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Phuket |
Other opinions
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Almost 1000 km far from Bangkok, the island has its own collection of good reasons to attract the tourists.
First of all, the beaches, Patong as the leader but also Karon, Kata and others, each of one better than its neighbours, but also the mountains, the temples, the bays, the small islands, and so on. We were there in a tour visiting also Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, with a quick visit to Singapore, reserving one week to Phuket. But one week becomes only a moment. |
Landscape
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Phuket is mainly beach, but don't miss a trip in the island. Phang Nga is a must, but the landscape of the southern tip of the island is also very beautiful. |
Dangerous swim during monsoon
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It was "our" beach, with the hotel well located by the sea, and… we met the monsoon. Impossible to swim.
The 1st day an helicopter flying around announced us the death of a tourist in the neighbor Kata beach. We didn’t take risks, and only Tito and me entered the water, in a shallow area, but with full precautions, because even there, we felt the very strong undertoe. The beach was neglected (low season) but Patong beach was safe and near. Anyway, everybody enjoyed our stay, the tranquility of the place, and the ease to explore the several good attractions in the island. But I would like to come back with a different sea. |
Patong Beach
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I think that Patong beach and Ban Patong must be the same thing. Or not? Well. that was important in VT but not anymore. Patong was precious for us. With the monsoon, Kata beach was unsafe, so we came often to Patong, where only the dark green color of the water and the many algae denounced the rough sea. No problem to the swim and nautical sports. |
Phiradise
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My agent and friend, Rebelo, when we were preparing the trip, showed me a package with 2 days in Phi Phi islands, saying it was tourist trap, the islands were easily visited in one day, and we could enjoy those nights somewhere else. We accepted the suggestion, and saw he was right. But the contrast between the violent surf in our coast (monsoon time), and the clear and calm waters of Phi Phi islands, made us doubt that maybe that package was not such a bad idea. The night in the island may be a little boring, but the day with the fish, it’s really a great experience. |
Phang Nga
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Sometimes movies change the landscape to produce an illusion; some other times they use it exactly as it is, because there’s no need to add or change anything. That’s what happened with this island in James Bond film. Only building some paths and a small harbor, changing the angles, they created in the film the sensation of a world that… it’s not there. But all the outdoors elements are. It’s a common island with a magnificent and strange rock at the entrance of the bay, but it’s always crowded with people trying to relate the sights with the film memories. And it is an interesting stop in a good small trip. Tito went there again, and it seems that the crowds are moving elsewhere |
Phang Nga Bay
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An entirely Muslim community floating in the water. Even the mosque and shops were built on the wooden structures that hold the paths and houses more than one meter upon water level. We had lunch there. Nothing to remember, except the site.What happened to it with the tsunami? I’m afraid to only think about it. |
Silk production
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In all organized tours it is mandatory to see several production units of local crafts, ending in a large store that is the REAL reason that took you there. Here it was a little different, and we visited several small producers, where selling was not so forced. The silk production was particularly curious, and the kids enjoyed very much all the techniques. |
Rubber factory
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The rubber "factory" is a quick and interesting visit. You may see all the artesanal process, from collecting the sap to the final pressing. I believe that those traditional artifacts now are used only for tourist exhibition. Anyway, I really enjoyed to see. |
Butterfly Farm
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Yes, it's cool, it's calm, it's nice. A piece of nature packed under a net, with flowers and fish composing the environment for a huge collection of living beautiful butterflies. It sure deserves a visit, and you can't skip it. |