Phuket: Same Same but Different
Phuket continues to re-invent itself and whilst some things change over the years many things remain the same. Not much of the Phuket scene is ever reported on this board (or any of the others) and what is reported is usually old-hat or untrue. Yes, a tuk-tuk to Surin is still 400 baht, but I have never seen a jetski scam in 20 years.
Patong beach still provides 4km of soft sand and clean warm water, safe for bathing (in high season). Whilst it is true that beach chairs/loungers are no longer available for rent, umbrellas (and beach-mats) are of course available.
There are clear zones on the beach, aligned with the buoyed bathing areas in the sea, where umbrellas are allowed. This suits those people who like to sit in close proximity to each other sharing cigarette smoke and listening to gossip. The concessionaires in some zones dig out the sand to form lounging pits with raised backs.
There are plenty of umbrellas to rent at 100 baht per day.
This policy leaves other areas of the beach free for activities such as long-tail boat-trips, para-gliding and jet-skiing, which are still available as in the past.
The ladies that walk up and down the beach all day selling drinks, food and fresh fruit are still present and I know many of them by name. A light lunch of prawns and chicken is only 180 baht.
In the evenings high quality seafood is available in abundance and there is no shortage of tourists, European, Russian and Chinese included, who are willing to pay international prices.
This year there were no rock lobsters, or Phuket lobsters as they are sometimes called. But some of those full-sized beasts weigh over 3 kilos ~ so thatтАЩs around 9000 baht each ~ cooked however you like!
I was there over the New Year holiday period and this year floating lanterns were again permitted to be released, whereas they had been banned in the previous two years.
A few years ago a lively night market with food stalls, clothing stalls and fairground games was allowed to operate on the walkways next to the beach in the central area of Thaveeewong Road, but last year it was moved to the northern section and this year there was no night market on the beach at all. Similarly, the stage and music/light shows that have been set up on the beach for night-time activates in the past were not present this New Year.
The NYE celebrations along Bangla Road are however full-on and raucous.
For those who donтАЩt like Songkran, this scene is best avoided too. However anyone who thinks they wonтАЩt join in the revelry is not allowed much choice.
The Paradise Complex тАШout-SoiтАЩ remains as ground-zero for much of the gay night life in Patong although both Kiss Club and Yes Bar are now closed and sorely missed. The rivalry between Kiss and Zag has been played out on the Soi for many years, with respective dance acts trying to pull the crowds into their club. Now that Kiss has thrown in the towel, Zag have few street performances but the shows continue all night inside.
Zag still provides a mix of traditional lip-sync drag acts, with some cute boy-dancersтАж..
тАж..and also a gang of muscled coyotes as eye-candy during the intervals.
Boat Bar continues unchanged with shows twice-nightly playing to a packed house. Since Zag is also crowded, it seems there is still room for a replacement for Kiss in the now vacant building. Maybe coming soonтАж
I hadnтАЩt been into My Way for while but since тАШYesтАЩ was part of the May Way group, they have pulled many of the shows that were pioneered there back into the main bar, which now include nudity, big cock shows and the full penetrative sex shows. However, the тАШtopтАЩ in the fuck-show seemed to be a few years older and a few inches wider than me!
Whilst it is good too see that the тАШwholesome family entertainmentтАЩ style adopted by My Way in recent years (aimed at the coach parties from the Royal Paradise Hotel no doubt) has been abandoned, the raunchy shows lack the daring and intimacy that was key to the appeal of тАШYesтАЩ.
Outside in the Soi, My Way did put on a few shows, with guest dance-acts from Bangkok, but one silly farang queen tried to steal the limelight.
Tangmo are settled in their new location (moved a year or two ago opposite Connect). The shows are fresher and more imaginative and I think they currently have the best selection of go-go boys on the Soi. They also put on a show outside to hook the punters in.
The average gay tourist in Phuket is probably much younger than those attracted to Pattaya with many (most?) visitors in their 20s and 30тАЩs.
But there are a few older farts around keeping an eye on proceedings too.
The rainbow flag still flies on the beach near the look-out post in front of La Flora and volley ball is still played before sunset, with perhaps more farang participation than in the past.
IтАЩll be back in Phuket in a few short months and, whilst the New YearтАЩs visitors will be gone, there will be more for Easter in March, Songkran on 13th April and Pride on 19th April. The beat goes onтАж.
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Originally Posted by Sen Yai
