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| Saturday, 17 April 2004 |
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Patong Beach in Phuket by Derrick Schokman Only one hour and fifteen minutes from Singapore is Thailand's great holiday playground - the island of Phuket at the bottom of the peninsula.
The vegetation in Phuket is very similar to what we have in Sri Lanka, with coconut palms in abundance. And lo and behold on one of those palms in the hotel garden where we were staying was a Santa Claus in the act of climbing. A most unusual posture for that seasonal figure. Patong Beach is enclosed in a semi-circle of limestone hills. The bay itself is calm like a lake, permitting non-swimmers to wade out quite safely a long way. In this respect Patong resembles Passikudah north of Batticaloa. Rows and rows Unlike Passikudah or any other beach resort in this country however Patong is lined with rows and rows of beach furniture, which is fully occupied from first light to dusk by tourists who have come to soak up the sun and cultivate a healthy tan as a bonus. This does not mean that Patong Beach is only a basking place for human seals. It also has several beach activities to suit different tastes. Catamaraning For the more adventurous there is jet boating, jet boat parachuting, water skiing and windsurfing. Catamaraning is not such a draw as it is a more demanding sport. Yet it was the one that attracted me, coming as I did from a country of catamarans. The catamarans in operation in Patong are modernised, but they still have to be operated manually, sliding from one end to another to get the best of the wind in the sails while steering at the same time with the tiller. I was fortunate to have a son-in-law who was quite an expert at this sport. Between the two of us we had a rollicking time cutting through the water like sharks racing for the kill. Massages There were other activities too for the less adventurous. Body massages out in the open on the beach or in the hotels was quite popular. One of our party who had received such a body pummelling was quite amazed that the masseurs even massaged his ears - something he had never experienced before. Hair braiding was also quite popular among the girls. Fast and neat were the braiders, who could teach their counterparts in Sri Lanka a lesson or two. And of course there was always shopping. Alongside the beach road there were a myriad small shops lying cheek by jowl, selling everything from a pin to a pearl. What made shopping so interesting was the bargaining. If you showed interest in a commodity and asked the price, the shopkeeper would immediately punch out a price on his adding machine and show it to you. That was the cue to begin bargaining which usually ended in a price acceptable to both parties. Good fun! Bon Apetit Now all this shopping and beach activity usually worked up a monstrous appetite, and one of the cherished memories of that visit to Patong was satisfying that appetite with the exquisite taste and texture of Thai cuisine. Instead of serving dishes as courses a Thai meal is served all at once permitting diners to a complementary combination of tastes. Overpowering spices are toned down and enhanced with fresh herbs. A proper Thai meal would consist of soup, a curry dish with condiments or a spiced salad in the alternative, and a dip with accompanying fish and vegetable. I can still remember an excellent charcoal roasted duck curry flavoured with herbs, and a delightful dessert of young-coconut custard. Yum, yum! Thai food is said to be internationally famous, so I think it would be appropriate on that note to end this brief account of a holiday well spent in another Asian culture. |
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Phuket is Thailand's largest island with a selection of fine bays and
beaches on the westside. The Patong Beach, where we spent a delightful
four-day holiday, is the largest and the busiest of these bay resorts.
