Simon Cabaret Show, Phuket, Thailand

Cabaret started in 1655, derived from tavern which means a restaurant or night club by 1912. It is a form of entertainment featuring a song and dance with a stage for performances. Usually an MC will start by introducing the show followed by the proper music oriented show. Simon Cabaret is one of the main attractions in Phuket, Thailand. We did our booking from a travel agency a day before the show. We were picked up by the van from our hotel and then we were the first ones in the 9 pm show. The ticket will not dictate what seat you will be in. The time you will line up will determine you seat location. Though are there are VIP seats and normal seats. We chose the VIP seats which is located near the front but since we are the 1st ones to line up we were in the first row. Since you cannot still go in and our seats are already secured we decided to grab a drink in the bar and the price was cheap! It was a good buy for only THB 120 for a cocktail drink. 

No cameras are allowed inside, to make sure that the show is not being duplicated personnel are roaming around the room and they really tell the person to stop recording or taking pictures. The show is really grand from the setting to the costumes. The price is really worth it as you will watch graceful dancers for 1 hour and 30 minutes. The show has different themes ranging from Moulin Rouge to Thailand’s traditional dance. You can simply see how they transform the stage from one set to another and it was really spectacular. In addition with this water is provided as well as a tissue in each seat. 

After the show the performers line up outside for you to see them and take picture but be aware that you need to pay to take picture with them and this is going to their own pocket as a tip. This is the only part which I don’t like because shows in Bangkok, Thailand would be happy to take a picture with you without any tip. Here they force you to give them money after you took the picture with them. 

Waiting for he show to start 

After the day tour around Phuket, it’s time to watch some show! 

A drink first before the show 

THB 120 to THB 150 per cocktail drink 

They line up for you take picture of them or with them. As you can see they are calling people to take picture with them and also to ask for money 

Yes she’s a man before. He is so pretty!!!!!

He’s prettier than a real girl!! 

Will I come back again? 
Yes I will come back again when I’m in Phuket! I just love their show! It’s so magical and the price is worth it.

Location and Contact Details: 
Simon Cabaret Show
8 Sirirach Rd, Patong Beach,
Phuket 83150, Thailand

Contact num: +66 76 324 011 5
Website: http://www.phuket-simoncabaret.com

Operating Hours: 
- 3 shows per day (6:00 pm, 7:45 pm, and 9:30 pm)

Budget: 
VIP
 - Adult                                            THB 800/ PHP 1,110/ USD 25
- Children                                        THB 600/ PHP 833/ USD 18
Regular
- Adult                                              THB 700/ PHP 972/ USD 21
- Children                                         THB 500/ PHP 694/ USD 15

Around Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, is different from the other capital cities I have been to. Unlike other big cities Phnom Penh is very laid back without any crazy jams and big malls. Normally the stores are situated in a 2 floor building which is owned by either a local or an expat. There are a lot of expats living in Cambodia who owns a business or two. We asked the personnel in our hotel where the nearest hotel is and they said that there is only one mall in Phnom Penh and its quite far. Good thing a Foreigner heard us asking and they told us that there is a newly opened mall nearby called Aeon and to our bad luck it was closed because of an occasion. 

Since there are no decent malls we opted to go the Russian Market to eat lunch and buy some souvenirs. You can actually get lost inside since the pathway is very narrow. Nevertheless you can buy a lot of things in the Russian Market from cheap dresses to figurines you just need to haggle because once you open your mouth and speak in English they will give you ridiculous prices. The trick is when you ask for the price and they gave you a steep one just walk away but then they will ask you how much you want to buy it. Go for a much lower price you can think of and you could either get the price you wanted or meet halfway. 

Russian Market or Psah Toul Tom Poung is  called such because during the 1980’s most of the Russians go here to shop for it has a more varied selection of souvenirs and silks. It is the best place to buy silks or fabric in a much lower price and I got mine for only $5.00 

Actual Budget: 

Souvenirs                                                                                               $38 USD/PHP  1,634 

- silk scarf, medium sized buddha figurine, Angkor Wat figurine

  20 pcs. key chain, 4 pcs. fridge magnets, and ash tray 

Lunch                                                                                                     $4 USD/PHP 184

- Khmer Noodles and Avocado Shake for 2        

                                                                                                        

The Independence Monument 

It’s a must for them to wear a helmet for protection. The road is really crazy in Phnom Penh they do not have lanes (just an observation)           

Wood and Metal Carvings, Pearls and Jewelries

Khmer Noodles. The best way to eat is to eat like a local. 

Khmer Noodles. It reminds me of Pad Thai in Thailand. Khmer Noodles is composed of egg, meat and some veggies with sweet soy sauce. A really nice food indeed. 

City Tour Phuket, Thailand

After two days of going to different beaches it’s time for a City Tour in Phuket. Aside from the beach Phuket has a lot more to recreation and places to see. We decided to go to a one day city tour in Phuket.

Actual Expense: (per person) 

Tour with Van pick-up to and from the Hotel                                THB1,000/ PHP 1,363/ USD 31

First Stop is the Phuket View Point, where you could see all the famous beaches in Phuket. I did not get a very good picture because there were a lot of tourist taking photos we only have limited time to stay there. Here you can see the bays of Kata Noi, Kata, Karon and Kho Poo Islands. 

So yeah I just took a very narcissistic photo in the Phuket View Point 

Second Stop: We then proceed to the Elephant and Monkey Show where a baby elephant is trained some tricks that is very entertaining. The baby Elephant can shoot some hoops, ride a bicycle, and massage you. What I do not like about this is that after the show they chain the Baby Elephant. I was hoping that they could just let them roam around at one point. After that we watch the monkey show which also show some tricks. Lastly we rode an ATV to get us to the place where you will ride the Elephant. 

I was a bit shocked when the baby elephant massaged me

Third Stop: Big Buddha. This is the biggest Buddha monument that I ever saw in my life. The place is actually big and beautiful. As you enter the place you must be very respectful by being quiet and wearing long skirts or pants. Good thing I brought my scarf to cover-up my legs. A lot of tourist come here to see the Big Buddha but some also come here to pray. What fascinates me the most is the bells in the trees. I find them very beautiful and amazing as there are prayers written in the bells. 

Written here are prayers mostly about love and family 

Our tour guide told us that People write here their true love’s desire 

Big Buddha 

Fourth Stop: Pearl Farm, Bee Farm and Cashew Farm. There is not much actually to see here. It’s more on a place to buy your souvenirs such as pearls, jewelries and foods. I bought some cashew nuts in Barbecue flavour and it’s actually nice.

Bee or Honey Farm 

Fifth and Last Stop: Wat Chalong. I have only seen few Buddist Temples in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore so this place for me is a very very Beautiful place! The architecture and the design is amazing and one of a kind. It has intricate details that would surely make your mouth say Wow. This place by the way is where almost all the young Monks are. They are trained and taught here with strict supervision. We also saw a couple having their Pre-nup photos in the place and I must say that is definitely the place to have your memorable photos taken.

The Killing Fields (Choeung Ek), Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Cambodia has experienced a Civil War from 1970 to 1975 resulting to a lot of people dying. There were a number of Killing Fields in Cambodia where large number of people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge (communist). There were at least 1 million to 2.5 million people who died of disease, starvation and killing. This is the sad truth about the world which I hope will be stopped one way or another. 

The Choeung Ek, is one of the biggest killing fields in Cambodia, that people should visit to know the history of the place. Men, women, children and even babies were killed during the Khmer Regime because the leader during that time, Pol Pot want to kill all the people who goes into his way and he wants the children to be killed so that nobody will seek revenge. 

The Killing Fields is really a sad place to be in if you are the type of person who could not take gruesome stories then this is not your place but if you seek history then this will be the greatest place to learn more about the Cambodian Civil War. As you enter you need to pay $6.00, a map and a recorder shall be given to you to guide you throughout the area. The field I must say is quite big and there are numbers in each station and in your recorder you must press the corresponding numbers. In this way you can get the flow of the story and understand deeply as a person will be speaking and you are looking and imagining what happened during the Civil War. There is only one rule in this place and that is for you to Keep Quiet so you could learn more and not disturb the other people listening and contemplating the place. 

Actual Expenses: 

Tuk-tuk ride for the whole day                                $25.00 USD 

Entrance Fee                                                            $  6.00 USD per person 

Recorder and Map that is provided once you paid the entrance fee of $6.00

This is called the hanging tree. People are hanged here or killed here by shooting them and a background music is being played so that it will cover the shouts of the people being killed and the gun shots. 

There are chairs available where visitors can sit down to rest while listening to the recorder 

Each station is numbered corresponding to the number in your recorder where it will tell you more about the site you are looking at

These friendship bracelets are made for the children who died during the event 

Babies were killed by throwing them in this tree or throwing them high up in the air a few times without catching them. They will repeat this process until the babies or children dies 

Last stop is the memorial where all the skulls  and memorabilia are found 

I know the image is quite disturbing 

At the end of your tour there is a museum where pictures are displayed 

Inside the museum 

Will I come back again?
No I will not. A one time visit is enough for travellers like me. Though it was a sad place to be in I learned a lot about the history of Cambodia (partly). It will forever be in my mind and it taught me that every history has its ups and downs and I am willing to learn more about it. This is one of the reasons why I travel. It’s not only for fun but it’s all about learning and experiencing first hand information. I am recommending you guys to go here if ever you are in Phnom Penh 

Location and Contact Information: 
Choeung Ek Genocidal Center
Sangkat Cheung Aek
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Budget: 
Entrance Fee                    $6.00 USD/ PHP 268