Speek Thai

Hello

Sawasdee Kap - Say 'kap' if you are a man

Sawasdee Kah - and 'kah' if you are a woman

You will hear 'kap' and 'kah' used very often and in almost every sentence when Thai people speak.... it makes words and sentences sound less harsh and abrupt to Thai people, and as a result failure to use them can sound bad and even cause offence... especially to people older than you. You can get away with leaving them out sometimes when you speak to Thai friends you have known for a while, but generally it's best to be polite.

Goodbye

Lar gorn and sometimes you can say sawasdee kap/kah for goodbye too...

.......

How are you?

Sabaidee Mai - (no question marks used in Thai, obviously)

Answer:

Sabai Sabai - I'm good!
Mai Sabai - Not good

.......

Thankyou

Khob kun kap/kah

.......

Excuse me

Used pretty much exactly as we do in english... it can mean excuse me when you want to get past someone, or excuse me can I ask you something, or excuse me as in sorry for knocking you on the way past:

Khor toat kap/kah

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Thai Massage Traditional

Massage has a long history of therapeutic healing in Thailand. It has been practiced for centuries as it sill is to day. The roots of Thai Massage arnder of the practice was Jivaka Komarabhacca, a doctor friend, and contemporary of Buddha, some time about 2,500 years ago. Much of what is know in Thailand about massage and traditional Massage and Traditional Massage was handed down e traced back to India. The foorally and thought from one generation to the next, and teacher to student and often, parent to child. Most of the ancient medical texts were destroyed in 1776, with the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burmese. What was left was literally carved in stone in 1832, when king Rama 3, in hopes of preserving the tradition of massage, had stone inscription set into the walls at the temple in Bangkok, called Wat Poh. Therapeutic massage for treatment of specific conditions and diseases is also practiced , by only a small number of very skilled people. It takes several years of study and a good working knowledge of the language. The Chinese and Indians are thought to have had an influence in the therapies and treatments developed in Thailand. The theoretical basis of Thai Massage lies in the theory of energy lines running through the body. Out of the 72,000 energy
See Thai Massage

Tattoo: An Ancient Art

Tattoo: An Ancient Art

Tattooing is gaining popularity these days. Though the word tattoo is of Polynesian origin, the art was common to many ancient civilizations. Some Egyptian mummies (2000 BC) carry tattoo marks. In India, a stone sculpture of 200 C.E. of Sunga period has tattoo marks on cheeks and chins. Decorating the body with mehandi or mixture of fragrant musk, saffron and sandal paste was very popular in ancient India, but it was temporary. Tattooing was permanent which one carried to graveyard with them.

In India, the tattoos have religious and superstitious significance as well. Women preferred tattooing for the welfare of husband, children etc. Some got to fulfill a vow or against dreaded diseases. But by and large it was to ensure non-widowhood. Cheeks, brows, neck, arms, shoulders, and wrists are the favored parts. Men get tattoos on arms, shoulders and wrists to ensure virility. Among tribals it is a practice to get their entire body tattooed which enabled their bodies to camouflage with forest surroundings: The color of tattoo in India is green or dark green.

Pricking the earmarked place with needles and then filling the pricks in holes with indelible ink (mainly prepared from herbs and carbon) forms the main process. Many castes in India do the job for petty payment. Songs are sung, jokes are told while the pricking agony is born by the person for an hour or more depending on the intricacy of design. The designs could be of snakes, birds (peacock, Garuda, etc.), chariot, sun, moon, trees, flowers, and grains. Tattooing is believed to protect persons against attack of wild beasts and snake bite--hence the use of respective designs.

After continuous pricking and inking, the tattooed part is washed, and turmeric considered antiseptic is applied to wounds. Nowadays, more sophisticated equipment is used for tattooing.

Japanese Tattoo Designs

Tattoos are individual expressions for a lifetime. They can be an affirmation, a bold statement of love, a memorial, a motivational reminder - a personal statement of what truly matters. And this is why it is so important that the design be just right for you.

If you are thinking about a Japanese tattoo then a great place to start is with a reputable catalog that has a wide variety of styles and options. By knowing what is possible, you can get a much better feel for what appeals to you personally and perhaps even find a design that says exactly what you want to say with a look that fits your style.

At StockKanji - Japanese Tattoo Designs we have over 5000 Japanese Tattoo Designs and more are being added everyday. Each Japanese Tattoo is personally hand-lettered by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase and can be immediately purchased and downloaded when you find the design that is just right for you. And with your purchase you get everything you need, including the line art, to take to your tattoo artist to have the tattoo properly inked.

This catalog of Japanese tattoo designs offers hundreds of options for names, words and phrases. Each coming in several different fonts and styles - this way you can get the meaning you want with a look that fits your style. As an example, below we show three of the seventeen designs for the maxim True Victory is Victory Over Oneself.

The Block (kaisho) Script is what one most commonly sees for Japanese Kanji Tattoos. Though other fonts are popular once people see the range of what is possible with Japanese. Dave Beckham's Tattoo on his ribs uses a cursive font and while difficult for people to read this is an elegant and flowing script. Japanese has many different fonts and, at the hand of a master, the possibilities are infinite.

The Tao of the Tattoo

Let me introduce you to Peter McBride.

He’s an idiot.

You know Polo shirts have that Polo pony logo on the chest, right? Well, McBride got that logo tattooed — on his chest.

That’s alright McBride, you’re dumb, you can’t help it. At 22, I was pretty fucking stupid, too. Actually, I’m still not very bright, but even at your age I wouldn’t do some stupid, regrettable-in-a-few-years shit like that.

In fact, I absolutely didn’t.

See, I think tattoos are cool. Did then, do now.

I mean they were once something only convicts or bikers or enlisted men got. Then they got a broader following with regular blue collar guys getting them, then white collar weekend warrior types started getting inked.

Nowadays, the soccer mom next door has a three-inch wide butterfly tat just above the crack of her ass at the thongline and it ain’t no thang. Well, it probably adds to the fantasies of the local adolescencia or the puberati but that’s besides the point.

But here’s my thing. I can’t abide dumb tattoos. Just can’t. That includes tattoos that are dumb in size (a quarter inch square is not a tattoo, but an elective birthmark), dumb in placement (the underside of your second toe on your right foot is just genius) and especially dumb in content.

If you’ve never gotten a tat, then lemme tell you. Depending on location, size and complexity, a tattoo can hurt like hell and it puts a goodly amount of stress on the body. It’s also as permanent as any markings on your skin that occur naturally or more so. It’s easy for Dr. Scalpy McGoodskin to lop off that hairy mole on your ass — but a 5″ x 9″ Woody Woodpecker in Technicolor? Not so easy to erase.

So just like that old knight dude said in the last Indiana Jones movie: “Choose wisely.”

When I got my first tattoo, I thought about it. And dwelled upon it. Then researched it. Then I went to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Twice. And looked at an exhibit of it. And I sketched it. Then I altered the image. Personalized it. Then I took my sketches back to my dorm. And drew and redrew, made it even more my own and gave it to the tattoo artist. He made suggestions, traced the 90% from my sketch I liked and added his 10% in his improvements and then and only then did we apply ink to needle and needle to skin.

Here it is:

Mind you this tat has never been touched up, the pic is a little blurry and the tat itself is — holy hell, I’m freakin old — 14 years old. But what’s most important, it tells a story:

Anubis is the Egyptian god of judgment of the dead. A mouthful but check out what that means. In Egyptian spirituality/religion when you die, you go before all the gods. Osiris, Set, Isis, Hathor — man, every deity that’s any deity is there. Very formal — very exclusive.

A-list all the way.

And they’re there to hear you confess. Now it ain’t like Catholic confession where you say all the foul shit you’re sorry for and beg forgiveness. Hell no, here you tell all the gods all the bad shit you didn’t do! You never stole, you never murdered, all that stuff that makes you look good.

But they didn’t just take your word for it. No, sir. When you were done reverse-confessing, Anubis took your heart and put it on a scale. On the other side would be The Feather of Truth.

If you neglected to tell the gods some evil you did — what happens in Cairo doesn’t stay in Cairo, my friend — then by not mentioning it, your heart would literally be laden with guilt. And that guilt would make your heart heavier than the feather. If Anubis reported that that was the case, they took your heart and fed it to an ugly part crocodile, part lion, and part hippopotamus mofo named Ammit (Eater of Hearts) who grubbed down on it like a BK Stacker. If he did, welcome to Oblivion — we don’t got fun and games. In fact, all we got is nothingness.

Now if your heart weighed as much as or less than the feather, then you’re ushered behind the velvet ropes where you’re treated to the ancient Egyptian equivalent of free bottle service, lap dances and an anything goes champagne room forever and ever.

My tattoo is all about that — and all about me. Like a dream, everything about my tattoo is, appropriately, about me. So I’m Anubis, and I am my own judge. See my heart there? Note how it isn’t touching the hand. It’s floating, which means its lighter than air. Doesn’t mean I’m an angel, but it does mean I have no guilt. See The Feather of Truth and how it’s held aloft? That’s a goal, an aspiration, a commitment to in all things be truthful. Not nice, not civil, not hateful — just truthful. The rest will follow.

See. That’s a freakin tattoo. That tells a story. Getting a corporate logo permanently etched on your skin with your big motivation and thought process being that you saw it on the dude’s shirt in front of you… moronic.

A tattoo of a barcode. Cool.

The chinese symbol for crisis which is “danger” and “opportunity” adjacent to some lovely cleavage — excellent.

A tattoo of the words “The plane! The plane!” — awesome.

I appreciate art, social and political statements, poetry, sarcasm, wit and irony.

McBride’s tattoo represents none of these. The Polo pony is just a marketing tool.

But I guess one good tool deserves another.

Angel Tattoo

Angel tattoos are probably one of the most requested tattoo designs today. From a simple design to complex wings and hands, angels come in all shapes, forms and sizes. People generally request an angel tattoo due to their deep and spiritual meaning. Angels can be seen as a connection between life and death, the struggle between good and evil and a messenger and guardian of God.

Angel tattoos are often seen upon people who are religious believers, particularly Christianity, however Islam and Judaism also have angels, amongst other religions. Angels may also be seen on people who have lost a loved one and believe this person is now an angel.

Finally, due to their protective characteristics, many opt to get an angel tattoo as a form of protection for themselves, as a guardian to look over them.

Angel tattoos are certainly not a fad and will definately be a tattoo design that is around for a long time to come.

Dragon Tattoos

Peek at the Story behind the story of Dragon Tattoos

Greetings young grasshopper! Today’s lesson will deal with the mystical world of the Dragon tattoo. The myth of the dragon originated hundreds of years ago in the Orient—in China. The dragon is an all-powerful, indomitable, mysterious and magical entity that pervades Chinese culture, tradition and folklore. However, in comparison the western world sees the dragon as a destructive, menace to mankind. Fear and dread are often associated with the dragon as a result and there have also been heretic cults who actually worshipped the dragon. We should honestly watch less tv!

Nothing could be further from the truth for the Chinese. The Asiatic dragon is seen to be the messenger of peace, good will, intelligence, generosity and compassion. There is none of that fire-breathing, man-eating, blood fest that sprang from European cultural beliefs. So you don’t need to worry about tattooing a dragon slayer along with your Oriental dragon!

Now you’d probably want to know the predominant types of Chinese dragon tattoos and the ideals they each symbolize. The Celestial Dragon is an awe-inspiring creature that bestows the armor of God upon the individual. He is the ruler of the dragons but is humble enough to transports you personally to the Heavens in the afterlife. Now take a moment to picture the guy you would dread to meet in a dark alleyway. Yeah, you wouldn’t want to mess with him after seeing his Horned Dragon Tattoo. The Horned variant is widely known to be the most powerful and fierce dragon known to mankind!

You could also go with the Earth dragon that nestles in Heaven during spring and slips into the seas during Autumn. The Earth dragon tattoo reinforces your control over the element of water across the globe. If bling is your thing then you gotta go for the Treasure Dragon tattoo. This dragon is the preserver of all precious metals and jewels.

However, if none of them fit the bill then you’re probably the wild child that runs like the wind. You could opt for the volatile, uncontrollable Spiritual Dragon that reigns over the air currents and rainfall. On the other hand, you could choose the Coiling dragon that lies silently beneath the waves of the sea. They say that knowledge is power. Frankly speaking, our lives would remain incomplete without the wisdom that has gradually filtered down through the ages. The wisest of the dragon tattoos is that of the Yellow dragon that represents scholarly knowledge. Last but not least, we have the Winged dragon that breaks the mortal confines of the Earth and soars into the skies. Set yourself free!

In the case of men, the dragon tattoo stands for a subconscious strength, wisdom, beauty and knowledge. It also announces his presence while underlining varied attributes like style, courage, warrior ability, unpredictability or even his control over water. Most of all, the dragon tattoo doesn’t recognize fear, purports the killer instinct and is the mark of a survivor.

Alternatively, the dragon propagates a different set of ideals in women. A female dragon is a hothead, a spitfire and yet she is self-sufficient, cunning, sly or even down right dirty. She is skilled, experienced and knowledgeable. Noble ideals of fidelity, confidence, strength and an all-encompassing protective aura surround all her relationships building an unshakable sense of security.

You have learnt well young grasshopper, you are now ready to unleash the dragon within.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is the first volume of the Millennium Trilogy, the novels that a journalist called Stieg Larsson delivered to a Swedish publisher only a short time before he died. When Ali Karim rang to tell me about it, saying that he read it over two days and it has left an impression on him, I thought to find out more, not just about the book but also on the author.

These novels have become a phenomenon in Scandinavia and are one by one soaring into the bestseller lists in Europe. Larsson, renowned in Sweden as a campaigning journalist, sent his first novel to Norstedts only after several of his friends who had read them urged him to do so. He arrived with three, each one of them a substantial typescript. He died of a massive heart attack before the first one was published.

He was a political journalist and graphics specialist for 20 years at a Swedish news agency and he worked tirelessly, long hours into every night, for an organisation called Expo, fighting fascism and racism in Sweden and Europe. He lectured at inter-government seminars in Brussels, he contributed over many years to the campaigning British magazine Searchlight. He answered every call from victims of racism and anti-Semitic harassment and violence. He went to schools to help children who were being racially bullied, talked to the headmistress, talked to classes, told the victims that he was available at any time to come back, if need be.

In the 1990s he and his partner of many years were targeted by neo-fascists. They were for a long time forced to live a life of acute anxiety. Their names were published and their address. Another man, similarly targeted, was murdered -- under the noses of a police surveillance team. And yet Larsson never stopped making his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Swedish and international far right available to everyone who needed to learn from it.

It is no wonder that it was an amazement even to his friends that he had had time to write novels -- where was his spare time? But Stieg Larsson himself was a phenomenon. He had seriously contemplated writing crime stories in English, he knew the genre backwards, was in correspondence with some of its best authors. He would have rejoiced that The Girl Who Played With Fire, the second volume of the trilogy, was awarded the "Glass Key", the prize given to the best crime novel published in Scandinavia.

The only fragment of his huge success that the author knew was the deal his publisher made with Heyne in Germany, for a huge advance. He was 50. It gave him, he decided, the opportunity to change his punishing way of life, and also the chance to put money into Expo.

The original title of the first volume of the trilogy was (and in Sweden is) Men Who Hated Women. Larsson fought discrimination on many fronts in his life and the abuse of women he especially loathed. It is at the heart of two of the novels, and it is the inspiration of the heroine of the trilogy, a magnificent fictional creation, Lisbeth Salander. Salander is the driving force of a narrative that is brilliant, gripping, and utterly original. It is appallingly violent without once, it seems to me, being gratuitous. My guess is that many more women than men have bought the books. Salander in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is in her early twenties, delinquent, a ward of court, freelancing for a security company. She is a computer wizard (self-taught), a kick-boxer, fearless, dysfunctional, bisexual, mortally thin and terrifying if roused.

Who has bought them?

2.1 million copies sold in Sweden* (the paperback of Volume III is not yet released). 50,000 copies were subscribed of the audiobook of Volume III a month before the book publication -- a remarkable symptom of the impatience of Swedish readers of the trilogy. 121,200 audiobooks have been sold in total of the three volumes.

Denmark*: 500,000 copies sold. The hardback of Volume III has only just been published in an initial print-run of 110,000 copies which sold out in two days. The publisher, Modtryk, says that only the Bible has sold more copies than Larsson's books in Denmark .

Norway*: 333,600 copies sold so far of Volume I (h/b and pb) and volume II (h/b only to date). Volume III is to be published in November. It was due to be published in March '08 and brought forward to November ‘07 due to pressure from readers and because of the dramatic level of sales of the Swedish edition in Norway .

Germany : 150,000 copies sold so far of Volume I (h/b and pb) and the h/b of Volume II.

France: 207,000 copies have been sold of all three books. Actes Sud now selling approx 3,000 and 4,000 copies of Larsson books every day.

Not forgetting Sonny Mehta of Knopf in the US, who beat off five other publishers for this extraordinary trilogy with a high six figure offer.

* Sweden population 9 million, Denmark 5.5, Norway 4.6.

“Over time I have published David Morrell's FIRST BLOOD (which became "Rambo"), Martin Cruz Smith's GORKY PARK and his unforgettable Arkady Renko, Peter Høeg's MISS SMILLA'S FEELING FOR SNOW, and the Gold Dagger-winning crime novels of Henning Mankell, Arnaldur Indridason and Fred Vargas. The sales of the Millennium Trilogy in Sweden far exceed the fabulous successes of these wonderful storytellers and their central characters and in part this has to be due to what is going in the English-speaking world too to become the Lisbeth Salander cult. She is one of two central characters in the trilogy. The other is the journalist Mikael Blomkvist of the magazine Millennium, a crusading publication that surely has echoes from Larsson's own working life. One Swedish publisher told me that he believed that everything in the trilogy, the sex trafficking investigations, the murder investigations, the financial chicanery had a root in fact. Every Swedish publisher I have met in the last months has been -- and this is as interesting as it is unusual in the jealous world that is publishing -- unstinting in their praise for the novels. Every one of them has read them or listened to the tapes. There is perhaps no more reliable recommendation.”

Christopher MacLehose

The Swedish film production company Yellowbird, will be producing the film version of the Millennium Trilogy. Shooting will begin in March 2008 and they hope to finish by December 2008, with the aim of having them ready for release in all Scandinavian countries in the beginning of 2009. They will then run on Swedish television by Nov/Dec 2009. The DVD version will have multiple language sub-titles (mainly Scandinavian languages and possibly another featuring English sub-titles). The main cast features Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander and Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist. There is also interest from different producers in France and the US for the English production rights, but these have not been sold yet.

Tattoo Removal

Once upon a time I drank so much tequila that I lost track of ... what's that called ... consciousness. Next morning, I couldn't remember a thing.

Fortunately, the tattoo would jar my memory.

The "tribal band" circled my left bicep like a serial bee sting, the om symbol thirteen times. Om is supposed to reveal the fleeting nature of reality. I had decided to honor it with a PERMANENT MARK.

Every tattoo should say the same thing -- "I'm an idiot." That way, when you wake up ten years later and wonder what you were thinking, the answer is right there.

So, yes, all these years after The Tequila Incident, I decided to zap the tattoo.

Dr. Seuss warned me about this way back in kindergarten. The Sneetches, you see, wanted stars on their bellies until everyone else got stars on their bellies and then they all just wanted to be the way they were. That's when Sylvester McMonkey McBean stepped in with his star-off machine.

"I'll make you again the best Sneetches on beaches, and all it will cost you is ten dollars eaches."

These days tattoo removal costs more than ten dollars eaches. Let's just say that you could see a sizable chunk of this world and, depending on the ruble, possibly others.

ref www.flixya.com/post/tattoosofgirls

Phuket Fantasia

Last Sat. night my friend flaked on me from partying out in Phuket town, so I decided to do a little exploring in Phuket Town Krub. Going alone, there is only a few places in mind na krub, Phuket Fantasia Pink Lady, Grand and Rome Place. I really want to try discovery and Kor Tor Mor to pick up girls, but going alone was not realy a good idea I think If I hit on a cute girl with out knowing her B boy friend is beside her Having read recent posting, Phuket Fantasia seems like a good place to have fun. Hopeing to see many cute ladies . Arrived at Fantasia around 10, it's a really big place. Im sure that it used to be a big theater, the girls were filled with girls at the reception, at side stands (box) and on stage. Although I saw 4-5 ok. girls, they were all have been reserved to be eaten at 10. I think the quality is much lower than what I'm used to in Bangkok and at the same price or less. "Took kra pong" from bangkok to Phuket. Anyways, decided to sit and drink a couple of beer and decided to pick a girl from the box to have a little chat. Bad idea krub, she was not a friendly type, she was the type that fu.k and leave. Thought may be we could talk about Phuket, she has a very pretty and sexy face,but want to kick it when she opens her mouth . For people who have never been to Fantasia na krub. The place looks like a big cinema. It has continues show through out the night, on the left there are about 20-30 girls sitting in a big open box that looks like sideline of a soccer field. They are drink girls that you can OFF. It's very open to OFF these girls, the sales are very candid and will push you to OFF these girls. The cost of the girls is 150/hr to sit and have a little chat + 150/drink that she orders. For OFF i believe it is 2000 bath/ room included. 2800 for all night. There are also receptions girls who prettier that you can have a chat for I think 150/20 mins (but cannot OFF) There are lounge sits and 10 table in the middle of the theater. "If you go there pass 10 on a Saturday night, you will have very low luck." The member is 15000 for either 4 bottles of JW black and 4 OFF girls or 8 bottles and free mixer. The Beer is 150 a bottle.

Over all, compare to Bangkok, middle to low quality girls, expensive for what you get, good size building and lots of girls. May be a better luck if you decide to go at around 9.
Also, the sales would not take care of you well if you look young like me..... but they would suck up to you when you mention about Membership!!
Find friends and go hunting at Kor Tor Mo- would be much easier and safe cost.

Damaged: 300 bath for a chat, 300 for 2 beers, and 100 tip.

Koh Payam Island

Koh Payam Island is only about 10 by 7 kilometres. There are no discos, no beach vendors, and very few people making their living on rubber plantations. At the far end of Kao Kwai Bay is a small sea gypsy settlement.

Ko Phayam Island has numerous shady paths inviting for a hike to another remote bay. It takes about half an hour to walk to the little village on the east coast, and just over an hour down to Aow Yai Bay in the southern part of Ko Payam island.

Koh Phayam Island has a few shops and bars in the village, and also e-mail facilities. The village is small and the neighbouring temple has his own jetty.

Koh Chang Island

Koh Chang Island is only 1½ hours away from Ranong in the Andaman Sea close to the border to neighbouring Myanmar (Burma). This Andaman Sea Island is Koh Chang Ranong on the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. It’s shape resembles a relaxing elephant.

Koh Chang Island is one of the least developed Andaman Islands Thailand and those, who want to stay away from any traffic on wheels will find Koh Chang Thailand the perfect hide away. There are several nice beaches with different kinds of Koh Chang resorts, but most of them are still quite basic.

Koh Chang Island's Aow Yai Bay, translated as "Big Bay" is the longest beach of Kho Chang Ranong Island and stretching for over 3 kilometres. It is the home to about 15 Kho Chang bungalows of different style.

At Aow Siad Bay and Aow Tadaeng Bay of Koh Chang Island you can choose between bungalows directly at the beach front or on the cliff side, while the beaches at the northern tip of Koh Chang Ranong Thailand are perfectly secluded. All beaches are interconnected by foot paths.

Ranong

Ranong is Thailand’s least populated and greenest province. More than 80% of the province are covered by rain forest and the nature is spectacular with breathtaking scenery: evergreen vegetation, jungles with impressive waterfalls, birds, monkeys and other rare wildlife, mangrove forests, hot springs and an array of Andaman Sea Islands Thailand with sandy beaches.

Ranong is a small town and you can easily get around Ranong city and discover the local markets or taste the famous and delicious food of Southern Thailand. Various local restaurants and some Ranong accommodation in Ranong hotels is available.

Ranong town is separated from Myanmar by the Pakchan River, which can be crossed by local boat in 30 minutes. If you want to make a visit to Victoria's Point (Kauthong), the Burmese border town, make sure to have your passport with you and get it stamped, as you are leaving Thailand.

Phuket

PHUKET

a large island in the Indian Ocean, is 867 kms. from Bangkok. It is the only island having provincial status, and was a regional headquarters as well, with a rich and colorful.Known as the Pearl of the Andaman, it derived much of its former glory and its enormous wealth from tin production, which in Phuket dates back over 500 year. Today, Phuket is the major tourist attraction of Thailand with hotels of all price ranges.

The surrounding waters contain much varied marine life, and the town is notable for its Sino-Portuguese architecture. It is a very attractive island for sightseeing, with lovely seashores and forested hillsides. Its population of 1.6 million people ranks sixth among all provinces. Approximately 1.75 million Rai of the area is forest land. The main occupation here is rice farming. The average per capita income is 14,343 Baht.

Geography
About 70 percent of Phuket is mountainous; a western range runs from north to south from which smaller branches derive. The highest peak is Mai Tha Sip Song, or Twelve Canes, at 529 meters, which lies within the boundaries of Tambon Patong, Kathu District. The remaining 30 percent of the island, mainly in the center and south, is formed by low plains. Streams include the Khlong Bang Yai, Tha Jin, Khlong Tha Rua, and Khlong Bang Rong, none of which is large.

Attraction

Chalong Temple

Is about 8 kms. outside town. Take Vichit Songkram Rd., to the Bypass Rd., and turn left, and drive for about 10 mins. Wat Chalong will be on your left. This is where stands the cast statue of Luang Por Cham, who helped the people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or Chinese Coolie, Rebellion in 1876 during the reign of Rama V. There are also statues of Luang Por Chaung, and Luang Por Gluam. Other monks, who were abbots of the temple during later times, and who are the objects of respect and recipients of the offerings by Phuket people generally.

Phuket Aquarium

More than one hundred species of sea life are on display at the aquarium, many of them taken from the water around Phuket. The aquarium is located at Cape Panwa, on the island's extreme southeast; admission is 5 Baht for children and 20 Baht for adults. A Songtaew (local bus) can be taken from the Talad Sot, or Fresh Market. Tel. (076) 391126.
Open daily, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. read more

Khao Rang

A great view of Phuket Town, the southern part of the island, and some of the offshore islands, can be obtained by going to the top of Khao Rang Hill, on the city's northwest. There are also several restaurants featuring spectacular views of the city, a health park for exercise enthusiasts, and a comfortable, expanse of grass for picnickers at the top with a bronze statue of Phraya Ratsada Nupradit the model Governor of Phuket during King Rama V's reign.

Antique Buildings

The beginning of the tin boom during the Nineteenth Century led to construction of many fine old mansions and shops still well preserved. The architectural style, typical of the region, is described as Sino-Portuguese and has a strongly Mediterranean character. Shops present a very narrow face on the street but stretch back a long way. Many, especially on Dibuk Rd., have old wooden doors with Chinese fretwork carving. Other streets, forming what might be called "Old Phuket", with similar structures are Phang-nga, Yaowarat, Thalang, and Krabi, and a walking tour of the area is easy and delightful. Some other old European-style buildings of note are the Provincial Hall (Sala Klang), the Phuket Courthouse (San Changwat), and Nakhon Luang Thai Bank.

Orchid Farm and Thai Village

Located on Thepkasattri Road, approximately 3 kilometers from Phuket City is an extraordinary place for culture lovers. The village provides stunning classical Thai dance performances, sword-fighting, Thai boxing, southern customs and elephant shows. Handicrafts and traditional mining techniques are also featured. The orchid farm outside is worth exploring. The performances are at 11.00 a.m., 2.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. The fees are 400 baht for adults and 200 baht for children. Call 076 214860 for more information.

Saphan Hin

A land reclamation project provided abundant new land now used for p arks and public facilities at Sapan Hin, located where Phuket Rd., meets the sea in Phuket Town. In the circle is the Tin Mining Monument, shaped like a large drill bit, dedicated to the memory of Captain Edward Thomas Miles, the Australian who brought the first tin dredge to Phuket in 1909. The monument was built in 1969 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of tin dredging in Phuket. A Sport Center is located in the park.

Phuket Sea Shell Museum

Perhaps the world's most valuable collection of seashells has been put on display at Phuket Seashell near Rawai Beach on the island's southwestern shores. The emphasis is on shells from Phuket and Thai waters, which are among the most sought-after by collectors, however shells from every part of the world are featured. Wherever they originate, each shell in the Shell Museum is the best of its type--very often the only of its type. Displays have been created in a logical order, and visitors can see at once differing characteristics among related species. There are numerous rarities and freaks including the world's largest golden pearl (140 karats), large sections of sedimentary rock containing shell fossils that represent the earth's earliest life-forms, and a shell that weighs 250 kilograms. One of the world's great private museums, the Shell Museum is open daily from 8:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m. For details call 381266, or 381274.

Chalong Bay

Phuket's principal boat anchorage and the island's largest bay. Ao Chalong has a long flat, shallow, muddy bottom; at ebb tide, waters recede as much as one kilometer. It is very picturesque but not for swimming. Most visitors to the islands south of Phuket depart from Chalong pier, and the bay's restaurants are well known for their seafood. Charters to various places can be arranged from there, and it is the center of the island's yachting

businesses. To get there take Jao Fah Tawan Tok Rd., or Jao Fah Tawan Okk Rd., to Chalong Circle. The pier and a number of restaurants are located on the short road leading to the beach from the circle.

Sehn Bay
A small bay with many rocks and corals. Snorkeling and diving are possible. For sunbathers, this secluded, curving strand north of Nai Harn offers some privacy. A small open air restaurant supplies food and drink. To get there go through the parking lot of the Phuket Yacht Club hotel and follow the road to Ao Sehn, about 1/2 km.

Phrom Thep Cape
"Phrom" is Thai for Hindu "Brahma" signifying purity, and "Thep" means 'God'. Phromthep is a headland stretching into the sea and forming the extreme south-end of Phuket. It has been prominent feature for mariners since of early seafarers from the sub-continent, remains of whose journey's have been found all along the Malay-peninsula's west coast. From Rawai Beach turn right and go for 2 kms. The cape has tall cliffs on the south, and was formerly called by local villagers "Leam Jao" (The Gods' Cape). From the cliffs running down to the boulders at the sea is a line of palm trees. Emerald green currents swirl in the deep water and breakers hurl themselves in vain against the rocky point : it is one of Phuket 's most inspiring vistas. From Promthep Cape, which is the most beautiful place to catch Phuket's famous sunset, a road leads northwest to Nai Harn Beach.

Ka cape

Ka cape is a popular stop for Thai visitors to the island. Located at the extreme southwest of Chalong Bay. South of the point is Leam Ka Beach, a sandy strip dotted with rocks and boulders. The extensive coral reefs offshore make for interesting snorkeling mornings. Bungalows, Thai food, and boat charters to the islands are available. Ka Cape is 7 kms. west of Chalong Circle.

Patong Beach

Patong is the most famous - some would say infamous - beach resort on Phuket. With its wide variety of activities and nightlife, Patong is an ideal place to party and play.
By night the town has a bustling nightlife which includes literally hundreds of restaurants, chic lounge bars, beer bars and of course discos. The nightlife is centred around Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) however there are quiet parts of town.

Rawai Beach

Site of the Chao Ley or Sea Gipsy village, many restaurants and bungalows, shell handicraft shops, and both fishing and charter boats to the nearby islands. The beach itself is suitable for swimming. Rawai is 7 kms. west of Chalong Circle.

Kata Beach

The smallest of Phuket's three main tourist beaches, Kata is different in appearance and style from Karon or Patong. The beach itself is broad and curving, and structures bordering it are low–rise. The waters are perfect for swimming, and at the north end is a coral reef with many varied corals and fishes which stretches out toward Poo Island., about 1/2 km off shore. Facilities for every price range include hotels, bungalows, tour companies, restaurants, bars and clubs. There is regular bus service to and from Phuket town during daytime.

Kata Noi Beach

South of Kata is Kata Noi, a smaller beach with only a few hotels and little other development. The beach is superb. Many fish inhabit the rocks and corals along the beachless shoreline stretching south. To get there take the narrow beach road up over the hill from Kata

Karon Beach

The second largest of Phuket's principal tourist beaches. Large resort complexes line the road back of the beach, but the strand itself, long and broad, has no development. The sand is very white, and squeaks audibly when walked on. The southern point has a fine coral reef stretching toward Kata and Poo Island. Restaurants, bars, tour companies and other non-hotel businesses are at the north end, near the traffic circle, and at the south, on the little road connecting the back road with the beach road. The narrow road between Kata and Karon has a number of small businesses as well as the Dino Park Mini Golf facility. Karon is the most up-scale of Phuket's beaches. Regular daytime bus service to and from Phuket Town.

Kamala Beach

Kamala provides a haven for those who prefer the quieter life. Although the southern end of the beach can get busy in the high season, the northern end is peaceful all year round. "Rim Haad" (Beach Road), at the southern end, has a number of small 20-30 room hotels for the low/medium budget traveller. Friendly service and village feel and a diversity of restaurants and small bars can be found on this small road. Cheaper food options/market stalls can be found on the main Kamala Road.

Nai Harn Beach

A popular swimming beach and yacht anchorage during the dry season. The beach is fine, but big waves strike it during the wet season, making swimming dangerous. Regular bus service to and from Phuket town during daytime. Nai Harn is just north of Phrom Thep Cape.

Keaw Island

A fine beach, natural surroundings, and coral are on this little island 3 kms. from Rawai, south of Phrom Thep. There is also a giant Buddha Statue. The island is 15 minutes by chartered boat from Rawai.

Viewpoint
From this point can be seen the bays of Kata Noi, Kata and Karon, and also Poo Island. It is one of the island's best views. A large public sala, or shelter is there for visitors, and several vendors sell food, drinks, and souvenirs in the area when the weather is nice. The viewpoint is between Kata and Nai Harn Beach.

Lon Island

This large, mountainous island is only 20 minutes by regular passenger boat from Chalong Bay, in the south of Phuket. The mainly Muslim inhabitants engage in fishing, rubber and coconut planting. There is a long stretch of beach on the northeast coast. Boats to Ko Lon leave daily in the early morning from Chalong Pier. Accommodation on the island: Baan Mai Cottages & Restaurant

Coral Island or Hey Island

This island off Phuket's south coast is so well known for its coral reef that it is often referred to simply as Coral Island. In addition to the splendid reefs there are two fine beaches on the north and west. Koh Hey is part of a marine preserve, but accommodations, restaurants, various water sports and diving are all available. Boats leave from Rawai andChalong. Package tours are also available.

Mai Ton Island

This tiny island off Phuket's southeast coast is highly prized for its still perfect natural environment, including fine white beaches and crystal waters; ideal for swimming, diving, or fishing. The only business of any kind is the plush Maiton Island Resort. Those not wishing to stay overnight may take a daytime excursion leaving from Ao Makham Deep Sea Port. For details contact (076) 214954-7.

Taphao Yai Island
10 minutes from Phuket by ferry from Ao Makam on Phuket's southeast coast. The island is home to the Bucerotes hornbill. To get there from Phuket Town take Chao Fa Rd., to the Sakdidet Rd., intersection, turn left on Sakdidet and follow it 8 kms. to Ao Makham. The road splits in the vicinity of oil storage facilities; take the left fork about 200 meters to the Ko Taphao ferry pier. Dining and accommodations are available on the island. For details call Phuket Paradise, (076) 214917.

Raya (or Racha ) Islands
Two islands running roughly northeast to southwest off Phuket's southern coast.

- Raya Yai Island On the west coast is a fine beach closed in by the hill that stretch away from it like to arms of a horseshoe called alternately Ao Tawan Tok or Ao Bungalow. Clean sandy beach and crystal clear waters of Raya Yai attract day trippers from Phuket. From the top of the hill to the south of the bay is the viewpoint from which the whole island can be seen. On the east, at Ao Kon Kae Bay, is an excellent site for diving.

- Raya Noi Island This island, 10 kms. from Raya Yai, is the result of coral reef build up, and there are more rocks than beaches. In a small bay on the west is a boat anchorage. The waters at Raya Noi are emerald green, and fishing is famous, but swimming is not recommendable.

To get there contact a charter boat at Ao Chalong or Rawai, or go to travel agent for details on package tours to the islands. By long-tailed boat the travel time is about two hours. Larger boats operated by tour companies will make the trip in about one hour. Travel to Raya Islands is restricted to dry season and periods when the monsoon is not blowing.

Rang Yai Island

Lying off Phuket's east coat, this small island has been developed for out-of-doors minded tourist. Among the many activities are snorkeling on the coral reefs. sea kayaking, mountain-biking, playing miniature golf, and visiting the island's pearl farm. To travel to Rang Yai Island, boats may be hired from Laem Hin Pier from Phuket Boat Lagoon. Package tours are provided by Richy Island Tour, Tel. 238163, and other tour agencies.

Sire Island

Separated from the mainland of Phuket by the Khlong Tha Chin, a shallow mangrove swamp, this twenty square kilometer island is connected by a causeway to the city. Wat Ko Sire, on the hill, has a large Reclining Buddha and provides fine views of the surroundings. Phuket's largest settlement of Sea Gypsies, or Chao Ley, are on Ko Sire at Leam Tuk-kae. Swimming is not present because of the muddy bottom. There are some popular seafood restaurants on the eastern shore.

Shopping

There are stalls all the way along the beach road (Thaweewong road). Stalls operate during the day but it is in the evening that it really gets going. You can buy all kinds of clothes, souvenirs, sunglasses, CDs and much more. Always haggle at the roadside stalls. As a very rough guide, try and get the price down to about 50% of the quoted price.

Situated on Rat-U-Thit road nearly opposite Bangla road is the newly opened Jungceylon. Officially opened on 20th Dec 2006, this large complex houses a hotel, Robinsons department store, Carrefour, a SFX cinema, bowling alley and a wide variety of shops and restaurants. At the time of opening, not all shops and facilities were open but quite a few such as Carrefour and a number of dining outlets had opened for business.

Patong also has two Ocean department stores, one towards the Rat-U-Thit road end of Bangla road, Ocean Bangla and the other along the beach road, just past the Holiday Inn. Although quite small, they have a good selection of clothes.

Nightlife

Patong Nightlife
If you are looking for nightlife in Phuket then Patong is the number one choice. Patong has a lot of bars, discos, karaokes massages and a gogo bars with beautiful thai girls (bar girls).

Although there is a heavy nightlife in Patong, I think it suitable for families with kids anyway because the nightlife is centralised to just a small part of Patong; Bangla Road and Soi Sunset and if you avoid these streets on evenings and nights you will never noticed it.

Karon nightlife - Phuket
Karon has enough beer bars to satisfy you and recently a new disco/live music place opened in Karon, so you can have fun here too.

Phuket Town nightlife - Phuket
In Phuket Town you can also find some nightlife, most thai people at these places and good choice if you are tired of tourists :)
I have visited Climax and The Spark Club (Nightclub, Live music) located on Ratsada Rd. and Pink Lady Cafe (Café, Karaoke).

Thai Law regarding nightlife - Phuket
According to the thai law discos and nightclubs have to close at 2:00 am and normal pubs/beer bars at 01:00 am. But as you already might know this is not true for phuket or many other places. Many get around the law by bribing the local police and as someone told me, patong is a freezone with many exceptions from the thai law.

Some advices regarding nightlife in Phuket
Don't make serious promises you can't keep. Believe it, your life may not be so valueable if you make false promises to lure girls to your intensions. Don't say 'I like/love you' if you don't mean it and be careful if you have many girls, the girls may end up fighting with eachother or with you.

Always practice safe sex and use condom. Be mindful of AIDS! You don't want it. Altought, I have been told that many men don't want to use condom, and I can't believe it! Either they are very stupid or they already have AIDS? Bad enough, some girls actually do it without condom.

You have to understand that all sexy girls are not females. There are many beautiful 'ladies' that actually are men; transvetites or transsexuals (katoeys). These groups can be extremely rude, dangerous and revengeful if a promise is broken. Be careful.

You fall in love with a girl? Don't give her too much money, use common sense. I have heard many stories about girls getting huge amounts of money from men who love them. The girl may or may not like you. But many girls are actually looking for relationsships with a good man and there are happy stories too.

Cheap Flights to Phuket

Connectiong flights to phuket?

I'm looking to book a flights from London to phuket, but im seeing the connecting flights have arround a 1-2 hours gap after landing, is this adqute time, and what happens if my flight bankock is dealyed are they good about putting you on the next connectiong flight to phuket? or could I be paying again?

I agree with most of the other above answers, I would give yourself at least three hours between landing and your next flight. I live in Bangkok and fly into Thailand and pick a lot of people up at the airport, just to clear immigration and retreive your luggage can easily take an hour sometimes. If you're not on the same airline to Phuket from Bangkok (Thai), don't expect any sympathy from the airline if you or your flight is late, although I'm sure they can put you on a later flight, if there is one. Also, be aware that many domestic flights leave from the old Don Muaeng Airport, which is at least 45-60 minutes away from Suvarnabhumi, so be sure that your flight to Phuket leaves from Suvarnabhumi or leave another hour or more to transfer to Don Muaeng. One other thing you should check carefully is the baggage weight limits on many of the domestic airline flights, airlines like Air Asia have a 15 kg, limit and strictly enforce it, it can easily cost as much or more than your flight if you are significantly over the limit. Aside from all the above, have fun.

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