Patong, Phuket – Much more than just The Beach!
You think of Phi Phi Leh, Patong, Ko Samui, Krabi when people say you went to Phuket. It is truly a paradise island, here are some interesting facts:
● Phuket has a total of 36 beaches, the most famous being Patong
● Has no rivers
● One of the islands, Khao Phing Kan, was the location for the movie “The Man With The Golden Gun” and is now known as James Bond island
● Makes its income from latex, palm oil and cashew nuts and of course tourism
● Translated means ‘Mountain Jewel’
Adam continues his Eastern journey and travels another 1,451 miles onto Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand.
Phuket appears to be so different from Hong Kong, let’s hear what this trip was like.
TLG: Phuket is an amazing place to travel to and so popular, with holiday makers, backpackers and tourists, which one were you?
AL: A bit of everything really, we were obviously there to relax and enjoy the location, but we also travelled around the area quite a bit. We hired some scooters for a few days which was very cheap and managed to visit some nice locations whilst enjoying the country.
TLG: With so many locations to visit, where did your journey start?
AL: We got there late in the evening and had an eventful car drive to the hotel, which was very close to Patong Beach in Phuket. We popped down one of the side roads near our accommodation and had a few late night beers before finishing off the night with some authentic Pad Thai noodles we bought from a street vendor, this in fact happened to be my Christmas dinner! The following day we decided to hire some scooters so we could navigate the area more efficiently. This gave us the freedom to come and go as we pleased during the day. At night we stayed closer to the beach as the nightlife was very close to our hotel, so not far to stumble home after an eventful night out!
TLG: This must have been a busy trip, you weren’t there for long, have you been to Phuket before?
AL: I have been to Thailand before, but my first visit was to Bangkok. This trip had much more of a laid back beach vibe going on, but there’s still plenty to see and do if you’re feeling adventurous.
TLG: Is renowned for its luxury resorts such Marriott Phuket Beach, Laguna Holiday Club, Patong Tower Condos, you can really live in luxury or a simple beach hut. Where was your accommodation?
AL: We stayed at Grand Mercure Phuket Patong, close to the beach and the adult nightlife of nearby Bangla Road Walking Street. It was a very nice hotel and there are also plenty of timeshare resorts in Phuket.
TLG: Did you get any time to chill on Patong Beach?
AL: We certainly did, we spent a few afternoons just relaxing at the beach. It’s such a beautiful area. After riding around on the scooters for a few hours, we stopped for some Thai curry and Pad Thai. No alcohol of course!
TLG: Do you have any funny stories or best memories of your trip to Thailand?
AL: There is one story and I won’t mention any names here for fear of incrimination! As I have mentioned, we hired some scooters for a few days to get around on. Having held a full bike licence and previously owned a super bike for many years, I had plenty of experience in this department. As we only had t-shirt and shorts I was a bit wary (as I was used to riding in full leathers) and my particular scooter also had extremely worn tyre tread, so I was cautious with cornering. The scooters don’t really appear to have much in the way of maintenance! However, we all got a little carried away and one occasion and one of our party was a little more overzealous and, to his detriment, came off the scooter! Unfortunately this gave him some nasty road rash and a broken collar bone (which he subsequently discovered on a hospital scan on his return to Hong Kong). Luckily this happened on a back road on our way to see a waterfall and not in main road traffic or it could have been quite a different outcome. Needless to say, we didn’t see the waterfall! Perhaps not quite such a funny story, but certainly an experience to remember.
TLG: Did your travel buddy come with you to Phuket?
AL: Yes, as he lives in Hong Kong it was always part of the plan to do something different for Christmas time, as I’d previously spent it in Hong Kong. He even brought along his flat mate.
TLG: Being such a go to location, do you recommend people to travel to Phuket?
AL: Certainly. The location is great, people are friendly and food is superb, even their Burger King was one of the best I’d tasted! It’s such a laid back environment and of course the weather is almost always hot.
TLG: What would be your must see advice to others thinking of going to Phuket?
AL: If you feel capable then I would suggest hiring a scooter, they are cheap to rent and keep fuelled up. We barely spent any baht refuelling them and travelled for miles and miles taking in some great views like Laem Singh Viewpoint. Places of interest would be Bangla Road Walking Street for the nightlife, the Big Buddha and of course the many beaches and waterfalls en route. If you have access to mobile data, then finding the routes on Google Maps is quick and easy.
Phuket: It’s About Making A Memory
TLG: What were the best moments of your vacation to Phuket?
AL: We had some fantastic nights here. The day touring we did on the scooters was a great way of experiencing the country, even if one of us did come a cropper! Of course, Thai food is some of the best cuisine you can eat if you like your Asian food. All in all such a laid back place to enjoy, even for a short period. Highly recommended.
