Jamie's Phuket on Google Earth

(Updated March 2010) I have (when time allows) been adding placemarks on Google Earth showing where to find the hotels, restaurants, temples, beaches and hills that feature on Jamie's Phuket. I joined the "Google Earth Community" to be able to post on the Google Earth forum which creates a link to the places I have added.So, if you browse this blog now you will notice that many pages have links to Google Earth - click on the link and what happens...

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Guesthouses and Hostels - Phuket for Backpackers

It's fair to say that Phuket is more of an "upmarket" destination compared to backpackers hangouts like Koh Pha Ngan or Koh Tao. I am sorry to say you can't find little bamboo bungalows on the beach for 150 Baht a night in Phuket, and you don't have much in the way of backpacker oriented bars and nightlife. Over the years, Phuket has moved more into the luxury market, with many 4 - 5 star resorts around the island, and I have seen huge changes in...

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Restaurant Tips: Farang

Farang – such a simple word that can be used in so many different situations. You would have thought that naming a Phuket restaurant Farang would be a recipe for disaster, but thankfully Farang restaurant is a welcome breath of fresh air for Phuket's restaurant scene.There are actually two Farang restaurants in Phuket. The first is in Cherng Talay (an area in the north of Phuket near Bang Tao beach popular with expats); the second is next to Index...

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Karon Princess Hotel at Karon Beach

You can find a number of smaller mid price resorts along Karon Beach, as well as big resorts such as Hilton. Karon even has backpackers rooms. I'd say that the mid range hotels are all pretty decent, but the Karon Princess gets good reviews on TripAdvisor, and I just noticed that for the low season (May - October) you can stay for just 950 Baht per night! Check the late booking prices! High season rates are more like 4,000 Baht per night. This is...

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Suan Luang Park (Phuket Town)

On a beautiful clear morning last week I decided to check out the big park on the west of Phuket Town called Suan Luang or King Rama IX park. I have driven past hundreds of times, but it's not that close to our house, so not really convenient for morning or evening walks (we normally go to the Bang Wad Reservoir). I don't think I realised the size of the park. After half an hours walking around there was still more to see. It's a gathering place...

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World Nomads Travel Insurance

If I can just stray off the topic of Phuket for a moment... I did a lot of traveling when I was younger - Africa, India, South America, all over the world from Alaska to Zambia, from Chichicastenango to Ouagadougou. It was an addiction that was somehow cured by a combination of scuba diving, a small island called Utila and finally Thailand. But that's another story! Wherever I did roam, I was sensible enough to have Travel Insurance to cover medical...

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An Evening at Bang Wad Reservoir and Dam

Just a few minutes drive from our house, Bang Wad reservoir is Phuket's largest water supply, located in the hills to the west of Phuket Town. To get there just find Phuket Country Club Golf Course and drive through and all the way to the reservoir. During the day there's not much going on, but in the late afternoon, lots of people come here to exercise, jog, ride bikes, picnic, play takraw, let the kids run around... There's lots of space, and some...

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