"Patong Beach" Phuket Travelogue by phil_uk_net

I first went to Patong in 1992. Back then there was a road running parallel to the beach that was busy but not THAT busy and a few roads running perpendicular to it. It wasn't a bad place.

Over the years it has been developed enormously and bears little resemblance to how it was when I first went. It is like the Thai equivalent of Vegas or Blackpool - a a town designed for 'fun' that is nothing like most of the rest of Thailand.

Patong Beach

There is a beach, of course, but it isn't very nice. The water is murky and probably quite polluted. It is nothing like the water at, for example, Koh Phi Phi or the Similan Islands.

Thousands of sunbeds sit in lines with fat German tourists lying on them. Patong reminds me of Frankfurt-by-the-Sea. No offence to Germans but there are a lot of them here.

Patong

The streets are a mass of signs advertising businesses. At night these turn into a sea of neon.

Fake Football Shirts

Fake goods are on sale everywhere, like these football shirts. The fakes are a favourite with newbie visitors to Thailand who stock up on fake Louis Vuitton bags and fake Rolex watches. However, articles of fake clothing barely last one wash, your fake watch will stop working after a few months and those fake Oakley sunglasses that have no UV protection can damage your eyes.

Bangla Road

Bangla Road is where all the girlie bars are located and has a carnival atmosphere once the sun sets. Pretty girls on the street will try to get you into their bars but once they've caught you they will stay on the street to capture more customers. If you go inside, the girls you can talk to are not so pretty. It all seems like harmless fun but most of the girls working here are not doing so by choice. There are many tourists here and good money to be made. Innocent girls from the country get hardened and cynical doing this type of work in no time at all. Look carefully at their faces and there is a sad story behind the facade.

Tailor shop

Almost every other shop in Patong is a tailor. Each one will have someone working outside, like this chap, whose job it is is to get customers inside.

First time visitors will go for this. Personally, I have never liked the style or quality of clothes made at these places.

After a while it gets on your nerves being hassled all the time by tailors. They are all Indian, Nepalese or Pakistani.

Patong

Another familar scene in Patong. Are you getting the picture?

Artist

In addition to tailors and fake goods there are several artists shops. Here you can commission a copy of a famous piece of work or get an original done.