Patong Beach, Afternoon Walk

This is Phuket, Thailand - a famous vacation spot known all over earth. That said, I cannot just declare in a previous article that I went to Phuket and say nothing else, right? I know the repercussion if I said nothing else about this place and its beaches, many of you will conspire to wring my neck, literally. Da!

So, for me to be able to say something about Phuket, I did aimless walks, to see/experience the place!

Eto na.., eto na nga.., teka lang, sandali.., masyadong atat eh!

Patong Beach, at 3:02PM, across the 'Patong Marina Hotel', Thawewong corner Hatpatong Roads..,

O, ano? That's it pusit? Uwian na, me nanalo na? Panalo na ang 'Pinas? You could say that, and I might eventually agree with you, if (and only if) we will base it on that picture alone hahaha! But let's explore as many facets of this island as I can in 4 days, then later decide, if you don't want to come to Phuket!

Patong Beach is undoubtedly the most popular beach strip on Phuket, all of about 3kms of it, from the Paragon at its northern tip-of-the-sand to Seaview on the southern end. But its not just all about sand! That picture above is something like about 800 meters from the right (north) end - so, almost midway.

Anyway, my plan was to walk on the beach sand far as I could, but there were interesting distractions. Thawewong St. that lines the beach area is now full not only of resorts, but also "everything markets" (I think they're called 'Talanat' Markets) that are lively as food/seafood evening markets/eateries, but do have little stalls that sell just about anything to everything - aside from fruits, flowers, etc., etcetera!

One is Loma Market across the above pic. But an awsomized (pina-sosyal) version is Beyond Resort.

'Beyond' is a luxe chain of resorts and this branch in Patong has this unique "Beyond Seafood". It's like a food market and restaurant in one place (parang pina-sosyal na Dampa natin) fronting the resort, on the side of the road! I went to look around. There's a turo-turo or paluto style, but there's a 'sushi area'!

Actually, a better version of Loma Market. Parang Dampa nga natin na halos parang SM Food Court, o mala-Tiendesita's dahil pina-sosyal na nga kasi, dahil owned and operated by 'Beyond Patong Resort'! Ubos oras ko kakatingin. Dyahe nga lang mag-picture since nag-iisa ako. Everytime I aim my camera, iisipin ng mga tao sila ang kinukunan ko [eh sino pa nga ba, wala naman akong kasama di ba, hehe]!

Walking on, just a block away, I stumbled upon this corner building called "Surf House Patong"..,

Another unique facility. I mean there's none like that in our Philippines! It's a multi-event venue, but not a hotel. There's a Sky Lounge, Indoor Restaurants, Bars, Co-working Spaces, Surf Shop, Boutiques, etc.

Parang mall, but the highlight or 'main attraction'' of the whole place is that thing in the corner (outside the building). A FlowBoarding facility - where you are like surfing on a controlled continuously flowing jet of water. There are already things like that in our inangbayan, right? But I like this thing. It's outside the building, at the corner of two streets, occupyintg what you would normally expect as a parking lot!

It has become such an attraction, drawing a crowd of spectators, since it is also fun watching surfers expertly do their thing, or fall and get washed away by the water! I heard some staff call it FlowRider (the brand?), and OMG, there was a lengthy waitlist, I overheard some tourists who wanted to try the thing only got a 7PM slot. Gusto ko sana mag-try, but I had to cease and desist. Too many eyes haha!

I don't mind being the entertainment of the hour (900+ Baht = 1,000+ Pesos). Okay lang pagtawanan ang learning curve ko, pero kung malalamog din ang royal katawan ko, wag dyan, sa Cavite na lang!

Plan B, I instead just spent time watching the many surfers - pros and beginners - float on that thing.

Just looking at the number of falls (hilarious fails) I saw, "I therefore concluded" hindi madali ang ride na yan! Besides, if this was a first time for me, kailangan ang photographer and videographer hehehe, eh nag-iisa ako. So, some other time na! I don't know.., my feet really itched (still itching now) to try it!

Proof na nanggagalaiti ako subukan ang bwiset na ride na yan? I sat on a table watching it with beer!

Oh yes, that whole street corner is surrounded by tables for those riding or watching to hang around!

Interestingly, people have a reason to 'jam' at this corner, even if the sun is high up. Yes me DJ music!

No joke, there's a pro spinner dishing out dance music - naging parang kalsada wet party sa tanghali! But, if all the groovin 'n drinkin makes you really hot, you only have to cross the street, beach dagat na!

In short, ubos ang oras ko! Goodbye afternoon walk hahaha! This is only 700 meters from my hotel!

But I did not forget to stroll by the fine white sandy beach again before the evening fell..,

I know, I know.., the insinct among us Pinoys is to compare anything to Boracay. Ah, foremost, Patong Beach isn't as "white" as Boracay. In fact, it's a bit pinkish cream when wet. But the sand area is wider.

That is the northern portion of Patong Beach. It is dotted with resorts, bars and restaurants as far as the eyes can see, from the basic to the 5-star establishments. But as it curves left to the sea, behind that hilly promontory is another white sand strip, Kalim Beach, also with all kinds of accommodations. Ah there're over a dozen more white beaches all the way to the airport and further north of the island!

This is the view fronting Patong Beach, out to the Andaman sea, Nicobar Islands, even Sri Lanka!

Do you notice the two lines created by those ropes? Those are demarcations indicating that vehicles (e.g., speedboats, jetskis, etc.) and/or their dedicated carriers or trailers, may only pass on this "lane" (where I stood to take that photo), when being transferred from sea to shore or vice-versa. Orderly 'no!

Hey can you see that thing floating far at sea that looks like a boat? It's a humungous luxury liner that cannot come any nearer to shore due to shallow waters. We saw that as the plane was about to land this morning, remember? Meaning thousands of tourists (+ Pinoy crews) now ashore roaming Phuket!

And to my left, a view of the southern strip of Patong Beach. Malayo pa yan mga 2kms to those hills.

That portion also teems with resorts, restaurants, bars and everything in between! Those structures perched on that hill at the end are part of Amari Phuket, one of the best resort & hotel chains in Asia.

Going further south after that promontory where Amari is perched, are also more than a dozen white sand beaches all the way to the southern tip of this island. Most popular are Kata and Karon beaches.

Oh, for those not in the know, Phuket is a sizeable island. Thailand's biggest, in fact! Plus there are a scattering of smaller but equally alluring islands around it - madami, I think lampas 20. Phuket main island, which is also (kumbaga sa atin) a province, is mas malaki lang ng konti sa Biliran (feeling ko).

And most of its entire western coast is dotted by pristine white sand beaches - some are short (like Merlin Beach, just over a hundred meters) and some are very long stretches up to about 30kms that, of course, it assumes so many names in its entire length - from Nai Yang Beach (where a JW Marriott is located) all the way up north to Mai Khao Beach (where another JW Marriott is located), and even all the way to the northernmost tip of the island which is the Sarasin Bridge, crossing to Phang-nga!

Alright, I stayed a while at this area of Patong Beach. Tambay lang, munimuni konti, thinking of you..!

The 'white sand' is also fine.., almost but probably not as fine as Boracay's, but I can assure you, if any part of your body gets in contact with this sand (I am sure you'll do), magiging parang espasol ka rin!

Another thing I like is, the cheaper barung-barung stores are interspersed with the mamahalin ones!

Thus, wherever you may be on this beach strip, there is always something affordable for you to enjoy. And I don't know what's with me; lately I easily get lured by these lumpia types of foods wherever I go!

Tuloy ang munimuni (moni-moni dama singpa han mga igkasi). I waited for sunset in case it be good.

The skies were not in the mood. Cloudy. Gloomy. That's the best photo I got hinting at a sunset! But, I heard and saw from fellow roamers that sunsets are grand on this side of Phuket. Except for today?!

"You cannot have them all", a friend once said! Sa laki ng islang ito, sa dami ng pwede tambayan, dito pa ako napadpad sa makulimlim ang kalangitan. Ah, baka island-wide yan! For today only! Pang-asar!

But I still watched the world go by.., if sunset watching was not possible.., people watching nalang!

Toy watching na rin. I even pensively thought paano ko ma-ibu-bulsa ang isa sa mga sasakyan na yan!

I actually immediately noticed, madami nyan dito sa Patong Beach. I can see 6 of them in this photo.

Ayun na sila pauwi na.., yes the same 6! Talagang sinundan ng tingin? Di lang tingin, I was drooling!

And, ayun lumabas na out unto the streets. Ini-uuwi pala talaga nila dito yan. Unlike sa atin 'no?

Sinundan? Yes, doon din kasi ang hotel ko hehe! HIE is behind this building (Patong Marina Hotel). Ah!

Speaking of this big era-looking building, Patong Marina Hotel sya sa left end and stores below.

But that other end I heard is being spruced to be another hotel daw. Hmm, I find that cute. Two hotels in one building! Sa laki naman kasi. I mean it is only four floors but quite long. Mukhang kapitolyo 'no?

Anyway, I walked on by to Holiday Inn Express to wash-up and prepare for dinner and another walk!

Have you heard about Bangla? Let's go there next!

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