Hello again, everyone! This time, I'm taking you on a solo trip to Phuket.

The story goes that I saw many promotions, and I came across AirAsia's Final Call Big Point promotion, which I had booked once before around February 2016, but I didn't pay for it, so I let it go. Then, today, the Final Call promotion came again, and I invited my friends, but they always thought I was joking, and no one was interested. So, I booked it myself because I didn't want to miss the opportunity again. I booked a round-trip ticket from Bangkok to Phuket using 1,000 Big Points + 354 Baht + Processing Fee 42.80 = 396.80 Baht!!! (Booked on March 7, 2016, travel date March 27-29, 2016).

My travel style is budget-oriented as I am still a student without a job or income. Therefore, I prioritize saving money for other necessities. It's worth mentioning that I didn't plan anything for this trip except booking round-trip tickets from Bangkok to Phuket.

Note: Images captured with Canon Kiss X7i and iPhone 5, with minor color adjustments in Light Room. Let's begin!

For further inquiries, please visit our Facebook page: Khunjao's Backpacker.

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March 26, 2016

As I live in Ubon Ratchathani, I had to travel to Bangkok first. The most backpacker-friendly option for someone on a tight budget like me was the "free train." Of course, I took the free train. I've taken the free train dozens of times now, as it saves me a lot of money. Haha.

The bus departs from Ubon Ratchathani at 8:45 AM and arrives in Bangkok around 9:00 PM. The journey takes approximately 12 hours.

Despite the challenges, the free train journey offered a glimpse into the diverse lifestyles of its passengers. It was a unique experience filled with unexpected stories, heartwarming moments, and much more. For those who haven't had the opportunity to ride the free train, I highly recommend it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I arrived at Bang Sue Junction Station around 8:30 PM and my friend picked me up. Luckily, my friend has special privileges and took me to a free hotel. I only had to pay 40 baht for a blanket. Then I had something to eat, took a shower, and went to bed.

March 27, 2016

I woke up around 4:30 am, took a shower, got dressed, and packed my things. As usual, when I come to Bangkok, I always use the Grab Taxi app, which has now been renamed to Grab. They even have a discount promotion. I used the app to call a taxi to take me to the airport. However, after calculating the fare, I realized that it would cost around 100-200 baht from my accommodation to the airport. I had only set a budget of 100 baht for the taxi, so I came up with a plan B. I took a taxi to Bang Khen station and then took the free train to Don Mueang station.

Upon requesting a ride through the app, I waited for a considerable amount of time before a taxi driver accepted my request. As I was unsure of my exact location due to being dropped off by a friend, I informed the driver to follow the app's designated pickup point. However, the driver proceeded to drive past the designated location and into a different alleyway. He then called me to inquire about my specific location, to which I reiterated that he should follow the app's coordinates as I was unfamiliar with the area. The driver, seemingly frustrated, questioned which coordinates I was referring to while simultaneously engaged in a phone conversation.

Had I known the route, I wouldn't have needed this app. I was slightly annoyed by the taxi driver, so I ended up canceling the ride and finding a new taxi.

As I mentioned, my plan was to take a taxi to Bang Khen train station for 70 baht and then take a train to Don Mueang station. I had checked the schedule beforehand and the train was supposed to depart around 5:43 AM. However, upon arrival, I was surprised to find that the train only operates on weekdays (Monday to Friday). Therefore, I had to change my plan and take a bus to Don Mueang temple for 13 baht.

I then walked across the skybridge to Terminal 1 and continued to Terminal 2 to print my boarding pass. My flight was originally scheduled to depart at 7:55 AM, but it was delayed to 8:45 AM. So I had to wait.

Take pictures of airplanes for fun.

He then entered the passenger lounge and took a picture of the plane as usual.

I've never heard of New Gen Airways before.

Siam Air is taking off.

This red-tailed plane will take me to Phuket ^^

Meanwhile, the lion is pushing back, preparing for takeoff.

Oops! Why do I have two boarding passes for one person? (Actually, I printed too many, haha.)

The hand dryer in the bathroom at Don Mueang Airport reminded me of the one at Kuala Lumpur Airport. 555

Let me fill up the gas tank quickly.

Ready to depart to Phuket International Airport. The A320 is full of smoke.

During my travels, I typically avoid selecting a seat on the aircraft (a bit stingy) and let it be assigned randomly. On this particular trip, I was assigned a seat in row C, which was quite far from the window. I usually prefer a window seat, but this time, my seatmate was rather unkind, keeping the window shade closed and sleeping throughout the journey. If I had been seated by the window, I would have stayed awake to enjoy the view.

Arrived at Phuket International Airport.

Let me tell you a scary story that happened on the plane. Yesterday, they informed me that my flight was delayed, so I called AirAsia to ask why. They said it was due to the weather. When the plane took off, the clouds were very dark, and it was completely dark. The plane started to shake and then fell into an air pocket so hard that I felt like I was going to faint. People on the plane screamed (including me). The couple next to me held each other's hands tightly. My tears flowed as I thought about my parents. T_T I was so scared. 555

Exiting the plane, I was greeted by the sight of a colossal Boeing 747. Eager to capture a close-up shot, I approached the aircraft, only to be redirected by an official who politely informed me, "The exit is this way." Consequently, I was left to admire the behemoth from afar, snapping a few furtive photographs.

The original text describes the author's spontaneous decision to visit Sirinath National Park after arriving at Phuket Airport. Their initial plan was to take an airport bus to Phuket Town, but they opted instead for a 1-2 kilometer walk to the park to observe airplanes landing at Nai Yang Beach.

Upon arrival at the park entrance, visitors will be charged an entrance fee of 20 baht per person.

I asked around if there were any motorbike rental shops nearby. Someone told me there was one called Deewa, but it was quite far away. Coincidentally, a motorbike taxi driver came by, and the ticket booth staff told him to take me to the rental shop. He told me to get on, and I thought to myself, "Wait a minute, I was just asking if there was a rental shop nearby. Are you taking me there right now?" I got on the motorbike with him, and we drove quite a distance before arriving at the shop. I was very grateful to them for taking me all the way to the rental shop.

This person is the one who took me to rent a car.

And then we arrived at the store. The name of the store… I can't remember.

Store Location and Distance from Airport

This sentence provides information about the location of a store and its distance from an airport. It is likely to be found on a website or app that provides information about local businesses.

The motorcycle rental fee is 300 baht per day, and I rented it for 2 days.

Motorcycle Rental Service near Nai Yang Beach, Mai Khao Beach, and Phuket Airport

This passage advertises a motorcycle rental service located near Nai Yang Beach, Mai Khao Beach, and Phuket Airport. The service offers convenient pick-up options at both the shop and the airport (although confirmation is recommended). Customers praise the excellent service provided.

Here's a breakdown of the key information:

• Location: Near Nai Yang Beach, Mai Khao Beach, and Phuket Airport
• Service: Motorcycle rental
• Contact: 088-1677651
• Pick-up: Shop and airport (confirmation recommended)
• Customer feedback: Excellent service

The car I rented

I then drove around looking for places to take pictures, starting at Sirinat National Park.

Afterwards, you can watch airplanes landing and taking off at Mai Khao Beach. There are two ways to get there: walk from Nai Yang Beach to the end of the runway, which is about 1-2 kilometers, or drive to Mai Khao Beach and walk a short distance to the landing point.

As I had a car, I decided to drive to Mai Khao Beach. However, it took me a long time to find a gas station. Once I found one, I had to make a U-turn, which was quite a distance. After that, I continued driving, following the signs to Wat Mai Khao, where I made a stop.

I continued driving until I realized I was on the wrong road. I was heading towards Phang Nga province. I opened my map and, thankfully, Google Maps helped me get back on track.

And then we arrived at Mai Khao Beach.

For those who are driving to see the planes at Mai Khao Beach, it is recommended to follow the map closely. 555

There are many ways to go, but I choose this way.

This is my paradise, watching airplanes land. It's amazing.

But it's so hot!

Upon arrival, the ship was already landed.

For those who want to watch airplanes, it is recommended to download the Flight Radar 24 app, which is available in both free and paid versions. This app allows you to track the arrival time and runway of incoming airplanes.

Restricted area

My heaven ^^

The area is teeming with tourists taking pictures.

Drivers, beware of getting stuck in the sand.

I then drove leisurely into Phuket Town, a distance of approximately 30 kilometers. It was a short drive, and I arrived in no time.

And then I looked for accommodation. I booked it through Booking.com just one day in advance. I chose a place in the city because I initially thought I would take the airport bus to the old bus station and then walk to the accommodation. The place I booked was Win Backpacker. I booked a fan room for 180 baht and an air-conditioned room for 250 baht (including breakfast).

The drive to the accommodation took a long time, so I opened the GPS to check the coordinates. Some roads in Phuket city are one-way. When I drove, I realized I had gone the wrong way. It took a long detour to get back because it was a one-way street.

Upon arrival at the accommodation, our name was already listed as we had booked in advance. We checked in smoothly, and the owner showed us to our room. However, the owner suggested that we stay in the air-conditioned room for 250 baht. I tried to negotiate the price, and the owner agreed to 200 baht, but breakfast was not included. The accommodation did not have parking for motorbikes as they were constructing a drainage system. I had to park about 50 meters away from the accommodation, and I was worried about my motorbike being stolen.

The journey from the accommodation to Patong Beach is approximately 10 kilometers by car.

One thing I like about Phuket is that it often has very wide roads for motorcycles. When stopping at traffic lights, there is a dedicated lane for motorcycles. Another thing I like is driving up the hill before reaching Patong Beach. It's a lot of fun! 555

I have arrived at Patong Beach. It is a beautiful beach with many people, especially foreigners. The waves are calm and only occasionally become large. This is different from the Gulf of Thailand, where the waves are large and frequent.

From there, drive to Promthep Cape, approximately 20 kilometers from Patong Beach.

I asked the locals if there were any gas stations along the way, and they advised me to fill up because it was a long way to the next one. So I bought a bottle for 40 baht. When I drove a little further out of town, the same size bottle cost 30 baht. So, it's better to fill up outside the city.

Upon arrival, the crowd was immense, consisting of Thais, Chinese, and Westerners.

Pre-wedding photos, but not Thai.

Mobile phone image

I then drove from Laem Phromthep to Phuket Town, a distance of approximately 20 kilometers.

Without a plan, we were free to go wherever we wanted, so we chose to go to Central Festival Phuket.

I found myself lost in Central Festival because I entered on the second floor but needed to find an exit on the first floor. I wandered around for quite some time before I was able to find my way out. I even had to resort to using a map! 555

While walking, I stumbled upon the Talat Yai walking street, so I decided to take a stroll.

The coordinates are near Thalang Road. I'm not sure if there is a market every day. If anyone knows, please let me know.

Is there anything else I can help you with?

Then, I returned to my room at Win Backpacker Hostel.

I slept with a 25-year-old Scottish man tonight. We didn't talk much because I arrived at his room around 10:30 pm, and we both went to sleep.

Winnie, the owner's child, joined in the fun. She was adorable and full of childish energy.

May I have your permission, please?

March 28, 2016

After waking up, I prepared to take a shower, pack my things, check out, and leave my luggage at the hostel. My plan for the day was to visit the Sino-Portuguese style old town of Phuket, located around Phang Nga Road, Thalang Road, Dibuk Road, and Yaowarat Road.

The photo may be slightly tilted because I took it while driving.

I then headed back to Patong Beach, as I had booked my second night's accommodation there (with only one day's notice!).

I received a special discount of approximately 10%, bringing the price down to 179 baht. This is because I am a Genius member of Booking.com.

The accommodation I stayed in was a dormitory with 3 rooms in 1 large room. There were approximately 8 bunk beds, which could accommodate more than 20 people.

Map from Patong Beach to the accommodation

After settling into our accommodation, a foreigner approached us.

Axel, a Swedish national, approached me with a friendly greeting. We engaged in a conversation, during which I inquired about his trip duration and whether he was traveling solo. Subsequently, we decided to take a stroll along Patong Beach.

Before leaving his room, he asked me if I was worried about my belongings being stolen. I told him to take his valuables with him.

Upon reaching the car, he asked us if we had a driver's license (probably worried that we wouldn't know how to drive). We showed him our driver's license.

When we arrived at Patong Beach, I realized I had lost my sunglasses. I couldn't find them anywhere near the car, so he lent me his since I was the one driving. We strolled along the beach, chatting away in our broken English. My Thai isn't very strong, haha.

Initially, I wanted to ask if he wanted to play in the water, but I was afraid he would think I was a thief or a criminal because he was carrying valuables. I was afraid he would think I would run off with his bag, so I didn't dare ask.

After a while, he went down to play in the water himself and left his bag with me. I felt that he trusted me a lot.

He went for a quick swim and then came back up. I then suggested we go to Karon Beach. He asked if we were going to walk, and I said no, we would drive. It was about 5 kilometers away.

Upon arriving at Karon Beach, we continued our leisurely stroll and conversation. Compared to Patong Beach, Karon was noticeably less crowded, living up to its reputation of having "Less People."

After a while, Axel wanted ice cream, so I took him to buy a Magnum. I asked him if he knew the real price (because he bought the Magnum for 90 baht). I told him that it was sold for 40 baht outside, but he said that 90 baht for ice cream was very cheap for him.

So I asked him how much the minimum wage was in Sweden, and he took my phone to convert the currency.

In Sweden, the minimum wage is approximately 3,000 Thai baht, while a liter of gasoline costs 170 baht.

Minimum wage

I asked him which city in Sweden he lives in.

They also mentioned that you know some places.

I only know the capital city.

He said his house is about 500 kilometers from Stockholm, the capital city.

And he showed me the location of his house. I'll visit you when I have time and money, Axel 5555.

And once he asked me, according to the sentence below.

Axel then said something unintelligible. ... Shopping center. Oh, he wanted to go shopping, so I took him to Siam Paragon.

He asked me where I usually eat (I think he was inviting me to eat). So I told him that sometimes I go to convenience stores, and sometimes I eat at roadside restaurants because it's cheaper.

We bought food at Big C Jungceylon, including pizza, rice, ice cream, snacks, and beer, to eat at the apartment. Fortunately, the apartment was fully equipped with kitchen appliances, including a microwave, refrigerator, toaster, kettle, cups, spoons, plates, and forks. While we were eating, I tried to make conversation, so I asked him what the main food in Sweden was. He said it was something like potatoes, but I can't remember exactly. Haha.

While at the mall, he expressed a desire for beer. I recommended a well-known brand, to which he responded positively. He also showed interest in another brand I suggested. Later, when we went to get ice cream, he followed my lead and purchased the same flavor. He also bought the same croissant and pie I did. It seems he was open to trying anything I suggested.

Axel is only 20 years old (younger than me). He has been in Phuket for a week and is now on his way to Australia for work, with a layover in Kuala Lumpur. He has traveled extensively in Europe and America, including Spain and Denmark. I'm a little jealous, to be honest.

We talked from three in the afternoon until nine in the evening. Our hands were tired from using Google Translate and the calculator. Sometimes we didn't understand each other, and sometimes we understood each other even less.

It was my first time guiding a foreigner and having a conversation to exchange experiences. I was very impressed. Axel was very polite, kind, and friendly. Most importantly, he trusted me a lot.

He asked me what time I would be back tomorrow. I said, "2 AM, oops, I mean 8 AM."

After that, they went their separate ways to shower and rest.

A photo of me and Axel (unfortunately, we didn't ask for his contact information in case we ever visit Sweden, haha).

Another story I'd like to share is about a foreigner I saw who had left their motorcycle turn signal on for a long time.

As I stopped at the red light, I realized I didn't know the English word for "turn signal".

At that moment, I couldn't think of anything to say, so I just blurted out:

"Your turn signal," they said, pointing at the blinker with laughter.

He looked confused and then nodded.

(Flash is the flashing light on the camera, right? What do they call the turn signal? 555)

Another story is about a foreigner who asked me how to start a motorcycle. He couldn't start it and asked for my help.

"I told him, 'You must raise the tripod.'"

"Apply the brake, then press the start button."

I don't know what to say. 555

March 29, 2016

After showering and packing my belongings, I drove to the airport to take pictures of airplanes again.

Another view of Patong Beach.

On the way, we stopped at Surin Beach. This beach is peaceful and not crowded, making it ideal for those who prefer privacy.

Then head to Nai Thon Beach.

This beach is also not crowded.

And then head to Mai Khao Beach to watch the planes landing again.

This is the purpose of my visit to Phuket.

See the image of the airplane below.

Translation:

The motorbike rental company will then pick up the motorbike at the airport.

Boarding Pass Check-in Completed: High Security Measures at Phuket Airport

The check-in process at Phuket Airport involved a thorough security screening, with scans conducted upon entering the passenger terminal. This indicates a high level of security vigilance at the airport.

The flight is delayed by approximately 30 minutes.

Today, I am taking the Thai post office back to Bangkok.

Translation:

Over the Gulf of Thailand (or not)

Arrived safely at Don Mueang Airport.

Translation:

**The journey continued with a bus ride to Mo Chit BTS station, where a friend picked me up and took me to Mo Chit Bus Terminal. My friend even managed to secure a discount on the P.1 bus fare – thanks to their various connections!

March 30, 2016

08:00 Arrived safely in Ubon Ratchathani ^^

Summary:

This unplanned trip, with the sole purpose of photographing airplanes at Mai Khao Beach, turned out to be much more than I expected. It was worthwhile, enjoyable, liberating, and fostered new friendships. I was pleasantly surprised by the kindness of the people in Phuket, contrary to my initial concerns about potential scams or inflated prices. I will definitely return to Phuket again.

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Expenses

March 26, 2016

• Songthaew to train station: 10 baht
• Blanket at hotel: 40 baht
• Food and drinks: 190 baht

March 27, 2016

• Taxi to Bang Khen train station: 70 baht
• Bus to Don Mueang Airport: 13 baht
• Sirinat National Park entrance fee: 20 baht
• Motorcycle rental (2 days): 600 baht
• Gasoline: 50 + 40 + 60 = 150 baht
• Room at Win Backpacker: 200 baht
• Food and drinks: 142 baht

March 28, 2016

• Room at Patong Studio Apartment: 179 baht
• Food and drinks: 155 baht

March 29, 2016

• Sunglasses: 199 baht
• Bus fare: 30 baht
• Bus ticket back to Ubon Ratchathani: 322 baht
• Food and drinks: 139 baht

March 30, 2016

• Songthaew back to dorm: 10 baht

Total expenses:

• Flight: 396.80 baht
• Transportation: 1,205 baht
• Food and drinks: 626 baht
• Accommodation: 379 baht
• Other expenses: 259 baht

Grand total: 2,865.80 baht

For further inquiries, please visit our Facebook page: Khunjao's Backpacker.