Phuket 101 Blog - A Phuket Blog with Hundreds of Photos

Phuket Blog
Phuket Blog - 18 years of Phuket exploration in a photo blog for lazy readers and Phuket lovers. Get a shortcut to all beaches, places you shouldn't miss, tons of travel tips and secrets, Thai food recommendation, naughty nightlife and all our Top 10 Everything Phuket!
You can also enjoy our daily Phuket photos and tips on our facebook and even on twitter and Pinterest.

Phuket Short Movies

These short movies about Phuket are footage from my many island wanderings.  I tried these so you can enjoy something different from still photography. All are taken with a SLR camera  and as I'm in no way a professional, it's not high quality :) It is very time consuming to build a five minute movie, but I enjoyed the process immensely so I hope you enjoy the result. I'll try to take more videos and improve as I go.

Phang Nga Bay is definitely a photographer's heaven, mysterious and surreal, immense and full of caves nooks and crannies you could endlessly explore it and still discover new islands and hongs, these lagoons enclosed in the middle of gigantic vertical limestone cliffs. (read more)
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Patong Beach has two distinct faces: lazy suntan on the beach all day and party wild all night: It's all good family fun on the beach lazying on a beach chair with a beer in one hand and a coconut in the other but when comes the night, Patong turns on its bright colorful light as far as the eye can see and play loud music as far as the ear can hear. Of course in the middle you'll go shopping at Jungceylon or in the streets and eating in one of the many restaurants, but ultimately, most travelers choosing to stay in Patong enjoy these two unique ways of spending a holiday in one single place.. (read more)
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Soi Bangla is irresistible if you walk around with a camera. It's quite easy going and you will be able to take photos and videos casually almost anywhere except for to exceptions: Inside a Go Go Bar and the Russian girls soliciting by tourists in the street. Note also that taking photos of the colorful ladyboys in Bangla doesn't come fro free, expect to pay a hundred baht for whatever photo you took, (read more)
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Nai Yang Beach is a very nice and peaceful beach on the west coast, not far from the airport. If it is not the greatest swimming beach in Phuket, it is a lot more easy going than other beaches and spending a peaceful day under the trees is really tempting. (read more)
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Nai Harn Beach has always been very popular and start to get seriously busy on some days, however, it is still one of the greatest beach with its beautiful cove and islands used as shelter for all kinds of yachts and sailing ships. Many small restaurants set under the trees make it a perfect place for a tropical lunch. (read more)
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Kamala beach still have this fun feel of a little summer seaside town, and except for the gigantic Phuket Fantasea there is not much to do in Kamala but enjoying the beautiful beach and great seafood. Perfect for those who are not tempted by the mad night of Patong, and anyway, if you change your mind it's only a fifteen minute drive! (read more)
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Banana Beach is one really secluded beach, hidden somewhere near Phuket airport. During high season you'll find a dozen of beach chairs and nice beach restaurant offering longtail boat snorkeling rides. During low season, Banana beach is totally abandoned. (read more)
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Wat Chalong, built at the beginning on 19th century,  is the largest and most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. Its real name is Wat Chaitararam, but you probably won't hear it or see it on any road signs. It's not my favourite temple to photograph, but it is almost a must to visit. (read more)
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Phuket Markets

Markets in Phuket
Phuket markets are always fun, from the very small local market in a remote village to the clean and spotless Baanzan, from the giant Weekend Market to the small and young Indy Market. Phuket markets call for a collection of adjectives: intense, colorful, surprising, fascinating, puzzling, smelly, messy, labyrinthine or overwhelming, markets all have one thing in common, they offer you a unique glance inside the daily life of Thai people, rich, poor or just like you and me at home.

Soi Bangla in Patong Beach, Where to Go at Night in Phuket

Soi Bangla
Soi Bangla is the heart of all Phuket Nightlife, and the battle for night supremacy is raging between Soi Seadragon and the new Tiger complex. Over the years, the center of interest has been moving up and down Bangla road depending on seasons and popularity but the ever changing face of Patong nightlife is definitely worth a look. Of course, wherever you go in Bangla, friendly girls will call you with a big smile and encourage you to have a drink and play few silly bar games, everyone is welcome. Soi Bangla in Patong is not known for scams or rip off as it often happens in Patpong Bangkok. If someone offer you to see a Ping Pong show, there is in most cases no extra charge to enter. All you need is to order a drink which costs between 100 - 130 Baht depending on the bar.

10 Things to Do in Phuket when it RAINS!

10 Things to Do in Phuket When it Rains

It's not all gloom in Phuket when it rains... as any tropical countries you still can expect some good sunny days in rainy season, but better be prepared if it lasts. Here is my little list of suggestions... maybe you should print it and keep it somewhere in your bags! Note that you will need a car to do some of these...

Museums of Phuket

Museums of Phuket

Phuket museums are not exactly fascinating, but in the recent years a great effort was made to keep a good record of the rich history of Phuket Island. Phuket Town itself has almost become a walkthrough museum. Here are the five museums of Phuket: the newly refurbished Thai Hua Museum is really interesting, one is still occupied by its owners, and one is just bizarre. So except for the Thai Hua Museum, I wouldn't waste a sunny day to visit them, but if rain settles for a bit too long, museums are a possible distraction to spend half a day.

Tri Trang Beach

Tri Trang Beach
Tri Trang Beach, Tri Tra Beach, Paradise Beach, Freedom Beach... which is which? Every time we post a photo of any of these beaches, it starts endless discussions, so I guess it is still confusing. Names similarities added to the fact that some of these beaches were hard to reach until recently didn't help. These four beaches are located around a peninsula just south of Patong Beach, so let's try to clarify!

Kai Mang Da Talay - Horseshoe Crab's Roe Salad

Kai Mang Da Talay is definitely a Thai dish for the brave, it looks scary, it tastes fishy and since you only eat the eggs, it has a rubbery consistency... but wait, there is more... a lot more!

Waterfalls of Phuket and some beyond

Waterfalls of Phuket
Phuket is not blessed with impressive waterfalls, but like anywhere in the world, they invariably attract kids, teens and local weekenders. Phuket island itself only counts two noticeable waterfalls and three tiny ones. The two main waterfalls are both inside National parks which means an entry fee of 200 baht, rather high for tourists. The nicest one is Bang Pae Waterfall located on the eastern part of Phuket and Ton Sai Waterfall located further north, not far from Thalang Town on the way to airport.
Kathu Waterfall is well advertised but is really small. At least you don't have to pay to go there. A not well known cascade is just past Panwa beach and another one is in Layan Bay, on the west coast.

Baan Chinpracha (Chinpracha House)

Baan Chinpracha Phuket
Baan Chinpracha  (Chinpracha House) is one of the Sino Portuguese houses on our list of 18 nicest mansions in Phuket. Many of the other houses in Phuket are wrecks, abandoned and some were renovated. This one is still in perfect original condition and can be visited for 130 baht: at that price it is worth have a look, but expect something half way between a museum and a collection of items gathered along time.

Patong Beach Webcam - Phuket Live Weather

How is the Weather in Phuket Today?
A webcam says a thousand and one words! Here is a Patong Beach Webcam showing a live view of the Patong Bay from an apartment located on the 15th floor of the Patong Tower.  The luxury apartment that hosts the webcam is available for short term vacation rental. Visit http://www.patongtower.dk.

Koku Yakiniku and Moo Kata Thai Barbecue

Koku Yakiniku
If you stay in Phuket for a while or if like us you happen to live here, there comes a time when you feel like something different for dinner, something good and fun. This is usually the day we chose to go to a 'Moo Kata' or a 'Yakiniku' near Phuket Town.

32 Phuket Beaches

Phuket Beaches
How often do we hear "I don't like Phuket because I don't like crowded beaches". To us it sounds very stereotyped.... there are many beautiful beaches where you can walk alone for kilometers, even during high season! So here are 32 Beaches of Phuket by alphabetical order, some are easy to find and some are really hidden. Surprisingly the nicest, longest and deserted ones are just next to the main road! See all Phuket beaches on Phuket 101 Map.

10 Romantic Things to Do in Phuket



10 Romantic Things to Do in Phuket
Don't listen to what some people say: Phuket is definitely a romantic destination; it is just up to you to be original and willing to avoid the busy places and stay away from party zones. You want a fully romantic holiday? Here are 10 ideas, some might not come cheap but we suggest alternatives. This page is just to give you some ideas and we will complete it as we learn and experience more romantic moments in Phuket. We didn't always point to specific travel agents or dive centers in particular, there are so many and most are good.

Mor Mu Dong Restaurant

Mor Mu Dong restaurant in Phuket
Mor Mu Dong restaurant in Phuket - You really really want to eat off the beaten tracks? where only locals go for a great and relaxing lunch or dinner? Mor Mu Dong is a place every local knows, and you just have to count the cars on the parking to know that something special is cooking here. People travel a long way to come to Mor Mu Dong. It's so local that even Andrew Zimmern from 'Bizarre Food' had lunch here.

Phuket Gay Festival 2013 (Phuket Pride) and Gay Phuket

Phuket Gay Festival 2012, 23 to 28 April
The Phuket Gay Festival 2013 or Phuket Pride will be held in Patong Beach from 22 to 28 April. Phuket Gay Festival has been around  for a while, with some ups and downs, and in the good years it  attracted of large crowd of partygoers, gay or not.

Kaab Gluay Restaurant in Patong Beach

Kaab Gluay Restaurant in Patong Beach
Kaab Gluay Restaurant: There are not so many affordable restaurants I could really recommend in Patong... Too many are just cooking some touristy version of Thai food and some are just overpriced for what you get. In addition, in Patong a restaurant full of diners isn't necessarily a sign of good cuisine, there are just enough tourists to fill any restaurant well located.