Karon & Kata (12-17 Feb 15)

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Moving on from the cultural centre of the island back towards the Andaman beaches, I checked out the next two most-developed ones after Patong, namely Karon and Kata, just a few kilometres south of their hedonistic cousin.

Definitely not quite the remote, remote beaches that I somehow made my way to in the Visayas in Central Philippines, but Karon and Kata still rank very highly in terms of quality. The very wide beaches are reminiscent of Kuta in Bali, and the sand so fine and clean that it does indeed actually "squeak when you walk on it" as claimed in the Wikitravel entry. Karon and Kata are lower-key than Patong, and away from the full blast of the package Chinese tourists. They're not quiet beaches by any stretch of the imagination, but do allow some kind of respite from the madness of Patong, whilst concurrently still providing all the necessary amenities for beginner travellers. A very easy stay, and somewhat difficult to tear myself away from...

Stayed at JJ Inn and Kata Centre Inn.

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Photos

Karon Beach
Blonde sand ambition.

Kata Beach
Just can't get enough.

Wat Chalong
Obligatory half-day trip away from the beaches.

Expensive-looking Karon restaurant
Where I of course DID NOT eat.

Kata Beach
Wow.

Baby Elephant No.2
Or is it the same one?

Cat No.3
Wikitravel calls those tear-shaped prayer blocks the Mangoes of Destiny. (You ask God a yes/no question, toss them, and how they land supposedly tells you the answer) Cat No.3 certainly likes them.

Chalong Bay
Not much of a beach but the launchpad for boat trips out from Phuket to the neighbouring islands.

Cat No.4
And the handsomest yet.

Kata Gym
No A/C, aging dumbbells and machines, cheap entry. My kind of gym.