Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Dino Park Mini Golf Restaurant & Bar

On the 2nd night, we wanted to go to Karon town center for dinner. We hired a tuk-tuk car and simply went there with no special expectation.
It is on the road crossing the little hill between Karon and Kata beach, we saw this place...How to describe it? One of the most pleasant surprises of Phuket - especially for families.
Apart from the beach, I think there is probably no other place on the island that kids will like better. And it's surprising how much fun adults have here too. It's great fun for all.

The boys and I love this Dino Park so much, that we visited the place again on the 4th night.

On the way to Karon Town, this open air street-side bar had captured my eyes immediately. Very Flintstones-like to me.

Although a quick glance on the tuk-tuk car that passing by it fast, my heart want to go there already. Later on, when we reached Karon Town, we only walked a few streets. The place really is not our cup of tea. It didn't take me long to decide that we should turn back and check this Dino Park out.

The full name of this place is called Dino-Park Mini Golf Restaurant and Bar.

The meet-and-greet at the entrance by a realistically fierce looking raptor looks real cool to everyone. Who can resist but to go inside?

The left path leads to the Dino-Kitchen, and the right path leads to the mini golf course.

Look how cool this place is....

Operating as a unique mini-golf course, Dino Park also offers dining in a primeval jungle setting. The setting is surreal, with waterfall and streams, rock-slab tables and benches arranged throughout a lushly landscaped and colour-lit garden.

Hearing the sound of falling water while chatting / dining with family or friends is pleasant, though this place is not romantic.




Maybe we arrived at this restaurant early enough, we were lucky to get a table in the open air section even without reservation. Should we came any later, we would need to queue outside. As soon as we were seated, the boys ran away to explore the place immediately.














Food is a bit expensive over here, but generally, it's still in the acceptable and reasonable range. This night, we order 1 dish of Salmon Steak and 2 plates of Thai Fried Rice. Of course, I ordered my favorite drink, i.e. coconut water. Almost everyday in Phuket, I consumed 2 whole coconut.




The entrance to mini golf course. We need to pay to enter there. I remember the fees is 120B for adults, and 90B for children. While we were waiting for the foods to come, KS took the boys to tour this restricted area. Below photos were taken inside the mini gold course.


This Dino Park is not simply a mini-golf as we normally think of it. There is a fun mini-golf course winding its way through all of this, completed with obstacles that include caves, dinosaur skeletons and streams.





Inside there got more dinosaurs, really like a Jurassic Park.






The spewing fire and smoke (it appears) above this green oasis is Phuket's only 'active volcano'. The owner had really put a huge investment in building this park.





















Every night, around 8pm, this baby elephant will appear in the main entrance to greet the customers. When the boys came out from the mini golf course, they were so happy to see it. As usual, we let them buy this lovely animal some foods.







As the sky turn completely dark, this place becomes increasingly mysterious yet beautiful.




Well, a place like this...I'm sure it's full house every night, unless in rainy day.

In real life, the owner, Marina Phuket Resort had conceived the Dino Park into a place that would entertain a wide range of people, age from 2 to 90. Totally clever, though he might be inspired by the idea from Mr. Spielberg.
*
*
(To be Continued)

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Beach Fun

Playing in the swimming pools and playing at the beach are complementary activities to us, in a sequence like this : pool-beach-pool.
When we felt the body was getting too cold dipped in the pool, we left the water and go to the beach. When we felt the body was getting hot playing at the beach, then we went back to the pool.
Everytime, everyday was like that. I have no complain though.

Below are the photos taken at the beach at different day, different time.













































































(To be Continued)