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Tourist Information
Thailand & Phuket

About Thailand The kingdom of Thailand attracts more tourists than any other nation in South East Asia. Some say it's the outstanding natural beauty, warm seas and fine beaches that are its main attractions. Others would argue that the main attractions are its fascinating culture and religion, inspirational temples, and ancient ruined civilisations. Still others come for more basic pleasures that Thailand satisfies - spicy and tasty food, low cost living, friendly people, lively nightlife and plentiful smiles. Whatever type of person you are there is something for you in Thailand buddha phuket thailand

The main land mass of central, north and east Thailand is landlocked and surrounded by Cambodia, Burma (Myanmar) and Laos. However, it's the narrow southern peninsula running down to Malaysia that provides some spectacular adventure opportunities. Both the Andaman Sea to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east are liberally sprinkled with picturesque island tourist destinations and marine parks, but it's the Andaman Sea, and in particular the Similan Islands, that's the jewel in the crown when you want the best liveaboard charter diving.

Thailand's territory stretches from the eastern border with Cambodia, to the western border with Burma, and then south to Malaysia. The riches that these oceans behold are a delight to those of us that have had the pleasure to dive here. Furthermore, the Kingdom is blessed with a remarkable history and culture, friendly natives who offer friendly service, beautiful national parks, a wide range of accommodation possibilities at every price level and some of the most delicious and extraordinary food and exotic tropical fruits in the world.

Often referred to as the "Land of a Thousand Smiles," Thailand is a joyous country in which to travel or work. One of the first Thai phrases travellers learn is “Mai pen rai” which literally translates to "it is nothing." It also is used in the same ways that "never mind" or "that's OK" are used in English. However, Mai pen rai is more than that, it is almost a philosophy that teaches one to hide problems and keep one's "public face" smiling and happy. For the visitor this attitude creates of feeling of burdens lifted. It makes you feel satisfied, content and cheerful. While exploring the country you'll feel carefree, light-hearted and safe-you'll feel Mai pen rai. Is it any wonder so many of us expatriates have decided to stay, or any wonder that people visit Thailand time and time again?

The People of Thailand 62 million people live here, with approximately a quarter of those living in the greater Bangkok area. There are several small minority ethnic groups such as Mon, Karen and Khmer, mainly in the north but 75% of the population are Thai descent, with the rest made up of predominantly Chinese then Malay.

96% of the people are Buddhist with the remaining 4% being mainly southern Muslims. The national language and script is Thai, but there are several regional dialects.

Climate Thailand has a hot and humid, tropical climate throughout the year, though it can get chilly in the mountainous north. The dry and cool season runs from November to February. March to May is also dry but very hot, except in the south. The wettest month in rainy season tends to be October throughout the country.

You can dive in Thailand all year round, though the best diving is between November and early May. Some dive sites in the Andaman Sea are not available in the rainy season due to strong winds. At that time there are also only a limited number of diving cruise charters in Thailand. Check our dive site descriptions for detailed diving seasons.

Health Thailand is a malarial area, but most urban areas and Phuket, Similan Islands, Krabi and Phi Phi are mainly malaria-free. Dengue Fever, however, is prevalent, as is Rabies.

Common but avoidable health concerns are contaminated food, water and ice that can lead to diarrhoea, dehydration and hepatitis A or E. Make sure you drink only bottled drinking water. Fungal infections are also very common. Wear loose clothes, wash frequently, and dry yourself carefully.Self-diagnosis and treatment of any medical problem can be risky, so you should always seek medical help.

Tourist Visas Visitors from most Western Countries including Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are granted a 30 day stay on arrival. Some other nationals are required to produce a tourist visa before arrival and you should contact a local Thai embassy or consulate for details. We recommend obtaining a tourist visa from your local Thai Embassy or consulate before arriving as this give you better options should you decide to stay after the initial period as on-arrival visa holders can only stay for 90 days in a 6 month period.

Time Zones There is only one time zone in Thailand: +6 / +7 hrs GMT depending on BSTwat chalong temple phuket thailand

Business Hours Banking hours are 08:30 until 15:30, Monday to Friday. Many shop stores are open 12 hours a day, every day.

Electricity Thai electricity is 220 volts AC at 50 cycles. Several different plugs and sockets are in use, so travellers will need to be aware of this when using shavers, CD players or other appliances that require power mains. Plug adapter kits are available. There are occasional blackouts and power variations, especially during rainy season.

Internet Available in Internet Cafes / shops in all the main tourist areas and for the Laptop owners with WiFi cards you can normally pickup a free or cheaply priced connection

Photographic Facilities and Food Most popular brands and types of film are widely available in Thailand. It is advisable to bring any special photographic equipment or film from home as supplies may be limited here. Film processing is widely available in all tourist areas.

Postal Services Post offices are open from 09:00 until 15:30 hrs. Thai postal services are be unreliable. Important items can be sent by express mail service (EMS) from the mainland. This is faster and safer but the cost is higher. Private air couriers like DHL and UPS also have representatives on Phuket.

Telephone Services International calls can be made from most major hotels and some travel agents. For International Direct Dialling dial 001 + country code + area code + phone number.

E-mail Services There are many internet cafes in the tourist locations, but connection speeds are still slow in this easy-livin' backwater village paradise of Thailand.

Codes of Behaviour Thai's are flexible in nature and understand very well, that foreigners do not know their code of behaviour. Mostly they are too polite to complain about ignorance. But if you'd like to be respected, it is important to show proper behaviour, most importantly to show respect for the monarchy. Thai people are very fond of and loyal to their king and queen and the whole royal family.

Their religion should be respected as well. Temples, Buddha, statues, and monks (it is not allowed for a woman to touch a monk, for example) are to be revered. Buddhist and Chinese shrines are open to foreigners but you should dress appropriately when visiting. Shorts and sleeveless shirts are discouraged. A non-Muslim can enter a mosque during prayer time.

Hilltop houses have special spirit houses, which are closed to outsiders; entering them will violate their sanctity.Thai's are amenable to being photographed but, if in doubt, ask first. Monks can be photographed and Buddhist ceremonies too. Thais regard the feet of lower stature so do not point them at others or step over those seated or lying. Remove your shoes before entering a Thai temple or house. Likewise, the head is of high stature and is not supposed to be touched or slapped.

Tipping and bargaining Although tipping is not expected or required, its common practise to leave the coin change from your bill, when you receive good service, particularly as salaries are low. Most restaurants, bars, supermarkets, department stores, pharmacies, public transport (except taxis and tuk-tuks), and larger hotels do not offer discounts. On the other hand, nearly any independent small businesses, from jewellery stores to street vendors, are open to bargaining

If you decide to bargain, understand that you should, above all, do it in a light-hearted non-confrontational manner, preferably with a big smile. When bargaining, Thais will normally drop their original asking price to a lower price very quickly but will then become irritable after more than a few minutes of further haggling! If you really feel that you are not getting value-for-money, then better to show that you are willing to walk away and maybe return later!

Clothing Thailand is a country in the tropical region, so light, loose cotton clothing is  recommended. When exploring the night-life, tight dresses, short shorts, and miniskirts are no problem. On the other hand, naked sunbathing or topless appearance in public places is considered offensive, more especially when you are outside of the tourist resort areas.

Criminality Thailand is one of the friendliest and safest travel destinations in the world Your personal safety is well taken care of in Phuket and the tourist police demonstrate a polite and competent attitude all round. By travelling with confidence, being aware and showing the proper caution, you will surely enjoy your stay. Travellers should be aware, as in the rest of the world, pickpockets and con artists are more likely to be found in crowded areas such as tourist spots, buses, trains and train stations, festivals, and marine harbours — so keep a watchful eye on your valuables in these places.

Officials If you are involved in an incident then respect for the police is a must. Insults, loud or aggressive speech, or, indeed any expression of anger, will invoke much embarrassment and even less cooperation, so you must avoid this at all times, guilty or not.

Thai police officers have much greater powers of action than their European counterparts and will not accept disrespectful behaviour. Common offences such as not wearing a helmet will get you a 300 B fine. Parking on the wrong side of the road will get your bike or car chained up and another fine. The trick is to know which side of the road to park on. Just look to see where everyone else has parked and park on that side of the road. Police corruption is widespread throughout the country, and buying off offences is common. Don't expect justice to take place naturally. If you feel that you're been being treated unfairly then stand your ground, remain cool at all times, make a show of recording the officer's registration number, and insist on seeing a superior officer

Kata & Karon Beaches Located immediately south of Karon is Kata Beach and Kata Noi, which are both beautiful and quiet beaches. Crystal clear waters and a wide choice of recreation together with lots of elbow room are the highlights of the Kata area. There is a reef on the North of Kata beach which is great for relaxing, convenient beach dives Koh Po, (Turtle Island) the small island off the north end has a lively coral reef that offers excellent sights of the local marine life.Tourist Beaches kata karon patong phuket thailand

Only 3 minutes by drive from Kata Beach lies Karon Beach, a very similar beach to Kata and another world away from Phuket's party town Patong. This beautiful, four kilometre stretch of white sand is seldom crowded even in high season. This makes Karon Beach a good choice for a more peaceful style of vacation, with fine resorts near the beach with magnificent views on the hills overlooking the bay.

On both beaches from May to October there can be rip currents so look out for warning flags. The waves at this time of year on Kata and Karon Beaches can become big enough for surfing, Kata has been the home of the Phuket Surfing Competitions for the last few years. The southern end of Kata Beach has the most surf activity and there are surfboards for hire.

Other beaches of note are Kamala, Surin and Laem Sing to the north of Patong, and Nai harn and Yanui further to the south. These beaches are great destinations for those heading away from the main resort areas of Phuket. We have a special beach that we take our best

Patong Beach Not too many years ago, Patong Beach was a remote island village. Today it's Phuket's most famous tourist beach and one of the most developed beach resort areas in South East Asia. Located 15 kilometres west of Phuket Town and almost 3 kilometres long, Patong has a white sand beach and is set in a deep oval bay, ringed by lush green hills. Behind the beach promenade, the coast line is almost solidly lined with hotels, ranging from simple guesthouses to luxury international resorts together with other services such as restaurants, shops, banks and tour operators.

At night, this is the centre of all nightlife activity on Phuket. It centres around the main east-west street of Soi Bangla, and here you'll find restaurants, discos, go-go bars and beer bars. This contrast with the daytime where there's a real cosmopolitan atmosphere as you stroll down the beachfront seeing and hearing people from all over the world. Patong Beach is a public beach and there are no closed or reserved areas for any of the resorts. The beach chairs and umbrellas, however, are rented from private vendors for a small fee. Many other services are available on the beach such as traditional Thai massage, hair braiding, soft drinks, ice cream, and fruit salad.

Patong Beach is the centre of all nightlife and the sex tourism industry in Phuket. Located around Soi Bangla are over 200 bars, pubs and go-go bars, with hundreds of 'bar girls' or prostitutes in attendance. They give the town its unique flavour of a raucous, lively and fun place until long after the sun goes down. If it's your first visit to Thailand, you may be wondering why every bar has 10 or 20 beautiful ladies serving you drinks. Surely, they are just a little over-staffed?! Families and couples might prefer one of the quieter beaches...

At the south end of the beach, you can hire a long-tail boat for transportation to the neighbour beaches like Freedom Beach or just to have a great view of the town. A full range of water sports are available here, like jet skiing and parasailing. If you seek an adrenaline rush, this is the right place for sure.

Climate Phuket's climate is tropical and warm throughout the year. The northeast monsoon from November into March is wonderful, with breezy clear days and fragrant cool nights. From November to April, Phuket has an average 26 sunny days per month.

Tourist High Season is from November to April. However, it's best to avoid December and January if possible, as this is Peak Season, when accommodation can be hard to find and is expensive, and Phuket's dive sites are very crowded, particularly the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock. Diving charters are often fully booked.

There are two very hot periods of weather on the island, the first between April and May when the average temperatures range from 30 to 36°C and only the occasional tropical thunderstorm brings relief from the heat. It is also very hot between September and October but the frequent rainfall has a wonderful cooling effect.

The southwest monsoon, from May to October, brings rain and winds to the west coast of southern Thailand, but there are still 20 sunny days per month. Most often it's only a cool, late afternoon shower, but there can be rainy days.

Seas can be quite rough during this season and diving day trip rides from Phuket will be a little rougher. Swimmers should be careful, whilst these waves are sought out by a growing number of surfers and other water sports enthusiasts on the windward Andaman coast.

Pattaya: Thailand's fun city along frequently referred to as "Southeast Asia's Fun Resort", Pattaya is located just a short two hour drive from Bangkok. Pattaya, a weekend escape for those living a chaotic life in the capital, her dive sites stretch from Pattaya Bay to the border of Cambodia. Although mainly a popular place in Thailand for diving instruction, the waters around Pattaya can offer the experienced diver the opportunity to dive on shipwrecks, an activity sadly lacking in other locations around the country. From pleasant diving during the day, to the exotic and frantic bar and entertainment scene at night, Pattaya is the most comprehensive resort in Thailand and attracts a wide variety of visitors from all over the world.

Safety Thailand is a safe place for tourists to travel, with an an established touri`st industry and infrastructure and a reputation for safe travel, even for single females, hence its popularity with young travellers. Bangkok Airport correctly boasts of being the gateway to Asia and since millions pass through the country each year, the authorities value tourism as central to the nation's prosperity. It is little wonder, in the current climate, that the authorities do all they can to maintain the reputation that Thailand has gained as a safe and rewarding destination (including covering up potentially damaging events such as chicken flu!).

The Thai government is seen as one of the most pro-active in the prevention of terrorism and most visitors encounter no problems whatsoever. Furthermore, their intelligence network has ensnared operatives from illegal organisations who had wrongly considered the country to be a safe place from which to conduct their affairs.

There is a national network of tourist police whose job it is to prevent any potential problems by ridding areas of known troublemakers as well as being your first port of call should anything go wrong. This and the heightened level of security in recent times means that it has never been safer to travel here.

Its rare to hear about tourists that have experienced threats of any kind  One note of caution concerns the drugs industry. 1000s of suspected drug dealers have been killed by the authorities over recent years. The current policy seems to be 'shoot first, ask questions later', as none of these state-sponsored murders have been presented to court. Involve yourself in drugs at your peril!

The usual travel advice should be heeded however, but as long as you avoid entering into any bogus jewellery deals or falling in love with a local who suddenly has a family emergency remediable only with hard cash, you should be fine. The general sense that tourists get from visiting the country is one of warmth, hospitality and cultural richness. Blindly following all warnings issued by authorities these days, we sometimes wonder how people ever leave their homes!

For up-to-the-minute information on latest news, views and travel tips, try Thailand Travel Forum - We are featured on this discussion / bulletin board and information resource site, or Guide To Thailand. For information specific to Phuket, you can try Phuket Info or Phuket Delight.

Phuket, how to get here The island is located in the south west of Thailand, on the Andaman Sea coast of the Thai - Myanmar - Malay peninsula. Phuket International Airport has direct flights to and from Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangkok - Thailand. Flights from Bangkok with Air Asia (www.AirAsia.com), Thai Airways (www.ThaiAir.com) and Bangkok Airways (www.BangkokAir.com) are daily, almost hourly, and take just over one hour. Return flights cost around $130 USD

The airport is about 40 kilometres from Patong Beach, and a 45 minute taxi journey. We can arrange airport transfers for you from US$ 20 one way, You can get to Phuket via bus from Samui and Bangkok but be warned its slow !

 

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scuba diving phuket thailand

Dive Community - Phuket Thailand
PADI 5 Star IDC
 # 36108

Office Address:  18 Soi Kok Tanode, Moo 2, Kata, Phuket 83100, Thailand
Phone:  +66 (0)81728 9761  or
 +66 (0)7628 4060
Email:  info@gas-safe-essex.co.uk  URL:  www.gas-safe-essex.co.uk