Siang yang cerah dan cuaca sangat baik untuk penerbangan. Saya dan keluarga pun sudah stand by di Suwarnabhumi Airport untuk terbang menuju Phuket. Phuket merupakan tempat wisata yang sangat popular bagi turis asing di Thailand, dan karena itu pula saya jadi penasaran untuk mengunjungi Phuket. Tepat jam setengah tiga pesawat air asia yang kami tumpangi pun take off dengan mulus. Pesawat terisi hampir penuh dan mayoritas penumpangnya adalah turis asing.
Banyak sebenarnya maskapai yang melayani jalur Bangkok-Phuket, seperti Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, One Two Go, belum lagi yang direct flight dari Negara lain. Untuk Air Asia sendiri, hampir setiap hari dan setiap jam ada penerbangan dari Bangkok ke Phuket. Selain itu banyak program promosi diskon di air asia jika kita memesan jauh-jauh hari.
Penerbangan kurang lebih selama sejam akhirnya dilalui dan kami pun mendarat di phuket airport yang berada persis di bibir pantai. Terminalnya tidak terlalu besar, namun panjang landasan bisa menampung pesawat besar seperti Boeing 747. Cuaca yang demikian cerah di Bangkok ternyata kebalikan di Phuket . Hujan gerimis pun menanti.

Setelah menunggu beberapa saat, akhirnya jemputan saya datang. Namanya Ali, dia direkomendasikan oleh teman saya yang sudah berkunjung ke Phuket sebelumnya (Nomor HP Ali. 66-840-626-101 , jika anda ingin memakai jasanya).  Kamipun meluncur menuju Ibis Hotel di Patong Beach. Jarak tempuh dari Phuket ke Patong sekitar 30 km dan ditempuh selama satu jam. Banyak pilihan taksi di Phuket, bisa menyewa jasa limo, ongkosnya sekitar 850 baht, atau juga bisa menggunakan taksi argo, mungkin ongkosnya sekitar 600-700 baht. Dengan Ali, saya membayar ongkos 550 baht. Sepanjang jalan Ali pun bercerita tentang Phuket dan mempromosikan tempat-tempat yang harus dikunjungi, dia fasih berbahasa Inggris. Ali seorang muslim, dan saya baru tahu kalau di phuket mayoritas penduduknya adalah muslim, dan memang sepanjang jalan saya melihat banyak mesjid dan muslimah yang berkerudung. Selain itu banyak dari penduduk yang fasih berbahasa melayu. Kontur Phuket sendiri merupakan gabungan antara pantai dan pegunungan, hingga tidak heran jika selama perjalanan dari bandara ke pantai patong banyak tanjakan dan turunan.

Sejam kemudian kami pun sampai di hotel. Setelah beristirahat sejenak, kegiatan berikutnya adalah menikmati sunset di Pantai Patong. Sebenarnya di Phuket sendiri banyak pantai-pantai yang dijadikan daerah tujuan wisata, antara lain Patong, Kamala, Bangtao, Kata, Karon, dan lain-lain. Namun yang paling ramai dan terkenal adalah Patong. Pantai ini dulu pernah remuk redam dihajar tsunami aceh tahun 2004 silam. Pantai Patong seperti pantai-pantai lainnya di Phuket berpasir putih dan berair laut biru hijau yang sangat jernih. Sangat cocok bagi yang ingin berjemur dan berenang. Ombaknya juga tidak terlalu besar.

Azan maghrib pun terdengar menggema di sela-sela matahari terbenam ke lautan. Serasa berada di kampung halaman. Perlahan-lahan mentari pun tenggelam di balik horizon. Setelah puas menikmati sunset dan berjalan menyusuri pantai, perut pun sudah mulai minta diisi. Banyak pilihan restoran terutama seafood di sepanjang pantai ini, dan bagi kebanyakan restorannya adalah halal. Saya pun menjatuhkan pilihan kepada salah satu restoran seafood pengunjungnya hampir penuh, kami pun dilayani dalam bahasa melayu. Banyak pilihan tersedia, mulai dari yang murah hingga mahal, mulai dari berbagai macam ikan, udang ,kepiting, cumi, lobster dan lain-lain dan semuanya masih fresh. Cuma dalam sekejap menu ikan dan udang yang tersedia di meja pun habis disantap. Untuk menu tersebut, bertiga hanya dicharge 320 baht. Tidak terlalu mahal kan?. Puas dan kami pun kembali ke hotel untuk beristirahat dan menyimpan tenaga untuk perjalanan besok harinya menuju Phi-Phi Islands.

In English from Google Translate
A sunny afternoon and the weather is very good for the flight. My family and has been on stand by Suwarnabhumi Airport to fly to Phuket. Phuket is a place where tourism is very popular for foreign tourists in Thailand, and also because I was so curious to visit Phuket. on 2.30pm air asia  take off well. Planes almost fully occupied and the majority of passengers are foreign tourists. Many airlines actually serve the Bangkok-Phuket route, such as Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, One Two Go, not yet a direct flight from other countries. Air Asia to itself, almost every day and every day there are flights from Bangkok to Phuket. In addition, many programs on the air campaign asia discount if we book far day.
More or less during the flight it finally passed and we were landing in phuket airport which is located exactly on the lips beach. Terminal not too big, but the long runway can accommodate large aircraft such as Boeing 747. Weather is so bright in Bangkok was in the opposite Phuket. Drizzle also awaits.

After some time, finally driver came . Name is Ali, he was recommended by my friends who have visited Phuket before. We go to Ibis Hotel in Patong. Distance from Patong to Phuket about 30 km and applied for one hour. There are many taxis in Phuket, can rent a Limo service, cost around 850 baht, or can also use a taxi argo, costa probably around 600-700 baht. With Ali, I pay 550 baht fee. Along the way Ali also tells about Phuket and promoting places that should be visited, he was fluent in English. Ali a Muslim, and I know that in phuket is a Muslim majority population, and indeed along the way I see many mosques and the Muslim veiled. In addition, many of the people who speak fluent wilt. Contours Phuket itself is a combination of beach and mountains, not to wonder if during the trip from airport to patong beach and climb a lot of duplication.

Then it is up to us at the hotel. After resting a while, the next is to enjoy the sunset on Patong Beach. Phuket itself is actually in a lot of beaches that made tourist destination, among others, Patong, Kamala, Bangtao, Kata, Karon, and others. However, the most crowded and is famous Patong. This beach used to go to pieces once rushed by tsunami aceh in 2004. Patong Beach as other beaches in Phuket and white sandy watery blue-green sea that is very clear. Suitable for those who want to sunbathe and swim. Ombaknya also not too large.
Azan maghrib also reverberate in the sound between the sunset to the sea. It is like in the home. Sun slowly sinking behind any horizon. Once satisfied to enjoy the sunset and walk the beach, the belly has been filled start request. Many seafood restaurants, especially along the coast, and for most of the restaurant is clean. My choice was to drop one of the seafood restaurant visitors almost full, we were served in wither. Many options available, ranging from cheap to expensive, ranging from various kinds of fish, shrimp, crab, squid, lobster and other and everything is still fresh. Just a flash in the menu of fish and shrimp are also available on the table . For the menu, smth charged only 320 baht. Not too expensive right?. Satisfied, and we were back to the hotel to relax and save energy for the day of travel tomorrow to the Phi-Phi Islands.