1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #230 - Patong beach, Phuket

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #230

- Patong beach, Phuket

 

(This cute red tuk-tuk will take you anywhere around Patong Beach, but this beach town is heavy with tourists, with bars and nightclubs along every street. We sneaked into the biggest shopping mall, Jungceylon, which was Phuket's name in the olden days, and put the baht in our pockets to work, especially the foodcourt downstairs. Looking at the beach, I can see why Karon beach is preferred by some tourists - quieter there for sure)

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #229 - Red Mountain Golf Club, Phuket

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #229

- Red Mountain Golf Club, Phuket

 

(Could this be Phuket's best golf course, even better than Blue Canyon? Well, it seems it's the best in all of Thailand. The beauty of some of its holes here are hard to beat, especially the signature Hole#17, with a 30 metre drop to the green. Fairways are immaculate, with lush greens. Yes, it lived up to its accolade - made better by the par hole I made on the18th - yes!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #228 - James Bond Island, Phuket

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #228

- James Bond Island, Phuket

 

(So, we are finally here..James Bond Island, so called because Roger Moore as the Man With The Golden Gun came here 40 years ago on this 20meter tall islet..goodness, I was just a baby then. Still, it is pretty unique, with many wanting to take photos with poses to fit the occasion, especially one Italian-looking lady who thinks she owned the beach)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #227 - Koh Hong, Phuket

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #227

- Koh Hong, Phuket

 

(Freshly-cut coconuts right on the sea, around the limestone islets of Koh Hong? That's new, and certainly worth the 50baht. Unlike Halong Bay, the kayaking is more of a plastic tube, with all the hard work done by a local rower. The whole area was packed with tourists - much more than in Halong - making it less of an adventure and more of a rush. Beauty-wise, Halong Bay is streets ahead)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #226 - Koh PanYee, Phuket

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #226

- Koh PanYee, Phuket

 

(A surprising island-hopping experience landed us at Koh Panyee, a small village island of 2000 Muslim people, complete with its own mosque, shops, school and football field, most on stilts. Shops were selling locally caught seafood including a fried shrimp and cashew nut mix which burns your tongue like chilli padi.The ride there on the classic Thai longtail-boats was half the buzz)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #225 - Karon Beach, Phuket

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #225

- Karon Beach, Phuket

 

(The beaches in Phuket are famous in this region, but this one at Karon, just 15min south of Patong may be the most under-rated. Away from the constant buzz of Patong, I can now see why Karon is quite a treat for sunbathers - a full stretch of uninterrupted golden sand. Our hotel - Sugar Marina Art - was a nice surprise too, with the minibar in the fridge yours to use as you please - yes, for free! Okay, it wasn't that well stocked, but since when have you stepped into a hotel that gives you the keys to the minibar, free)