Phuket, Thailand ( 2.5 yrs after the Tsunami Dec 2004)

Yes, we decided to visit Phuket after 2.5 years the devastating Tsunami hit the island. Not much left to see as the remains of the disaster. Almost every location at the beaches and road sides, you would notice the sign of "Tsunami Hazard Zone" with arrow pointing direction to safer locations. However, the signs are small enough to be noticed and I guess, everyone should plan the evacuation routes the first time they check in at the hotel. We did the same.


I told Kash to book us the highest hotel in town, and thus, if you wonder which one, there are only a few of such hotels in Patong Beach. We chosed the Royal Paradise Hotel and our room was on the 7th Floor of the newest wing (must make sure the structure is intact, maa..)

Background is Patong Beach. The hotel we stayed is seen as the second tiny one of the two tall buildings at the background.

For this visit, our mission was to explore the island and to locate the muslim settlements there. Of course, we are looking for halal foods and the types of foods we like in KL.

If you're in Phuket, you can go to the Northern end of Patong Beach, called Kalim Beach and just at the corner overseeing Patong Beach town, you will notice many stalls selling barbecued beef, chickens. Just across the road facing the beach, there is a stall for nasi berlauk. They open at 6:30AM until around 2-3:00PM. The foods are cheap and halal, but the Malay sellers could not speak Patani or Malay. They only speak English or Thai...


If you decide to look for a better muslim foods, I recommend that you drive for 10 minutes further North passing through Kamala Beach to Surin Beach. There, you will find one big mosque and there are a few Malay restaurants selling the regulars, tom yam, nasi, etc... :-).. The settlement area looks flat and is definitely a Tsunami hazard area. So, mark your evacuation route before heading for your meals..

We enjoyed the holiday and the most enjoyable experience was our one hour elephant ride climbing the hill to view Kamala Beach from the hill top. We took two elephants. It was a tiring, scary and yet adventurous experience!



I do not particularly like the tool used by the elephant trainer to hit elephant's head if she does not obey the instruction. The tool looks like what the death angel cartoon is drawn with but shorter with sharp edge. The trainer will hit the elephant's head and it will scratch the skin and can be bloody! I guess, it's the way to make the elephant follow the instruction. I told Abby and Afif that it wasn't that painfull to the elephants because they have thick skins, but it reminds the elephants of their objective to take us for a ride and to be at the departure station on time...

Overall, it was fun and we think, we would go there again....