5 Things to Do You Must Do in Phuket, Thailand

1. Go to the beach! If anything that should be the first thing you do when you get to Phuket. Phuket is renowned for having one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Thailand and some of the top beaches in the world are found just off the coast of Phuket and even on the island. If you like the face paced kind of life, then you would love Patong Beach. Said to be infamous for its nightlife and abundance of activities, Patong is great for those who want to play by day and party by night.

If you are the kind who prefers solitude more, then Nai Thon beach is just for you. This picturesque beach has yet to be discovered by the masses so head there while its still unspoiled and at its natural best.

2. Visit Wat Chalong - Wat Chalong (Chalong Temple) is filled with history and culture of Phuket. Legend even states that miracles were performed here on Wat Chaitararam (known by royal decree), and that the Wat had healing capabilities. See famous Buddhist statues such as the Poh Than Jao Nonsi and even some of the ex-abbots of the temple like Luang Poh Chuang and Luang Poh Gleum. The Grand Pagoda that dominates the temple contains a splinter of Lord Buddha's bone ( Pharmahathatchedi-Jomthaibarameepragat) Take a stroll through the place and relive the life of Buddha as depicted on the paintings hanging all over the walls.

3. Go to a Muay Thai match - This one may not be for all but (especially if you don't like violence) but it's certainly something to give a try especially since you're in the land where Muay Thai originated. One of the most popular spectator sports around, head for the boxing stadium in Phuket town on a Friday night to catch the spectacular sport of boxing with its pre-fight rituals and even music accompaniment.

4. Go for a walk through Khao Phra Thaeo National Park - One of Phuket's last untouched rainforest has been turned into a national park with simply breath-taking beauty all around. If you like trekking, go for an 8km trek throughout the park and end off at the majestic Tonsai waterfall

5. Visit Old Phuket - Streets are filled with 100 year old shop houses that have been remade into small hotels, restaurants and shops. Spend a little time here and feel the character of this island come to life as you explore the older yet attractive side of town.

Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Phuket Villas & Vacation Rentals.

Where to Get Your Phuket News From

Phuket may seem like a small island, but if you spend an extended period of time there, you'll soon realize that lots happens, from muggings and robberies to murders and drive-by shootings. The island also gets some good news, of course. With anything up to one million people living in Phuket, there's an awful lot of news to cover. The English-language media struggles to keep up with the local press, but there are several reliable sources for getting your Phuket news.

The most established source of news in Phuket is the Phuket Gazette, a weekly newspaper that comes out every Saturday. The Gazette's best days are behind it after the departure of talented managing editor Chris Husted, but the current team does a decent job with the resources they have.

The Phuket Gazette covers island news, culture, lifestyle, sport and happenings, as well as news from around the region. There are also a large number of columnists who contribute to the newspaper and cover everything from computers to property. Though editorial standards have slipped in recent months, the paper is still worth a read every week to keep abreast of the island's latest goings-on.

Another contender is the Phuket Post, a more glossy newspaper that comes out every two weeks. The content is thinner than the Phuket Gazette's, but the Phuket Post is a decent read for keeping up to date with events around the island primarily related to the expat scene. Think more lifestyle and soft news than hard-hitting stories. Like the Phuket Gazette, the Phuket Post has also gone through some difficult times recently.

A relative newcomer to the news scene in Phuket a website called Phuket Wan (www.phuketwan.com). Although the people behind the website have yet to start running a print version of Phuket Wan, the website is chock full of all the latest news from the island. The website does a sterling job of covering news that interests its readership.

It's easy enough to keep track of each of the above news services as the cost of newspapers is so cheap. The Phuket Post also has a website (phuket-post.com), although it falls behind in terms of readability compared to the Phuket Gazette's website (phuketgazette.net), which is updated every day or so with at least one news story. The strongest website by far is currently Phuket Wan's, although with the high turnover of staff at the newspapers, it could only be a matter of time before the Gazette and the Post pick their game up again.

The Phuket Post and the Phuket Gazette are available from outlets around the island.

There are lots of websites that offer information about Phuket, including Phuket Vogue, which is home to an active Phuket blog, as well as listings for all sorts of happenings on the island.

Travel and Leisure Clubs

The phrase "travel and leisure club" may refer to two things, both of which are associated with travel and touring. Because the amount of time, effort and money spent on the business of vacationing is usually considerable, a travel and leisure club may be an organization of people who come together to learn from each other's experiences during their vacation. Such groups are everywhere. In the real world, you have travel and leisure clubs in almost every sizable community.

The other kind of travel and leisure clubs are those who cater to the needs of tourists. While the study clubs are devoted to spreading information to people about where to go and what to buy, this other kind...let's call them service clubs...provide convenient facilities for tourists as well as good opportunities for yourself as a businessman.

Very appropriately, Travel and Leisure magazines of American Express Publishing specializes in both types of travel and leisure clubs. If you are particularly interested in finding the best places for one type of vacation activity, all you need to do on that web page is to type in the words you are looking for and submit. If any such clubs are catalogued with Travel and Leisure, they will pop up in the organic. For instance, if you type in "swimming clubs" and press enter, you will find a listing of the best beach and pool resorts all around the world.

Clicking any one of the organic results of the search will allow you to see not only the location of the club, but also what you may expect to find when you do get there; what sort of people will be frequenting it. Will you find celebrities there or just plain fun-loving people on vacation. Will you need to lug your formal clothes or some classy casuals? Do you want to mix with businessmen or politicians? And even if you are just looking to find animals instead of people, they have listings there for such exotic vacation ideas as safaris. Again, If you just want to go around the easy bend you can find places like skate parks. You might also set your direction for deep down under by looking for a snorkeling swim resort; they have that too. As a matter of fact the web page above is ideal for looking for any topic you may want to learn about and any type of travel and leisure club you want to unwind in. You could type in "Himalayas" in the search text box and you get a listing of topics related to northern India. You will probably learn about places that you didn't know existed.

Their website is a treasure chest of valuable information, ideas and tips. But If you want detailed and regular updates on what's new in resort clubs, when they happen, you should subscribe to the magazine.

David has been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his latest website that discusses home security and the best security systems for homes and great ways to find the best DIY home security systems that will make you feel safe during the night and help you save money.

Phuket Nightlife Still Changing

Phuket nightlife takes on many different forms. Phuket is one of Thailand's top destinations and as such there is a diverse range of nightspots on the island. Although Phuket nightlife is not quite on the same level as in Bangkok, that doesn't mean that you won't be able to find somewhere to have fun.

Phuket nightlife is at its most lively in Patong. You'll either love Patong or you'll hate it. The bars are loud, the clubs are obnoxious and the streets are crowded. That being said, Patong is cheap and the bars and clubs stay open later than in other parts of Phuket.

Patong is famous for its nightlife. The center of the action is found on Soi Bangla, which is a hive of go-go bars, discos and stage shows. This is Phuket nightlife at its most seedy, but it can be a lot of fun if you go in the right frame of mind.

Generally speaking, the bars and clubs in Patong churn out hip hop and dance music hits. It can all be a bit predictable so don't go expecting something special.

Patong is also known for its girls. Yes, it's true, there are countless bar girls and sex shows in Patong, but the people of Patong make no effort to conceal these facts. Patong is what it is and it's best not to take the whole place too seriously.

Perhaps the most fun that can be had in Thailand is at some of the local clubs. Phuket nightlife is at its most authentic in the small Thai clubs, where you can check out some of the local bands. Phuket Town is probably the best place to sample some Thai-style clubbing.

Also in Phuket Town there are lots of pubs and beer bars and much less of the seedy side of Phuket nightlife.

There are plenty of other areas where you can go and party, but usually they aren't as busy and entertaining as in Patong or Phuket Town. There are a few exceptions scattered around the island in places such as Surin, Kata-Karon and Nai Harn.

The only area that Phuket really lacks anything in in terms of nightlife is serious clubbing. There are a few Phuket clubs where you can hear cutting-edge music, but these are few and far between. However, it is possible to catch electro, techno, breaks, house and more in some Phuket clubs and bars.

Phuket could be a major clubbing destination in Southeast Asia, but the island has a long way to go before it can start competing with the likes of Singapore and KL.

For now, Phuket nightlife has enough depth to keep people entertained, but you feel as if there is more to come. The shining beacon of Phuket nightlife is that there is a great live-music scene around the island. There are lots of bands who can rattle out everything from rock and indie to jazz and blues. If you can get into it, there is a top indie scene in Phuket. Pick up some CDs in a local store to get a feel for the music.

The author of this article covers Phuket nightlife and more at Phuket Vogue

Water Sports For All to Enjoy in Phuket

Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand and is a destination where visitors can enjoy a variety of water sports. Fishing, yachting, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, parasailing, jet skiing and banana boat riding are the main water activities visitors can find in the province.

All levels of swimmers can snorkel and experience the joys of swimming over coral reefs with colorful fish. The best locations for snorkeling in Phuket are Laem Sing Beach, Kata and Kata Noi Beach, and Ao Sane Beach among a few others. Snorkelers are advised to wear a T-shirt and protective UV cream as the sun is usually very hard.

For people who want to try deep water scuba diving, Phuket has lots of fantastic diving sites. A multitude of diving shops offer to beginners PADI Open Water courses, and for the experienced divers a selection of diving trips are organized around smaller islands. The Similans, Phi Phi islands, Koh Racha Yai & Noi have the best spots for a dive.

Besides swimming, snorkeling and diving, other water sports can be enjoyed on the water like fishing. A fishing boat can be rented for the day for five or six persons where not only fishing, but sunbathing, can be experienced in the Andaman Sea. All the fish caught, mainly Tuna, will end as a dish for lunch, prepared by the crew on board of the boat.

Sea kayaking is another good way to explore the coast of Phuket from the sea. Kayaks with one or two seats can be rented at several beaches: Nai Harn, Ao Sane, Tri Tra and Yanui Beach. Kayaking tours are also organized to explore Phang Nga Bay's cliffs and caverns. It is recommended to ask if it is safe to kayak on the western coast as big waves and courant can be dangerous at times in Phuket.

Jet skis are available for rent in the main beaches but are regrettably overpriced because renters are together in an agreement not to compete and prices will be never discounted. There have been reports of tourists being scammed into paying huge bills for damages to the machines they did not do. The advice would be not to rent them and at the same time help for a better environment with less noise pollution.

Para-sails and banana boats are other activities available. Parasailing is safe as there is someone present during the short trip to make sure that the parachute goes the correct way. Banana boat is a great way to share with five other friends a few minutes of fun on an inflatable banana towed by a speedboat on the water. The fun is over when everyone is eventually thrown into the water.

Phuket definitely has everything that a visitor would want to do on a vacation at the seaside. From very busy beaches to smaller ones, everyone can find a favorite place to go and enjoy water sports.

Michel Gerard is a Travel author located in Asia. Visit the Phuket GuestHouse website to book your accommodation online and grab your *free* ebook: "Stories of Authentic Eco-adventure Destinations for Travellers in Thailand" => http://www.guesthousephuket.com/ebook.html

Your True Chance to Become an Owner of Some Property

For many people becoming an owner of a home is quite a commitment and many are not able to meet quite an obligation and just cannot afford it, but what if you are interested in moving away from the big city and start a new life in a quaint little town in Colorado; it would be just fantastic to be able to raise your children in such a wonderful place. No fighting large commute hours to work and back and the town would be small enough to enjoy knowing all of your neighbors with no crime to speak of, but how can you do something so wonderful and not be able to spend those hundreds of thousands of dollars, there are some agents that offer an ideal opportunity and make it very possible.

With this little town and the real estate agent ready to help you set up you very dream by going directly to the source of Colorado real estate and purchasing your new home for less than $50,000; you might think that this is impossible but it is not at all.

What this is called is fractional ownership, and you basically have a community that has apartment type of condos which is also involves being fully open to all amenities such as the pool areas with golf course and tennis all of this type of things and by becoming an owner of your little piece of property which is of course your purchasing a section of this apartment complex which is your home and your property.

You would basically pay your ownership title and when you decide to go on vacation to this spot in Colorado for two weeks or however long your vacation is then while you are there, you are the owner of the apartment; but after you leave another owner of the very same apartment comes and stays for their two or three week vacation and so whoever is there at the time that they have scheduled that family has full membership rights to everything that accompanies the entire grounds or clubs.

This type of situation has its advantages and disadvantages, but for the right person and family it could be the perfect option and be very affordable and always have your vacation home to go to anytime of the year whether you like to vacation during the summer or if you are a ski buff then you have a wonderful winter land vacation spot, and many people are starting to take advantage of this new way to own property and have your vacation always planned out.

No matter what your vacation plans are for this year you can change you whole future of vacations and give your family the best that they deserve from now on, spring vacations are very pleasant with the slightly cooler weather and all of the spring flowers, actually all four season have something wonderful to offer anyone to boating in a lake water skiing or snow skiing down the mountains, it has everything to offer anyone.

Connor Sullivan recently worked with a Telluride real estate agent and was thrilled with the selection of properties available. He and his wife found the perfect Telluride Colorado real estate property to use as a vacation home.

Phuket Hotel Resort - A Home Away From Home

While holidaying in the exotic Phuket Island, a perfect Phuket hotel resort can make all the difference to the experience. There are resorts available in all price ranges to fit every traveler's budget.

Phuket Island of Thailand needs no introduction to international tourists. It has earned a special place in the world tourist map with its pristine sandy beaches, aquamarine sea, lush green landscape, splendid golf courses, excellent hospitality and world-class resorts.

While a few world tourist spots have comparable attributes and facilities, the one aspect that sets a Phuket hotel resort apart is its impeccable hospitality. The resort managements are willing to travel the extra mile to ensure the satisfaction of their guests. Not only are the guests pampered silly by the hotel staff, many of them even help their guests with travel planning and transportation.

Most of the Phuket hotel resorts are located in city centers or beaches for the convenience of tourists. It is important for the tourists to stay close to their planned activity to make the most of their Phuket vacation.

Many of the luxury resorts have exclusive access to beaches. These resorts have rooms that open right into the beach and provide complete privacy for their guests. Even the 5-star hotels come in range of 5,000-7,000 THB per night, which is not high according to international standards.

Budget travelers need not feel left out. Phuket has numerous beaches open to public. These are dotted with affordable Phuket hotel resorts and bungalows in medium to low price ranges. The rates are anywhere from 1,500 THB to as low as 500 THB.

Some of the most frequented beaches of Phuket are Patong, Karon, Kata and Nai Yang. Promthep Cape Beach offers the most wonderful sunset views. Phuket is not only beaches, sun and sand. It has some beautiful Buddhist temples, such as Wat Chalong.

Paisit Kapilakan owns and operates the website My Phuket Holiday that provides more than just information and reservation for hotels in Thailand. My Phuket Holiday offers a comprehensive travel guide to Koh Phuket, Thailand and the best discount for hotel reservations in Thailand including Bangkok, Koh Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Chiang mai, Hua Hin and Phuket. For more information on Phuket hotel resort, visit http://www.myphuketholiday.com and avail this fabulous offer.

Breaking Tradition in Phuket City

Phuket: Thailand's most famous island, with a rich history in tin mining. An island lost to overdevelopment, whore houses, package tours and traffic. Twenty years ago, Phuket was... well, who cares what it was 20 years ago? And who cares what cynical journos and travel writers think they know about the island? Clued-up travellers are starting to scratch Phuket from their itineraries because their buddies stayed in Patong and came back with horror stories about how dirty the beach is and how trashy the bars are.

News flash, folks: there's more to Phuket than Patong. Phuket City, despite feeling more like a large village than a city, is the backbone of the island and the capital of the province. From a base in Phuket City, it's possible to see beautiful beaches, captivating culture and the real people of the island. All you need is 24 hours, a thirst for adventure and nerves of steel on the back of a motorcycle.

First up, check into some hip digs that won't break the bank. Digs don't come much hipper than Phuket 346 (346-348 Phuket Rd, 076-256128). For upwards of 1,200 baht a night, you can stay in one of three rooms in a guesthouse that doubles as an art gallery. After a good night's sleep, the fun begins.

To travel around Phuket City, you're going to need some transport. Motorcycle taxis are the easiest way to get around. Forty baht is a fair price for a trip in Phuket City.

Head straight to Kwan Khanon Jeen restaurant on Thung Kha Rd, next to the entrance to Phuket Merlin Hotel. Khanon jeen is about as local a meal as you'll find in Phuket. For the same price as a can of Coke, you can feast on a bowl of rice noodles and curry that tastes so delicious it's almost criminal.

After breakfast, you could follow your guidebook and trundle around the island... or you could ride 20 minutes in a tuk-tuk (about 150 baht) to Laem Hin Pier (north of Phuket City, on the east coast) and catch a longtail boat (15 baht per person) to Coconut Island, where you'll find a tiny community that uses solar panels to generate power. When you arrive, ask a motorcycle-taxi rider to take you to Yao Beach (15 baht per person). You'll need to take down the cellphone number of the rider to take you back to the pier when you're done at the beach - it's that deserted. Take a picnic for lunch because there are no restaurants or 7-Elevens on the island.

After a day at the beach, travel back to the mainland. Catch the sun setting beyond the backdrop of the city at the top of Khao Rang hill. It's easy to get to and motorcycle-taxi drivers know the spot as "Khao Rang viewpoint". As the night begins, catch a ride down to Chumphon Rd, where you'll find the perfect spot for dinner at Fine Day (www.fineday-phuket.com). This is the place the local kids hang out, eat and drink until about midnight.

For after-dinner activities, you have a wealth of options. You'll see references to Timber Hut and KorTorMor in your guidebook, but these places have lost their shine thanks to their own popularity.

For something a bit more local and with a lot more space, check out Music Matters (off Surin Circle, past T2 and turn right) for some pre-club drinks. It's a tiny jazz bar hidden out of the way. The owner, Jeff, is a laidback dude who likes to chill and play his music. A bunch of Jeff's friends form a makeshift band some nights.

Once you've had enough of Music Matters, Oasis on Mae Luang Rd beckons. A small Thai club, Oasis is a typical Thai party zone where a band rattles through Thai favourites and random Western oddities before a DJ loses control of his beats, causing a frenzy on the dancefloor with techno remixes of Eminem and 50 Cent. Foreign faces are rare, but welcome.

Most clubs in Phuket close at 1 am or 2 am. After Oasis, it's time to really go into the heart of the city. Head over to Barzah in Phunpol. It's dark, dirty and obnoxiously loud, but it's a blast. Despite being in one of shadier parts of town, you won't find any trouble. Hip hop beats are the order of the night.

By the time Barzah has closed, your options are limited. Short of heading into Phunpol's underbelly, there is James Garden on Poonpol Rd Soi 1. You can order jugs of beer and toast to a successful day and night that most visitors to Phuket won't find themselves anywhere near.

And there you have it. Twenty-four hours in Phuket, a whole lot of fun and not a guidebook in sight. They said it couldn't be done.

The author of this article blogs about restaurants and nightlife in Phuket Town over at Phuket Vogue

Travel Immunization and Vaccination Advice For Safe Travel

If you are planning to go abroad, you will be required to get travel immunization. However, the vaccinations depend on your destination, the duration of your trip, and whether or not you have already received the vaccination for a particular disease.

You should make sure that you check with your doctor at least 4 to 6 weeks before you depart so that there is sufficient for the vaccination to start working in your system. This is especially true for those people who intend to travel to tropical countries. There are vaccinations for diseases like hepatitis, typhoid and cholera. In addition, you can also get certain medications that can protect you against diseases like malaria.

If you are leaving the country, the immigration authorities have the right to ask you for your immunization certificate to show that you have been vaccinated against diseases like cholera and yellow fever. In certain conditions, overseas employers ask their employees to show proof of childhood vaccinations for chicken pox, measles and polio. Different countries have different diseases and it would be in your best interests to get a detailed list of the diseases present in the country you want to visit from the health department. This way you can also check on mandatory inoculations. In case you are not sure of the inoculations you have received, it is best to check with your childhood physician, and current and past doctors to give you a list of the inoculations that you have received.

Anti-malarial drugs are necessary if you are planning to visit an area where malaria is prevalent. Make sure you buy enough pills to last your entire trip. However, you should start taking the medication a week before you depart, and then during your entire trip. Remember, the anti-malarial drug that the doctor will prescribe will depend on the strain of malaria present in the country of your visit.

Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory if you visiting certain countries in South America and Central Europe. You would require an international certificate of vaccination to show that you have received the vaccination. In addition, there are 102 countries that require travelers to show the certificate if the travelers have had a stopover in countries where yellow fever is prevalent.

Make sure that you receive inoculations for diseases like diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, chicken pox, mumps and rubella. In addition, get inoculated for diseases like cholera, typhoid and hepatitis in case you are traveling to a country with poor sanitation.

You might also need to consider inoculation against rabies, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis and European tick-borne encephalitis.

Travel immunization can protect you from a number of contagious and life-threatening diseases. However, you should also take adequate precautions for your health like being careful about what you eat and drink.

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