23 Phuket - Penang

10. Feb 2007

3 nights in Phuket – in 3 different hotels - was a real pleasure. First night close to the airport, as I arrived past midnight, then to Patong beach, the main tourist drag in Phuket, and as it was high season, only few hotel rooms where vacant.
 

There was a striking world of difference, form Isfahan I Iran on a public holiday, to this place. One can’t help to notice the truth to the Thais reputation as a smiling crowd! Impressive considering what a mixed blessing it must be with the invasion of tourist.
 

Getting to the airport I was showed to the information counter. After about a half hour, the different papers was filled in, and then it was of to the flight service office to pay the navigation fee – a whopping 10200 bath – or close to US 300$ for use of Thai airspace for a couple of hours.
 

On the tarmac, fuel came straight away, and I was ready for departure. FL 090 was not available, so I settled for FL 110. The only requirement to fly into Malaysia is a 12 hour notice, so I had filed a flight plan the night before – filing it through a Danish flight service website.  
 

Arriving in Penang went well – apart from coming in hot and high. I used up most of the runway!
 

My plan is to get the engine serviced in a work shop in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.