BMC CRE 2015 Thailand Phuket

BMC CRE 2015 at Phuket Thailand

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7^th Dec 12:30 am: “Excuse me sir, vegetarian or non-vegetarian?” I woke up from my half cooked sleep in Thai airways aircraft. Air hostess smiled and gave me, to my daughter Gautamee and my wife Krati, the vegetarian food trays. It was almost midnight and we were eating green salad and bread butter at 30,000 ft above :). Best thing was, they had Daal and Rice as well along which was good.

We were in the flight for Bangkok from Mumbai. We were going to attend BMC CRE 2015 at Phuket Thailand. BMC's most prestigious employee award I would say. BMC picks hardly 20 guys for this award among hundreds of employees every year for this event where selected employees can spend quality vacation time with their family. Every little thing was well planned as per employee comfort by the company. It’s really precious thing for a BMCian.

6^th Dec we planned to move by 3pm so we reach on time but our cab got delay by 2 hours. Luckily, it did not delay further and we reached Mumbai airport around 9 pm, just on time, couple of hours before our Bangkok flight which was 11:25 pm from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai.

We reached Bangkok midnight 3 am IST. I changed my wrist clock ahead by 1.5 hours as per time zone difference. We all had done immigration at Bangkok which was smooth and were now waiting for next connecting flight for Phuket which was after 4+ hours.

So, mathematically, we were travelling around 20+ hours to reach Phuket from Pune. Yes it’s little exhaustive, But we were sure once we reach there, it’s going to be unique experience for all of us.

7^th Dec 4 am: We had our next connecting flight to Phuket at 10 am. Bangkok is nice airport but 6 hours to spend there is little tough if you have Domestic transfer flight, which left sleeping on airport seats was the one good option.

We reached Phuket in 1 hour 10 mins. Watching beach islands from aircraft window was amazing experience. Hmm, not like we watch them in Google map with satellite mode :) ,  but a better experience.

7^th Dec 12 pm: It took just a little to reach JW Marriot Phuket from airport. Phuket’s first glance of roadside view while driving for Marriot in minibus gave us a bit feeling of Goa.

Difference was the roads. Here roads are much broader, mannered and cleaned. Rubber plantations are there around the roads beside coconut trees. Hanging mesh of street light wires something you may not like.

Journey were over and fun time was about to begin.

7^th Dec 2 pm:  Our lunch was ready and we were further excited when we heard its Punjabi food. You don't expect Indian food with less than 2% Indian population at Phuket. Anyway we went at hotel restaurant and shocked to see salads, pasta and fruits and no “Matar Paneer” or “Daal Tadka”. Some miscommunication which led us expects it’s going to be Indian food but anyway, what we had was testy, healthy food.

7^th Dec 5 pm:  Phuket fantasia! I read quite a lot about it. It was going to be a grand show. I had seen few Indian shows, like the one in Udaypur, the puppets show and cultural dances. Those were amazing and an Indian proud. But Phuket Fantasia was

mesmerizing. It was truly colorful, perfect coordination among actors and animals, fusion of light, sound, crackers, dancers, actors, smooth background view changes, timings and what not. It was the cultural show about Thailand history. They have created a carnival atmosphere first. You have your food and then watch this show. Thankfully here for vegetarians you have options of veg Indian food (but just don’t expect too much). We had daal chawal, kanda bhaje, aaloo gobhi. Close to Indian food taste.

After watching fantasia I thought we have much more rich culture. But we just need show more caress for our traditions with better planning, visibility and hospitality. The richness what we have is amazing but we miss to value them sometime. What others have a little but they protect their culture so very well.

7^th Dec 11 pm: We left for hotel from Fantasia around 11pm. It was quite an eventful day. Well organized by TUI and local tour organizers. TUI is Indian tour and travels organizers who did splendid job along with BMC for this event.

Little exhaustive with morning travel and later Phantasia but we were all excited for next day Phi Phi Island whole day trip. Neena was our local Thai guide who was enjoying her Hindi words knowledge while communication with us. Words like 'Chalo' (Lets go) , 'Paani' (Water) , 'Khana' (Food).

8^th Dec 8 pm: Phi Phi island! It’s a beautiful place to be if you visit Phuket. You just cannot miss it. To reach Phi Phi Island, you need to travel 45 mins in speed boat. There are few pit-stop Islands like Maya bay, Monkey Island. The whole Phi Phi Island trip was

super exciting. We left around 8 am in bus after nice Marriott breakfast. Then it was 50 seater 5 engine speed boat for us to hop on islands for rest of the day. I remember first view of a small green rocky hill in the middle of ocean was amazing. We stopped at Maya Bay which was truly beautiful island beach. It was crowded but still you find its one of the most scenic place of Thailand. Even an amateur photographer like me, can boast for his snaps here. You can see amazing shades of blues oceans, crystal clear water, greenery around on hills and white sand beach. No color was missing there. We enjoyed there for 30 mins, roamed around and moved for next beach.

8 Dec 12 pm: Just before we hop on other beach, we all had a great chance to look inside ocean’s clear water, corals and colorful fishes by snorkeling. This part of Indian Ocean had corals so it was amazing experience to be on edge of two entirety different views about our planet life. You see up and there were trees, beaches, boats, human beings and then you see down inside ocean which is entirely a different world. Water plants, colorful fishes. It was unique feeling. I am sure all among us, who have done this activity in the middle of ocean would have had fun.

Next pit-stop was another island where we had our lunch. Nice Indian Veg food again. Biryani was good there.

8^th Dec 3 pm: We were hoping for another island which was again good for snorkeling at beach itself. It was nice place but because of corals, not easy on walk but safe enough as no steep depth at beach. We stayed for an hour and returned back to hotel by the evening. Nice day, full of adventure and beach side activities. What's my take here? Again, all clean and not even single plastic bag garbage I could see on these islands. And of course blue, green, yellow shades of nature.

8^th Dec 8 pm: Night was special as well as we all had the best Indian food of Phuket so far at JW Marriott. It had enough Indian touch along with candles on the tables.

Next day was more of relaxing I guess. Planned task was shopping at Patong beach. Patong is the most popular area and the beach. If you see the location of Patong beach on google map, you can feel this place has to be popular. Nice beach for playing games, water sports, so close to the main market of Phuket. And it is famous for its night life.

9^th Dec 6:30 am: Before we left for Patong, Early morning I decided to spend some good time with family at Marriot side beach which was more like a personal white sand beach

of Marriot. We woke up early, got some water bottles, spoon, ID cards as our Sand Castle making tools and we went on the beach. So early, we were the only ones on the beach and It was really good breathing fresh air. Beach was huge but steep a bit inside. There were small white crabs as well all over the beach. We walked around, got some morning shade snaps and then decided a place to build our castle. We built a “Shivaji’s Torna” fort there :). Overall we have very good morning time. 

9^th Dec 10 am: We all left for Patong beach in bus. It took an hour to reach there but meanwhile we also visited a Pearl Factory and later Tiger Kingdom which left an just an hour for Lunch at Kohinoor Indian Restaurant Patong and little walk around Patong area. We chose not to do much shopping and spend our time on Patong Beach. Back to the hotel by 7 pm and evening was saved for the “Gala Dinner” for all of us.

Gala Dinner was last event of CRE trip which was so fantastic. BMC had organized little Thai, little India Bollywood type and fire show, on open stage beachside at night. Tarun, our BMC India head, personally met to each and every employee which was a nice gesture. Later we all had danced on the floor, together until we got tired. All went really well. Late night we had beach side night walk.

10^th Dec 12 pm: It was our departure time from lovely place called Phuket after having good memories of BMC CRE 2015 for last 3 days. We all set to go after hotel check out. I stayed there at Phuket for couple of more days, spending more time there.  Few of the other guys also had plan to stay at Bangkok.

It was truly a great trip for me and my family. It was more fun as we did not need to bother for our travel management, day events, and food but just to enjoy and relax. Every other things were taken care by BMC for their employees, to show sort of gratitude for hard work they have done in the past. Company’s effort was truly commendable.  We were having gifts morning or evening which was again part of surprise. TUI also organized the events nicely for comfort and joy of each one of us and their family.

Quite a memory at Phuket!

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