Hello all.
As some of you correctly pointed out, the correct spelling is Phuket (I think). It's a very big island south of Thailand on the Indian Ocean side. Turns out, this is where the tsunami hit. However, everything is cleaned up now and you can hardly notice that a tsunami hit... except for the signs pointing to the "Tsunami Evacuation Road."
I have to say, we stayed in a very, very, popular part of Phuket. We had no clue. It's called Patong Bay and it's VERY touristy. It's OK, I guess, but people hound you on the street trying to sell you a suit. It gets very annoying after the first 5 minutes. For those of you that have suffered this fate in Mexico, I apologize. It can be very exasperating.
I've noticed something here in Patong Bay, which is kind of sad. The way the tourist industry is set up tells us either of two things. First, it can be that this is what we, as Westerners, expect of a place when we travel there (read: bars, girlie bars, stands selling cheap crap, restaurants selling hamburgers and steak and fries, etc.), which is very sad. Or, that is what the Thais think we want, which is kind of sad too.
Fortunately, I'm going to another island in a couple of days. I think it's spelled Phi Phi (pronounce pee-pee). You can take a boat to other small islands nearby where there is nothing but you and the beach. Sounds fun because I'm getting restless here.
I think I had a very naive (or probably condescending view) of Thailand. Forgot that it was so close to Australia and New Zealand, and that it would be mobbed by Westerners (yes, I thought I was going to be one of only three red heads walking around). But, making the best of it. Beaches, as you might imagine, are beautiful, and the common Thai, the one that does not work for the tourist industry, is very nice, just like I imagined. Looking forward to my stay in Phi Phi, and then Krabi (sp?). I'll let you know how it goes.
Oh, and forgot my USB cable, so no pictures today. Hope everybody is having fun working!
Juan.
As some of you correctly pointed out, the correct spelling is Phuket (I think). It's a very big island south of Thailand on the Indian Ocean side. Turns out, this is where the tsunami hit. However, everything is cleaned up now and you can hardly notice that a tsunami hit... except for the signs pointing to the "Tsunami Evacuation Road."
I have to say, we stayed in a very, very, popular part of Phuket. We had no clue. It's called Patong Bay and it's VERY touristy. It's OK, I guess, but people hound you on the street trying to sell you a suit. It gets very annoying after the first 5 minutes. For those of you that have suffered this fate in Mexico, I apologize. It can be very exasperating.
I've noticed something here in Patong Bay, which is kind of sad. The way the tourist industry is set up tells us either of two things. First, it can be that this is what we, as Westerners, expect of a place when we travel there (read: bars, girlie bars, stands selling cheap crap, restaurants selling hamburgers and steak and fries, etc.), which is very sad. Or, that is what the Thais think we want, which is kind of sad too.
Fortunately, I'm going to another island in a couple of days. I think it's spelled Phi Phi (pronounce pee-pee). You can take a boat to other small islands nearby where there is nothing but you and the beach. Sounds fun because I'm getting restless here.
I think I had a very naive (or probably condescending view) of Thailand. Forgot that it was so close to Australia and New Zealand, and that it would be mobbed by Westerners (yes, I thought I was going to be one of only three red heads walking around). But, making the best of it. Beaches, as you might imagine, are beautiful, and the common Thai, the one that does not work for the tourist industry, is very nice, just like I imagined. Looking forward to my stay in Phi Phi, and then Krabi (sp?). I'll let you know how it goes.
Oh, and forgot my USB cable, so no pictures today. Hope everybody is having fun working!
Juan.
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