Phuket Town to Patong Beach

We are booked for three nights in Phuket Town which is located on the south east corner of the island of Phuket. The island of Phuket is located on the south eastern coast of the country of Thailand containing a large portion of the tourist beach areas that are well known for the fun and sun.

Our plan is to visit many of the beaches in the area as they are relatively close by and look stunning. Yesterday we went to Patong beach which is the largest tourist beach on the island.

We hopped on the local bus that travels from Phuket Town to Patong at just the right time as a down pour of rain began when leaving Phuket town. The bus ride of 40 minutes was just enough time for the rain to end as we reached the beach.  We anticipated the humidity to increase after the rain shower but the weather improved as we arrived at our destination.

We could see how Patong was a popular tourist’s destination as the umbrellas on the beach stretched for kilometers in both directions from where we entered the beach. Many Thai men were quick to let us know we could rent jet skis, parasail or have our hair braided for very cheap with a special deal just for me. It was a real tourist playground and the white sandy beach and mountainous jungle on the sides of the beach gave it a real tropical backdrop.

After some more amazing Thai food and fruit shakes for lunch, we walked the length of the beach, watched some crabs move through the water while Russian women tried to get the crabs to pinch their fingers so they could lift the crab out of the water, and had a nap to enjoy to heat. 

Trucks with loudspeaker would circle to streets just off the beach advertising the Muay Thai boxing matches that were going to be featured the following night. The van was really funny as the top level had the guy with the loud speaker and two other guys punching and kicking training gloves to show what Thai fighting looked like. This happened as the van was moving which was funny as one more thing that would not be allowed in North American but worked great here.  We plan to see the Thai boxing when we get back to Bangkok as we have heard it’s a lot of fun.

After our day at the beach, we ventured to the local Phuket Mall for a dinner in the “food court”.  The mall is row upon row of small little areas that are owned or run by different thai people.  They each sell something specific—men’s clothes, work clothes, fancy dresses, purses, shoes, etc.  It is very similar to the mall in Bangkok.  But, what was different about this mall is that the entire perimeter of the mall is filled with different stalls making different thai food.  They have tables set up in the street for you to eat on.  These tables were full of thai people, and we are trying to experience things a bit like the locals so we joined in.  As we walked around the stands, a thai man approached us with a menu.  It looked good so we sat at the table he directed us to.  Steve ordered a curry and Ang ordered a bowl of noodle soup (even though its 30+ degrees out, they eat hot soup all day long!)  We also got two beers.  It is very neat to watch all this get ordered—he goes to one stall to order our soup, the neighbouring stall to make the curry and then runs half-way down the mall to get our beers.  While we sat and ate our very delicious meal, we saw our waiter start making some curry himself, and the man who made the soup then came out to serve.  Seems to be a very collegial environment—everyone working together to make things better.  This delicious meal cost $12—one curry would be more than that in Canada!!

As we were walking home from the “mall”, we were standing on a corner trying to get our bearings.  A thai women walked by saying “where are you going”, almost making fun of the cabbies who do this all the time to try and get you into their cab.  We asked her where the Pink Lady night club is (because our hotel is down a side street, with this club on the end) and she was so confused why we would want to go there!!  She spoke very good English and told us she was heading that direction too.  We walked with her down the street, she taught us how to say hello and thank you (with the proper gender endings for both Ang and Steve) and showed us where her restaurant is—right at the end of the block of our hotel!  We will visit it for breakfast, as she was such a nice help to us on a Saturday night!

Today we will head up the Kata beach which supposedly has less people and is apparently more beautiful so we are looking forward to see it for ourselves. The great thing about staying in Phuket town is busses run to all of the beaches and towns around the area which makes it very easy to travel to where we want to go with minimal effort.  It’s fun riding on the local busses as well, as we talk to the other tourists to ask where  have they gone to and we can see the different towns and areas we pass all the towns, stores and people in Phuket.

Steve on the bus.  This was when we first got onto the bus--as we drove around Phuket, about 30 other people joined us. It was a crowded ride, but interesting!

The view from behind our bus.  Lots of cars, bikes, taxis and lots and lots of signs on all the buildings.

Patong beach.  Very wide, long beach--maybe five kilometers or more.

Patong beach, with all of its beach chairs!  They stretched most of the length of the beach, about four or five rows of chairs and umbrellas deep.

They offered lots of beach sports (jet skis, wake boarding, tubing).  The parasailing was interesting, because as you were going a Thai man was hanging onto the rope behind you!

The Muay Thai boxing truck.  It literally just circled the beach and all you would hear was "Tomorrow night.  Thai Boxing.  Tomorrow night." In this low tone, intermixed with the kicking and punching of the boxers on top of the truck.

Our diner at the food court.  You can see the stalls on the sidewalk behind Steve, and the at the other end of the table was the road!

One of the stalls in the "food court".  All very fresh, and very delicious!