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The boss has given you a few days off. Now the big question is where to go?
Phuket is one option, and probably a good one at that. The island has
been completely rebuilt since the devastating tsunami tore up many parts of
this island paradise.
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click the photo to see our Phuket Photo
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Long recognized as one of the world's Top 10 diving sites,
Phuket is now Thailand's
most important tourist destination, offering a variety of beaches,
attractions and an exciting nightlife.
Phuket is an island gem shining out of the Indian Ocean hosting
everything from five-star resorts to cheap guest houses, all the while still
offering everything that Thailand is famous for.
I stayed at the
Treetops Arasia Hotel on Surin Hill overlooking the beach. Like most
five-star resorts, the Treetops Arasia Hotel made sure that my time there
was as pleasant as possible. Guests don't even have to climb up or down the
hill to get to the lobby or the main road. All guests need to do is call for
a pickup and within two minutes a driver comes to bring them up to their
room or down the hill to the beach, lobby or a waiting tuk-tuk. All 48 rooms
in this honeymooner's paradise are equipped with a jacuzzi, a living room,
fridge, bar, and a breathtaking view. The only thing I can complain about
was that there was no computer in my room. Which on second thoughts, might
have been a blessing in disguise.
The hotel offers three kinds of room. Mine was the Benjamart Suite. The
least expensive room in the resort spoils its guests with a large terrace
and an outdoor jacuzzi.
Another huge plus at this resort is the spa. Oh yes a spa. Nothing's
better to take away the stress that can build up from running around the
diplomatic circuit here in Seoul. Guests at the resort can enjoy a personal
retreat program tailored to suite their needs or a selection of pre-packaged
programs, spa therapies and activities such as yoga and aqua-fitness.
But enough of the hotel; Phuket is more than just resorts and spas, it's
also a travelers dream offering everything from snorkeling to elephant treks
through the jungle.
One
thing that will bring a huge smile to your significant other's face is a day
trip to Phi Phi Island. There are two ways of getting there.
One is by speedboat which takes about 45 minutes depending on the ocean
conditions and the other is a 2-hour boat ride. If seasickness is not a
factor then I highly recommend the speedboat.
Phi Phi is considered by many people as one of the most beautiful island
groups anywhere. Spectacular vertical cliffs rising from clear seas,
picturesque lagoons enclosed by rock walls and ideal tropical beaches have
rightly made these islands amongst the most famous in the world. The
southernmost of the two islands, Phi Phi Le, was the location for the
filming of the Leonardo Di Caprio blockbuster hit "The Beach."
Sleepy and exotically tropical and remote, Phi Phi can keep you busy too.
There are plenty of resorts, restaurants, pubs and shops where you can spend
your hard earned money. One thing I found fascinating and a huge relief from
living in one of the most crowded cities in the world is that Phi Phi has no
cars.
The highlight of my trip to Phi Phi Islands was the snorkeling in Hin
Klang (Great Coral Reef). I couldn't resist diving to the bottom to check
out some of the fish and marine life I've seen on Jacques Cousteau shows.
Once finished it was back to the mainland and back to the quasi-reality
of Phuket's nightlife.
Patong Beach is the most popular and well-developed beach on Phuket
Island.
In 2004 Patong Beach was one of the most heavily hit areas by the Asian
Tsunami, but walking through the streets you would never know except for the
stores selling homemade videos showing the destruction that the tsunami
brought on this little island gem.
Patong offers the usual array of bars, restaurants, discos, karaoke,
massage parlours and go-go bars.
Although the island's nightlife is located in Patong, it is still
suitable for families with kids because the bars and clubs are centralized
in just a small part of Patong. The streets to avoid are Bangla Road and Soi
Sunset, but for the adventurous ones these streets can bring hours of
entertainment. Just make sure you don't get too drunk and wake up with a
tattoo saying "Mom."
There are many flights to choose from. The easiest one is a non-stop from
Incheon. The reason why I say this is because the flight back is a red-eye
flight which means you can enjoy an entire day and most of the evening in
Phuket and still be at work in the morning, albeit somewhat sunburned and
burnt out.
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