'Same, same but different,' its a phrase commonly heard in Phuket when trying to by something from the locals. Now having spent almost a week in Patong Beach, Phuket I can fairly safely say there is no place in the world quite the same.
Leaving Melbourne I flew to Phuket with a four hour layover in Singapore. If you have to be stuck in an aiport for four hours Singapore is ok. It took the full four hours to explore the whole airport. On the flight to Singapore they showed the film 'Unknown' which was quite fitting as I was flying into the unknown. I am in Thailand to teach English for the summer although I am not yet sure where in Thailand I will be placed. I choose to come holiday in Phuket for a week prior to starting the teaching.
Many Australians travel to Phuket to holiday and I had heard some stories but nothing prepared me for the week I had. I booked a bed in Cheap Charlies Hostel online because it was cheap. Staying in an eight bed uncondition dorm in Patong, Phuket was an experience. I was collected from the airport from the hotel manager holding a placard with my name on it and he drove me to the hostel through pouring rain to the place I would call home for the next six nights. The rain was so heavy there were times in the car I could not see a single thing. He did also point out to me a place on the hill into Patong where water had caused a landslide down the side of the hill taking the powerlines with it. The powerlines were still in use though.
The rain stopped me from venturing too far on the first night, instead I met some crew at the hostel and began drinking. Patong is a melting point of cultures and travellers from all over the world and I got a real buzz listening to stories of the other people staying at the hostel. I was travelling alone for the week although after that first night in the hostel I never again felt alone for the week.
The following morning I woke early as I was eager to explore and walked through the city which was pretty well empty, I was unhassled and had no idea what all the fuss was about until I returned a few hours later. "Tuk,tuk," "DVD," "you wan suit" a walk down Bangla Rd and you get offered all sorts of things. Then come nightime the street steps up another gear and the party begins. The ladyboys line the streets and dance on polls in the bars. The White Room nightclub was where the crew from the hostel partied because it offered the cheapest drinks. I stayed out a while at the club then headed to the hostel to sleep. Luckily I got some sleep before many crazy things happened and it set the scene for trying to sleep in the hostel room for the rest of the week.
Wanting to see more of Phuket than just Patong I caught the local bus to Phuket Town. Although I had been told there was nothing to do there. I decided for myself on the bus that there nothing to do so I agreed to be driven to a couple of spots by a guy on the street. He wanted 50 Baht ($1.20 aus) to take me to a Big Buddha and a lookout. The offer was cheap and he took me to the two spots but I did have to visit a jewellry store and a suit shop. All a part of the experience.
Back in Patong the hostel crew where going to a ladyboy show. Without knowing we had booked the Simon Cabaret. The six hundred seat theatre was full but the hostel crew and I were the only five non- Chinese or Japanese in the room. It was a cabaret show and not what we were hoping for. The ladyboys just danced and mimed to famous songs from all over the world. I wouldn't go again.
The hostel crew had also booked a day trip to Phi Phi Island only when we got on the boat we discovered we were not going to Phi Phi but instead going kayaking and to a couple of beaches inlcuding James Bond Island. A great day out although I had wanted to see Phi Phi Islands. I decided to book another trip and try get to Phi Phi.
The second last full day in Phuket I spent recovering from a huge night out. Way too much alcohol after a full day of sun was a bad combination.
Leaving Melbourne I flew to Phuket with a four hour layover in Singapore. If you have to be stuck in an aiport for four hours Singapore is ok. It took the full four hours to explore the whole airport. On the flight to Singapore they showed the film 'Unknown' which was quite fitting as I was flying into the unknown. I am in Thailand to teach English for the summer although I am not yet sure where in Thailand I will be placed. I choose to come holiday in Phuket for a week prior to starting the teaching.
Many Australians travel to Phuket to holiday and I had heard some stories but nothing prepared me for the week I had. I booked a bed in Cheap Charlies Hostel online because it was cheap. Staying in an eight bed uncondition dorm in Patong, Phuket was an experience. I was collected from the airport from the hotel manager holding a placard with my name on it and he drove me to the hostel through pouring rain to the place I would call home for the next six nights. The rain was so heavy there were times in the car I could not see a single thing. He did also point out to me a place on the hill into Patong where water had caused a landslide down the side of the hill taking the powerlines with it. The powerlines were still in use though.
The rain stopped me from venturing too far on the first night, instead I met some crew at the hostel and began drinking. Patong is a melting point of cultures and travellers from all over the world and I got a real buzz listening to stories of the other people staying at the hostel. I was travelling alone for the week although after that first night in the hostel I never again felt alone for the week.
The following morning I woke early as I was eager to explore and walked through the city which was pretty well empty, I was unhassled and had no idea what all the fuss was about until I returned a few hours later. "Tuk,tuk," "DVD," "you wan suit" a walk down Bangla Rd and you get offered all sorts of things. Then come nightime the street steps up another gear and the party begins. The ladyboys line the streets and dance on polls in the bars. The White Room nightclub was where the crew from the hostel partied because it offered the cheapest drinks. I stayed out a while at the club then headed to the hostel to sleep. Luckily I got some sleep before many crazy things happened and it set the scene for trying to sleep in the hostel room for the rest of the week.
Wanting to see more of Phuket than just Patong I caught the local bus to Phuket Town. Although I had been told there was nothing to do there. I decided for myself on the bus that there nothing to do so I agreed to be driven to a couple of spots by a guy on the street. He wanted 50 Baht ($1.20 aus) to take me to a Big Buddha and a lookout. The offer was cheap and he took me to the two spots but I did have to visit a jewellry store and a suit shop. All a part of the experience.
Back in Patong the hostel crew where going to a ladyboy show. Without knowing we had booked the Simon Cabaret. The six hundred seat theatre was full but the hostel crew and I were the only five non- Chinese or Japanese in the room. It was a cabaret show and not what we were hoping for. The ladyboys just danced and mimed to famous songs from all over the world. I wouldn't go again.
The hostel crew had also booked a day trip to Phi Phi Island only when we got on the boat we discovered we were not going to Phi Phi but instead going kayaking and to a couple of beaches inlcuding James Bond Island. A great day out although I had wanted to see Phi Phi Islands. I decided to book another trip and try get to Phi Phi.
The second last full day in Phuket I spent recovering from a huge night out. Way too much alcohol after a full day of sun was a bad combination.
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