Patong, Phuket
Jackamy
Paul & Derry Harper
Thu 23 Dec 2010 07:04
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Thursday 23rd December
We had to hire a car for
another few days as Paul needed to make regular visits to the chandlery's and
sail makers which are all too far in a taxi, so whilst we had wheels we decided
it was about time that we visited the famous Patong. The area of Patong began to
metamorphose from a hippy paradise into a commercial centre during the 1970's.
It is now a mass of neon signs advertising hotels, massage parlours,
restaurants, straight bars, gay bars, nightclubs, shops and anything else you
could dream of. Definitely not the real Thailand but somewhere you have to
visit, if not just to see the masses of 'ladyboys' out on the streets or in the
bars. Some can be quite beautiful and difficult, if not impossible, to tell
apart from the real thing, many many men have been caught out by them! Paul was
fooled by one, but Amy decided that the manly voice was a bit of a give
away.
  Patongs
tuk-tuks......Some with neon lights!
  Bright lights,
cars, bikes and people everywhere!
  Girls
dancing...........Ladyboys dancing
We ate a lovely meal in
one of the side streets away from the hundreds of tourists and bright lights but
strolled along the main road after dinner to take in the sights. You are
constantly hassled by men, women and ladyboys to go and see a 'ping-pong show',
some may know what these are and others may not but I'm afraid I'm not going to
explain on here. We didn't actually go to see one, Paul say's it's something to
do on a boys night out. I don't think there's anything wrong in going to see one
once just out of interest though. Perhaps on new year's eve when we go back!
We eventually found our way to
the huge stretch of beach and realised we should have eaten along there. All
along the edge of the beach on the roadside were food stalls with tables and
chairs, as well as bars with music playing. Nevermind, next time!
 Pretty lanterns in
the palm trees lining the beach
  The food stalls -
we won't eat from the ones selling cooked bugs, crickets or cockroaches
though!
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