Just Phuket and go….

Today’s guest post is brought to you by Florence Brennan. It’s a great read and it’s got my feet even itchier than normal to go to Thailand!

Have you seen that Air Asia commercial? You know the one, with a picture of a Thai paradise and a brazen slogan claiming that flights to the region are “cheap enough to say, Phuket I’ll go”?

No? Well, I have, and with my naïve northern ways I heartily believed that this was a phonetically correct version of the Thai island of Phuket . Blissfully unaware of the true pronunciation (poo-get), it took lot of red-cheeks and awkward corrections before I realised why I came across childish sniggers and furrowed brows when announcing my next destination.

The province, renowned for more than somewhat unusual and oft-mispronounced name is Thailand’s largest and most frequented island; quite a feat for a country that receives over two million visitors annually. Centre of juxtapositions, the hedonistic Phuket not only boasts some of the most heavily developed tourist spots in South East Asia, but also is home to breath-taking scenery of the escapist’s paradise ilk.

Deriving nearly all of its income from tourism, the west coast of the island hosts an unlikely triumvirate of beach resorts – Patong, Karon and Kata. The area is heavily developed, and it is often hard to shake the feeling of all-inclusive package holiday tourism. Patong, the party central of the island, is essentially Ibiza with a Thai twist. It’s no lie that it is a lot of fun, especially when bar-crawling along the notorious Soi Bangla (Bangla Road), but the whole she-bang can become a little overwhelming for anyone over the age of 18 or not in possession of a liver of steel. Like-wise, Karon and Kata display the same standard beach town tack atmosphere; hotels, hawkers, and hamburgers can thwart preconceptions of a remote beach paradise and leave travellers thinking disappointedly, we might as well be in Benidorm.

Thankfully, the ivory white sands and crystal clear waters of the Andaman Sea are more than enough to make up for the chaotic cosmopolitanism of the tourist resorts. I warn you, Phuket is home to second-to-none scenery. If you can, book yourself on to a day trip to Koh Phi Phi (pronounced Pee-pee…!) or, (and this needs to be booked in advance) get involved with John Gray’s Sea Canoe’s – which include a night-time canoe through waters jam-packed with bizarre phosphorescent sea life.

Personally, having experienced both the manic night-life of the resorts and the mind-bogglingly beautiful ocean vistas of the island, I found that one of the real highlights actually lay in a well-worth-it trip to Old Phuket Town. Situated 42km from the mainland bridges, many unfortunately pass straight through Muang Phuket lusting after the white sands and turquoise waters of the island’s beach track. Sun-worshipper or not, it can be hard to resist the temptation to head south with the promise of a cheap massage, unimaginable beach views, and a chilled Chang beer in hand. Yet, the town stands distinct from the sometimes jading tourist hangover, and is a place of tangible history and Thai culture. It was a rare treat to indulge in the authentic Sino-Portuguese architecture (Phuket was once an important Eastern trading centre), and roam the sun-blanched streets where the ‘mai pen rai’ mantra (which translates roughly as ‘don’t worry, be happy’) is very much in essence.

For the hungry traveller, food and drink in Phuket never poses a problem, and even the cheapest, smallest and most disgusting-looking place will still produce spectacular Thai dishes. Noodles and seafood are everywhere, and I would definitely recommend trying Khanom Jeen – a breakfast noodle speciality, which, rather bizarrely, is served with spicy curry sauce. This beats cornflakes any day!

Likewise, accommodation on the island is incredibly easy to find, and there is definitely something for all tastes, vacationing styles and wallet sizes. Through a combination of shallow pockets and a rather ill-advised self-perception as ‘hard-core’ travellers (we had backpacks. And no shoes…) we ended up staying in a couple of cheap and not-so-cheerful guest houses. Charging about 200 Baht (£4) for two per night, these were places with shared toilets, no running water, and a very familiar relationship with the local wildlife. Nonetheless, it was certainly an experience, and nothing beats waking to the sound of tropical birdsong and incomparable views of the Andaman Sea although more often than not, we would be sharing the view with a couple of multi-legged arthropods. For those who would like something a little more upmarket, never fear as there are probably more hotels per square mile than any other country in Asia. However, beware, as all hotels/resorts/guest-houses/hostels, and especially those in Patong, Karon and Kata unashamedly declare themselves to be ‘one of Thailand’s best-kept secrets’. This is absolute kee nok (look it up) – hidden corners are few and far between, and it is hard to escape the shadow of high-rise hotels and thoughtless tourist developments.

There is no denying that Phuket could easily be paradise, but personally it’s pretty hard not to get worn out by the constant hawking, thoughtless tourist developments and hoards of hedonistic travellers. Yet, with a little bit of perseverance and a lot of stamina, the somewhat tainted veneer can be broken, and you will not be disappointed with what can be found beneath.

Author Bio: Florence Brennan

Hailing from the emerald isle, Florence Brennan hopped across the Irish Sea to complete a degree in French and Comparative Literature at Glasgow University. Now working as an English teacher in Canada, she makes the most of her generous holidays to soothe her itchy feet and explore her Pacific neighbours. Never far from her Celtic roots, Flo is passionate about folk music, foreign gastronomy and all things rugby.

*All photo in this post provided by Florence.

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

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