After spending days roaming around some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand we were a bit unsure whether Phuket would live up to our expectations.
After we got to our hostel in Kata Beach, we dropped our bags and went for our usual ‘discovery walks’ to find out what’s around.
Oh boy, for one thing we weren’t disappointed when we saw this:
We stayed in Kata Beach which is not as popular as neighbouring Patong Beach, but that meant that we got a lot less tourists around. The beach we chose was particularly nice and quiet, which was a plus for us. The area is still crowded with Russian tourists that flock the town. There are signs, restaurants and even Russian-only agencies scattered around Phuket. We honestly saw more Russians than locals there.
Anyhow, Kata had a lot less tourists than Patong and still offers beautiful scenery and bubbling night life, restaurants and good hotels.
We even found one awesome spot if you are a surf lover: Surf House Kata Beach (there’s another one in Patong too). This great pub right by the beach offers Flowboarding, a hybrid between surf, skate, snow and wake boarding that you can try from 1,000.00฿ or 7,000.00฿ for a private class. Good vibes and guaranteed entertainment as you watch the locals carve some waves in high style.
If you are looking to get a taste of the craziness that Phuket offers and is famous for, head to Patong and see for yourself. The main street is packed with tourists day in day out. Restaurants, bars and massage places scream for your attention and try to get the most customers as possible. We went to the famous Bangla Road where thousands of people flock every night to enjoy the bursting nightlife. Interesting experience and a must-see if you ever come to Phuket.
Apart from the beach and party vibes that Phuket certainly exhales, culture and religion are always present here. We went on to visit the Big Buddha, a must visit if you are there.
The sacred site is visited by thousands of locals and foreigners each year and there’s no denying its beauty.
As you get to the top, you can enjoy the magnificent views of the bay and the town. There’s a another smaller golden Buddha behind the main white one which is equally beautiful.
As we went down the stairs, we got to a sort of temple, where people casted their prayers, bought some religious souvenirs and received blessings from a monk (which we also did!).
On the same day as we visited the temple, the Loy Krathong festival happened in the whole country. The festival which happens every year on the 12th full moon of the year, takes places in different areas in Thailand, but usually near rivers and the ocean. The most famous one is in Chiang Mai, where thousands of lanterns lit up the sky and float over the city. The tradition also says that the little boats, made usually of banana trunk, leaves and flowers, are an offering to the water spirits.
Holding our offering made with banana trunk, banana leaves, flowers and a candle and incense.
This festival was beautiful and full of meaning and may have made our stay in Phuket a little more remarkable.
All in all, we really enjoyed our stay in Phuket.
Have you been to Phuket recently? What do you think? Love it or hate it? Let us know in the comments!
Larissa & Jean
Nomaddictives
