Sunset of the Andaman, Thailand

Warning: taking sunset in a super clear sky (i.e. no smog, no haze) will harm your camera's lens much in addition to your naked eyes. So in taking this kind of photos, you need to take it in a second or not less than 2 seconds. Otherwise, it will damage your camera's cmos sensor. Don't even try to look at the sun in the display. The last note is to use a cheaper camera. The below were taken on Panasonic FT1.

Twin Palms Phuket, Surin Beach, Thailand

Asked if there was a room available for a look but all full during this peak season. However, the receptionist invited us to go inside and check around. That is really in such a contrast to the Library of Koh Samui which warned you from not moving an inch even before you were just around their entrance.

1. the standard room is at around US$350 but it wasn't that high before. 2. the pool.

3. the rooms. 4. the pool.

5. another view. 6. the canal.

7. this lagoon access room is at US$550. 8. whole view.

9. Oriental Spoon - the restaurant.

Courtyard Surin Beach, Phuket, Thailand

As usual, going into other resorts and hotels for a look is quite fun.

1/2. The ordinary Chinese greetings for these 2 similar phrases are very common but meaning-wise, it's not. The first one is more aggressive but the 2nd one is milder. These were something which I often argued with my aunts/grandma/father, when they had these postings at home.

3/4. Momo various seating area.

5/6. the pool area and it's pretty big.

7. another side of the pool. 8. View to Momo by the pool.

Sunset at Surin beach, Phuket, Thailand

Around the hillside of Surin beach, Phuket, Thailand

1/2. the lobby of Twin Palms - the color tune is a bit similar to The Sala.

3. the entrance. 4. Something exotic.

5. the busy road. 6. this one is another property of Arasia Treetop. Must be with a very nice view.

7/8. This plaza isn't busy, right by the entrance to Surin town area. It has a galleria of Aleenta.

10. At less than HK$2 million (US$250k), you can get a condo like this, but of course "starting from" may mean a studio at the back. :)

12. This apartment is part of the Twin Palms property.

13/14. the Chava - another choice for the families who want a 2-4 bedroom suites in a tranquil vacation.

Day and Night, Momo Cafe, Courtyard by Marriott, Surin Beach, Phuket, Thailand

In taking the advantage of my Marriott Gold card for the dining benefit and making use of the complimentary dinner set at any Courtyard, this MoMo Cafe became my canteen.

1. the entrance. 2. MoMo Cafe have many table setting from poolside to the main hall. So you wouldn't find it too formalised.

3/4. good for the kids and Courtyard Surin and Kamala are good for families.

5. Momo on the main floor. 6. Italian herb bread with crushed olive. Pretty good.

7. Iced coffee (Illy). No doubt about the quality of Illy. 8. MoMo burger - THB260. Also good and I like it the way you decide how much veggie to go with the burger.

9. Wood grilled half spring chicken - THB220. The spring chicken is an imported frozen ones and it's a bit too frozen and kept for a long time the frozen smell was still there. They should put more rosemary to take that out. I then told the waiter about it and surprisingly, they got us something impressing us at night time though they weren't aware that we would come back.

10. OK, we made use of the dinner set voucher. You can choose Thai set or Int'l set with dessert and tea/coffee. Before the meal, we were asked for some drinks. There we had watermelon frost to cool off the heat from the afternoon. 11/12. at night.

13/4. wheat bread and crushed olive.

15/16. chicken and beef satay. Very nice. Not too burnt but aromatic. Very juicy inside.

17. the condiment with satay. 18. Tom Kha Gai. Very fresh coconut aroma but a bit hot.

19. Tom Yam Krung - also quite hot and quite surprising to taste such hot food at this kind of int'l hotel standard. 20. mixed veggie stir fried. Pretty nice and not too salty.

21. Pan fried sea bass with hot and sweet/sour sauce. Of course, when it said it's hot, it's really hot, but good with going with rice. 22. mango sticky rice. Now it's not the season for mango; so no complaint. The sticky rice is good though.

23. Iced lime tea. 24. the lobby.