Traipsing in Thailand

Sa-wat-dee ka! Since it's close to smack dab in between winter holidays and spring break, I thought it was only fitting to talk about one of my favorite destinations for both vacations: Thailand. And, when I say Thailand, I'm talking more specifically about a city with, in my opinion, the best beaches around: Phuket.

To start off my post, as always, I'm going to open with some historical information about the city itself. Phuket is Thailand's largest island, connected to the mainland by two bridges. It is located in the Andaman Sea.  As with many Southeast Asian island-cities, Phuket was situated on one of the major trading routes between India and China. It was also mentioned several times in the ship logs of traders from Portugal, France, and England. In addition to trade, Phuket was known for its rich tin and rubber production.



The Tuk-Tuk, the Thai version of a taxi



Phuket, Thailand is now known for its exceptional beaches, and breathtaking sunsets, and is a popular vacation destination for expatriates living in Southeast Asia, as well as Europeans hoping to escape cold winter weather. There are several beaches that are frequently visited. One of the most well-known ones is Patong Beach, prized because of easy access to a wide and long beach. Most of the city’s nightlife is in Patong, as is the large strip of shops that sell knock-off merchandise. Each part of the island has something different to offer. For example, the restaurant On the Rock, a very popular Thai gourmet restaurant, is located on a cliff overlooking a different beach, Karon Beach. For the adventurous, I would definitely recommend visiting this restaurant. And, to add to the experience, I would strongly recommend taking the Tuk-Tuk, the local "taxi" if you will.



Horizon Karon - a hotel that I would definitely

 recommend, especially if you are looking for a

 reasonably priced hotel close to the shore,

but with a reasonable amount of privacy





Just a snapshot of one of Phuket's many beautiful sunsets,

taken at Kata Beach.



Other beaches that are well known for their soft sand and slightly more private settings are Karon Beach, Kata Beach, and Kata Noi beach. In addition to the mainland beaches, there are several islands offshore, especially the Phi Phi Islands to the south east, that provide tourists with snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities.

A view of the Phi Phi Islands - coral
islands where tourists can come and
snorkel

 

 



If you ever find yourself in Southeast Asia, I would strongly recommend a visit to Phuket. There is a variety of food, from the traditional Thai cuisine to Buffalo Bill's wings. The people are extremely hospitable and friendly. And, when in Phuket, you shouldn't leave without visiting the coral islands offshore. My only word of warning is to look carefully for packages to the islands. Many vistors are trapped with the hotel deals which can sometimes be double the price of equally good packages downtown.

Hopefully this post was useful in sharing a bit about Phuket, Thailand.

Thanks for reading and until next time!