Phuket (Island of Tuk Tuks and Tattoos)

---

Sept 18-22 2007
Not being back in Hawai'i for about 4 years, made me miss the beautiful beaches (especially the warm and clear water). Don't get me wrong the beaches of Korea are nice but I was yearning for something more like Hawai'i. I was losing my tan living in the ROK for the past 6 months and since I was going to visiting relatives in Bangkok, I decided to stop over in Phuket. Had to call people up to tell them that I was not on the plane that crashed at the Phuket airport couple days earlier. I believed the airport was closed for about two days and then it was business as usual. I wasn't too scared to fly in but made sure I ate the meal on board, just in case it was my last.
First time in Phuket but from what the locals were saying, Phuket is one the most expensive places in Thailand. I can understand why since it caters to mainly non-Thai nationals. However, over all I thought it to be pretty decent compared to other places I've been to. The atmosphere was pretty laid back, alot of Farangs, or Caucasians. A whole bunch of people from Australia, the UK, New Zealand and Germany. I ran into two people from the US. The cool thing was that everyone was here to have a great time and I didn't see any fights or drama at all. The weather was great, it was hot but sipping on a Singha beers helped.
One of the most interesting part about the visit to Phuket was meeting our cruise tour guide and hearing about his tsunami survival tales and the aftermath of rebuilding Phuket. And when you go to Phuket you will hear similar tales. Enjoy the pics.

---

Photos

Tuk Tuks
Many on the island to get you around

Thai Tattoo
It seems that everyone had one and were showing it off along with their tan.

Highway to Karon beach
Patong was too crowded so I had to get away

Bar huts
Shot from my hotel balcony, the huts had good food and cheap Thai beers.

Muay Thai
The promotion truck for the fights at the Bangla stadium.

Tats
A local showing off his tats by Patong beach. Nice piece of art

Kuta beach
Great escape from the crowded Patong beach, topless beach by the way. I had my top off.

Sawasdee Ronald
Greeting of Thai people. Ronald looks scary regardless what country he's in, freaky clown.

Masseuses
Massage right on Kuta beach.

Monkey Isle
about 1 hr from Phuket

Monkey
They are pretty vicious so be careful, didn't want to make the highlights for "When animals attack".

Soda
The monkeys can't get enough of sodas

Bird caves
Used by the locals to harvest the highly valued Bird Nest for soups. We were not allowed to go into the caves.

Tsunami sign
Run

Muay thai fight 11 yrs old
These kids were bad ass.

The Beach
Where the movie was shot, our guide said that the water fall scene was BS, he's been there hundreds of time and never saw a water fall on that island.

Girl fight
It was South Korea vs Thailand, everyone had their money on the girl from Seoul (red gloves).

Feeding time
Believe me I wasn't scared of rabies but that the monkey would bite my fingers off.

Sagat
He looked like the character from Street Fighter game. He lost the fight and I lost 2K bahts. A minor set back, could be the next champion.

Me in a tuk tuk
Great ride.

Bangla dog
He was tired from partying all night

Comments

[RS]

Love the pics! Keep them coming! Be safe!

[Tony]

Nice...
Cool pics.. live it up man and keep having fun. Just remember, alcohol and boat rides don't mix.

[ha]

wtf
does NOT look like sagat