{"id":1020,"date":"2009-03-25T01:58:06","date_gmt":"2009-03-25T00:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petitesbullesdailleurs.fr\/petitesbullesdailleurs\/?p=1020"},"modified":"2017-06-18T19:10:08","modified_gmt":"2017-06-18T17:10:08","slug":"je-me-la-pete-a-phuket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petitesbullesdailleurs.fr\/en\/je-me-la-pete-a-phuket-20090325\/","title":{"rendered":"I'm showing off in Phuket"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here I am, back in Brittany after three weeks in Thailand. Sunday evening, I finally pushed open the door to my home, and collapsed straight into bed. Fourteen hours of sleep in a row, to recover from the long journey from Phuket...<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I couldn't sleep a wink on the planes (Air Asia<\/a> + Emirates<\/a>) nor in the TGV.<\/p>\n

\"At<\/a>
At the Air Asia counter at Phuket airport.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It may come as a surprise: for my last night in Phuket, I chose to land at Patong Beach.<\/p>\n

Patong is ugly, with its plastic deckchairs and noisy jet-skis, its MacDos and Burger Kings, its souvenir stores and girlie bars. What's more, the place is overrun with an unsympathetic breed of tourists.<\/p>\n

In short, not at all the style of beach or atmosphere I like in Thailand...<\/p>\n

\"Gray<\/a>
Gray sky fitting with my mood this Saturday on Patong Beach.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Patong<\/a>
Patong Beach, Thailand. The bar stools girls, without girls ...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Souvenir<\/a>
Souvenir shop in Patong.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But I opted for the easy way out: minibus connections, cabs to the airport, stores for shopping, wifi connections everywhere, choice of accommodation and restaurants...<\/p>\n

I've found an address that's a change from my rustic backpacker plans: the hotel Baipho-Baithong<\/a>. Recommended by both the Lonely Planet<\/em> and by Mark, an Australian who was with me on the Eden Divers boat for the Similan diving cruise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Excellent choice. Close to everything, refined decor, impeccable cleanliness, warm and cheerful welcome. The cheapest rooms start at 1800 baht (approx. \u20ac40), breakfast included. An excellent deal. For 2600 baht (less than 60\u20ac), I treated myself to the luxury of a quasi-suite with mega king-size bed wider than it is long and a Jacuzzi... Argh.<\/p>\n

\"My<\/a>
My king-size bed at the Baipho-Baithong hotel (Patong beach, Thailand).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this supreme comfort after my long climb up from Koh Lipe.<\/p>\n

A two-and-a-half-hour ferry ride to Hat Yao Pier, Trang's landing stage, followed by a five-hour drive in a minibus... I arrived exhausted.<\/p>\n