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Phuket is Thailand's largest island...
By
Michael J. Darton
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Click on the link for a handy PDF version of our February 2008 Thailand travel feature!
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Phuket is Thailand's largest island, connected to the mainland by a bridge. It's set on the western side of Thailand and surrounded by the beautiful Andaman Sea. Phuket's capital, Patong, is a
busy resort town with no lack of girly bars. Visitors enjoy scuba-diving, paragliding, or just sun-worshipping on the beach. Patong's busy gay beach and gay zone -- known as the Paradise
Complex -- offers bars, clubs, and a sauna.
Look beyond the obvious tourist traps and Patong has some secret hideaways, such as Kalim Beach, where you can sit with the locals and eat fresh seafood and barbecued meat.
Just down from Kalim Beach is the Muslim area, which is fascinating to explore. There are numerous guesthouses and hotels along the Phra Barami Road. Take a taxi and check out some of the
bargains. You can expect a room with hot shower, balcony, and TV for as little as $10 U.S.
Nearby resorts, such as Kata and Karon, are less touristy and quieter and are easy to travel to by taxi or local buses.
Numerous boats leave from Patong going to local islands and desolate beaches -- tour operators and travel shops aren't shy with their offers to help. Just along the beach is the travel shop Laemphet Travel Service (53 Pradaramee Road, near Patong Beach) where you can eat and watch the waves while getting advice. Or there's Scorpio Tours (9/5 Prachanukhao Road), where
friendly owner Jintana speaks perfect English.
Accommodations
CC Bloom's Hotel (84/21 Patak Road Soi 10, Karon, Phuket; +66-0-76-333-222) is a sophisticated resort on a quiet hillside about a mile from Karon Beach. There's an
elegant, decadent ambiance here that marries East and West. Owner Skip hails from Hawaii and dreamed of a welcoming resort of international standards suffused with tranquil Thai overtones. The
name? It comes from Bette Midler's character in the film Beaches. While sitting in the hotel's Sunset Bar overlooking the pool, with its free-floating blue balloons, you can just imagine
Bette walking right in. Rooms have all modern amenities and well-equipped kitchens. The hotel provides private cars to take you to local places of interest. They hold regular pool parties here
with a free buffet and games, as well as a fantastic cabaret. Book soon for reduced rates, February to August 2008.
Connect Guesthouse (125/8-9 Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong Beach; +66-76-294-195) is more than a hotel: it's a restaurant, bar, internet cafe, and all-around hub and hangout for gay
life in Patong. Standard rooms include TV, hot shower, free wi-fi, and tea and coffee; deluxe suites come with balcony. If you do want to be away from the action, request a room around the back
of the building. Saturdays bring Connect Hotel's weekly gay boat trip. Sail off to a beautiful Koo Kai Island (translation: "Egg Island," a reference to the shape!) and play volleyball with men
in speedos, or just recline and enjoy the food and hospitality. The "gay for a day" island is exclusively for the gay-trippers. Included in the price is a buffet that includes a range of drinks
and fruit. They provide snorkeling equipment too: the fish are amazingly colorful and tame.
Aquarius Guesthouse and Sauna (127/10-17 Rat-U-Thit Road, Paradise Complex, Patong; +66-0-76-341-668) is centrally located and a short walk to the beach.
Surrounded by bars and local lads, the action is only steps away. There's a range of rooms -- some overlooking Paradise Complex, and others situated in a place less bustling. Enjoy a rooftop
jacuzzi and a sauna open every day. Once a week here they have certified diving testing, offered by a gay instructor. A landlubber? You can get your feet wet by trying out deep-sea diving in
their small pool.
Dining
Sphinx Theater and Restaurant (120 Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong) is a short walk from the Paradise Center. They serve a huge selection of aromatic Thai dishes and do a Thai take on tapas,
with such treats such as grilled succulent prawns on lemongrass skewers. But it's not just food here! The shows mingle traditional Thai theater with Western comedy. The result is effervescent
lip-synching and cabaret. The sets are the most professional I've seen in Thailand. Explore the cocktail list while enjoying the hour's spectacle. I got to see Destiny's Child's "Survivor" with
a gorgeous lady singing lead and four soldiermen controlling her with a heavy rope from the corners of the stage!
The seaside Da Maurizio Restaurant and Bar (223/3 Prabarami Road, Patong) serves contemporary Italian fare in a setting so perfect it feels like a film set. There are pastas and an
extensive fish menu, with a highlight being oven-baked Phuket lobster. During high-season book ahead.
Nightlife
The whole of the Patong really becomes one big nightclub after dark, with streams of bars and lively punters dancing in the street and on tabletops. The Paradise Complex defines the gay zone,
and it is packed with clubs, bars, go-go joints, and cabaret venues. The streets are lined with available men and women, and "Ladyboys" in between. Many will be those who try to persuade you to
come in to their bar or show.
My Way (125/15-17 Rat-U-Tit Road) is a top go-go bar in the Paradise Complex, with nightly cabaret and a bevy of available guys.
For a more relaxed pace, try the long-running Flying Handbag (Soi 5, Paradise Complex), with a host of international drinks and local beers.
Dance the night away at Boat Bar (Soi 5, Paradise Complex), which is still packing the late crowds in. Owner Daeng can't stop improving the his club, which now boasts a state-of-art
sound and laser system.
The new kid on the block is Kiss (Soi 5, Paradise Complex), which in a short time has become a favorite places to hang, dance, and cruise. They have cabaret and entertainment shows
nightly, complemented by cute and friendly guys.
Health and beauty
RelaxU (Phuket Orchid Resort, Karon) offers a service maybe you didn't think of coming to Phuket to find. Medical tourism to Thailand is booming, thanks to
the country's world-class doctors and low cost. Relax U's specialty is cosmetic medicine, and they are affiliated with the prestigious Bangkok Hospital. They offer a range of treatments from
skin rejuvenation to liposuction, all at amazing prices. Their popular eye-lid lift operation, for instance, often costs less than $300. Check the website for full details and to connect with
Ulf, their customer liaison (who wears another hat as owner of Patong's Connect Guesthouse).
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