Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
We didn't expect what we got when we arrived in Phuket! Queen Mary 2's clientelle are older, travelled and not really the party goer type and Patong Beach was no sleepy beach town! The ship was anchored just off Patong Beach and we had a tender service to take us to the beach front.
Unfortunately the weather was poor, intermittent heavy showers but still 90 degrees and 90% humidity! Known as the Pearl of the Andaman Sea, Patong Beach is more like a pearl that needs a good polish, parlours offering massages with happy endings, taxi drivers and tuk tuks trying to take you on excursions, bars and restaurants plying you to come inside is not really what Queen Mary 2 passengers are used to, but we thought it was great fun!
The beach was clean and only small but the sea was quite dirty, which mached Patong Beach's image. We arrived on Sunday so the town was quiet, it's definitely a place that comes to life in the evening with Ladyboy shows and noisy bars and clubs along the main Bangla Road, we're sure Cunard had no intention ever staying late here, they would never get the crew back onboard.
We met a girl from Sheffield who lived there and she gave us a quick run down on the area. We headed for a quick shop at Junceylon Shopping Mall but the shops were few so we headed to OTop Fake Market just down the road, the quality of the fake stuff was pretty poor so not many buys today except some fake Prada sunglasses!
Stuart had a manicure at a tiny salon for $3 and we watched the owner buy long hair from a travelling saleswoman. We both had fish pedicures just around the corner, tiny fish that nibble your feet, it's quite tickly but the after effect is nice smooth feet, all for just $3 for 15 minutes. Thailand is so cheap!
The gay area was at the Paradise Hotel Complex but everyone was either asleep from a big Saturday night or it was a little out of season. We went to the top of the Royal Paradise Hotel for views from the restaurant, it's the highest building at Patong Beach.
We found a nice gay tailors shop who made up his own shirts, we met the owner, Wiwatwis and Stuart had two new trendy shirts for elegant casual nights onboard. We found the only place open on a Sunday afternoon was the Blue Dolphin Bar for quick drinks before our tender back to the ship.
We're not sure that Phuket is the perfect holiday destination unless you're 18-30 and single but it made an interesting diversion from the temples and buddhas! Next stop India on Wednesday.
- comments
julie trust you to go all the way to Thailand only to meet someone from Sheffield. I want to see Stuarts new shirts!! Why didnt John get a new outfit? The small girl from Essex has arrived in Florida..family in tow.. We have 2 weeks left!!!!! Dont eat too much Indian food!! you seasick yet?? Missing you both loads xxxxxx