Phuket: Thailand's most famous island, with a rich history in tin mining. An island lost sprawl, whore houses, tours and transport. Twenty years ago, Phuket ... well, who cares what it was 20 years ago? And who cares what I believe cynical journos and travel writer, they know about the island? Clued-up from scratch travelers to Phuket from their routes, because their friends stayed in Patong and came back with horror stories about the beach, how dirtyand how the trashy bars.
News flash, folks: There are more than Phuket Patong. Phuket City, despite feeling more like a large village than a city, is the backbone of the island and the capital of the province. From a base in Phuket City, it is possible to fine beaches, fascinating culture and the real people of the island. All you need is 24 hours, adventurousness, and nerves of steel on the back of a motorcycle.
First up, check in some hip digs thatwill not break the bank. Digs do not come much hipper than Phuket 346 (346-348 Phuket Rd, 076-256128). For the top of 1,200 baht per night you can stay in one of three rooms in a boarding house, which as an art gallery doubles. After a restful night, the fun begins.
To travel around Phuket City, you'll need some traffic. Motorcycle taxis are the easiest way to move. Forty baht is a fair price for a ride in Phuket City.
Head straight Kwan Khanon Jeen restaurant ThungKha Rd, near the entrance to Phuket Merlin Hotel. Khanon Jeen a meal is about as local as you can find in Phuket. For the same price as a can of cola, you can feast on a bowl of rice noodles and curry, which tastes so delicious, it's almost criminal.
After breakfast, could you follow your guide and trundle around the island ... Or you can have 20 minutes in a tuk-tuk ride (about 150 baht) to Laem Hin Pier (north of Phuket City,) on the east coast and catch a longtail boat (15 baht perPerson) to Coconut Iceland, where you used a small community, the solar cells to generate electricity. When you arrive, ask a motorcycle taxi driver to take Yao Beach (15 Baht per person). You need to take the cell phone number of the driver to take you back to the pier when you are finished on the beach - it is to leave. Take a picnic lunch, because there are no restaurants or 7-Eleven on the island.
After a day at the beach, travel back to the mainland. Catch the sunSetting the backdrop of the city at the top of Khao Rang Hill. It is easy to get, and motorcycle taxi drivers know the place as "Khao Rang view. As night begins to catch the ride to Chumphon Rd, where you find the perfect place for dinner in the Fine Day (www.fineday-phuket.com). This is the place where the local kids hang, eat and drink until midnight.
For after-dinner activities that have a wealth of possibilities. You see references to Timberland hat and KorTorMor in yourGuide, but these places have lost their luster, thanks to its own popularity.
For something a bit more local and with much more space, check out Music Matters (off Surin Circle, past and turn right onto T2) for a pre-club drinks. It is a small jazz bar hidden from the road. The owner, Jeff, is a relaxed dude, who likes to chill out and play his music. A group of Jeff's friends form a makeshift band some nights.
If you have had enough of waving Music Matters, Oasis on Mae Luang Rd. ASmall Thai Club, Oasis is a typical Thai party zone, where a band rattled through Thai favorites and Western random oddities, a DJ before losing control of his beats, leading to a frenzy on the dance floor with techno remixes of Eminem and 50 Cent. Strange faces are rare, but welcome.
Most clubs in Phuket, close to 1 or 2 clock. For Oasis, it's time to really go into the heart of the city. Go to Barzah in Phunpol. It's dark, dirty and disgusting loud, but it's a blast. Despite its location ina shady parts of the city, you will not find any problems. Hip hop beats are the order of the night.
At the time, closed Barzah has limited options. Short position in the underworld Phunpol's, it's James Garden on Soi 1st Rd Poonpol You can of beer steins and toast to a successful day and night so that most visitors to Phuket are not found in the vicinity.
And there you have it. Twenty-four hours in Phuket, a lot of fun and a manual in sight. They saidIt could not be performed.
