Club Med Phuket

Friends,

I stayed in the Phuket Club Med village from 29 Aug 2005 to 04 Sep 2005. It was a great holiday and the photos are ready.

Thanks to the Chief of Sports, Damian from New Zealand. Damian allowed me to join the activity "Be a GO for One Day". First, Damian took me to different offices which were resticted to GOs only. Then he told me the guidelines of being a GO. The first job was information meeting, but no GMs in the Theatre that morning. Then I was an archery GO. Juwon from Korea was my partners, we greet some Taiwan GMs and Hong Kong GMs. The next job was "fruit passage". Then "cat walk" near the pool. After lunch, I did one departure and then table tennis tournament. In the afternoon, I was a circus GO, but nothing to do as a circus GO because all the work was done by the circus team. After dinner, I had crazy signs with GOs on the stage. It was a very good experience.

You can see photo 54 to photo 73. I have my temp name tag.

http://riccheng.abnhosting.com/phuket2/phuket2.html

Great Pictures. It's nice to see so many familiar faces. I was there for 11 days and never saw the tennis courts or gold course until now.. Thanks Ric!

Ric,
Thanks for sharing those great pictures! I don't recognize anybody though, not having been in the Asian zone for some time.
Lovely, especially the food plates. I am just guessing that one eats very well in Phuket, since it's a top village and then, Thai food is among my favourite ones.

Anyway, what a great thing to be a GO for one day. Lucky you!

I was lucky to having been asked several times to do 'fruit passages' in some villages. It's a great way to get to know lots of GMs and to chat around with everybody. Speaking several languages helps a lot, when doing that job. That may have been just one reason I've been asked to do it.
And then the Arab fashion shows with djellabahs. Not that easy to properly do the 'cat walk' and get the belly dancing right.

Hey Ric:
just so you know, Cha Cha is from Korea, not Indonesia.
~Sarah

Dear Kiki de M,

Yes, the food in Phuket is good, but the food in Bintan is better. I met some GMs in Phuket and they all said that the food in Bintan is the best.
For "Fruit Passage", it is a good chance to know GMs because we took fruit to GMs and GOs near the pool, bar, reception, excursion, .....

Dear Gingerbr75,

Thank you so much. Cha Cha is a beautiful and sexy girl from Korea, not from Indonesia. She told me her Korean name and Chinese name in the bar. I will correct it within 2 working days.

Ric,
I do believe you, when you say Ria Bintan has the best food.
However, keep in mind, we Europeans do have a different food taste than you Asians. You are probably more more critical with Asian food and prefer different things.
However, I am more attracted by going to Phuket where I've been to, but not at CM.

Since the chefs de cuisine do change as well, it's possible that it can vary from season to season.

The best food I had so far in CM villages:

Da Balaia (Portugal)
Agadir (Morocco)
Vittel (France)
Bali
Pointe aux Canonniers (Mauritius)

Haha, going back to Canonniers in ten days.... Not particularly for the food, of course. Nonetheless, it's nice, when the food is on a top level as well, especially considering the price you pay for that village.

Ric,
Thanks for the great pictures. It looks like the club weathered the tsunami in good shape. It is just as beautiful as I remember it from my past two trips. I'm still amazed at the way they carve the fruit.

John

PS: This was my first exposure to real asian food, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bali and Phuket were my favorite clubs for cuisine.

And then the Arab fashion shows with djellabahs. Not that easy to properly do the 'cat walk' and get the belly dancing right.
[/quote]

Hi Kiki

If you need bellydance lessons I'm at your disposal...

Haha, Vibushagirl,

Merci. But I won't need it in the very near future, since going to Mauritius so very soon. Sega dance is it there!!

BTW, I took belly dance lessons in Djerba La Douce more than once, when they did the weekly journée tunisienne.
It's more difficult than it looks like, especially when it's some 30°C or more....

Friends,

You are right.
Different person has different taste.
Also, the food changes from season to season.

Dear Kiki de M,
In Asian Club Med vilalge, there is no water ski and wakeboard.
I know GM can play wakeboard in Canonniers.
How many section of wakeboard in a day ?

Ric,
I am not into water ski, but cat sailing. I used to be a great fan of water ski and went to Kemer all the time. Now, I definitely think sailing is a lot more exciting and a real challenge and without that noisy engine from the boat...
You also can see dolphins. They come and stay with the catamaran and seem to have fun as well.

I do not really understand what you mean by 'how many section of wakeboard in a day?' Do you mean 'session'?

In Mauritius, there is just one station for water ski (all levels) and the wakeboards. Depending on the week, it's pretty busy. I find it pretty unpleasant to wait all the time until it's your turn.

As for the food in Mauritius, it's a very good mix of Chinese, Indian, French and Créole. Love it all!

Dear Kiki de M,

Thank you very much.
I mean "session". Sorry for my poor english.

No problem, Ric. I was almost sure you mixed up 'section' and 'session'. Those kind of things happen to me as well, when writing in a foreign language.

Anyway, I do love Hongkong. No idea, when I will have the chance to go back. Have been there three times. Maybe, a little stop-over, when heading for Phuket..
Tea at the Regent (now Inter-Conti) for the view!! or at the Peninsula for the wonderful cozy lobby.
Touristy, I know, and expensive, I know as well. But a thing, one must do when in Hongkong.
And then the beautiful airport. Wow! However, I loved the old one, too. It was absolutely a crazy feeling before the landing in the middle of the houses.

Ric: You're an ABSOLUTE sweetie to share all those pics. I get goosebumps everytime I look at your lics cos i re-live my time there as well! Cheers!!!

All in good time

Hi everyone!

Ric, your photos of phuket from sep '05 were beautiful to see!
it was really nice to see everyone so happy and the place looking so magnificent again the way a club med always should. because the last thing i saw was a totally messed up village (from the tsunami) and all people distressed and panicy! im really glad everyone has moved on appears so happy in your photos. thank you for puting these on the sight for us to see. it's especially very reassuring for me. oh and by the way! well done on your 'knee hang'! i think it looked like you could have even made the catch! :-)

spk soon
jinelle

Hi Jinelle,

Thanks for visiting my web site.

The circus GOs taught me a new trick "Pull Over", but it was too difficult for me. I hope I can do it next time.