2wheels
Community Manager
For a birthday gift I was given a return AirAsia ticket Chiang Mai to Phuket by a very dear Thai friend.
(I won't divulge my age, but The Beatles did immortalise the chronological landmark a few decades ago!)
And it was time for us to see some of this ...
... and this.
I checked into the Kata Villa at Kata Beach.
Bike parking is a bit precarious but the Villa is an excellent venue and only 800 baht for an adequate room during High Season.
Good restaurant, friendly staff and excellent bar and pool.
Opposite is the Ruem Thep, which is on the beach-front and also an excellent venue at 800 baht ...
... especially if you can get room #33 which has this view along the beach (now somewhat polluted by beach chairs and umbrellas) but you'll receive a gentle sea-breeze throughout your slumber and you'll 'drop off' to the sound of waves splashing onto the beach.
Ruam Thep also has a good restaurant right on the beach.
So here's Kata and Karon.
Why anyone would deliberately prefer to stay at the relatively noisy, crowded, smelly and crass Patong when there is Kata or Karon or Kamala to choose from is a mystery to me. Maybe many don't know the vast difference. Maybe this will help.
One of the first things was to hire a set of wheels.
I found an outlet just up the hill from Kata Villa and got this PCX150i for 350 baht (including a full tank of fuel).
The guy didn't need to keep my Passport and that's why he got my 1050 baht for the three riding days.
The first thing I noticed this time (not having been to the area for 3 years) was the increasing number of Russian tourists and venues that cater for them.
I was told that Pattaya is trying to discourage Russian tourism, where-as Phuket is encouraging it.
There were also a massive number of Chinese tourists here this time, like this pair of modern young newly-weds communicating over lunch.
Apart from the beach life, there is also a vast number of excellent fresh seafood restaurants to choose from.
I preferred the ones along the Kata/Karon esplanade, especially 'Halle Hallo'.
Yes, food (everything actually) is much more expensive in Phuket than in Chiang Mai but, hey, it's only a rare treat for me.
No way could I afford to live in the area though.
So, being a good tourist, the visit after an afternoon on the beach, was The Big Buddha.
Luckily, although it was drizzling with rain, Big Buddha was visible.
For 1000 to 3000 baht you can leave a message on a small or larger tile and this, supposedly, will be used in the construction of Big Buddha.
Some commit a message of hope ...
... whilst others have a more pragmatic sentiment!
And as we departed the clouds arrived.
This is what the site will eventually look like.
(Built to commemorate the adored King of Thailand's 80th birthday).
Good to see wind energy being utilised.
Another benefit of wearing a cheap Seven Eleven rain coat!
Then back to Kata Beach for more surfing (rough and strong waves) and local delights.
Squid stuffed with pork.
But is there anything that says, " I am soooooo HAPPY " more than a dog running freely on a beach?
We went to the Phuket Aquarium ...
... and noticed the entrance fee discriminated against foreigners, as is so wide-spread in Thailand.
Non Thais are not supposed to notice that the Thai fee is 50 baht and the Foreigner fee is 100% more.
This is their attempt to justify the discrimination.
I had a polite and open chat to the Manager about this.
Her response was that it is the Board's decision not hers and she added a new (to me) take on it; that is, the normal price is actually 100 baht and Thais get a 50% discount!
The place actually has a Complaints Box near their souvenir shop (significantly, not near the ticket office!) and one category on the Complaints form is "Equality", so it seems they are actually aware that this is an issue.
But don't hold your breath for anything to change, here or elsewhere throughout Thailand.
Phuket Aquarium, and all places in Thailand who discriminate against us for being 'Farang', this is especially for you :katand
So, they wouldn't accept my Thai Driving license which meant I didn't go into the place.
Instead I walked around outside and spoke with some friendly Muslim people and took in some scenery.
Then onto the PCX and off to Kamala.
The last time I was here the locals were desperately recovering from the Tsunami and it was good to see things, seemingly, back to normal, albeit with too many emotional scars still being endured every day.
I found this track which looked inviting, so rode it to the beach hoping to find it quiet and clean.
Well, it was fairly clean but some clown thought everyone within a 10km radius needed to listen to the Hip-Hop' crap belting out from his Black Vigo's speakers.
So I stopped for just this photo and retreated to civilisation ...
... which I found just past this monkey ...
... at the lovely 'Poo Maa' restaurant/massage place.
Pleasant, friendly people run this humble little place.
Good food too.
And no loud Hip-Hop!
Then it was off to the Surin area, past this mosque.
But I needed to 'hit the waves' back at Kata, so I did a U-turn and followed the beach past Kamala and rediscovered the delightful 'View Point' restaurant ...
... which offers this view back to Patong and Karon/Kata.
Riding towards Karon.
And this Ducati Monster (and T-Max) were for rent at Karon, the Duke for 3,100 baht per day including insurance.
As usual, I had fun with some menus and signs.
Refreshed and revitalised, but low on funds, it was time for the final hours on the beach.
And a final splash in the pool with Captain Morgan whilst waiting for the Airport taxi.
So what do I think of the PCX150i?
Perfectly adequate little bike, which handled the local hills admirably.
Beautiful silky smooth engine.
Rock hard seat! (for me)
THANKS FOR AN EXCELLENT BIRTHDAY PRESENT GOLF.
(I won't divulge my age, but The Beatles did immortalise the chronological landmark a few decades ago!)
And it was time for us to see some of this ...
... and this.
I checked into the Kata Villa at Kata Beach.
Bike parking is a bit precarious but the Villa is an excellent venue and only 800 baht for an adequate room during High Season.
Good restaurant, friendly staff and excellent bar and pool.
Opposite is the Ruem Thep, which is on the beach-front and also an excellent venue at 800 baht ...
... especially if you can get room #33 which has this view along the beach (now somewhat polluted by beach chairs and umbrellas) but you'll receive a gentle sea-breeze throughout your slumber and you'll 'drop off' to the sound of waves splashing onto the beach.
Ruam Thep also has a good restaurant right on the beach.
So here's Kata and Karon.
Why anyone would deliberately prefer to stay at the relatively noisy, crowded, smelly and crass Patong when there is Kata or Karon or Kamala to choose from is a mystery to me. Maybe many don't know the vast difference. Maybe this will help.
One of the first things was to hire a set of wheels.
I found an outlet just up the hill from Kata Villa and got this PCX150i for 350 baht (including a full tank of fuel).
The guy didn't need to keep my Passport and that's why he got my 1050 baht for the three riding days.
The first thing I noticed this time (not having been to the area for 3 years) was the increasing number of Russian tourists and venues that cater for them.
I was told that Pattaya is trying to discourage Russian tourism, where-as Phuket is encouraging it.
There were also a massive number of Chinese tourists here this time, like this pair of modern young newly-weds communicating over lunch.
Apart from the beach life, there is also a vast number of excellent fresh seafood restaurants to choose from.
I preferred the ones along the Kata/Karon esplanade, especially 'Halle Hallo'.
Yes, food (everything actually) is much more expensive in Phuket than in Chiang Mai but, hey, it's only a rare treat for me.
No way could I afford to live in the area though.
So, being a good tourist, the visit after an afternoon on the beach, was The Big Buddha.
Luckily, although it was drizzling with rain, Big Buddha was visible.
For 1000 to 3000 baht you can leave a message on a small or larger tile and this, supposedly, will be used in the construction of Big Buddha.
Some commit a message of hope ...
... whilst others have a more pragmatic sentiment!
And as we departed the clouds arrived.
This is what the site will eventually look like.
(Built to commemorate the adored King of Thailand's 80th birthday).
Good to see wind energy being utilised.
Another benefit of wearing a cheap Seven Eleven rain coat!
Then back to Kata Beach for more surfing (rough and strong waves) and local delights.
Squid stuffed with pork.
But is there anything that says, " I am soooooo HAPPY " more than a dog running freely on a beach?
We went to the Phuket Aquarium ...
... and noticed the entrance fee discriminated against foreigners, as is so wide-spread in Thailand.
Non Thais are not supposed to notice that the Thai fee is 50 baht and the Foreigner fee is 100% more.
This is their attempt to justify the discrimination.
I had a polite and open chat to the Manager about this.
Her response was that it is the Board's decision not hers and she added a new (to me) take on it; that is, the normal price is actually 100 baht and Thais get a 50% discount!
The place actually has a Complaints Box near their souvenir shop (significantly, not near the ticket office!) and one category on the Complaints form is "Equality", so it seems they are actually aware that this is an issue.
But don't hold your breath for anything to change, here or elsewhere throughout Thailand.
Phuket Aquarium, and all places in Thailand who discriminate against us for being 'Farang', this is especially for you :katand
So, they wouldn't accept my Thai Driving license which meant I didn't go into the place.
Instead I walked around outside and spoke with some friendly Muslim people and took in some scenery.
Then onto the PCX and off to Kamala.
The last time I was here the locals were desperately recovering from the Tsunami and it was good to see things, seemingly, back to normal, albeit with too many emotional scars still being endured every day.
I found this track which looked inviting, so rode it to the beach hoping to find it quiet and clean.
Well, it was fairly clean but some clown thought everyone within a 10km radius needed to listen to the Hip-Hop' crap belting out from his Black Vigo's speakers.
So I stopped for just this photo and retreated to civilisation ...
... which I found just past this monkey ...
... at the lovely 'Poo Maa' restaurant/massage place.
Pleasant, friendly people run this humble little place.
Good food too.
And no loud Hip-Hop!
Then it was off to the Surin area, past this mosque.
But I needed to 'hit the waves' back at Kata, so I did a U-turn and followed the beach past Kamala and rediscovered the delightful 'View Point' restaurant ...
... which offers this view back to Patong and Karon/Kata.
Riding towards Karon.
And this Ducati Monster (and T-Max) were for rent at Karon, the Duke for 3,100 baht per day including insurance.
As usual, I had fun with some menus and signs.
Refreshed and revitalised, but low on funds, it was time for the final hours on the beach.
And a final splash in the pool with Captain Morgan whilst waiting for the Airport taxi.
So what do I think of the PCX150i?
Perfectly adequate little bike, which handled the local hills admirably.
Beautiful silky smooth engine.
Rock hard seat! (for me)
THANKS FOR AN EXCELLENT BIRTHDAY PRESENT GOLF.
