversed letter "C" is Kata Beach, where the King's Cup Regatta is held yearly since 1987, 10kms south of Patong Beach.
For the unfamiliar, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta is a big yachting event in Asia, bigger of course than Iloilo's Paraw Regatta. PKCR participants are real big yachts from all over the world (hindi Paraw)! See, I learned something new! Now added to my bucket list. A reason to visit Kata Beach come December!
Alright, we moved on to our next destination. The road we passed-by on this segment of the tour, was as if we were already on our way 'home' as we were backtracking (we passed by this same road going to that Phuket 'Extortion' Safari). But no, we were not done just yet. The Karon Viewpoint was only our second stop. There were more to follow, but the route was rather circuitous as if not properly planned!
After more than half an hour of twisting and turning on the road, we reached a hilly area..,
I also mused (of course) that, even for Thai standards, it must be a little bit more expensive living here in Phuket, since virtually everywhere on this island seems to be already teeming with tourist activities! I could imagine though, that 'ATV Tour' must be fun - riding on trails with breathtaking highland views.
Finally, we arrived at the Big Buddha compound on top of a mountain, the highlight of this day tour..,
Note that this is a religious site, foremost. Being so, there's a strict visitor dress code to be followed..,
But temple management already know that 'usual issue', so they have solutions ready and in place!
That dress code issue is mostly for women who must have their bodies covered shoulders to knees. I did see muscular 'hunks' asked to wear t-shirts over their beach sando. It distracts monks too, y'know!
Anyway, this is a wide hilly compound, good they have maps and descriptions at strategic locations..,
And, this place is not even finished yet, many parts are under construction but open just the same..,
Access is from way below the hill, a path skirts around it, before reaching the picturesque wide stairs.
The views out to the surrounding areas and the sea starts to be grand even just at these stairs..,
And it becomes even grander at the top of the stairs, which is the floor level of the buddha building!
I heard a tourmate say "this is already too high and too far for the views", but panoramic anyway!
I had to crouch on the pavement (floor) to capture this full shot of the giant buddha's structure..,
It's full name is Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri, shortened to just Ming Mongkol Buddha. It is 45 meters tall from the base on top of a hill. So it is really high up that you can see virtually every part of Phuket. It faces east to Phuket City and Chalong Bay, its back is to Kata Beach and the Andaman Sea.
Here's another statue at the back, and you can see at top-right, the dark bottom of the photo above..,
Here's a view from the back of the buddha monuments - probably the Kata Noi area or there arounds.
Going down and out of this place, there are other things to see (alive or otherwise) for the tourists.
There are cute dioramas placed along the pathways leading out of this temple, like these monkeys..,
Here's one that I particularly liked.., I'm not even sure what about that Thai money depiction..,
But the elephants (size, proportion, realistic rendition, at ang dami nila), they are just so adorable!
There are even two 'younger ones' in front of the parade, na prang nagta-tumbling hehe! Very Cute!
I also happened by this gathering (parang misa), but I'm not sure if a regular or special ceremony?
Hey I saw people taking photos of these 2 rocks but I don't know what they are, naki-picture lang ako!
So off we were to the next destination of our day tour. And I saw this at a parking lot by the roadside.
The road from/to the Big Buddha by the way, is dotted with cafes and restaurants with nice views.
Just about 10 minutes from the Big Buddha, we reached our next destination, Wat Chalong. Wow!
Our tour guide described them, but I was charmed by the forms and shapes, I ignored his monologue! But I did hear that this is the Central Temple where most offerings from Thai people are usually done.
This is the Temple of the Reverend Father Abbot. I don't know the significance. I wasn't listening!
This is the Chedi (stupa), the tallest structure in this entire Wat Chalong compound at 60 meters high.
I noticed there's a 'steel safe' (yes, caja de hierro) at each corner where there's a monk statue (altar?)..,
Tourguide told us, this temple had to 'upgrade' from mere wooden boxes because those easily got full with cash donations, therefore prone (or tempting) to pilferage. Oist padre, gayahin na yan! Good idea!
Speaking of 'pilferage', which is really stealing, the topic easily flowed into that 'not so long ago' news, where a beggar was arrested from Wat Chalong's vicinity and found to be carrying more than 100,000 baht (cash) in his possession! He claimed everything came from his begging and nothing was stolen.
The poor PWD was subsequently released, because, there was no complainant, and the plainclothes policemen did not have any proof that the 67-year-old beggar got the money from illegal sources. Da!
Let's go to our next destination, Mook Phuket, a Pearl Store, about 5 kms away from Wat Chalong.
So this is the front (parking area) of Mook Phuket. Those signages announces their products - Pearl.
Most agency-arranged tour itineraries usually include such commercial establishments, both because some tourists like them or agencies get paid by those establishments for bringing would-be buyers. I just sit it out in times like these! Other times, I go and look or take pictures.., like the next one below...
A Cashew (Kasoy) Nuts Factory and Store called Sri Bhurapa Orchid Co., Ltd! A yummy place!
Here we were shown how they process cashew nuts from start to yummy finish in different flavors!
We were shown to some live fruit-bearing trees at their backyard. First time ko yata to see this tree.
There was a free taste-test of course - dyan ako magaling hahaha! But I liked the Cashew Juice that they say is a very good health drink against many ailents. I didn't even know there's anything like that.
Ah, aside from the so many flavors that they have (I liked the garlic, butter and honey flavors), the nut texture is softer than what we commonly eat in the Philippines kasama na yun galing sa supermarket.
I think they still pre-cook the nuts (sinasaing?) before being roasted - that's why they're crunchy on the outside yet tender on the inside (postiso-friendly ba)! I wish our local makers could do them that way!
Now on to the last stop of my Phuket Day Tour - the Big Bee Farm..,
In these boxes are live and busy bee colonies, where the insects make their hives and produce honey.
Okay, so I learned that the bees they use to produce all those good things are European Honey Bees..,
This farm is also already their retail store of honey products, and, those are on display for you to buy!
I liked the Rice Crackers (with Cereal or with Sesame Seeds) and Honey.., not the Tom Yum Koong.
There is even "White Chocolate With Honey" (with Pineapple or Mango tidbits). Aba masarap din!
Ah, this tour had to end. Kailangan na! At 6:27PM I was still munching on white chocolate samplers!
Okay good.., we went home after that! So I could have dinner. Ganun?
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