Microarray training postponed

What a really bad news! The microarray training for this upcoming December is postponed because

1. My samples not enough

2. I don't have phase lock gel tubes

Sien sien sien! Gonna look at other alternatives to produce certain data, for the time being.

Ok, maybe can visit Cambodia this time.

Sigh!

Phuket trip 06-09/11/09: Sightseeing around Phuket Island

We bought this half day city tour package from a kiosk in front the Family Mart at the junction before entering the Bangla road. You can go there to find your tour package if you go to Phuket next time. The tauke nio is friendly to give us quite reasonable package deal.

For about 550 baht per person, our half day city tour package (from 2.30 pm till 630pm) included:

1. Kata and Karon beaches

- Both beaches are 3km away from Patong beach and as our van descend towards the beaches from the hill, the beaches looked simply gorgeous. Not much different between Kata and Karon beaches and Patong beach, but more family oriented and less crowded, much quiet than the Patong. We went there to pick up other tourists.

2. Phuket Old Town

- Our next destination was Phuket Old Town, basically we spent most time in our van and just do little sightseeing because it was raining. The tour guide showed us the old Phuket town which features interesting artifacts shops and Sino Portuguese architeture. Not many foreigners stay in Phuket town, but according to our tour guide (her name is Lotus), Phuket town is a place can get a cheaper accomodation compared to other beaches on Phuket island, and more local foods.

3. Wat Thalang Pearl and Gem gallery

- After the phuket old town, we went to visit this the world’s largest pearl and gem factory. It is huge! Lotus showed us the gallery then she let us do our own shopping, despite the gems and pearl jewellery, there is one section selling Thai’s handicraft souveniers, but the price considered more expensive than the one we saw in Patong beach. After the shopping, we had few minutes to enjoy the tea time at the cafeteria, again, their iced coffee so nice!

4. Cashew nut factory

- Next, we’re taken to cashew nut factory where we were served a ice cold cashew juice and cashew nut with different flavours.

5. Wat Chalong

- Then we visited the biggest temple on the Phuket island, LOL, simply beautiful. Too sacred till i also dared not to make noise and touch anything, we should pay respect.

6. Big Buddha and Kata viewpoint

- We’re about to finish our tour, the last second stop was the Big Buddha. This Big Buddha has been built since 5 years ago, and it is a gift to celebrate the Thai King’s 80th year old birthday. It is still on construction, and therefore we can see many donate box to ask for donation. Lotus said maybe need another more three to five years for completion. Between, from the Big Buddha, we can see part of the Phuket Island. We skipped the Kata viewpoint because it was getting quite late, had to rush to last stop to watch sunset.

The lady in blue shirt and blue hat, behind me was our tour guide - Lotus
She doesn't look like her age (she said she already 41 year old)!

7. Promthep cape

- Our last stop! It was only 6pm but because of raining, we can’t see the full sunset. This place is said to be one of the most photogenic places on Phuket Island and from here, can views out over the south of the island and some islands off the coast.

This was a nice trip and we staying quite well with our tour guide and other tourists. Despite two of us, there were one couple from Malaysians and two foreigners from New zealand and Finland. A small gossip about these two foreigners, apparently the guy (a 60 year old uncle from New zealand) seem want to date the lady (i think both about same age) from Finland. =)

Oh ya, our tour guide is very nice, her name is Lotus, next time if you want to go Phuket can find her as your tour guide, guarantee good service and cheaper package offered, i got her name card. So if you interested, can ask from me. =)

Phuket trip 06-09/11/09: First Impression

The reason why i like to travel because it gives me a chance to observe and learn from other’s culture. This time, i went to Thailand – a “smile” country!

Phuket is just part of Thailand, and it can’t represent the whole image of how mysterious and inner beauty of Thailand, since every different place do have different culture. I will probably visit other parts of Thailand in future again, but it is good to start my first Thailand travel experience in this Phuket, a paradise for most foreigners from all over the world. While i can experience the Thai’s culture, it is quite fun to see different people from different part of the world, how they behave, what things they interested and etc.

We took an early flight to Phuket from LCCT on the next morning. The time zone of Phuket is one hour later than M’sia time, in fact when we reached the Phuket island, it was only 730am! From the Phuket International Airport, the hotel driver fetched us to our hotel at Patong beach. The journey took about 40 minutes.

Along the journey to hotel, i had some time to see the surroundings in our comfort “taxi”. There is no big house or tall apartments, it more look like a “Kampung” with many foreigners for me. Here everyone is driving Honda, Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan and BMW.

We stayed in C&N Resort and Spa in Patong Beach during our 3 days trip. It is a up-hill boutique resort situated quite far from the most happening street in Patong Beach, and is 500 m away from the beach. The receptionists were very friendly and we purchased our tour packages to Phi Phi Islands and Phang Nga Bay from them. But actually should have gone to main street and bargain for better price.



This is our room, one of the best hotel room i stayed ever. It was clean, big and has a balcony view to see the scenery of Patong Beach and the main street.




After we dropped our luggage, we then walked to the main street and the beach to hunt for breakfast. Because it was too early (Patong is famous for its nightlife activity, daytime most people haven’t wake up to open business), we hardly found a local stall to try their breakfast. Then we realized most restaurants here had more international choices : from Italian, Korean, Mexican to fast food cuisines, than the real local Thai food restaurant. We ended up to have Subway and luckily we caught a motorcycler selling the drinks, and tasted their ice coffee. For only 15 baht, the coffee tasted very well, i ranked it as 4/5 stars.



We walked around the Patong area and realized there were many more tour agencies, eateries, 7-elevens, clothing stalls along the street, and almost everything you can bargain from them, except the food. One thing weirdo is even we bargained until apparently they won’t earn a single cent, they still deal with you and smile with you.Oh My, no wonder people say if you come to Thailand, even you’re not rich, the people there still serve you like king and princess. Now i know why.

The first impression the Thais gave me was so warm, and it was only the first day i in Thailand. I think i fell in love to this country. Many more about the beautiful scenery will be shared in next post.

To conclude this post, some small facts about this small island which i thought is very interesting:

1. It is really a vacation paradise, everywhere is the big sign board to promote the hotels and the night shows

2. Really many ang mohs (Mat Sallehs) and ah kuas (ladyboys)

3. The street looked messy, but it was clean that hardly seen a piece of paper, and that was no rubbish bin along the street!

4. The dogs and cats here sleep everywhere as they could, and they were very fat

5. Every one row (5 to 6 shops), there must be one Family Mart/7-Eleven, Pharmacy, Massage centre and hotel within 2km of Patong Beach area

6. Two types of people that usually scared me away: the taxi drivers and the ladies from massage centre. Whenever i go, there is so many of them, keep asking people want “tuk-tuk” or “massage~”. They are smart how to get customers, because usually they will ask “where do you from”, and if you answer, then they will persuade you to use their service. I kena this once. =(

Phuket trip 06-09/11/09: Tunes Hotel experience

We arrived at LCCT about 9pm on 05/11/09 and overnight in Tunes hotel LCCT before fly to Phuket on the next morning. The room is exactly the same as the magazine illustrated:

The room OK, although small, but is enough to accomodate your luggage and yourself. Only one queen size bed, one wall-attached flip opened wooden table, one fan, aircon and hair dryer. For aircon and hair dryer, you have to pay. =)

While somebody was busy talking to phone, expressed how excited he was about the trip, i was too bored to take pic with myself and my pyjama.

Our room is at third floor of Tunes Hotel, LCCT and i think can see the plane take off and arrive, but too bad i was too hugry and exhausted that night, can't wait to enjoy my McD Big Mac dinner and observed how small the room is.

This is the timer to indicate how long your aircon service lasted.

We booked our room online two days before our trip, so it was quite expensive. For one night RM130, included 12 hrs aircon and one towel, i think it was too expensive, compared to my 3 nights stay in Phuket's Hotel, which is more comfortable and luxurious, and they are about the same price!

This is the entrance to the bathroom.

Few tips if you ought to stay in Tunes hotel LCCT next time:

1. Don’t take the free shuttle bus from LCCT to Tunes hotel, because it is only free for Airasia staff, not you. Use walk and only 5 mins of walking distance, but if you’re packed with heavy luggage, then pay RM1 for a “free” shuttle bus ride.

2. Don’t book your room last minutes, it is expensive.

3. Remember every essential that you need, including towels, air cons, hair dryer etc, you have to pay.

4. Don’t treat it as a hotel, but a temporary room just for you to rest overnight. In other words, don’t expect how clean and tidy of the room.

5. Remember to bring your card games or other entertainments, or else you will be bored.

6. Got nothing to do? Go sleep, the bed is really comfortable.

Phuket trip 06-09/11/09: The beginning

We planned our 3 days Phuket Trip four months before we went, and not much planning we did, just booked the flight ticket and hotel room online then only find our travel packages in Phuket Island.

For brief, this is our itinerary:

Day 1: Depart from Kuching to LCCT, spent a night in Tunes hotel

Day 2: Took an early flight to Phuket, got tour packages Hotel

Walked around the Patong Beach and hunt for breakfast and lunch

Went to Phuket Town, visited several temples, look-out viewpoint etc.

Had local Thai "mamak" food and visited Bangla road, shopping in Patong night market

Day 3: Phi-Phi Island tours

Day 4: Phang Nga Bay Island tours and canoeing

Day 5: Flew back to Kuching

I will probably split my travel story into several posts, will talk more about how the Thais impressed me (compared to M'sian) ^^

Ok, sneak peek first!

Next task

24 hours to go, then I will on board with my holiday mood for a 3 day trip. I should be happy, yea, I am happy and excited about this trip. But, still haven't solves my problem and get ready with my samples for my microarray training, which is 3 weeks to go. Hmm.. I dislike that feeling, can't I just let go and relax myself for a couple of days, then only to worry about the sample? Ehem.. should have speed up my work at the very beginning. Whatever it is, still have to go on, even some samples not reach the target yield. Wish me have a nice trip and re-charged myself for my microarray preparation. I hope 3 weeks enough for me to get ready everything.

 

All the best to you all too! I will snap more photos to share with you guys. Leonardo, here I come! (Wonder why, check out this!) ^^

Saturday's dinner

This time we had:

(1) Half cooked Salmon


(2) Steak


(3) Salmon Sushi


(4) Milo with Vanilla Ice Cream