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Published: January 6th 2007
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Beach Sites...
Can't find a view like that in the bay area! I'm sweating buckets... I just got off a rather large boat and am now safely upon Phi Phi Island... I figured I'd log a journal on Phuket before attempting to write about this new and very different island...
Dad has managed to embarrass me around 439 times so far on this trip... From trying to find me a bride (yea, cause that works...) to attempting to reduce a set price that a seller and I had already agreed on... Still, I love the man and remain ever thankful for the wonderful experience that this trip is... I feel like I left the bay decades ago and yet I'm only a few days in on this adventure. Mom, I miss you masses and wish you were here... So you'd find yourself embarrased alongside Daniel and I! 😉
Things are finally settling down a bit... We only traveled a couple hours today and it was an enjoyable boat trip. From the looks of it, I think I'll find Phi Phi quite exciting...
Phuket (especially the Patong Beach area) is one of the most liberal city I've ever been to outside the United States... It caters to all sorts of lifestyles
Phuket Street...
Dad and Daniel walking down a buzzling street in Phuket... and found both the locals and setting quite intriuging... The streets are filled with vendors who attempt to cater to the thousands of tourists from Australia, England, Sweden, Germany and the semi-rare American... To be honest, many parts of the city remind me a nicer-looking Tijuana- I was 'fortunate' enough to realize that the dirtiest parts of San Francisco smell like a rose in comparison to here.
The surrounding ecosystem is in many ways destroyed and new housing is tearing down the little-left forest that surrounds Phuket... The whole place is completely reliant on the foreign dollar and western tourists are always within eyesight.
Still, there are many wonderful things to talk about. The locals were extreamly nice and I had quite a few pleasant conversations with them while I drank beer at the various (and many) bars along the strip. The beach, though heavily populated on both the sand and in the water, is still refreshing and I spent a good while there. Massage palors are everywhere and the women shout and attempt to bring you inside... I didn't venture into these places (though my back is by all means sore) because of the stories of "happy endings"... Prostitution is everywhere in Phuket. Probably because supply meets demand... I saw many westerners with Thai girls to their sides... I don't kmow how I feel about this... But I will say that many of these women were some of the most beautiful I'd ever seen.
Men looking for men or transgendered prostitutes are also satisfied here... That's what I meant by 'liberal' up above... It's all legal and pretty much everywhere...
And I mean everywhere... I entered a bar trying to find the bathroom and found myself in a stall with a girl asking if I wanted a party... I respectfully declined... Many I met that night didn't...
Beyond that, Phuket is filled with Jet Skis, Parasailing, and other aquatic activities... Beer is cheap in comparison to America and I also had myself many a Pina Coloda for roughly 60-80B... My brother couldn't stand it! And a couple from Ireland yelled at me, "If your dad could only see you, he'd be worried!" ...Hah... Little do they know.
We stayed in a really nice room with A/C and a super-intense fan for 1200B, which I consider a steal at the height of tourist season. Next to us was a quaint little motel called Stoney Monday Oasis Hotel... The food there was fantastic and I loved the employees... I also met many foreigners who were beyond nice (especially the australians) and gave both my dad and I a load of advice. I talked to an aussie about how nice they all were... He simply stated, "Well, you've never been to Sydney..." Ha. No, I haven't.
Thai coffee is, as expected, phenomenal. I had myself many a cup for 20-30B... And fresh fruit smoothies are easy to come by...
Phuket was affected by the title wave that hit in 2004 but you wouldn't be able to tell... It's as alive as ever...
One night in the resort city was enough for us... so we now continue our journey... Let's hope I get at least a day here in Phi Phi before my dad ships us off again. My skin is slightly burnt but that's because I've used little sunscreen. Lesson learned. I need some rest... And afterwards, another cup-a-joe. Who knows where I'll be in a couple days!
Love you all!
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Mom
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Great travel blog
Chris, love reading your travel blog. Good job. Keep it going. Am with Bob and Jackie and have given the url. So glad that you are all having a great time. Please remind Daniel and Dad to wear sunscreen. Hugs to all Mom