Thailand is Paradise
We rested from December 11 to December 26 in Thailand, on the island of Phuket, Karon beach.
Karon (Karon) - one of the longest beaches of Phuket (Puket) - more than 6 kilometers. After the tsunami, on most of the hill that separates the beach from the road and hotels, a protective channel was dug, reinforced and beautifully lined. The sand of Karon is very white, it crunches underfoot like snow in winter, and when it gets wet, it turns yellow, but remains the same "velvet". The beach is clean and its size allows it not to be polluted and not to be constantly filled with people. Sun loungers cost 100 baht / piece, and on the right, where cafes are 50 each (or even free of charge), but there when it’s windy the leaves from the trees fall into the water (((. I liked Karon beach much more than Patong beach (there are low tides and it is dirtier), and than Kata (the sand is whiter, but not so velvety, and the beach itself is small (we came once, on purpose, to see, there were many ships). Karon is located between Kata and Patong. There were waves for a couple of days, but small , everyone was happy, jumping on the waves, though something in the water pinched, they explained to us that it was plankton. ((((It was only a couple of days !!!!!!! )
Almost all hotels are located across the road from the beach, we lived at Ramada Karon Resort, 3, the hotel rooms are spacious, (as in the photo) they clean well, the only negative is that at night you can hear how bikes and tuk-tuks drive (despite the double frame), but it didn’t bother us at all)))). We only came to the room to sleep))). From the hotel to the beach, go 5-10 minutes to the left, and 3 minutes to the right (but there you have to cross the ditch along the concrete crossing, but it quite normal, locals manage to ride bikes on it). Only breakfast was included in the hotel, it suited us, we dined in Karon, dined in Patong))). Thai food is very specific and not everyone will like it. At first they ate shrimp and crabs cooked with spices in sauces, then without sauces, cooked on the grill. We tried a lobster, a portion of a normal-sized lobster came out somewhere around 2.000 baht (1 baht = approximately 1 ruble, it’s better to take dollars with you and change in hundredths, since the exchange rate is lower for a trifle). We liked crab meat more (it costs 100-200 baht). And a week later, Russian cafes were by the way, they ate borscht and dumplings with pleasure, they also found a sushi bar in Patong)))) Fruit is a separate issue, juicy and sweet, there are a lot of exotic ones)))) On a sightseeing tour, they even treat them with durian (this is a fruit with an unpleasant odor, I did not dare to try it). By the way, they have very tasty necks - these are fresh juices with ice and just cool Thai beer !!! ! But on Karon everything works until 12-1 at night, so almost every evening we went to Patong, by tuk-tuk 250-300 baht (the same by taxi).
As for excursions, upon arrival, our guide Anya said that if we take in the city, they can forget us on the island, they won’t feed us, and they won’t show us everything at all! ALL EXCURSIONS ARE THE SAME, they will be led by the same guide, you will also be picked up from the hotel and brought back (each site has its own, and there were no excursions with a Russian guide at Phi Phi), you just overpay the money to the guide, and they they say the prices are much higher than in the booklets, for example, our guide offered us an excursion to Phi Phi for 3000 baht, in the booklets this excursion is for 2500 ! ! baht, and we went for 1100 baht (the same for James Bond, we specifically asked the Russian guide Lesha, (specializes in James Bond))))) is there another Russian guide, he said he was enough, and while he is alone) ))), so buy excursions from locals, in shops, and don't worry!!! ! We went to Phi Phi, we didn’t really like this excursion, the first 2 islands are very beautiful, but there time is 5-10 minutes ((((it was only enough to take a quick picture (((then we went to eat, and we had to to go after the ship with things (because there was a low tide, and the ship could not swim closer), and the bottom was not very clean, bottles were lying around and all sorts of muck at the bottom, (an Indian woman hurt her leg), and then in the very heat they brought more to one island, and we were there for 1.5 hours (umbrellas and sun loungers are paid there), and cocktails are not cheap ((((In short, we were very tired after this excursion, and we didn’t even want to go to the Similans later (((( Now I regret it, everyone speaks it sooooooooo beautifully))))).
We liked the James Bond tour)))) Mountains-rocks grow out of the sea, and all the time they accompany you on the way, taking on various shapes! And canoeing through the caves is generally super!! ! lots of emotions! - you swim through the cave with a flashlight, it's dark around, and bats are on top........ and in some small caves you generally had to bend down..... they were so low))......... a little bit of extreme)))).
We also went to the show of transvestites, but you can’t take pictures there (after the show they go outside and everyone is photographed with them for money 150-200 baht), but I really liked the show, the frequent change of GORGEOUS scenery, everything sparkles, shines..... BEAUTY ! ! !!
Well, elephants are generally super !!!!!!!!! ! We rode on elephants (they have a seat on their back, and you sit in it), but then we were offered to sit on the neck of an elephant))))))))))) They are so cool...... elephants))))) an unforgettable impression! !!!
As for shopping, of course, cotton is cheap there (a lot of summer clothes at ridiculous prices), and leather (wallets, belts, bags made of stingray, elephant, crocodile... ), and I regret that I didn’t buy a latex pillow (((( it costs 2000-5000 baht there, it’s much more expensive here and the latex is not completely). You have to bargain everywhere, and the Thais are bargaining while playing, with pleasure, for example, you are going to buy a thing for 200 baht, but they say for 800, you don’t have to immediately say 200 , and say 50, they will reduce, and you will raise, we almost always succeeded)))).
Thais are very friendly, sociable, benevolent))) I hope we will fly to Thailand more than once))))))))