First of all, I would like to thank all who had contributed their efforts toward this planning. Graduation trip, also known as our final gathering trip for us who had bonded together for years. Indeed, many things have happened since we first met. Who knows what will happen after we had depart?
In this post, I'm jotting down the backstage throughout the whole planning. If you could recalled, YeeLin once suggested that we tour Australia (at early 2009) and she said it could be done in RM2.5k. We were excited but Richard did not believe her budget estimation. But as far as I know, YeeLin is a professional cheap tour hunter, if she couldn't do it, no one can XD Therefore, that consideration tracked us until the day we truly decide where to go.
At the beginning, KokSheng and JooYen took the responsibility to inquire about the whole trip fare to Thailand from a tour agent in Alor Setar. Meanwhile, Mei Ngor who was able to seek a better price for Australia tour went for her tour research. She believed everything can be done within RM2k. Seriously, being economic is our prior concern as we aim to involve many individuals who are prone to financial limitation. If Mei Ngor could successfully get us within the budget, we would consider it.
Not long after that, KokSheng found us a tour package which includes hotel staying and 6 islands hooping for 5days in Thailand. It was a RM1k++ package and it doesn't seems ideal as we might then spend a total of RM1.5k++ for the rest of the eating and the playing. Therefore, we urged to reconsider visiting only 2 island maximum since every island is the same. Meanwhile, Mei Ngor hasn't update us a bit. On the other hand, JooYen told me her tour agent could only confirms her the package pricing by 2011.
Followed, YaChie sent us a called for air-asia ticketing as she found affordable tickets to Gold Coast under RM300. Then I thought we will be going Australia after all. However, no one seems to respond.
Australia or Thailand?
Then as TeckWei said, it seems like the trip gonna canceled soon as and KokSheng was talking about it lot. No one could ever picture of how our graduation trip will be, unlike the others who had planned for Taiwan and HongKong etc.
In one of our yamcha session with KokYong and TeckWei, we talked about it. KokYong commented that Phuket is in fact a enjoyable place and it actually convinced us. The more we talked about it, the more we felt like going. Moreover, everyone affords to go. So I ponder as if I could contribute anything.
All these days, I've done no effort but just rush for their results. In this state of uncertainty, someone must has done something. Therefore, I surfed the net and try to write out a proposal, assisted by KokYong. As a result, an overall budget was compiled. It was satisfying when I received those confirmations from our group. Meanwhile, KokYong and KokSheng surprised that our accommodation cost us only RM25 per day per person and comes with breakfast each day.
Of course, I would like to Thank God for arranging all coincidences. [Coincidence 1] KokYong who had been to Phuket has provided us valuable information such as transport fares and entertainment fares. [Coincidence 2] As I was about to decide to book the tickets, HanJian suddenly prompted out that air asia was to give out promotion prices to Phuket and it exactly falls on the months we desire to go. Previously, everyone was worrying that if we make our decision on tour late, we couldn't get cheap flights. We had presumed our trip would be expensive but it doesn't turn out this way^^ [Coincidence 3] Knowing that only me and KokSheng possessed credit cards, we became the prime 'bookers'. However, air asia was playing a joke as the prices changed two days after announcement. TeckWei who had realized the first price changed immediately contacted me and we decided to book. Contacting KokSheng was funny. He was in his secondary school helping out his friends but he then chose to travel to cc to help in booking. At first, I thought I could had done it alone but who knows my credit card got problems that unable to book =P In the end of the day, KokSheng alone used his credit card to book for everyone. [Coincidence 4] Through online booking, the place was limited and you know, we are a big bunch of people. We were worrying if we unable to get cheap tickets for everyone. Who know the eight person should pay more? Even if we fairly divided the flight fare, it doesn't seems worth. However, there was ngam ngam 13 free seats at the moment and 13 out of 15 of us successfully purchased the seats. Now, even if the remaining 2 were expansive tickets, it's still cheap when we divided all fares.
Finally, we have done our booking for flights and hotel. It is a 5days 6nights trip starting from 19May^^ Come to think about it, 5days at sole Phuket is quite... lengthy... However, this is our graduation trip that perhaps the final trip to share our time together. We should treasure togetherness.
