The famous (or infamous) Patpong has changed a lot over the years. When I first visited Bangkok, the market was small and the two streets were overwhelmed with bars (mostly ‘girly’) and a few restaurants. Now, the market itself is the dominant feature and many of the bars have been transformed into live band venues or reasonably up market shops. In short, it has become really quite middle class! I was told that the old style Patpong could now be found in Nana Plaza, about 20 minutes away. So, for comparison’s sake, I just had to take a look.
I didn’t stay long!
Maybe it’s an age thing but I thought it was truly ghastly. Around 50 or so bars and go go dancing venues all crammed on to 3 floors in a horseshoe shaped cul de sac. And the noise from the music (?) was deafening as each bar tried to outdo the other in an attempt to extract money from the few customers that had dared to enter into this bear pit. Admittedly, some of the girls were very pretty but the sad eyes of many betrayed a desire to be somewhere else. And, oh boy, they smoked a lot! The whole place could well have been a set from a Sodom and Gomorrah movie. So, like the News of the World reporter of old, I made an excuse and left!
Later yesterday afternoon I met Ollie at Bangkok airport where we caught a plane together to Phuket. He looked in pretty good shape considering his long flight and was still going reasonably strongly when we finally (and it seemed to take forever) arrived at Kamala Beach. I must confess to being underwhelmed at the approach to our hotel located slap bang in the middle of the main tourist ‘strip’
but once inside the building my thoughts changed. It’s quite a sweet little boutique residence with very large rooms and a beautiful view that greeted me this morning.
We have a choice of either having breakfast in the small dining room or, in some style, on our personal terrace overlooking the Andaman sea.
It’s always a bit hit and miss when you use the internet for hotel bookings but I think this will do!
As I waited for Ollie’s even slower than usual preparation for the day ahead, I watched a wedding photo session in a very romantic location,
except the tide was coming in rather quickly. The photography was halted and to preserve his dignity and his finery, the groom was carried off piggy back style
while the poor bride was left to fend for herself!
Phuket island is just one giant beach resort – and a mass tourism one at that. So, whereas Koh Chang was peaceful and singularly lacking in any of the modern tools of the tourist trade (jet skis, banana boats, paragliders etc), this place has got the lot!
Having said that, it’s not that rammed with people, especially at ‘our end’ 
which seems more popular as a wedding photo venue!
Today is, clearly, a popular day for getting married.
Apart from late this morning, I haven’t seen much of Ollie so far as he has been cocooned in his bedroom for most of the afternoon suffering from a combination of jet lag, the huge contrast in temperature between here and the UK and, if I’m honest, a bit of his normal lethargy! Anyway, he promises tomorrow he will be raring to go. We shall see!
Richard
thelasthurrahsite 