Living in the Crazy Fun and Weird Bangkok

Nai Horn Beach is one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, and the favorite of most locals on Phuket. Unlike some of the more built up beaches, it is still surrounded by a small tropical jungle, one side of which is supposedly protected until (supposedly because in Thailand, all it takes is one corrupt official ...) Though the beach does have added protection from the Buddhist Temple right by it, and a a large man made lake which cannot be built on without draining it. Nevertheless, the beach has breathtaking surroundings, palm trees running up the mountain on one side, with a nicely built hotel rising somehow with the cliff. An inlet of sea water provides a safe area for children to explore, with crabs and small fish thriving inside. The ocean itself is of course warm and beautiful, with waves for surfing during the rainy season, and more placid the rest of the year. Additionally, it is much less overrun with tourists during the high season than Kata and Karon. Simply th...

While taxis in Bangkok are cheap (make sure to tip the poor fellows a few baht when you're on the meter) transport around the island of Phuket increase drastically in price. Here are a few hard fought tips for you to hopefully save you some of your hard earned money. 1) When you arrive at the airport - don't get a taxi at the counter. The prices are double what a Grab taxi costs. Get a Grab taxi to take you to your hotel. You'll have to walk outside the airport to meet the Grab, as the businesses at the airport enforce the rent seeking behavior of not allowing the Grabs in, but fortunately th exit is a very easy walk through a parking lot. Certainly worth the savings.      a)  If your hotel has the word airport in it - WALK THERE. I swear to you ours was literally across the street, and would have been quicker to walk to than take the Grab. Make sure to do a Google Map search for your hotel's location. 2) Grab Taxi or negotiate-- If you're in a location with v...

Kata Beach- smaller than nearby Karon, water very nice. Very very busy most of the year, even in the low season. One of Phuket's more famous beaches, definitely worth visiting, but other beaches are nicer. Surf Practice Above the beach is a simulated surf zone where water is is expelled from a pressure pump, racing up a hill, and (for a decent fee) allow you to practice balancing upon a boogie board, moving through the flow of water, jumping up to your knees. It is good fun. Elephants Also, nearby and up the hill is an elephant camp where you can go and visit pachyderms. Grade: B

Karon beach, definitely one of Phuket's more famous beaches. A long expanse of white sand, cleaned on a regular basis from the waste of Thais and tourists alike. When we went it was being cleaned by school children in the early AM, and further down the beach by someone likely employed at a nearby resort. Karon is the second largest of Phuket's tourist beaches, and is 3 km long from tip to tip. Definitely a great beach to run down. It gets very very busy during high season though. Umbrellas and a place to place your drink are available for 200 baht.  Grade : A- a squid washed up on shore the long beach- Karon playground equipment near the beach Kata beach

Yanui Beach- Phuket Some snorkeling exists just offshore.  This shore is Rocky on one side and Moore Sandy on the other side of the wall dividing it in the middle. Canoes are available nearby, as well as snacks sold from a nearby shop. Often one finds trash on the beach and in the water, some of which as a good Samaritan, I pick up and place in a plastic bag, carrying it to a trashcan near the road. As always, I wish that people would pick up after them selves rather than letting the plastic get carried out to great Pacific garbage heap. There are far nicer beaches on the island, this is definitely not a must see, but if you go there, by all means enjoy. It is still far prettier than the majority of beaches in the world!