Have Perut Will Travel...: HKT Day 4 │ Phuket to KLIA • MH787 • Going Home!

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Monday, 10 August 2026

HKT Day 4 │ Phuket to KLIA • MH787 • Going Home!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

We were up at 5:30am, the sky still dark and the studio apartment quiet except for the soft shuffle of last minute packing. After a quick sweep — checking corners, unplugging chargers, making sure nothing was left behind — we stepped out at 6:15am. Downstairs, Mr. Chainasak was already waiting. Brendan handled checkout and collected the deposit, we loaded our bags, and with the cool morning air still lingering, the journey was officially underway.

Early Airport Run

We reached the airport at 7:20am, paid THB800 (≈ MYR100/USD24/EUR21), and headed straight for the Malaysia Airlines counters at B9–B12. They opened at 7:30am, and our yellow submarines disappeared down the conveyor belt before we submitted to the usual security ritual.

Immigration in Record Time

The Immigration automated gates were fully operational, so we breezed through. By the time security was done, it was only 8:00am — rare efficiency for Phuket.

Breakfast at Aroi

With time to spare before Gate 11 opened at 9:30am, we detoured to Aroi for breakfast:

Club Sandwich
Egg Noodles with Chinese BBQ Meat
1 Iced Thai Coffee
2 Iced Thai Tea All for THB1,101.10 (≈ MYR137/USD34/EUR29) — premium airport pricing.

Our First and Last Visit to Aroi

After some time enjoying our meal, we were abruptly asked to settle the bill and vacate the table, even though we weren’t done with our drinks. With plenty of empty tables around, the dismissal felt unnecessary. We agreed: this was the first and last time we’d spend our hard earned money at Aroi.

Gate Change and Boarding Drama

Around then, Malaysia Airlines notified us that our gate had changed from 11 to 15. We moved on, found seats, and waited until boarding began at 10:00am. During boarding, a couple of queue jumpers tried to slip ahead, but we stepped in and sent them back to their rightful place.

The Back Row Perspective

Boarding in Phuket was a free for all, unlike airports that organise passengers by groups. Due to an oversight, I’d forgotten to secure our seats, so we ended up in Row 26. Not ideal, but it gave us a different perspective for our take off and landing footage.

Pushback, Touchdown, and the Long Walk

MH787 pushed back at 10:30am and took off fifteen minutes later. The flight was smooth and uneventful. We touched down at 12:00pm (MY time), disembarked ten minutes later, and walked the long corridor to the escalator leading to the Immigration automatic gates.

Back on Home Soil

With MyBorderPass, returning to Malaysia was a breeze. We collected our yellow submarines from Carousel B, stepped into the Arrival Halls, and rode the elevator down to the KLIA Express station.

Phuket Recap

Phuket gave us a colourful, compact escape: heritage walks, temple visits, Big Buddha views, cashew and honey stops, shopping at Jungceylon, Patong sunsets, foot massages, Brendan’s tattoo session, and neon lit night strolls along Rat Uthit. Short, packed, refreshing — a trip that felt complete.

The Journey Continues

Knackered as we were from the constant travel — the flights, the walks, the early mornings — it was the kind of exhaustion we wouldn’t trade for the world. Stay tuned for the next video, because tomorrow before dawn we’ll be on the road again, heading north as I begin my second relief stint at the Alor Setar branch!