Phuket Nightlife
It's not all naughty in Phuket and there's a lot more to do than getting down and dirty along Patong's Bangla Road, however much fun it can be as a one-off. Nights under tropical starry skies tend to take on a magical quality and dining out al fresco enjoying balmy sea breezes is a definitely holiday enhancer.
Phuket's two Las Vegas-style shows, FantaSea and Simon Cabaret, are both a barrel of laughs for very different reasons while 'Hong by Starlight' sea cave exploration trips are simply unforgettable.
Soi Bangla and Patong Beach
Soi Bangla is the epicenter of nightlife in Phuket, the stomping ground of vividly dressed and pneumatically bosomed 'katoeys' or ladyboys as well as extremely friendly girls who use every trick in the book (and some that are not) to entice passers by into their bars for a drink and maybe more.
You see people of all ages having fun here including families with children, also a good place to buy DVD's, CD's, computer games, fake designer clothes and bags. There are also a couple of good live music venues and sports bars. Bangla may not be the epicentre of fine dining in Patong but it's great for people watching. (Read more...)
Simon Cabaret
Call them ladyboys, 'katoeys' transvestites or whatever, they put on a great show of dancing and lip syncing in a swirl of colour and a gust of perfume. In tolerant Thailand, due to the culture, the theatrical performances of men dressed as women has always been accepted and a great number of males who feel more natural as females, find a career as cabaret performers.
Expect extravagant costumes, much preening and cabaret numbers from over the years and do keep an eye on the audience seated around you: their fascinated faces are often as amusing as the entertainment on the stage. (Read more...)
Phuket FantaSea
An multi-award-winning attraction park and cabaret show, FantaSea is built on 140 acres of land in Kamala and encompasses games, shopping handicrafts, a 4,000-seater buffet featuring Thai and international cuisine, cafés and extravaganzas.
The show itself almost defies description as it is a melange of Thai culture, fantasy, excellent choreography, pyrotechnics, performing animals, acrobatics, trapeze artistes, fight scenes and historical re-enactments. The audience sometimes gets lost in and a little bewildered by the eclectic plot but all agree that it's a wonderful evening out. (Read more...)
Dining Out in Phuket
Phuket is blessed with some of the best fine dining opportunities in Thailand. Not only is the food of a high standard, the views from some of the West Coast beach restaurants would put many other destinations to shame.
For visitors who are a little more adventurous it's always fun to go local and you'll certainly be made welcome in the many Thai restaurants around the island. Eating out is such an intregal part of Thai culture; indeed a standard Thai greeting translates as 'Have you eaten yet?' So go with the flow and get out and enjoy the wonderful dining opportunities here. (Read more...)
